History

The first immigration of Ukrainians into the Lorain area dates back to the year 1910. The only available church was the Carpatho-Russian Church. In 1922 a Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was built where many Ukrainian Orthodox attended.

Eventually, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was established in Canada and the United States. The closest Ukrainian Orthodox Churches to Lorain were St. Nicholas in Lakewood in union with the Ecumenical Patriarch and St. Vladimir in Cleveland under the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church. Ukrainian Orthodox believers in Lorain were inspired by both of these parishes to organize a Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Lorain. In 1931 the first pastor was Rev. Nicholas Levicky. The church members rented the Serbian Orthodox Church and able to follow their particular Ukrainian customs.

In 1945, the first committee was elected to begin the building of the present Church. The lower level of the church was constructed in 1947 and it was blessing in 1948. The church rectory was built in 1950 and by 1954 the upper level was completed.

In 1959 a picnic grounds on Route 57 was purchased. A recreational hall was constructed in 1961, and in June (1961) the picnic ground facilities were dedicated and opened to the public.

Through the help of the Sisterhood, Church Committee, Ladies' Guild and parish members, a new icon screen was erected and dedicated in September 1965. In 2006 St. Mary’s celebrated its 75th anniversary.

Pastors who served St Mary’s: Fr. Nicholas Levitsky, Fr. John Petrykanyn, Fr. George Tsukomyk, Fr. John Paley, Fr. Joseph Yalechko, Fr. Peter Petrush, Fr. Damian Olgin, Fr. Anthony Stangry, Fr. George Krasevich, Fr. Lev Opoka, Fr. Mychailo Mychajluk, Fr. John Bruchok, Fr. Bohdan Bodnarchuk, Fr. Vasyl Shtelen, Fr. Hieromonk Gregory (Woolfenden) and Fr. Dennis Kristof is currently tending to the spiritual care of St. Mary’s.