AN important anniversary is being celebrated by Coventry’s community of Ukrainian Greek Catholics.
On Wednesday July 28, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic community celebrated their Parish feast day at the church of St Volodymyr on Broad Street.
The church was consecrated by Bishop Augustine Hornyak on March 4, 1962, the feast day of St Volodymyr who was selected as its patron saint.
Following World War II, the Ukrainians that moved to England ensured that wherever they settled, there was a place where they could gather in prayer.
Prior to acquiring their own church, the Ukrainian community enjoyed the hospitality of the Roman Catholic communities at Christ the King in Coundon and St Elizabeth’s in Foleshill where they held services until 1962.
Celebrations will continue this Sunday, August 1, for those who could not make the Liturgy on Wednesday.
Saint Volodymyr is revered in Ukraine for overseeing the conversion of his land from paganism to Christianity.
A statue of him stands in Holland Park, in London, which was unveiled in 1988 to mark the 1,000th anniversary of the Christianisation of ‘Kyevan Rus’ – Kyev is the capital of Ukraine.
