This is a beautiful and well done display of that Church and it's icons. Hope some of you will enjoy it as much as I did.

http://www.geocities.com/~pgresh/index.html

Peace!

its a very wonderful church! do correct me, the icons in the iconastasis seems western looking...

God bless... eumir

Gee, I used to know the present pastor, Fr. Theodore "Ted" Krepp, when he was yet a young seminarian at the now-closed Conventual Franciscans' St. Hyacinth's Seminary in Granby, MA. He once told me I sounded too Orthodox--and he wasn't even yet in the Byzantine Rite himself at the time (he often stood next to me in the choir in the now-closed St. Michael's Byzantine Catholic Church in South Hadley, MA!). Small world, but his church, I think, is very beautiful, despite there being some Westernized icons.

OrthodoxEast

Hey Eumir,
Haven't seen you post for awhile.

I agree with you that they do look somewhat westernized. It looks like it could have been done during the time that the Roman affect was so strong on the church. But, I do think they put an aweful lot of time and effort into the church.

Also, whoever had the patience to do the computer work deserves many kudos.

Alex,
You are right, it just shows what a small world we live in.

Rose

The icons on the screen at St. Mary's Pokrov are very typical of the style of iconography that was popular not only in the US parishes but in Russia and other Eastern European countries in the 19th and early 20th centuries. I believe that it is called the Italianate style---someone correct me if I'm wrong. Since it was popular in Europe, it was what was done here in the US when the first churches and screens were built. Look at many of the churches--Orthodox and Catholic from this period and you'll see it. This is not a latinization, in the sense of Stations, altar rails, etc. It's what they knew. That screen is a treasure and a true period piece. It's amazing that it has survived intact.

John,

You are quite right. There are several Orthodox parishes in Pa and OH with similar Iconostasis which are Italianate in form. Look at St Isaac's Cathedral in St Petersburg or the newly constructed Christ the Saviour Cathedral. All of these are in that Italianate style.

I don't happen to prefer this style but the Churches are beautiful.

It is also interesting that most of the OCA Churches in Alaska also have this "Italinate" style on their iconostas...just a note

Blessings,


Robert

The iconostas is in the "Hard Coal Hunky" style.
If you ever visited the indeginous Rusyn and Ukrainian Greek Catholic parishes of North Eastern PA, all of the original iconography looks like St. Mary Church in Kingston, PA. I think the artist made his living on doing the iconostasis for the immigrant Greek Catholic Churches and that's why they look the same.

Ung-Certez

I have to remember that.

I like that white and gold treatment! Nothing like it around where I live.

Michael

To be fair, this type of iconography from St. Mary's in Kingston (and elsewhere) looks a *LOT* more Byzantine than the "Italian"-style art (that I won't even suggest is iconography) found in such shrines to western European culture as St. Isaac's in St. Pete.

Most of the icons in the old-style Rusyn Greek Catholic and Orthodox churches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, etc. were done by two artists: Stefan Hegedus~ from Trenton, New Jersey and Jan Zacharias~ from Barnesboro, Pennsylvania. The others, of similar style, were imported from Europe.

Most of the baroque-style masonry churches in Carpatho-Rus' (Slovakia, Poland, Subcarpathian Rus') have this style of iconography. The more authentic Byzantine iconography is found only in the wooden churches, and even there it takes on a softer "folk" style but still according to the traditional patterns.

When I looked at the icons and the Altar area of St. Mary's "Pokrov" in Kingston, I saw absolutely no difference between this church and one in the OCA, except that the latter might have retained a curtain behind the Holy Doors. Yes, there was a time when the "Italianate" style of icon art was quite expansive (and it wasn't confined to the Slavs either--I've seen Greek and Albanian Orthodox churches similarly affected), but Fr. Ted appears to be restoring authentic Byzantine iconography wherever he is able in his Kingston church without destroying his church's artistic legacy and historicity. Bravo!

OrthodoxEast

Dear Friends,

St. Mary's Pokrov is one of the original Greek Catholic parishes founded by Father Ivan (aka John) Wolansky in the 1880s. His achievements were pretty amazing considering the obstacles he faced from the Bishops, the Polish priests, and from Rome. I think he should be considered a candidate for sainthood.

The story is told here:

http://stcyrils.tripod.com/origin/

John
Pilgrim and Odd Duck

John,
Thank you for that very interesting link. I was aware of names and dates but reading this article opened my eyes to the struggles of these turn-of-the-century priests.
Eternal Memory!
Sam

Dear Sam,

The story of the early Ukrainian settlers in Pennsylvania and elsewhere was a story of triumph over great opposition. Also, a story of tragic divisions in the Church.

There is a parallel story of the Ukrainian settlement in Canada. But there, the story is somewhat better because of the interest of Archbishop Langevin to get the Redemptorists to come to Manitoba. Father Achilles DeLaere of Belgium learned Slavic languages and transferred to the Byzantine Rite in order to serve the Ukrainians in their native Liturgy. Not a perfect solution, but good enough to get Metropolitan Sheptytsky to support the effort. There is more detail here:

http://www.yorktonredemptorists.com/who%20we%20are.htm

John
Pilgrim and Odd Duck

This style icon is all over--not only in PA and OH. The Ukrainian Catholic Church of St. Michael in Terryville, CT has a similar screen, floor to ceiling with matching "side" altars and the Italianate iconography. An interesting difference in the this parish is that the screen and the altars were never painted white with gold trim. They remained beautiful, natural oak accented with gold trim. What a difference it makes. The walls have fresco-style icons between each window that depict the 12 feasts. Practically the entire church is covered in icons. It's amazing that this survived. I guess that CT is truly "exile" and no one bothered to care how the churches looked! ;-) Kidding--NO FLAMES PLEASE!

