Proper pious place
SCRUBGRASS TWP, Venango County — St. Thomas Chapel has roots that run deep in Ukrainian culture. Its architecture and construction replicate that found in the Carpathian Mountains, where archetypes remain from the 16th century.
Among few of its kind in the United States, the Orthodox chapel captured an audience.
More than 500 visitors attended the St. Thomas Chapel consecration on Sunday, hailing from various states and Canada. The group assembled at the All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church Camp, where the chapel stands not far from the entrance.
"I'm fairly positive this is the only time this is going to happen in my life," said Stephen Sheptak, who manages the 90-acre camp on the Allegheny River.
Sheptak referred to the ceremony that would transform the structure into a holy place.
Coinciding with the church camp's 30th anniversary, some visitors arrived the previous day, when talks were scheduled amid the regular church camp activities.
The consecration, however, began on Sunday, when singers, worshippers, priests, hierarchy and dignitaries made their way from the social area, where perogies, sausages and other fare would later emerge for an afternoon meal.
Singing echoed from many walkers, who stood shoulder to shoulder once in the chapel, where a cross breeze blew through the open doors.
Arranged along the natural wood walls, brilliantly painted icons depicted stories of The Creation, The Resurrection, The Dormition of the Blessed Theotokos and other significant events. Included also were scenes of St. Thomas, patron saint of the chapel.After a series of prayers, chanted in the customary style, dignitaries and priests began another procession, carrying a relic from St. John Chrysostom around the chapel's exterior."Just like the Vatican, we have a reservoir of all the saints in the Orthodox Church," explained His Eminence Archbishop Antony, who was present at the service. The second-ranked bishop in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A., Antony is based in South Bound Brook, N.J., where he also serves as president of the consistory."It's a pretty powerful relic to have here in the chapel,"the archbishop added, explaining the saint was patriarch of Constantinople in the fourth century who authored the Divine Liturgy, the most commonly celebrated Orthodox service.Bone fragments from the saints only can be passed from bishop to bishop, he added.The archbishop was joined by His Beatitude Metropolitan Constantine, the highest ranking bishop in the stateside Ukrainian Orthodox Church, as well as His Grace Bishop Daniel, third in the hierarchy.Assisted by a host of priests, the bishops then proceeded to consecrate the altar, secluded behind the iconostasis, a screen that separates the nave from the sanctuary where only clergy and altar servers can go.As part of the process, the relic was placed in an opening in the altar table, then sealed into the cavity with a mixture of beeswax, mastic, myrrh, aloe, incense and resins.In a process only partially visible through the open doors, the hierarchy then secured the altar table with traditional wooden pegs, pounding them into place with stones."In early Christianity, everything was built without hammers," noted the Rev. George Hnatko of Indiana, Pa., a director of the Eastern Orthodox Foundation who is formerly of Butler.
Symbolizing the tomb of Christ, the altar table then was christened with rose water and wine, anointed with oil, sprinkled with holy water and covered with a shroud.The shroud was bound to the table with cord, tied to resemble a cross on each side. The altar then was vested with brocaded covers before housing the Antimens, Gospel Book, hand cross, Tabernacle and candlesticks."That was a big highlight for us," said Stanley Ostwinch of Center Township, a member of Ss. Peter and Paul. "Probably in our lifetime we'll never see it again, it's so rare."Bishop Daniel, who had just returned to the United States from visiting an orphanage in Ukraine, said the consecration was among his first duties in America as bishop, having been ordained shortly before his trip abroad."I was standing in front of the altar today, and I was actually crying," he said, describing his childhood in the Soviet Union in which many children were denied their religion."I never had the experience to go to church or go to church camp," he said. "Today I'm standing in front of the altar praying. It's a humbling experience. I stand on their behalf in front of the altar — and to consecrate the altar, actually, there are no words to describe the feeling."Few words were spoken, however, as the bishops censed the altar and then the rest of the church. Carrying shiny pails of holy water, the bishops used special organic brushes to cast the sacred solution, blessing the iconography and chapel interior.Long wands tipped with artist-type brushes were dipped in Chrysm, then used to anoint high places on the walls in the shape of a cross.Occasional wafts of incense perfumed the nave, which days before smelled only of lumber."Now it becomes a church," said Steve Sheptak, whose son Stephen manages the camp."Before it was just a building with pictures."Following the ceremony, officiants delivered the Divine Liturgy, an exercise that would repeat for seven days to make the consecration complete.The services were delivered on those days by the Rev. Zinoviy Zharsky of Johnson City, N.Y., the Rev. Paisius McGrath of Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Lyndora, and the Rev. Anthony Perkins of Woonsocket, R.I.Although the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has no plans to install a resident priest or hold regular services at St. Thomas, McGrath will continue his role as one of the spiritual advisers at the camp. He, along with several others, will celebrate Divine Liturgy as needed.The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. consists of three eparchies, or dioceses, ruled by the metropolitan, archbishop and bishop. It includes about 105 parishes and missions.The primatial cathedral, St. Vladimir Cathedral, is in Parma, Ohio. The church's head offices and consistory are in South Bound Brook, N.J.
