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

Fr. Dennis Kristof Installed as the Chaplain at Lakewood Hospital!

V. Rev. Fr. Dennis Kristof, dean of the Penn-Ohio Deanery, was installed on October 28 as the staff chaplain at Lakewood Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic acute care, community-oriented hospital. This is the first time that the staff chaplain at Lakewood Hospital is of the Orthodox Church.

His Grace Bishop Daniel journeyed to Lakewood at the invitation of the Lutheran Chaplaincy Service under whose auspices the pastoral care services of Lakewood Hospital fall. His Grace was accompanied by four seminarians from St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Bound Brook, NJ.

An Orthodox Service of Installation specially crafted for this occasion was utilized, enabling the many guests, administrators and staff to witness and participate in an Orthodox service, many for the first time in their lives.

Protodeacon Ihor Mahlay, of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, OH, participated in the service with Bishop Daniel and Fr. Dennis. Rev. Daniel Wenger, director of Pastoral Care at Fairview and Lakewood Hospitals, presented Fr. Dennis on behalf of the Lutheran Chaplaincy Service. Reader Gerald Largent, of St. Nicholas Pro-Cathedral, led the responses.

Bishop Daniel spoke eloquently of Fr. Dennis’ need to provide spiritual care for all the patients and staff of Lakewood Hospital in his pastoral care, and protect them from the demons of despair and discouragement in their healing efforts. He also emphasized the responsibility of providing spiritual healing to all regardless of their faith background.

At the conclusion of the service, Fr. Dennis expressed his profound appreciation to Bishop Daniel and all who participated in the service. He was especially grateful to everyone who has supported his efforts at both hospitals over the years.

In attendance for the installation were Pani Matka Barbara, their son Damian, many members of St. Nicholas Pro-Cathedral, three area Orthodox pastors, chaplains of Fairview Hospital where Fr. Dennis has served as a on-call and interim chaplain for over 15 years, hospital administrators, staff and volunteers.

A small reception hosted by the hospital concluded the installation and provided an opportunity for fellowship.

In addition to this new position at Lakewood Hospital, Fr. Dennis has been serving as dean of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Pro-Cathedral in Lakewood, Ohio for 23 years, and has been caring for St. Mary Dormition Ukrainian Orthodox Parish in Lorain, Ohio for five years.