About Saint Vladimir [Ukrainian] · Scranton, Pennsylvania
St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church is a Byzantine-rite (Ukrainian Greek Catholic) parish in Scranton, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Archeparchy of Philadelphia. The parish was incorporated in August 1908 as 'The Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church Congregation of Saint Wolodymir of Scranton, Pennsylvania,' and today serves the faithful at 430 North 7th Avenue under the pastoral care of Rev. Myron Myronyuk. Worship is celebrated in the Ukrainian Byzantine liturgical tradition with Divine Liturgy on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, alongside catechetical classes, Bible study, and a Ukrainian aid outreach.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- Saint Vladimir (Volodymyr) the Great, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Grand Prince of Kyiv
- Rector
- Rev. Myron Myronyuk
- Diocese
- Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia
Why belong here
St. Vladimir's offers a living expression of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic tradition in the heart of Scranton — Divine Liturgy celebrated weekly, Sunday School for children ages 5–14 led by Dr. Helen Chandoha, and Bible study, youth ministry, and catechetical classes after the Sunday Liturgy. The parish has stewarded two cemeteries (Amherst Street and Minooka/Kane Street), a parish center and school building, and an active outreach to war-weary Ukraine through the 'Healing of Wounds of the War in Ukraine Fund.' It is a small, family-sized community that connects its members to over a century of faith, language, and heritage in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Mass times at Saint Vladimir [Ukrainian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: half hour before Divine Liturgy
Parish History
St. Vladimir's was legally incorporated on August 10, 1908 as 'The Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church Congregation of Saint Wolodymir of Scranton, Pennsylvania.' Two days later parishioners purchased Robinson Hall at 426 North Seventh Avenue as their first house of worship, and on October 15, 1908 land on Amherst Street was acquired for a cemetery. The first pastors, Rev. Andrew Kaminsky and Rev. Oleksa Prystay, were appointed by Bishop Soter Ortynsky, the first Eastern Catholic bishop in the United States. Over more than a century the parish has built a permanent church, two cemeteries, a parish center and school, a rectory, and a parking lot — and has continuously celebrated the Ukrainian Byzantine Divine Liturgy for the Scranton faithful.
Building the Church (1932–1936)
During the pastorate of Very Rev. Myron Zalitach (1922–1946) the present church was constructed in 1932–1933. The first Divine Liturgy in the new church was celebrated on Easter Sunday, April 16, 1933, and Bishop Constantine Bohachevsky formally dedicated and blessed the building on September 7, 1936.
- Church construction: 1932–1933
- First Divine Liturgy: Easter Sunday, April 16, 1933
- Dedication by Bishop Constantine Bohachevsky: September 7, 1936
Mid-Century Expansion under Fr. Izak (1952–1979)
Under Very Rev. Canon Bohdan Izak the parish dramatically expanded its physical plant. A second cemetery was acquired on Kane Street in Minooka in April 1950; adjoining property was bought in 1957 for a Parish Center and School (completed May 24, 1959); a new iconostasis was installed in September 1960; a parking lot was laid in 1961; a new rectory was blessed on April 26, 1970; and the church interior was renovated in 1975.
- 1957: Parish Center and School property purchased
- 1959: Construction completed (May 24)
- 1960: New iconostasis installed (September)
- 1961: Parking lot added next to Parish Center
- 1970: New rectory blessed (April 26)
- 1975: Church interior renovated
Liturgy and Schedule
St. Vladimir's celebrates the Ukrainian Byzantine Divine Liturgy on Saturdays at 4:00 PM and on Sundays at 9:30 AM, with services offered in both Ukrainian and English. Confessions are heard on Sundays a half hour before the Divine Liturgy. After the Sunday Liturgy (around 10:30 AM) the parish gathers for Bible study, youth ministry, and catechetical classes.
- Saturday Divine Liturgy: 4:00 PM
- Sunday Divine Liturgy: 9:30 AM (Ukrainian and English)
- Confessions: Sunday, half hour before Divine Liturgy
- Bible study / Youth ministry / Catechetical classes: Sunday after the 10:30 AM Liturgy
Religious Education and Youth
St. Vladimir's offers Sunday School every week after the Sunday Divine Liturgy at 10:30 AM, with classes for children ranging from 5 to 14 years of age led by Dr. Helen Chandoha. The parish also runs a youth ministry program for older children and teens. Parents and parishioners can contact the parish office at [email protected] or (570) 342-7023 for more information.
- Sunday School: after the 10:30 AM Liturgy
- Ages served: 5–14
- Instructor: Dr. Helen Chandoha
- Youth ministry for older students
Outreach: Healing of the Wounds of War in Ukraine
In solidarity with their homeland, the parish maintains the 'Healing of Wounds of the War in Ukraine Fund,' a charitable outreach supporting war-affected Ukrainians. The fund reflects St. Vladimir's ongoing commitment to the people of Ukraine and to the broader Eastern European Catholic community, and connects directly to the parish's founding identity as a Ukrainian Greek Catholic congregation in northeastern Pennsylvania.
- Healing of Wounds of the War in Ukraine Fund
Cemeteries
St. Vladimir's operates two parish cemeteries that serve the Ukrainian Catholic community of the Scranton area. The original cemetery on Amherst Street was acquired on October 15, 1908, just two months after the parish's legal incorporation. A second cemetery on Kane Street in Minooka was purchased in April 1950 to meet growing parish needs.
- Amherst Street Cemetery (acquired October 15, 1908)
- Minooka / Kane Street Cemetery (acquired April 1950)
Parish Center, School and Facilities
Adjoining property next to the church was purchased in 1957 for a Parish Center and School, with construction completed on May 24, 1959. A new rectory was blessed on April 26, 1970, and a parking lot was added in 1961. Together these buildings support the parish's liturgical, educational, and community life.
- Parish Center and School: built 1957–1959
- Rectory: blessed April 26, 1970
- Parking lot: 1961
Parish Staff and Clergy
St. Vladimir's is currently led by pastor Rev. Myron Myronyuk, who has served the community since August 2012 and is also a priest of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. Religious education for children is coordinated by Dr. Helen Chandoha, who leads Sunday School classes for ages 5–14. Parish inquiries may be directed to the church office at (570) 342-7023 or [email protected].
- Rev. Myron Myronyuk, Pastor (since August 2012)
- Dr. Helen Chandoha, Religious Education coordinator
Visiting St. Vladimir's
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at 430 North 7th Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503. The parish is a member of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and celebrates the Byzantine (Ukrainian) liturgical rite. Call (570) 342-7023 or email [email protected] for current schedule information, sacramental preparation, or pastoral needs.
- Address: 430 N 7th Ave, Scranton, PA 18503
- Phone: (570) 342-7023
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://stvladimirscranton.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Andrew Kaminsky1908–
Co-first pastor, appointed by Bishop Soter Ortynsky
- Rev. Oleksa Prystay1908–
Co-first pastor, appointed by Bishop Soter Ortynsky
- Very Rev. Myron Zalitach1922–1946
Oversaw construction of the present church (1932–1933) and its dedication in 1936
- Very Rev. Canon Bohdan Izak1952–1979
Built the Parish Center and School (1957–1959), new iconostasis (1960), parking lot (1961), rectory (1970), interior renovation (1975)
- Rev. Joseph Martyniuk1979–1986
75th parish anniversary celebrated during his pastorate (September 1983)
- Rev. Paul Richard Wolensky2004–2012
Led the 100th anniversary celebration in August 2008
- Rev. Myron Myronyuk2012–present
Became pastor in August 2012