John

Is there a web page somwhere that we might see their beauty?

Rose

What a wonderful link. I have never visited this beautiful Church, but the 'web site' presents it so well! A model, and worthy effort.

Thank you for posting it.

Father Elias--

Are you planning to post any pictures of your new screen at St. George on your site? I'd love how the church looks now.

John.

John,

You are correct about the Icons. Here some pictures of Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Russia. Please look close at the Icons they are of the same style as St. Mary's

http://www.xxc.ru/english/foto/inside/s01/index.htm

However, I do prefer this style much better!
http://www.geocities.com/tarkulich/Nova_Sedlica_Church.html

See the pics of the original icon screen.

I am sitting here looking with my mouth hanging open.
Totally awesome! Thanks for sharing them.

rose

Rose,

Which pics are those Rose?

John,

Thanks for the link to the Redemptorists site -very informative as well!

These men were also dedicated hard workers for the Faith! It is amazing to me that during difficult economic times in basically undeveloped areas these priests pushed ever forward and laid the major groundwork for the future of Uk. Catholics in Canada! We need Forward Thinkers like them today.

Sam

You're welcome, Sam.

The Redemptorists certainly contributed to the establishment of the Ukrainian Church in Canada. A number of Bishops came out of their ranks.

Perhaps they learned from the difficulties and divisions in the USA in the 1880s, or perhaps they had greater gifts of wisdom. Cartainly the Canadian Church came through its first generations with greater unity than we in the States.

John

I would very much like to, but I depend upon others for the parish web site. I have never even attempted anything like a web page myself.

Dear John K, this style of iconography is commonly known as the "Imperial" style because several tsars and tsarinas (such as Peter II, etc.) were very fond of Western style art, especially French and Italian. It really fluorished in Russia during the 18th and 19th centuries. It is much more expressionistic and humanistic relative to more traditional iconographic styles. Just contrast this style with St. Andrei Rublev or Theophanes the Greek.

During this same time some of the tsars were also very fond of some Italian architects, especially Rastrelli, who designed churches in Kyiv, St. Petersburg, etc.

Dear Friends,

As Diak says, this style is the Western expressionistic art of the Tsars and of the Kyivan Baroque period.

The icon of the Pokrova is almost an identical copy of the "Kozak Pokrova" that was venerated in the Kozak "Sitch" near Kyiv and is now in the museum of Odessa.

Another similar type is the Pokrova where even Tsar Peter I himself is depicted standing among the Kozaks looking up at the Mother of God!

Yet another depicts the Polish King with Met. Dionysius Balaban - very Western in fact.

The Kozak Baroque is its own style, Westernized and all.

It is part of our Ukrainian/Ruthenian Church heritage today and kudos to those who took the trouble to reproduce that style that reminds us of the Kozak Crusaders of yesteryear, many of whom died fighting to liberate Christians enslaved by the Turks.

There are also a number of Kozak Saints such as St Pachomios of Patmos, Saints John and Paul of Rus', St Dmitry of Rostov and St Joasaph Horlenko and others.

This style would have been familiar to all of them.

So would the Rosary, St Bonaventure's Psalter of our Lady and the Little Office of the Virgin Mary as well as the 15 Prayers of St Birgitte of Sweden - Slavonic versions of which were published at Venice.

St Dmitry of Rostov also prayed the Rosary of the Sorrows of the Mother of God from France - which is today included in the Jordanville Prayerbook under the title of the "Tale of the Five Prayers."

He also prayed a Hail Mary at the beginning of each hour, 24 hours a day.

And yet, despite their Latinizations, they are Saints of the Orthodox Church.

Then there is St Tikhon of Zadonsk with his cell Stations of the Cross . . .

But I don't want to scandalize you more than I absolutely must . . .

Alex

As an Old Ritualist, I have to say that I find the decoration un-nerving - sincerely. I cannot see how this has anything to do with Holy Rus and struggle to understand how the State Church can still contemplate turning to 'art' that is so alien to Orthodox tradition. The whole interior is spiritually disturbing.

Spasi Khristos -
Mark, monk and sinner.

Bless me a sinner, Father Mark,

Well, the Kyivan Baroque tradition is certainly foreign to the northern Russian Old Ritualist spirituality.

But it certainly is part of the Ukrainian experience which considered too much of the Russian stuff to be quite dangerous to their spiritual and national health!

Alex

Dear Alex -

I should add that I was talking about the pictures of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour., NOT the Church on the other link.

Spasi Khristos -
Mark, monk and sinner.

Bless me a sinner, Father Mark!

Oh!

Well, THAT church really IS of concern!

Alex

I too was surprised at the iconography in the new Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow. But the intent was to rebuild the cathedral which the Soviets had dynamited as closely as possible as it was before its destruction. Alas, that meant Italianate-style icons too!--I do think they could still have rebuilt it with proper Byzantine-Russian style iconography in the new cathedral. But I wasn't consulted.

OrthodoxEast

You mean Patriarch Alexei or Metropolitan Kyrill didn't contact you directly for your opinion, OE? I'm shocked.

No, I wasn't consulted, Diak, But then, I belong to the OCA, not the Moscow Patriarchate, so it was expected! :-(

OrthodoxEast