Fr. Gregory Chomicky papers

Fr. Gregory Chomicky was one of the first Ukrainian Orthodox clergymen in the United States. This collection houses material that documents his ministry as a clergyman, both as a parish priest and as a member of the leadership of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. It also documents his personal and family life as well as parish and Ukrainian American community activities.

Summary Information

CreatorUkrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
CreatorChomicky, Gregory
CreatorAmerican Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
TitleFr. Gregory Chomicky papers
IDg.26
Datescirca 1913-1975
Quantity19.5 Linear Feet
LanguagesMultiple languages
LanguagesApproximately 75% Ukrainian, 20% English, and the remainder in Croatian, Polish, German, and other languages. More language details are given at the series level.
RepositoryUkrainian History and Education Center Archives

Biographical / Historical

Fr. Gregory Chomicky (Григорій Хомицький, Hryhorii Khomyts'kyi) was one of the first Ukrainian Orthodox clergymen in the United States. He was a leader of the proto-Orthodox "Ukrainian National Church" in the mid-1910s, and later played a major role in both the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. He helped to found St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Cleveland (now St. Vladimir Cathedral) and St. Michael parish in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, and served at a number of parishes in Delaware and Pennsylvania from the 1940s through the 1960s.

Fr. Gregory was born on October 11, 1891 in the village of Lubianky Vyshchi near Zbarazh in the Austro-Hungarian province of Galicia (now in Zbarazh raion, Ternopil' oblast', Ukraine) to Mykhailo Khomyts'kyi and Domitselia Adamovych. He completed his secondary education at the Ternopil' Gymnasium in 1911, then studied philosophy at the Franz Joseph Imperial University in L'viv. He emigrated to the United States in February, 1913. He continued his studies at the Roman Catholic seminary of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Orchard Lake, Michigan, and then (at the request of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Bishop Soter Ortyns'kyi) at St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore. His formal education was interrupted by illness in the fall of 1914, but he continued his studies independently.

He was ordained to the deaconate and priesthood in May 1915 by the Old Catholic Bishop Carmel Henry Carfora in Youngstown, Ohio, and was named Vicar General of the Ukrainian National Church. Due to concern about Bishop Carfora's canonicity, Fr. Gregory was re-ordained by Bishop Stephen Dzubay of the Russian Orthodox Mission in 1918. Fr. Gregory joined the eparchy of Archbishop Ioan (Teodorovych) upon his arrival in the United States in 1924. In the 1930s, he changed his allegiance to Bp. Bohdan (Shpyl'ka) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America.

The late 1940s saw major changes in the landscape of Ukrainian Orthodoxy in North America, precipitated in part by the arrival of large numbers of post-war Displaced Persons, which, in contrast to previous immigration waves, included significant numbers of Orthodox Christians from central and eastern Ukraine. Among the refugees were Orthodox bishops such as Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) and Ilarion (Ohienko), and many Orthodox clergy. Fr. Gregory was literally in the middle of these events. In 1948, a Sobor (general Church Council) took place at the cathedral in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he was the rector. This Sobor ratified the appointment of Abp. Mstyslav (then with the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada) to join Bp. Bohdan's eparchy. Fr. Gregory was heavily involved in the preparations for the Sobor, as well as with its aftermath (Bp. Bohdan and some priests and parishes did not go along with the Council's decisions and friction developed between him and the governing board of the Church). In 1950, joint Sobors of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America and the American Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA met in New York City, followed by an Extraordinary Sobor which unified the two Churches to form the present Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA (UOC of USA). Fr. Gregory remained with the UOC of USA until his death in 1974.

Fr. Gregory served as parish priest at Holy Trinity parish, Chicago (1915-1916, 1924); Sts. Peter and Paul Croatian Byzantine Catholic parish, Chicago (1916-1924, 1930-1937); St. Vladimir parish, Cleveland (circa 1925-1930); Buffalo, NY (1930); St. Michael parish, Jeannette, Penn. (1937-1939); Sts. Peter and Paul parish, Wilmington, Del. (1939-1941); the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Most Holy Mother of God, Allentown, Penn. (1941-1950); the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Volodymyr, Ambridge, Penn. (1950-1954); and St. Michael parish, Scranton, Penn. (from 1954 until his retirement).

