Bishop Sofron Mudryi of the Ivano-Frankivsk eparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Metropolitan Andrii of Halych of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, and Archbishop Yoasaf of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate signed a joint request ...
(seeking) permission for alternating religious services in a former church which now serves as a museum of art.

Full story is here:

Orthodox & Greek Catholics Request to Share Church in Ivano-Frankivsk

Many years,

Neil

It is wonderful to see that people are planning ahead for the inevitable re-union of the Church of Kyiv-Halych.

Mnohaya Lita Vladykam!

Yours,

hal

"How blessed it is when brothers abide in unity"...

Yes, we are seeing the beginning steps of something much larger here. This unified approach is really the only sensible way that can be taken to reclaim these properties. There is strength in unity and numbers.

SubDeacon Randy:

Yes, it is so comforting to witness, in our lifetime, not just a semblance of unity among the previously contending sides of the Ukrainian Church but a concerted effort to reclaim her legitimate place in Kyivan Christianity.

In retrospect, I think this is the gist of Pope John Paull II's allusion, during the last visit of Cardinal Husar and the Holy Synod, to the process of "coming of age" on the part of the UGCC as she seeks a patriarchate of her own.

Now, if only there is a convincing way to include the UOC-MP in this process of reintegration, or at least some sort of a "modus vivendi," that will ascertain in due time the "oneness" and "individuality" of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

More power to the Ukrainians!

Amado

Perhaps the time has also come for us to do the same here in North America. Churches, schools, halls, summer camps, and other properties could be shared. A rationalization of the physical and human resources could help us build a stronger church which would have a wider access to it's members.

Hritzko

Dear Hritzko:

So long as all the UGCC New Calendar parishes revert back to the Ukrainian... I, I, I mean Julian Calendar, I second your motion. :p

Yours,

hal

Dear Hal,

There are many Ukrainian churches in Massachusetts, but only two in Boston, one Orthodox and one Greek Catholic and both are about a mile apart. The UGCC church sits on a large parcel of land ($$$$$) in a city which has some of the most expensive urban land in the country. The church itself is not spectacular at all.

It was proposed to redevelop the UGCC land to include a new combined UGCC and Orthodox Church with an old age home, a community center, a Ukrainian Bank, and possibly some other structures (ie: maybe a students residence far away from the old age home ).

The Orthodox use the old calendar and the Greek Catholics the new one. It has come to my attention however that the new UGCC immigrants often frequent the Orthodox Church because of the calendar issue .

Could the two churches not share the same church building, but follow two separate calendars. There would probably be some initial conflicts concerning who would use the church and when, but I'm sure these issue could be worked out. The level of support varies from 0 to 100%, but there are a lot more optimistic people than pesimistic. Financing does not seem to be an issue.

What problems would you see with this scenario ?

Are we too far ahead of things ?

Hritzko

Greg,

I didn't realize that Christ the King's parcel was large enough to support such an undertaking. I can't picture the precise lay of the land right now; Does it back directly to Franklin Park or is there a buffer between the two?

With all due respect, that's true ... but Saint Andrew the First-Called is another story all together in that regard. Certainly, if it were sold, its prime location would fetch a handsome price that would make some of what's being discussed a very real possibility. But, what a loss it would be to see that temple closed. I haven't been in it in several years, but I fondly remember its majesty. (Just now looked up its web site and was reaffirmed in my recollection of its beauty.)

Many years,

Neil

Dear Hritzko:

As I'm sure you know, sharing space between a UGCC and a Ukrainian Orthodox parish is not unheard of - it happended here in Chicago as V&O's was building its own church. However, this was possible becasue both V&O's was founded (in part) upon a desire to retain the Julian.

The positive reaction in Boston does not surprise me. What divided us into "Greek Catholic" and "Orthodox" camps is, to many of us, becoming less and less relevant every day. So, to answer your direct question - no, I don't think you are getting too far ahead of yourselves.

However, the logistics of having two calendars under one roof, I submit, would become quite a logistical headache, especially during Pascha. Even at other times, when do you decorate for the Nativity? What about adorning with greenery for Zeleni Sviata? I could go on, but you know the drill.

I may sound silly, but these are arguments waiting to happen.

As for the new immigration, I think it speaks volumes that they want to celebrate when they did "at home."

Here in Chicago, you have SRO at V&O's while two blocks north St. Nick's Cathederal stands three-quarters empty. It's gotten to the point where St. Nick's is now celebrating a "special" Christmas liturgy on Jan 7. Go figure.

Yours,

hal

Neil,

I'm not very good with the links, so you can type in the address of the church into Mapquest you see exactly where it is located:

146 Forest Hill, Jamaica Plains (Boston) 02130

The lot is the size of a whole city block and is next to Franklin park, thereby making it look even bigger than it is. There is a beautiful +100 year old historical property (mansion) on the property which could not be razed (and should not be), but the complex could be built around it.

The Orthodox church which is located about a mile away is pearched up on a hill and can be seen from afar. When the domes of the church are lit at night, the look is almost spectacular.

There is no doubt that the Orthodox church is much nicer than the Greek Catholic one, but even though it has a fair sized lot, it does not support the land necessary to create the church-community complex discussed above.

A mixed community property (church, community center, elderly & students housing, and mixed income condos) as proposed above would receive immediate approval by the city planning board. This is a rare thing in Boston.

Hritzko

Hritzko,

Amazing, I lived in Jamaica Plains, recieved my 1st Holy Communion at Blessed Sacrament Church,and lived in the projects nearby, I heard that the Church no longer there.

james

Dear Jacub,

Christ the King Ukrainian Greek Catholic and St-Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Churches are both still there in Jamaica plains.

Those triple decker wood buidings (on postage stamp size lots) which were mostly inhabited by Slavic immigrants and Irish blue collar workers two generations ago are now selling FROM +$750,000 (many are well above a million each) so you can imagine how much the couple of acres the UGCC has are worth . We could not afford today to buy a piece of land like that in the city.

Hritzko

Hal,

The calendar issue is perhaps one of the pivotal issues concerning the reunification of our churches. I can argue pro just as well as con for the old calendar. We had a thread of this nature a few months back.

Hritzko

Dear Hritzko:

I agree - legit arguments on both sides.

Yours,

hal

James,

Which church? Blessed Sacrament or Christ the King? Offhand, I can't think of any churches in JP that have been sold or demolished, although I'm unsure about Our Lady of Lourdes just beyond Egleston Square, now that I think about it.

One on the Roxbury-JP border has been gone for a while - All Saints in Jackson Square - if you're old enough to remember it. And St. Mary of the Angels, between Egleston Station and Franklin Park, (the squat little church with no superstructure, next to the Egleston branch library) is one of those 65 or so slated to close over the next couple of years. Too bad, as I understand it has a very vibrant Hispanic ministry.

Many years,

Neil