UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA
CONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
PRESS RELEASE

Ukrainian Heritage Park Dedicated in Parma, Ohio

In 2008 the clergy and Board of Trustees of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral requested that the mayor of Parma, along with the City Council, designate a one-mile stretch of State Road, in front of the Cathedral, as Ukrainian Village.  The request was made because of the large number of Ukrainian business that were located on the street and anchored by two beautiful Ukrainian churches – St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral and St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral.

The city immediately embraced this request and began beautifying the State Road with special banners and signs, as well as outdoor wall murals with Ukrainian motifs.  The side street next to St. Vladimir Cathedral was designated at “St. Vladimir Drive”.

The dedication of Ukrainian Village took place on September 9, 2009.  It began with a prayer service at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, followed by a parade to St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral.

This past September 24, 2011, the community dedicated a piece of land on State Road as Ukrainian Heritage Park.

The day’s celebration began with a one-mile parade, consisting of over 40 units.  All five high school bands in the city of Parma added to the festivities.  All local Ukrainian churches participated, including the delegation from St. Vladimir Cathedral, led by His Eminence Archbishop Antony and the parish clergy: Very rev. John Nackonechny, Rev. Fr. Michael Hontaruk and Protodeacon Ihor Mahlay, Very Rev. Fr. John Harvey of Sts Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Youngstown, OH and Rev. Fr. Ivan Synevskyy of the Nativity of the Mother of God Ukrainian Orthodox Church in South Plainfield, NJ.

At the conclusion of the parade, the Ukrainian Heritage Park dedication took place, with His Emincence Archbishop Antony delivering the invocation.

More pictures can be viewed by visiting the St. Vladimir’s website at  http://www.stvladimirs.org