Зміст фонду

Цей фонд включає в собі особисті та професійні документи о. Григорія Хомицького, іммігрант "першої хвилі" до США. Фонд містить матеріали, пов'язані з його діяльністю як настоятелем парафій, і як член керівництва Української Православної Церкви в Америці та Української Православної Церкви в США. У фонді також особисті та сімейні листи та документи, а також матеріяли про громадську та парафіялну діяльність українців в Америці.

Фонд містить кореспонденцію, протоколи зборів та церковних соборів, рукописи, проповіді, парафіяльні матеріяли (метрики хрещення та шлюбу, церковні оголошення), фотографії, газетні вирізки, та публікації.

Ця колекція відрізняється тим, що вона містить значну кількість матеріалу, яка документує критичний період 1948-го до 1950-го року в історії Української Православної церкви в США. Вона також містить листи та інші документи, пов'язані з життям українців в Америці в 1910-х і 1920-х роках, період з якого первинні джерела досить рідкісні. Метричні записи, шлюбні оприлюднення, і подібні матеріяли з українських і хорватських церковних громад Чикаго та Аллентаун, штат Пенсільванія, також будуть допоміжні генеалогам.

Scope and Contents

This collection houses the personal and professional papers of Fr. Gregory Chomicky, a "first wave" (pre-World War I) Ukrainian immigrant to the United States. It contains material related to his work as a clergyman, both as a parish priest and as a member of the leadership of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. It also documents his personal and family life as well as parish and Ukrainian-American community activities.

The collection contains correspondence, minutes, Church Council (Sobor) records, manuscripts, sermons, parish records (such as records of baptism and marriage, as well as notes of church announcements and marriage banns), photographs, newspaper clippings, ephemera, published materials, and realia.

This collection is distinctive in that it contains significant quantities of material documenting the critical period in Ukrainian Orthodox church history from 1948 to 1950, and will therefore be of interest to religious historians of. It is also unusual in that it contains letters and other documents relating to Ukrainian-American life in the 1910s and 1920s, a time period which in general is poorly documented in terms of primary sources. The collection has correspondence, ephemera, and photographs related to Ukrainian-American cultural events in Cleveland, Ohio in the 1920s and early 1930s, including community participation in the "All Nations Exposition" and the "Theater of the Nations". Notebooks containing church announcements provide a unique snapshot of the daily life of Ukrainian Orthodox parishes in the 1950s and 1960s. The sacramental records, marriage banns, and related materials will also be of considerable interest to genealogists.

Arrangement

Arranged in twelve series as follows

  1. Professional records and correspondence
  2. Personal and family correspondence
  3. Subject files
  4. Writings
  5. Church announcements and notes
  6. Parish records
  7. Address books, notebooks, and diary
  8. Photographs
  9. Ephemera and newspaper clippings
  10. Books and other published materials
  11. Realia
  12. Photocopies

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form: Identification of item, date (if known); Fr. Gregory Chomicky Papers; box number; folder number; Ukrainian History and Education Center, Somerset, New Jersey.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for researcher use. Please contact the archivist (archives@ukrhec.org) for more information and to make arrangements.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Custodial History

After the death of Fr. Gregory, the collection resided with his widow and his daughter Elaine Chomicky White. The collection arrived in the Center in the form of three accruals. The first consisted of photocopies made by Elaine White of portions of the professional records (these make up the bulk of the current Series 12). She subsequently donated the originals of those records, which make up most of the current Series 1. The rest of the collection remained in the custody of Elaine White, and were donated to the Center by her nephew (Fr. Gregory's grandson) John Tockston acting as her power-of-attorney.

Processing Information

This collection arrived at the Center in various degrees of disarray. Apart from the professional papers (which had evidence of both chronological and activity-based arrangement) and the sermons (which were partially arranged according to the liturgical calendar), much of the materials had only occasionally discernable original order. Much of the present arrangement was imposed by the processing archivist.

