Roman Catholic Deanery of Sumy
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Deanery of Sumy is a part of Kharkov-Zaporojian Diocese
of the Roman-Catholic Church in Ukraine. It includes four North-East Ukrainian towns Sumy
, Romny
, Konotop
and Shostka
.
The center of the Deanery takes its place on picturesque high right bank of Psel River
(Dnieper's left tributary) in one of old districts in heart of ancient Ukrainian capital Sumy
. In Middle Ages
this town had been joined to the possessions of Sophron's Wilderness monastery
(near Putivl
). To the word that unique cave-priory
, founded by first Grecian missionaries
, come to Kiev Rus from Byzantine
, had been razed almost to the ground in 1960s by communists
. In Sumy is situated the Blessed Virgin Mary Annunciation
parish
, known as the main deanery's temple
.
To the number of other significant regional Roman Catholic places belong the Immaculate Conception
of Virgin Mary in Romny
, the Our Lady of Fatima
parish in Konotop
and St. Joseph parish in Shostka
's stay in the body of Soviet Union
. At the end of the XIX-th century Sumian Roman Catholics had decided to build their own temple and received permission in 1900 with the aid of famous Sumian Maecenas Paul Kharitonenko (1853–1914), at whose sugar-refineries, by the by largest in Europe and Russia worked many specialists from Europe, chiefly Roman Catholics from Poland and Czechia . The Blessed Virgin Mary Annunciation Church, performed in Gothic style, had been founded in 1901. "Unfortunately all attempts to find information about the building process as well as its interior have been unsuccessful" yet. Consecrated in 1911, by Jan Tsepliak, bishop
of Mogilev
, the Blessed Virgin Mary Annunciation Church had been closed down by the authorities in two decades, and was used for improper purpose. It's enough to say, that after the World War II
during 50 years there were situated first a museum, then a gym. Only after the disintegration of USSR the temple had been retrieved to regenerate Roman Catholic parish and in spring 1998 had been solemnly reconsecrated.
The first masses
(1911–1915) at the temple were led by parish priest Fr. Theodor Ryllo. He also gave lessons in religion in Alexander High School, 1st and 2nd High Schools, technical educational institution and Military College in Sumy and in High School in Lebedin
.
His successor (1916–1919) on the post had become chaplain
Fr. A. Krzhivitsky, whose assistants during festivities were Fr. Florian Garaburda and Fr. Jozef Varpekhovsky.
The last registration thereat had been on 1919 November 20. Archive documents witness that 1926, February 21 believers had met to create parish council and commission for inspections. The last Mass
, before the temple had been closed down, had been held in 1932 by Fr. Vagonis. Some Masses conducted during the World War II.
Reformation, proclaimed by Mikhail Gorbachev
, had enabled believers to begin struggle for reviving in the town Roman Catholic parish. And soon, after Ukraine had found independence, at the end of 1991 parish had begun its activity .
At the beginning parishioners gathered on services, once in two weeks (1991-August 1992) conducted by parish priest of the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumption
Church in Kharkov Fr. George Zyminsky, directly on the temple's stairs. Already after returning the temple to the parish, ill-wishers, it happened, turned out the light while service.
The first priest (September 1992-February 1995) of new parish had been appointed priest from Zhytomirian Diocese Fr. Vitaly Skomarovsky. While his cadence in May 1994 the temple had been retrieved.
Next two parish priests had become Fr. Gennadius Bilinsky (March 1995-September 1997) and Fr. Felix Svintsitsky (September 1997-August 1999). During service of the latter the temple had been reconsecrated by the Zhytomyrian bishop Jan Purvinsky in 1998, March 25.
Fourth parish priest (September 1999-June 2006) had been Fr. Stanislav Tanatarov.
For the celebration of the 2000th anniversary of Christmas, in the temple's courtyard, from its left hand, had been erected the Jesus Sacred Heart Chapel (about 4 metres high). Bronze statue of Blessed Virgin Mary with Infant in Her Arms, bathing in vivid verdure of peaceful and cozy square, from the left side of temple and edifice behind it, where the residence of parish priest and Roman Catholic religious mission are accommodated, attracts every eye. Standing on red brick pedestal with quadrilateral base of black stone, surrounded by flowers, grass and trees, thoroughly polished figure always reminds all of the Sacramental.
From 2002 the canteen at the temple functions by efforts of members of the Secular Franciscan Order
, filial of which functions at the parish since spring of 1999.
His successors had become parish priest Fr. Arthur Surovsky (since 2006) and present parish priest Fr. Voicheck Stasevich (since August 2008) (both of them you can see on the photo at left).
Now at the temple are successfully developing Sunday School
(with the aid of pious nuns), library, theatre, museum, spiritual music band, diverse sections and circles (including spiritual culture circles).
