About Annunciation of Blessed Virgin Mary [Ukrainian] · Manassas, Virginia
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Ukrainian Catholic (Byzantine rite) parish in Manassas, Virginia, commonly known as St. Mary's. Founded in 1925 by Eastern European farming families who had migrated from Pennsylvania and Ohio, it holds the distinction of being the first Byzantine-rite church in the American South and the smallest Byzantine-rite congregation in all of North America. Today the parish gathers for a bilingual English/Ukrainian Divine Liturgy on Sundays at 8:30 AM, led by Rev. Alexander (Olexander) Dumenko, who also serves Holy Trinity in Silver Spring, Maryland. The community is part of the Ukrainian Metropolitan Archeparchy of Philadelphia and continues the intimate, family-style worship its founders began on a small piece of donated land off Spriggs Road.
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Alexander (Olexander) Dumenko
- Diocese
- Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan Archeparchy of Philadelphia
Why belong here
St. Mary's is one of the oldest Eastern-Catholic communities in Northern Virginia and the first Byzantine-rite parish in the American South. With about 20 families today — including a growing number of recent arrivals from Ukraine — it offers a genuinely small, family-style Sunday liturgy in both English and Ukrainian, where everyone knows one another and visitors are warmly welcomed. Worshippers are drawn to its living Ukrainian Catholic heritage (iconostasis, sacred chants, leavened Communion on a spoon) on a quiet rural lot just off Spriggs Road, and to its role as both church and historic parish cemetery.
Mass times at Annunciation of Blessed Virgin Mary [Ukrainian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Half hour before the Divine Liturgy; otherwise contact Father to schedule confession (703-791-6635 or 301-421-1739)
History & Founding Story
The parish was founded in 1925 by Eastern European farming families who had migrated to Virginia from Pennsylvania and Ohio. Before they had a church, Byzantine Catholics worshipped side-by-side with the Latin-rite Catholics who would go on to found Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manassas, or traveled to services in the homes of the Duritza and Cebula families. The first church in Minnieville was built cooperatively by Byzantine and Latin Catholics in 1918, and on April 9, 1926 Samuel T. Beavers deeded the present land to trustees George Shutlock, John Cebula, John Paulovich, Dan Duritza and Andrew Sevak — a 'good neighbor and friend of the church' though not himself Catholic. The first Divine Liturgy in the new St. Mary's was celebrated by Rev. Wasyl Maniosky, who traveled from Baltimore and officiated the parish's first marriage between John Vayda and Elizabeth Hertnick.
- Founded 1925; land deeded to parish trustees on April 9, 1926
- First pastor of record: Rev. Wasyl Maniosky, 1925–1930 (from Baltimore)
- Oldest Byzantine-rite parish in the American South
Byzantine Rite & Eastern Christian Identity
As a parish of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia — itself in full communion with the Pope of Rome — St. Mary's worships in the Byzantine rite, the same ancient liturgical tradition used by the Orthodox churches and shared with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The Ukrainian Catholic Church keeps its own liturgical calendar (the Julian calendar with adjusted feasts), prays some parts of the Divine Liturgy in Ukrainian, and uses distinctive signs: Byzantine Catholics cross themselves right-to-left with thumb, index and middle fingers touching (representing the Holy Trinity) and the ring and little fingers touching the palm (representing Christ's human and divine natures). The sign of the cross is used often during the liturgy — every time the Holy Trinity is named — and prayer. Communion is given under both kinds (leavened bread and wine) on a spoon, distributed by the priest directly into the mouth of the communicant.