Controlled Access Headings

Organizations

  • Old Catholic Church in America
  • Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America

Subjects

  • Ukrainian Americans--Religious life
  • Ukrainian Americans--Social life and customs
  • Croatian Americans

Places

  • Illinois--Chicago
  • Ohio--Cleveland
  • Pennsylvania--Lehigh River Valley Region
  • Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh Region
  • Delaware--Wilmington
  • Pennsylvania--Scranton Region

Genres

  • Personal correspondence
  • Business correspondence
  • Sermons
  • Church records and registers
  • Photographs
  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)

Status of materials

These materials belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, and are on deposit with the Ukrainian History and Education Center for processing, preservation, and access.

Container List

Series 1.  Professional records and correspondence, circa 1915-1971. 2.75 Linear Feet

Language of materials

Approximately 90% Ukrainian and 10% English, with small quantities of Croatian.

Scope and Contents

Correspondence and records associated with Fr. Gregory's work as a priest and member of national-level Church leadership. Includes incoming and copies of outgoing correspondence with bishops Carmel Henry Carfora, Ioan (Teodorovych), Joseph (Zuk), Bohdan (Shpyl'ka), and Mstyslav (Skrypnyk); correspondence with Church Consistory and Board; correspondence with fellow clergy (most prominently Fr. Andrii Ivanyshyn, Fr. Petro Bilon, and Fr. Ivan Hundiak) and laity; parish-related correspondence and records; certificates; mailings from the UOC of USA Consistory; records related to Sobors (Church Councils); correspondence with and manuscripts from the editorial office of the periodical "Ukrains'kyi Vistnyk"; deanery records and mailings; and related materials. Additional or unusual materials are noted at the file level.

Arrangement

Arranged primarily by date, except for some subject-based groupings that reflect what appears to be the original order.

Related Archival Materials

Given the difficulty of separating personal from professional material in the papers of members of the clergy, researchers should also consult the "Personal and family correspondence" series in this collection.

 
circa 1915-1919.
  • box 1 folder 1-4
1920-1929.
  • box 1 folder 5-9
1930-1940.

Scope and Contents

Also includes undated materials, incidental prayer and speech, archpastoral letters by Bp. Bohdan (some in holograph), and newspaper clippings and other published materials.

  • box 1 folder 10-11
  • box 2 folder 1-3
1940, 1946 (bulk 1940).
  • box 2 folder 4-5
1941.
  • box 2 folder 6
1942.
  • box 2 folder 7
1943.

Scope and Contents

Also includes item from 1942.

  • box 2 folder 8
1944.
  • box 2 folder 9
1945.

Scope and Contents

Also includes donor lists and letters and telegrams of greeting for a banquet honoring Bp. Bohdan and celebrating the Allentown parish's "mortgage burning".

  • box 2 folder 10
1946.
  • box 2 folder 11
1947.

Scope and Contents

Also includes material dated 1942.

  • box 3 folder 1
  • box 2 folder 12
1942-1950.

Scope and Contents

Also contains eparchial financial statements and parish sacramental register book extracts for Allentown, PA.

  • box 3 folder 2
Consistory meeting minutes, 1944-1947.
  • box 3 folder 3
Displaced Person clergy, 1945-1950.

Scope and Contents

Contains letters from clergy in Displaced Persons camps in Germany seeking help from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America (addressed to Fr. Ivanyshyn and Fr. Forostii), along with their biographical information, IRO certificates, and related documentation. Also includes correspondence related to the resettlement of Abp. Ilarion (Ohienko), and publications by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, and the newsletter of the Ukrainian prisoner of war camp in Rimini, Italy.

  • box 3 folder 4-5
1948 and 1950 Sobors, 1947-1950. 0.75 Linear Feet   21 folders

Scope and Contents

Primarily contains materials pertaining to the preparation, activity, and aftermath of the 1948 and 1950 General Church Councils (Sobors) which lead to the creation of the present Ukrainian Orthdox Church of the USA. It includes correspondence, meeting minutes, Sobor minutes, and messages of support and dissent sent to the Sobor. It also includes materials related to legal disputes between the Board of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America and Bp. Bohdan, and letters to Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras regarding the Board's dissatisfaction with Bp. Bohdan. Some folders contain materials dated 1941 to 1946. It also contains some incidental materials related to general Church administration and parish business during the this time period.