To help those who haven't been lucky in life, the Blessed Virgin Mary Annunciation parish had founded a Roman Catholic mission
"Caritas Spes Sumy", that acts at the temple as branch of All-Ukrainian Roman Catholic religious mission "Caritas Spes
Ukraina".
On February 6, 2008, and April 15, 2008, had been created web-sites of mission and parish under titles "Caritas Spes Sumy" and "Ave Maria" to elucidate their activities in religious spheres. To support this aim parish publicates bulletin, named "Ave!", informing about Church's history and life of the parish.
Unfortunately, on September 29, 2008, web-sites of mission and parish "Caritas Spes Sumy" and "Ave Maria" had been closed by decision of new parish administration.
A little later parish had opened its new web-site To the Glory of Jesus Christ
On January 15, 2009, author of former web-sites of mission and parish "Caritas Spes Sumy" and "Ave Maria" had created site of the Sumian Historical Web-Society under the title "Ave Maria" to elucidate different historical subjects, including the history of religion and church.
In a short period after the Russian civil war of 1917-20s, this one, made in Roman architectural style, had been confiscated. Chapel, built from the left side, had been subjected to the total destruction. About its existence nothing reminds, but a strait stripe of wrecked wall, in the past joined chapel with the temple. The latter for decades in the known way also wasn't used for proper purpose (Ministry of Education had turned over it at disposal of polytechnic secondary school, that housed inside received premises workshops).
Restored Roman Catholic parish could be contented with very little, because open-air divine services were conducted across the street in the courtyard, belonged to a married couple, who'd become parishioners, by priest, come from Sumy at the appointed time. Very difficult task to return temple to the lawful owner, The Holy See, Fr. Stanislav Tanatarov, appointed to Sumy in September 1999, didn't ever consider impossible and at once on a special conference, convened in Romny, had proclaimed his aspiration to reconsecrate the temple. He'd succeeded in getting free the first floor in church, then Fr. Stanislav had liberated ground floor, minister's house and other edifices.
had appeared and been consecrated a new Roman Catholic temple, built in modern style.
The place, called by local inhabitants as "seven winds", now is one of town sights owing to Jeff Woolthy, a young member of the Holy Apostles parish from Colorado Springs (which continually renders its Sumian coreligionists help). He'd made the rich donation to the Our Lady of Fatima parish in memory of his prematurely deceased wife. The present parish priest in Konotop is Fr. Zbignev.
. The present parish priest there is Fr. Thomas.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Roman-Catholic Church in Ukraine. It includes four North-East Ukrainian towns Sumy
Sumy
* 1897 - 70.53% Ukrainians, 24.1% Russians, 2.6% Jewish, 2.67% others* 1926 - 80.7% Ukrainians, 11.8% Russians, 5.5% Jewish, 2% others* 1959 - 79% Ukrainians, 20% Russians, 1% others...
, Romny
Romny
Romny is a city in the northern Ukrainian Oblast of Sumy. It is located on the Romen River and is the administrative center of the Romny Raion...
, Konotop
Konotop
Konotop is a city in northern Ukraine within the Sumy Oblast. Konotop is the center of the Konotop Raion , and is located about 129 km from Sumy, the Oblast capital. It is host to Konotop air base.-History:...
and Shostka
Shostka
Shostka is a town in Sumy Oblast in north-east of Ukraine. The population is 85,800 . The town lies on the river Shostka, a tributary of Desna, from which it gets its name...
.
The center of the Deanery takes its place on picturesque high right bank of Psel River
Psel River
The Psel is a river, a left tributary of the Dnipro River, which flows through Russia and Ukraine.The Psel has a length of 717 km and a drainage basin of 22,800 km². The river's right bank is high and steep, unlike the low, left bank...
(Dnieper's left tributary) in one of old districts in heart of ancient Ukrainian capital Sumy
Sumy
* 1897 - 70.53% Ukrainians, 24.1% Russians, 2.6% Jewish, 2.67% others* 1926 - 80.7% Ukrainians, 11.8% Russians, 5.5% Jewish, 2% others* 1959 - 79% Ukrainians, 20% Russians, 1% others...
. In Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
this town had been joined to the possessions of Sophron's Wilderness monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
(near Putivl
Putyvl
Putyvl or Putivl is a town in north-east Ukraine, in Sumy Oblast. Currently about 20,000 people live in Putyvl.-History:One of the original Siverian towns, Putyvl was first mentioned as early as 1146 as an important fortress contested between Chernigov and Novgorod-Seversky principalities of...
). To the word that unique cave-priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
, founded by first Grecian missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
, come to Kiev Rus from Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, had been razed almost to the ground in 1960s by communists
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
. In Sumy is situated the Blessed Virgin Mary Annunciation
Annunciation
The Annunciation, also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary or Annunciation of the Lord, is the Christian celebration of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary, that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus the Son of God. Gabriel told Mary to name her...
parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
, known as the main deanery's temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
.