- Sign of the Cross: right-to-left, three fingers together, two folded into the palm
- Communion: leavened bread and wine on a spoon, administered by the priest
- Liturgy almost entirely chanted/sung; small black liturgical books provided in the pews
- Infant communion permitted after Baptism and Chrismation (which occur together for infants)
Architecture & Sacred Spaces
From the outside St. Mary's looks like many Southern country churches — except for the three-bar (Slavic) cross and its distinctive domed steeple. Inside, the iconostasis built by 'Big John' Shutlock separates the nave from the sanctuary, with central Royal Doors (for the priest) flanked by two deacon doors. Twelve icons along the top of the iconostasis depict the Twelve Great Feasts; four small icons of the Evangelists are on the Royal Doors; and four large icons run left to right: St. Nicholas, the Theotokos (Mary, Mother of God) with Christ, Christ Pantocrator (Ruler of All), and the Patron Icon of the Annunciation. The tetrapod — a small table in front of the Royal Doors — holds candles, a crucifix and an icon of the Annunciation (or the major feast being celebrated), which parishioners reverence with a sign of the cross, a bow and a kiss as they enter and leave.
- 14 humble, hand-worn pews in the nave
- Tapered beeswax candles on circular platforms, symbolizing the light and presence of Christ
- Stained-glass windows (1991 gift from the old St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Baltimore)
- Gospel stand from the old St. Nicholas Church, Nanticoke, Pennsylvania (refurbished by Edward Schwartz)
- Cemetery cross carved from a tree on the property and dedicated 1953
Pastor & Parish Leadership
St. Mary's is currently served by Rev. Alexander (Olexander) Dumenko, who as pastor also ministers to Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. In an emergency or for the Anointing of the Sick, he can be reached at the rectory number (301) 421-1739. The parish priest also acts as the chaplain for hospital emergencies in the Manassas area when needed.
- Rev. Alexander (Olexander) Dumenko — Pastor (also Holy Trinity, Silver Spring, MD)
- Hospital chaplaincy arrangements coordinated through the parish when needed
Sacraments
The Byzantine tradition at St. Mary's combines Baptism and Chrismation (Confirmation) for infants, who are also admitted to the Eucharist at the same time — small children and infants are seen receiving communion alongside their families. Couples preparing for marriage, families arranging a baptism, and the sick or dying seeking Anointing are asked to contact the parish priest through the rectory or church phone line so Father Dumenko can prepare them personally.
- Baptism / Chrismation (Confirmation) and First Eucharist for infants
- Marriage — contact the priest
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the priest
- Confession — half hour before the Divine Liturgy, or by appointment
Community Life, Cemetery & Annual Picnic
St. Mary's community is small, multigenerational and tightly knit — Archbishop Borys Gudziak called it 'not a big community, but very family style. You can feel the communion among the people.' After Sunday liturgy parishioners regularly visit loved ones in the parish cemetery, which the parish has maintained since the 1950s. The cemetery cross, built and carved from trees on the property by John 'Big John' Shutlock Sr. and dedicated by Fr. Volodymyr Pylypec on August 9, 1953, remains a focal point of that devotion.
- Approximately 20 families currently, with a growing number from Ukraine
- Parish picnic — a tradition expanded by Fr. Danusiar that became well known across Virginia, Maryland and D.C.
- Apostleship of Prayer of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (since 1956)
- Cemetery cross (1953) and parish cemetery
Renovations & Recent Milestones
Through the decades the parish has continually renewed the physical church even while keeping its small size. The stained-glass windows in the back of the church were commissioned by the parish council and installed by Higgins & Associates of Front Royal, Virginia in 1999. The 1991 stained glass from Baltimore's old St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church and the refurbished gospel stand from Nanticoke, Pennsylvania are both treasured heirlooms. In 2005 Ron Bodnar led an exterior refurbishment including a new steeple cross. In 2017–2018 a new steeple cross was raised and the sacristy renewed, and in 2020 the interior and floors were renovated in time for the 95th-anniversary re-dedication by Metropolitan-Archbishop Borys Gudziak on October 18, 2020 — held during the COVID-19 pandemic and broadcast online for those unable to attend.