  • box 3 folder 6-12
  • oversize 1
  • box 5 folder 1-4
  • box 4 folder 1-9
1951-1959.
  • box 5 folder 5-10
  • box 6 folder 1-7
Fr. W. Fedak correspondence, 1954.

Scope and Contents

Correspondence with Fr. Fedak of Hamilton, Ontario. Fr. Fedak is requesting information missionary work done by Fr. Gregory in Hamilton in the 1920s for use in a parish anniversary book. Also includes items related to Hamilton, Ontario dated 1926.

  • box 6 folder 8
St. Michael parish (Scranton, Penn.) and UOC of USA Consistory, 1958-1962.

Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence related to disputes between the parish and the Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.

  • box 6 folder 9
1960-1971.
  • box 7 folder 1-5
  • box 6 folder 10-11
Undated

Scope and Contents

Contains handwritten notes of meetings, possibly from the 1930s and/or 1940s.

  • box 7 folder 6
Series 2.  Personal and family correspondence, circa 1913-1969. 1.2 Linear Feet

Language of materials

Primarily Ukrainian, with some Polish and English.

Related Archival Materials

Given the difficulty of separating personal from professional material in the papers of members of the clergy, researchers should also consult the "Professional records and correspondence" series in this collection.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically by decade.

Scope and Contents

Contains letters and postcards from individuals throughout the US and Canada, as well as from family members in inter-war Galicia, Poland (Kalisz), Austria (Vienna), and Czechoslovakia (Terezín and Liberec/Reichenberg).

 
circa 1913-1919.
  • box 7 folder 7-8
1920-1929.
  • box 7 folder 9
  • box 8 folder 1-2
1930-1939.
  • box 8 folder 3-4
1940-1949.
  • box 9 folder 1-3
  • box 8 folder 5
1950-1969.
  • box 9 folder 4-5
Undated
  • box 9 folder 6
Postcards and holiday greeting cards, circa 1920-circa 1960.
  • box 9 folder 7
Series 3.  Subject files, 1927-1975. 0.75 Linear Feet 
Cleveland cultural events, 1927-1931.

Language of materials

Primarily English.

Scope and Contents

Contains materials related to Ukrainian-American cultural events in Cleveland, including concerts, dance performances, the "All Nations Exposition", and the "Theater of the Nations". Includes correspondence with the City of Cleveland, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Cleveland Press, and other individuals; photographs; programs and other ephemera; theater seating charts; blueprint of the layout of the "All Nations Exposition"; and period accounts in the English and Ukrainian press.

 
Correspondence, photographs, and ephemera, 1927-1931.
  • box 10 folder 1
"Cleveland All Nations Exposition" program book, 1929.
  • box 10 folder 2
Seating charts, exhibit blueprint, and newspaper clippings
  • oversize 2-3
  • box 10 folder 3
Personal documents and certificates, 1925-1965. 
Family documents, 1928-1950.

Scope and Contents

Contains certificates, diplomas, and other personal documents and ephemera.

  • box 10 folder 4
  • oversize 4
Certificate from the All-Ukrainian Church Council of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR), 1925.
  • oversize 5
Resolution of appreciation from Sts. Peter and Paul Church (Chicago), 1936.
  • oversize 6
Certificate from St. Michael Parish (Scranton, Penn.), 1965.
  • oversize 7
Golden Anniversary Testimonial Dinner, 1965.

Scope and Contents

Contains material related to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Fr. Gregory's priesthood.

 
Greetings
  • box 10 folder 5-7
Newspaper clippings and telegrams
  • box 11 folder 1
Banquet program and attendee list
  • box 11 folder 2
Funeral, 1974-1975.

Scope and Contents

Contains material related to the funeral of Fr. Gregory, including funeral home paperwork, condolence book, condolence cards, and obituaries.

  • box 11 folder 3-6
Series 4.  Writings, 1933-1968 and undated. 2.5 Linear Feet

Scope and Contents

Contains manuscripts and notes written by Fr. Gregory or by third parties (authorship is unclear in many cases).

 
Sermons for the church year, 1933-1968. 2 Linear Feet   55 folders

Language of materials

Approximately 50% Ukrainian, 40% English, and 10% Croatian.

Arrangement

Arranged according to the Eastern Christian liturgical calendar.