To the number of other significant regional Roman Catholic places belong the Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
of Virgin Mary in Romny
Romny
Romny is a city in the northern Ukrainian Oblast of Sumy. It is located on the Romen River and is the administrative center of the Romny Raion...
, the Our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Fátima is a famous title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary as she appeared in apparitions reported by three shepherd children at Fátima in Portugal. These occurred on the 13th day of six consecutive months in 1917, starting on May 13...
parish in Konotop
Konotop
Konotop is a city in northern Ukraine within the Sumy Oblast. Konotop is the center of the Konotop Raion , and is located about 129 km from Sumy, the Oblast capital. It is host to Konotop air base.-History:...
and St. Joseph parish in Shostka
Shostka
Shostka is a town in Sumy Oblast in north-east of Ukraine. The population is 85,800 . The town lies on the river Shostka, a tributary of Desna, from which it gets its name...
Sumy
The history of comparatively new Roman Catholic parish in town Sumy is dramatic. Ordeals had fallen to its lot while UkraineUkraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
's stay in the body of Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. At the end of the XIX-th century Sumian Roman Catholics had decided to build their own temple and received permission in 1900 with the aid of famous Sumian Maecenas Paul Kharitonenko (1853–1914), at whose sugar-refineries, by the by largest in Europe and Russia worked many specialists from Europe, chiefly Roman Catholics from Poland and Czechia . The Blessed Virgin Mary Annunciation Church, performed in Gothic style, had been founded in 1901. "Unfortunately all attempts to find information about the building process as well as its interior have been unsuccessful" yet. Consecrated in 1911, by Jan Tsepliak, bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Mogilev
Mogilev
Mogilev is a city in eastern Belarus, about 76 km from the border with Russia's Smolensk Oblast and 105 km from the border with Russia's Bryansk Oblast. It has more than 367,788 inhabitants...
, the Blessed Virgin Mary Annunciation Church had been closed down by the authorities in two decades, and was used for improper purpose. It's enough to say, that after the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
during 50 years there were situated first a museum, then a gym. Only after the disintegration of USSR the temple had been retrieved to regenerate Roman Catholic parish and in spring 1998 had been solemnly reconsecrated.
The first masses
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
(1911–1915) at the temple were led by parish priest Fr. Theodor Ryllo. He also gave lessons in religion in Alexander High School, 1st and 2nd High Schools, technical educational institution and Military College in Sumy and in High School in Lebedin
Lebedyn
Lebedyn is a city in Sumy Oblast, Ukraine. Population is 28,948 . An air base is located nearby.In 1708 the city was a site of ethnic cleansing against Ukrainians during the Executions of Cossacks in Lebedin by the Russian Empire.-See also:...
.
His successor (1916–1919) on the post had become chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
Fr. A. Krzhivitsky, whose assistants during festivities were Fr. Florian Garaburda and Fr. Jozef Varpekhovsky.
The last registration thereat had been on 1919 November 20. Archive documents witness that 1926, February 21 believers had met to create parish council and commission for inspections. The last Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
, before the temple had been closed down, had been held in 1932 by Fr. Vagonis. Some Masses conducted during the World War II.
Reformation, proclaimed by Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
, had enabled believers to begin struggle for reviving in the town Roman Catholic parish. And soon, after Ukraine had found independence, at the end of 1991 parish had begun its activity .
At the beginning parishioners gathered on services, once in two weeks (1991-August 1992) conducted by parish priest of the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumption
Assumption of Mary
According to the belief of Christians of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of the Anglican Communion and Continuing Anglicanism, the Assumption of Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life...
Church in Kharkov Fr. George Zyminsky, directly on the temple's stairs. Already after returning the temple to the parish, ill-wishers, it happened, turned out the light while service.
The first priest (September 1992-February 1995) of new parish had been appointed priest from Zhytomirian Diocese Fr. Vitaly Skomarovsky. While his cadence in May 1994 the temple had been retrieved.
Next two parish priests had become Fr. Gennadius Bilinsky (March 1995-September 1997) and Fr. Felix Svintsitsky (September 1997-August 1999). During service of the latter the temple had been reconsecrated by the Zhytomyrian bishop Jan Purvinsky in 1998, March 25.
Fourth parish priest (September 1999-June 2006) had been Fr. Stanislav Tanatarov.
For the celebration of the 2000th anniversary of Christmas, in the temple's courtyard, from its left hand, had been erected the Jesus Sacred Heart Chapel (about 4 metres high). Bronze statue of Blessed Virgin Mary with Infant in Her Arms, bathing in vivid verdure of peaceful and cozy square, from the left side of temple and edifice behind it, where the residence of parish priest and Roman Catholic religious mission are accommodated, attracts every eye. Standing on red brick pedestal with quadrilateral base of black stone, surrounded by flowers, grass and trees, thoroughly polished figure always reminds all of the Sacramental.