- 1991 — stained-glass windows from old St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Baltimore
- 1999 — back-window stained glass by Higgins & Associates, Front Royal, VA
- 2005 — exterior refurbishment led by Ron Bodnar; new steeple cross
- 2017–2018 — new steeple cross and sacristy renewal
- 2020 — interior and floors renovated; church re-dedicated by Archbishop Gudziak for the 95th anniversary
- October 12, 2025 — 100th anniversary / centennial celebration with Archbishop Gudziak
Archeparchy of Philadelphia & Wider Ukrainian Catholic Church
St. Mary's belongs to the Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan Archeparchy of Philadelphia, an archdiocese covering churches in New Jersey, the eastern half of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia and Washington, D.C. — the only other Ukrainian Catholic parish in Virginia is Sts. Joachim and Anna in Front Royal. In 2025 the archeparchy included 64 parishes. The current Metropolitan-Archbishop, Borys Gudziak (in office since 2019), also chairs the U.S. bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development and has celebrated St. Mary's principal anniversaries in 2020 and 2025. The archeparchy publishes a newspaper, The Way, at www.ukrarcheparchy.us/the-way, and recommends that parishioners greet one another with seasonally appropriate phrases — 'Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!' most of the year, 'Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!' from Pascha to Ascension, 'Christ is Born! Glorify Him!' at Christmas, and 'Christ is Baptized! In the Jordan!' at Theophany.
- Metropolitan-Archbishop Borys Gudziak (since 2019) — visited St. Mary's for the 95th and 100th anniversaries
- Sister parish in Virginia: Sts. Joachim and Anna Ukrainian Catholic Church, Front Royal
- Archeparchy newspaper: The Way (www.ukrarcheparchy.us/the-way)
Visiting St. Mary's & Getting Involved
Visitors of any background are welcome at St. Mary's Divine Liturgy. Printed handouts with the day's responses are available at the church entrance; the parish also publishes a pamphlet, 'New to a Byzantine Parish?', explaining the Sign of the Cross, the iconostasis, the Eucharist and the Divine Liturgy. Mailing contributions may be sent to PO Box 2735, Manassas, VA 20108. For bulletin announcements, calendar events or to schedule confession, contact the parish through the church (703) 791-6635 or the rectory (301) 421-1739, or write to [email protected].
- Liturgy responses available on printed handouts at the entrance
- 'New to a Byzantine Parish?' welcome pamphlet available
- Prayer for Vocations link on the parish website
- Donations by mail to PO Box 2735, Manassas, VA 20108
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Wasyl Maniosky1925–1930
Came from Baltimore; celebrated the first marriage in the new church (John Vayda and Elizabeth Hertnick).
- Rev. Michael Kolutsky1930–1931
- Rev. Wasyl Maniosky (returning)1931–1946
Came again from Baltimore to serve the parish.
- Rev. Bohdan Voloshin1946
Led the 1947 meeting in which church officers voted to transfer the property to the Philadelphia Metropoly.
- Rev. Wasyl Seredovytch1948–1949
Traveled from Baltimore, Maryland.
- Rev. Vladimir Wozniak1949–1950
- Rev. Gregory Kanda1950–1951
Confessional booth built, yard seeded, dormer rebuilt and roof renewed during this pastorate.
- Rev. Volodymyr Pylypec1951–1955
Began the sacristy (1951); dedicated the cemetery cross (1953, built by 'Big John' Shutlock); blessed the bell, steeple and church cross.
- Rev. Henry Sagan1955
- Rev. John Litwak1955–1956
- Rev. Paul Harchison1956
- Rev. Theodore J. Danusiar1956–1968
Iconostasis built by 'Big John' Shutlock; altar donated by John Hertnick; founded the Apostleship of Prayer of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Chosen as one of three chaplains to pray at President Kennedy's funeral; a Sunday Requiem Mass for the president was celebrated at St. Mary's.
- Rev. Vladimir Krayewsky (Pastor) and Rev. Myron Sozanski (Associate)1968
- Rev. Myroslav J. Lubachivsky1968–1971
Oversaw the brick-veneer exterior and renovation of the entrance and choir loft.
- Msgr. Basil Makuch1971–1972
- Rev. Stephen J. Shawel, C.SS.R. (and Rev. Andrew Krafchik, associate)1973
- Rev. Joseph Denischuk1974
Helped the parish prepare for its Fiftieth Anniversary.
- Rev. Alexander (Olexander) Dumenkopresent
Current pastor; also serves Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Silver Spring, Maryland.