Processing Information

Materials were initially in one large box containing bundles of sermons wrapped in salmon-colored heavy paper labeled by Sunday after Pentecost, as well as 4 smaller boxes (labeled "Sunday after Epiphany", "The 1st S. et cetera of: LENT", and two unlabeled) and loose sermons and notes. Since it appears that Fr. Gregory had begun an organization scheme based on liturgical calendar but may not have finished the job, the complete or nearly complete sermons from the latter have been filed in appropriate calendrical sequence. Loose pages and notes have been retained in separate folders based on their original order. Newspaper clippings have been photocopied and originals discarded.

Scope and Contents

Contains sermons given at church services for Sundays, church Feast Days, and during Great Lent. Most sermons are dated with the year in which they were written. Many are also annotated with additional years, presumably indicating the years in which that sermon was "re-used" (presumably at a different parish).

 
Sundays after Pentecost

Scope and Contents

Sermons for the 1st through the 32nd Sunday after Pentecost.

  • box 11 folder 7-9
  • box 13 folder 1-11
  • box 14 folder 1-7
  • box 12 folder 1-11
Paschal cycle

Scope and Contents

Sermons from the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee through Pentecost, including the Sundays of Lent and Easter.

  • box 15 folder 1-9
  • box 14 folder 8-16
Immovable feasts

Scope and Contents

Contains sermons for Nativity season (from the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers through the Sunday after Theophany), Civil New Year, and various Saint's and Feast Days.

  • box 16 folder 1
  • box 15 folder 10-13
Great Lent

Scope and Contents

Contains sermons for mid-week services during Great Lent, as well as sermons for Lenten "mission" events.

  • box 16 folder 2
Sermons for special occasions, 1941-1951.

Scope and Contents

Contains sermons for occasions not based on the liturgical calendar, including Memorial Day, Mother's Day, sermon for returning veterans, funeral eulogies (for Ol'ha Basarabova, Lt. Michael Staso, Natalia Hrypevets'ka, and one with an illegible name), and a sermon for radio broadcast.

  • box 16 folder 3
Sermon fragments

Scope and Contents

Contains incomplete sermons, detached pages, and notes.

  • box 16 folder 4
"The One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church"
  • box 16 folder 5
Prayers and liturgical texts
  • box 16 folder 6
"'Know Your Church!' sermons on Church history", 1931-1945.
  • box 16 folder 7
"Catechism or A short exposition of the truths of the Christian Religion", circa 1940-1941.

Scope and Contents

Contains the manuscript of the published book, as well as the US Copyright Office registration certificate and letter to Fr. John Hundiak from Abp. Athenagoras commending the catechism.

  • box 16 folder 8
Sunday School materials

Scope and Contents

Contains religious education materials of uncertain authorship.

  • box 16 folder 9
"Kofechik - slavna indyians'ka kniahynia"

Scope and Contents

Contains holograph manuscript with title page: "Кофечік - славна індиянська княгиня. Правдиве оповіданя про ґенерала De Soto і його жовнірів. З англійського переклав: Гр. Хомицький" ("Kofechik - The glorious Indian princess. A true story of General De Soto and his soldiers. Translated from the English by G. Chomicky")

  • box 16 folder 10
General writings

Scope and Contents

Contains autobiographical information, articles, poems, skits, and notes on both religious and secular themes. Most appear to be by Fr. Gregory, but do not have authorship explicitly indicated.

Conditions Governing Use

Requires special handling precautions due to fragile paper.

  • box 17 folder 1
Third-party writings
  • box 17 folder 2
Series 5.  Church announcements and notes, 1920s-1967. 0.25 Linear Feet 
Announcement and address book, likely 1920s.

Processing Information

Loose inserted items that appeared to be causing acid migration have been segregated into a separate folder, and their former locations have been marked.

Scope and Contents

Notebook containing announcements to be read to the congregation during Sunday and Holy Day services (announcements of parish activities, donations, and related information), as well as addresses of parishioners and other notes. Entries are labeled by the Sunday in the Eastern Christian liturgical calendar, and most do not have a year indicated. It appears that the notebook contains entries from both Chicago, Ill. and Cleveland, Oh.

  • box 17 folder 3-4
Announcements, 1943-1967 with gaps.

