by Father Frank Estocin
St. Vladimir Cathedral Parish,
Eastern Eparchy, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.
Metropolitan: Constantine (Buggan)
Eparchial Archpastor: Archbishop Antony (Scharba)
Organized in 1925 as a Ukrainian Orthodox Community dedicated to St. Andrew the Firstcalled Apostle, St. Vladimir Parish continues to proclaim the Gospel of Christ for the spiritual benefit of parish family members from Eastern and Western Ukraine and generations born in America.
Chartered on April 26th, 1928 as St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Philadelphia, the community became the Episcopal See of the first Ukrainian Orthodox Bishop of the USA, His Beatitude Metropolitan-Archbishop John Theodorovich (+May 3rd, 1971).
An edifice was, in 1930, purchased at the corner of Germantown Avenue and Berks Street. In addition to a residence, the Print Shop "Dnipro", a parish based Credit Union, and a viable Diocesan Seminary were a part of the original complex.
Changing demographics necessitated steps to relocate the cathedral see. In 1965, Metropolitan John consecrated property purchased for the new complex at the corner of North Fifth and Independence Streets.
Construction began on November 1, 1965 by the DeLoro Construction Firm. Supervising the construction of the Neo-Byzantine Style edifice, designed by Nick Chimes, was Mr. Joseph Podgurski.
Completed in July, 1966, the new edifice was consecrated on September 11, 1966 by Metropolitan John Theodorovich, assisted by Bishop Alexander (Novitsky), Cathedral Vicar, Fr. Stephen Bilak and local clergy.
With the falling asleep in the Lord of Metropolitan John (+ May 3, 1971), Archbishop Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) Consistory President, succeeded to the office of Metropolitan and was enthroned in solemn ceremonies on May 7th, 1972; on the same day, Archimandrite Constantine (Theodore Buggan) was ordained to the episcopacy by the newly enthroned Metropolitan Mstyslav and Bishop Mark (Hundiak).
With the demise of the first Patriarch of Ukraine, (the former Metropolitan Mstyslav) on June 11th, 1993, Archbishop Constantine succeeded to office of Archpastor of the UOC, USA. Ratification of Metropolitan Constantine's accession to the Prime See of the Archdiocese took place on October 15th at solemn post-Sobor services, celebrated in South Bound Brook, NJ.
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 and the subsequent liberation of Ukraine from Soviet Rule, witnessed a rebirth of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Elected to the office of first Patriarch of Kyiv and All Ukraine on June 5th, 1990 was the senior bishop and Metropolitan of the USA and Diaspora based Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Mstyslav (Skrypnyk).
Enthroned on November 22nd 1991 in St. Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv, Ukraine, Patriarch Mstyslav embarked upon unifying the Church in Ukraine and gaining worldwide Canonical recognition.
With his demise in 1993, the unified church body split into two jurisdictions, each having its own Patriarchal Head, a situation which exists to this day.
Responding to desires often voiced by Metropolitans Theodorovich and Mstyslav, and mindful of the once authentic relationship of the Kyivan Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with the Mother Church of Constantinople, the Hierarchs of the USA and Diaspora Church, having the consent of the Metropolitan Council, gained "de jure" canonical recognition by the Ecumenical Orthodox Church on March 12, 1995 in solemnities celebrated in Constantinople by His All Holiness, Patriarch Bartholomaios I.
This status was reaffirmed at the 14th and 15th Triennial Sobors of the UOC, USA held in South Bound Brook, NJ.