From 2002 the canteen at the temple functions by efforts of members of the Secular Franciscan Order
Secular Franciscan Order
thumb|rigth|Lapel pin of Secular Franciscan Order.The Secular Franciscan Order is a community of Catholic men and women, of any of the Rites in communion with Rome , in the world who seek to pattern their lives after Christ in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. Secular Franciscans are...
, filial of which functions at the parish since spring of 1999.
His successors had become parish priest Fr. Arthur Surovsky (since 2006) and present parish priest Fr. Voicheck Stasevich (since August 2008) (both of them you can see on the photo at left).
Now at the temple are successfully developing Sunday School
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
(with the aid of pious nuns), library, theatre, museum, spiritual music band, diverse sections and circles (including spiritual culture circles).
To help those who haven't been lucky in life, the Blessed Virgin Mary Annunciation parish had founded a Roman Catholic mission
Mission (station)
A religious mission or mission station is a location for missionary work.While primarily a Christian term, the concept of the religious "mission" is also used prominently by the Church of Scientology and their Scientology Missions International....
"Caritas Spes Sumy", that acts at the temple as branch of All-Ukrainian Roman Catholic religious mission "Caritas Spes
Caritas (charity)
Caritas Internationalis is a confederate of 164 Roman Catholic relief, development and social service organisations operating in over 200 countries and territories worldwide....
Ukraina".
On February 6, 2008, and April 15, 2008, had been created web-sites of mission and parish under titles "Caritas Spes Sumy" and "Ave Maria" to elucidate their activities in religious spheres. To support this aim parish publicates bulletin, named "Ave!", informing about Church's history and life of the parish.
Unfortunately, on September 29, 2008, web-sites of mission and parish "Caritas Spes Sumy" and "Ave Maria" had been closed by decision of new parish administration.
A little later parish had opened its new web-site To the Glory of Jesus Christ
On January 15, 2009, author of former web-sites of mission and parish "Caritas Spes Sumy" and "Ave Maria" had created site of the Sumian Historical Web-Society under the title "Ave Maria" to elucidate different historical subjects, including the history of religion and church.
Romny
The tragic history of the Blessed Virgin Mary Annunciation temple in Sumy in no case was just a regrettable exception, but shows a striking example of widespread disastrous practice of persecuting Roman Catholic Church in Soviet Union. Like a long-suffering Sumian parish, had stood a severe test temple of Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary in Romny.In a short period after the Russian civil war of 1917-20s, this one, made in Roman architectural style, had been confiscated. Chapel, built from the left side, had been subjected to the total destruction. About its existence nothing reminds, but a strait stripe of wrecked wall, in the past joined chapel with the temple. The latter for decades in the known way also wasn't used for proper purpose (Ministry of Education had turned over it at disposal of polytechnic secondary school, that housed inside received premises workshops).
Restored Roman Catholic parish could be contented with very little, because open-air divine services were conducted across the street in the courtyard, belonged to a married couple, who'd become parishioners, by priest, come from Sumy at the appointed time. Very difficult task to return temple to the lawful owner, The Holy See, Fr. Stanislav Tanatarov, appointed to Sumy in September 1999, didn't ever consider impossible and at once on a special conference, convened in Romny, had proclaimed his aspiration to reconsecrate the temple. He'd succeeded in getting free the first floor in church, then Fr. Stanislav had liberated ground floor, minister's house and other edifices.
Konotop
The Our Lady of Fatima parish, third in Sumian Roman Catholic deanery, had passed through a long way while in 2005 in KonotopKonotop
Konotop is a city in northern Ukraine within the Sumy Oblast. Konotop is the center of the Konotop Raion , and is located about 129 km from Sumy, the Oblast capital. It is host to Konotop air base.-History:...
had appeared and been consecrated a new Roman Catholic temple, built in modern style.
The place, called by local inhabitants as "seven winds", now is one of town sights owing to Jeff Woolthy, a young member of the Holy Apostles parish from Colorado Springs (which continually renders its Sumian coreligionists help). He'd made the rich donation to the Our Lady of Fatima parish in memory of his prematurely deceased wife. The present parish priest in Konotop is Fr. Zbignev.
Shostka
The center of the fourth parish, chapel, named in honour of St. Joseph, now is situated in the private house in ShostkaShostka
Shostka is a town in Sumy Oblast in north-east of Ukraine. The population is 85,800 . The town lies on the river Shostka, a tributary of Desna, from which it gets its name...
. The present parish priest there is Fr. Thomas.
External links
- The Holy See
- The Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine (the Latin rite)
- To the Glory of Jesus Christ
- The Sumian Historical Web-Society
- RISU (Religious Information Service of Ukraine)