Language of materials

Ukrainian and English

Scope and Contents

Notebooks containing announcements to be read to the congregation during Sunday and Holy Day services. Includes announcements of parish activities, donations, and related information.

 
1943 September-1945 January.
  • box 17 folder 5
1950 February-September.
  • box 17 folder 6
1958 January-June.
  • box 17 folder 7
1958 June-November.
  • box 17 folder 8
1958 November-1959 February.
  • box 17 folder 9
1959 March-September.
  • box 17 folder 10
1959 September-1960 April.
  • box 17 folder 11
1960 April-September.
  • box 17 folder 12
1960 September-1961 March.
  • box 17 folder 13
1961 March-July.
  • box 17 folder 14
1961 July-1962 January.
  • box 17 folder 15
1962 May-October.
  • box 17 folder 16
1962 October-1963 February.
  • box 17 folder 17
1963 March-December.
  • box 17 folder 18
1964 January-August.
  • box 18 folder 1
1964 August-1965 January.
  • box 18 folder 2
1967 May-December.
  • box 18 folder 3
"Sorokousty" notebook, 1957-1958.

Language of materials

Ukrainian

Scope and Contents

Notebook containing lists of names of deceased individuals who were to be commemorated during services for the departed during Lent. Also contains a newspaper clipping.

  • box 18 folder 4
Marriage banns notebook, 1947-1950.

Language of materials

English

Scope and Contents

Notebook containing information for the reading of marriage banns. Most entries include the names, birth dates, places of baptism, and places of residence of the intended bride and groom, as well as the dates on which the banns were read and the date of the wedding.

  • box 18 folder 5
Series 6.  Parish records, 1915-1967. 
Baptismal register, 1915-1924 (bulk 1915-1916).

Language of materials

Ukrainian and Latin

Scope and Contents

Pages from a register book that were removed from their binding containing records of baptisms at the Holy Trinity Parish (Chicago) from 1915 to 1916, as well as at other locations in Chicago from 1916 to 1924.

Conditions Governing Use

Requires special handling precautions due to poor condition.

  • box 18 folder 6
Marriage register, 1915-1925.

Language of materials

Ukrainian and Croatian

Scope and Contents

Ledger book containing marriage records from the Holy Trinity parish, Chicago (1915 and 1916), Sts. Peter and Paul parish, Chicago (1917 to 1924), and Cleveland, Ohio (1925).

  • volume 1
  • box 18 folder 7
Baptismal certificate pad, 1915-1921.

Scope and Contents

Certificate pad containing stubs for baptism certificates issued between 1915 and 1921 for baptisms performed between 1872 and 1921 (bulk 1900 to 1920). It contains both Ukrainian and Croatian surnames, therefore it likely covers Holy Trinity and Sts. Peter and Paul parishes in Chicago.

  • box 18 folder 8
Name lists, undated.

Scope and Contents

Two undated sheets of parishioners, donors, or participants in an event or activity.

  • box 18 folder 9
St. Vladimir parish (Cleveland), 1926-1929.

Scope and Contents

Handwritten draft of bylaws in English dated 1926, and two receipts.

  • box 18 folder 10
St. Michael parish (Jeannette, Penn.) real estate purchase agreement, 1937.
  • box 18 folder 11
St. Volodymyr parish (Ambridge, Penn.) donation receipts, 1951.

Scope and Contents

Receipts, "thank you" letters, and holy cards from the Consistory of the UOC of USA to individual parishioners who contributed to the building fund for St. Andrew Memorial Church in S. Bound Brook, NJ. These were presumably to be distributed to the donors, but never were.

  • box 18 folder 12
Parish bulletins, 1965-1967.

Scope and Contents

Parish bulletins from St. Michael's parish (Scranton, Penn.) and St. Andrew's parish (Blakely, Penn.).

  • box 18 folder 13
St. Michael parish (Scranton, Penn.) choir book

Scope and Contents

"Choir directors book" - scores and texts of liturgical music for the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

  • box 18 box 14
Series 7.  Address books, notebooks, and diary 
Address book, likely late 1920s.
  • box 18 folder 15
Diary, 1928.

Scope and Contents

Small pocket diary with addresses, business cards, and some diary entries.

  • box 18 folder 16
Address book, likely late 1930s.
  • box 18 folder 17
Notebook, undated.
  • box 18 folder 18
Address book, likely 1960s.

Scope and Contents

Inserted materials have been moved to separate folder.

Processing Information

1961 letter from unknown family member in Cleveland, and 1962 letter from Fr. Dvorakivs'kyi regarding the Lehigh Valley deanery meeting have been moved to Series 2 and Series 1, respectively.

  • box 18 folder 19-20
Notebook, undated.

Language of materials

Primarily English, but some Ukrainian, and small amounts of German and Greek.

Scope and Contents

Notebook containing fragments of text, primarily on religious and spiritual topics. Some of these may be original writings, but many appear to have been copied out of books or other publications. Also included folded-in newspaper clippings, cards, and other materials. These have been moved to separate folders.

Processing Information

Red rot affected cover was removed and discarded.

  • box 19 folder 1-2
  • oversize 8
Series 8.  Photographs, 1914-1970s. 0.5 Linear Feet

Arrangement

Arranged in two files chronologically by date or inferred date (for unlabeled photographs), except for panorama photos and recent photocopies, which form their own separate file. Inferred dates are extremely uncertain, therefore researchers searching for mid-century items should consult both files.

Scope and Contents

Some folders include related newspaper clippings.

 
1914-circa 1940.
  • oversize 9-11
  • box 20 folder 1-8
  • box 19 folder 3
circa 1940-1970s.
  • oversize 12
  • box 20 folder 9-10
  • box 19 folder 4-9
Panorama photographs, 1918-circa 1950.
  • oversize 13
Photocopies of photographs
  • box 19 folder 10
Series 9.  Ephemera and newspaper clippings, 1915-1970s. 0.5 Linear Feet

Scope and Contents

Contains ephemera and newspaper clippings that could not be associated with another series based on original order, as well as religious tracts, holy cards, and similar material.

 
Ephemera and near-print materials, 1915-1960s (bulk 1930s-1960s).

Scope and Contents

Concert programs, flyers, pamphlets, brochures, and similar materials.

  • box 21 folder 1-3
  • box 19 folder 11-12
Newspaper clippings, 1920s-1970s.

Language of materials

Primarily English

  • box 21 folder 4-6
Prayer books, tracts, and holy cards, circa 1915-circa 1960.
  • box 21 folder 7-8
Series 10.  Books and other published materials 9.75 Linear Feet 
Commemorative books, 1933-1974.

Language of materials

Ukrainian

Scope and Contents

Publications created by parishes or the UOC of USA to commemorate major events or anniversaries. They typically contain historical narratives, photographs, advertisements, and (in some cases) event programs.

 
St. Vladimir parish (Cleveland, Oh.), 1933, 1949.
  • box 22 folder 1
St. Andrew parish (Boston, Mass.), 1958.
  • box 22 folder 2
St. Volodymyr parish (Chicago, Ill.), 1966.
  • box 22 folder 3
Fr. Joseph Zelechivsky 50th anniversary of priesthood, 1969.
  • box 22 folder 4
Anniversary of the 1921 All-Ukrainian Church Council, 1971.
  • box 22 folder 5
St. Vladimir parish (Parma, Oh.), 1974.
  • box 22 folder 6
UOC of USA almanacs, 1954-1955.

Language of materials

Ukrainian

Scope and Contents

Annual publications of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA containing a liturgical calendar and articles on religious and Ukrainian historical and cultural topics. The calendar portion of these issues contain handwritten annotations.

  • box 22 folder 7
Proceedings of the Convention of the Russian Orthodox Mission (Cleveland, Oh.), 1919.

Language of materials

Russian

  • box 22 folder 8
Periodicals, 1930-1972.

Language of materials

Primarily Ukrainian

Scope and Contents

Individual issues of periodicals, including "Dlia sil's'koho zhinotstva" (Kolomyia, 1933), "Ukrains'kyi natsionalist" (1935), "Ukrainian Orthodox League Bulletin" (1953), "The Word" (1961), "Lemko" (Cleveland, 1930), "Zumbrcani napred" (Chicago, 1935), "Holos Bratstva" (Trenton, NJ, 1958), "Ukrainian Orthodox Word" (1961, 1972), and "Ukrains'kyi Vistnyk" (1949-1950, 1954-1955).

  • box 22 folder 9
Books 9.5 Linear Feet

Language of materials

Approximately 40% Ukrainian, 40% English, and the remainder in Church Slavonic, Serbian, Croatian, Russian, Latin, Polish, and German.

Scope and Contents

Volumes from Fr. Gregory's library, including books on religion, theology, history, literature, Latin theology textbooks that he may have used as a seminarian, liturgical books, Bibles, dictionaries and reference books, and primary-level textbooks for Ukrainian language instruction. A number of the books are inscribed by the author or as presentations to Fr. Gregory from various individuals or parish organizations.

  • box 23
  • box 27-28
  • box 24-26
Fr. Petro Bilon, "Ukrainians and their Church" (1953)

Scope and Contents

Inscribed by the author.

 
V. Ern (E. Malaniuk, tr.) "Zhyttia i osoba Hryhoria Skovorody" (1923) 
Vseukrains'ka Pravoslavna Tserkovna Rada, "Vsenoshna Sluzhba Bozha ukrains'koiu movoiu" (1923). 
M. Runge (S. K. Sharonov, tr.) "Gigiena beremennosti" (1899) 
Nikola Kekić, "Pjesma Iseljenikova" (1936) 
Sidney Burgoyne, "Daily Thoughs for Friendly Fellows" (1930)

Scope and Contents

Inscribed by presenter in 1932.

 
Edward W. Averill, "The Holy Communion with Private Devotions" (1935)

Scope and Contents

Inscribed by presenter in 1937.

 
Vasile Avramenko, "Ukrains'ki natsional'ni tanky muzyka i strii" (undated)

Scope and Contents

Contains an extensive inscription by the author.

 
Vasile Avramenko, "Muzyka do ukrains'kykh natsional'nykh tantsiv" (1927) 
"Dostoino iest': zbirka v Shevchenkovi rokovyny" (1920) 
Osyp Nazaruk, "V lisakh al'berty i skalystykh horakh" (1924) 
Fr. Gregory Chomicky, "Catechism, or a short exposition of the truths of the Christian Religion" (1941) 
Iaroslav Skrots'kyi, "Providnyk dlia sichovykh vprav" (1919) 
Fr. Skupoli, "O vnutrishnim spokoiu" (1909) 
"Persha knyzhechka: Ukrains'kyi povistkovyi bukvar" (1930) 
"Druha knyzhechka: Dlia druhoho roku nauky" (1927)

Scope and Contents

Also includes typewritten lessons for Ukrainian language school classes.

 
Items found between pages of books
  • box 22 folder 10
Series 11.  Realia

Scope and Contents

Contains objects owned by Fr. Gregory, including items presented to him; liturgical and ritual items (chrismatories, altar bells, etc.); icons and crucifixes; Cyrillic typewriter; and similar objects.

  • box 29
  • box 30
Cyrillic typewriter (Hammond Co.) 
Dressing case with crosses, cuff links, and other small items 
Eucharist kit containing crucifix, annointing oil, small epitrachelion, and communion cloth 
Undecorated three-armed cross (wood) 
Altar bells 
Reliquary in the form of a pectoral cross 
Inscribed icon 
Bulova watch, inscribed "St. Michael Ukrainian Choir Jeannette Pa 4-30-39" 
Plaster crucifix 
Metal crucifix, inscribed "Gift of St. Vladimirs Boys Club" on reverse 
Stainless steel urn, presented by Fr. Senchuk on Fr. Gregory's 25th anniversary of priesthood 
Blue cast iron bookends decorated with trident, the inscription "БОЖЕ УКРАІНУ СПАСИ", and the date 1918 
Chrismatories 
Bottle of Holy Chrism in mailing tube 
Binoculars 
Series 12.  Photocopies 1.25 Linear Feet

Scope and Contents

Contains photocopies, primarily of the professional papers of Series 1, that were made by Elaine Chomicky White. It has not been verified whether the originals of all the items in this series are contained in the other series of this collection.

Arrangement

Arranged in approximate chronological order, as boxed by Elaine Chomicky White.

  • box 31