View source for St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral (Parma, Ohio)

{{Infobox church
|name                   = St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral
|image                  = Main entrance - St Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral (48106356271).jpg
|imagesize              = 250px
|imagealt               = 
|caption                = St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Parma, Ohio, U.S.
|pushpin map            = 
|pushpin label position = none
|coordinates            = {{coord|41|24|24|N|81|42|40|W|display=inline,title}}
|location               = 5720 State Road<br>[[Parma, Ohio]]
|country                = [[United States]]
|denomination           = [[Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church]]
|website                = {{url|http://stjosaphatcathedral.com}}
|founded date           =  
|founder                = 
|dedication             = 
|dedicated date         = 
|consecrated date       = 
|past bishop            = 
|people                 =
|status                 = 
|functional status      = 
|heritage designation   = 
|designated date        = 
|architect              = McWilliams-Martyniuk-Schidlowski
|style                  = [[Byzantine Revival architecture|Byzantine Revival]]
|groundbreaking         = June 24, 1982
|completed date         = 
|construction cost      = 
|closed date            = 
|demolished date        =
|capacity               = 500
|length                 = 
|width                  = 
|width nave             = <!-- {{convert|}} -->
|height                 = <!-- {{convert|}} -->
|floor area             = <!-- {{convert|}} -->
|diocese                = [[Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saint Josaphat in Parma|Saint Josaphat in Parma]]
|bishop                 = [[Bohdan Danylo]]
}}

'''St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral''' is a [[Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church|Ukrainian Catholic]] [[cathedral]] located in [[Parma, Ohio]], in the United States. The cathedral grew out of a [[parochial school]] which opened in 1951 and a parish erected in 1959. Construction on the cathedral began in 1982, and was completed in 1985. It was dedicated in 1988, the thousand-year anniversary of the arrival of [[Christianity]] in [[Ukraine]]. The cathedral is the seat for the [[Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saint Josaphat in Parma]], which was erected in 1983 during construction of the building.

==Site: School and chapel==
===School growth===
[[File:1953 school - St Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral (48135889468).jpg|thumb|left|250px|1953 school building]]
In 1947, Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]], purchased {{convert|10|acre}} of land{{Efn|A later source says {{convert|10.5|acre}}.<ref name=rees />}} in then-sparsely populated Parma, Ohio.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rev. Mitred Dmytro Gresko, Ukrainian Catholic Pastor|work=The Plain Dealer|date=September 16, 1986}}</ref> The $32,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|32000|1951|r=-5}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars) school was dedicated on May 31, 1951, and opened the following November 15.<ref name=mark>{{cite news|title=Parma School to Mark Anniversary|work=The Ukrainian Weekly|date=September 4, 1977|page=5|access-date=June 25, 2019|url=http://ukrweekly.com/archive/1977/The_Ukrainian_Weekly_1977-33.pdf}}</ref> The school was staffed by the [[Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great]].<ref name=raphael /> The school contained a chapel, named for [[Josaphat Kuntsevych|St. Josaphat]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Byzantine Eve of Christmas Marked by Rite's Followers|work=The Plain Dealer|date=January 7, 1952|page=4}}</ref> which served as a mission church to Ukrainian Catholic families in the area.<ref name=parish>{{cite news|title=New Byzantine Rite Parish Added Here|work=The Plain Dealer|date=August 29, 1959|page=15}}</ref> The chapel was renovated in 1959, at which time the name of the school was changed to St. Josaphat School.<ref name=parish /><ref>{{cite news|last=Karmazyn|first=Anizia|title=St. Josaphat School in Parma: Still Making Memories at 60 Years|work=The Ukrainian Weekly|date=October 28, 2007|page=11|access-date=June 25, 2019|url=http://www.ukrweekly.com/archive/2007/The_Ukrainian_Weekly_2007-43.pdf}}</ref>

A second, $100,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|100000|1953|r=-5}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars) school building on the site was completed in 1953<ref name=mark /> and blessed on May 9, 1954.<ref name=raphael>{{cite news|title=Archbishop Will Dedicate New St. Raphael's Church|work=The Plain Dealer|date=May 8, 1954|page=13}}</ref> A convent building for the Sisters of St. Basil was blessed on the site on May 9, 1954, as well.<ref>{{cite news|title=St. Raphael's Church Is Dedicated|work=The Plain Dealer|date=May 10, 1954|page=23}}</ref>

A five-classroom addition to the St. Josaphat School was built in 1965.<ref name=fire>{{cite news|title=$100,000 Fire Routs 40 in Parma|work=The Plain Dealer|date=April 12, 1973|page=1}}</ref>

===Construction of the "Astrodome"===
[[File:Astrodome - St Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral (48135858301).jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Astrodome"]]
In the summer of 1961, St. Josaphat Parish began construction of a high school on its property.<ref name=fallout>{{cite news|title=Fallout Shelter Part of New Parma School|work=The Plain Dealer|date=August 12, 1961|pages=1-2}}</ref> Parishioner<ref name=rees>{{cite news|last=Rees|first=John W.|title=Parishioners Build Own School|work=The Plain Dealer|date=June 6, 1964|page=19}}</ref> Nicholas Baiko, an [[engineer]] with the Arthur G. McKee & Co. industrial engineering firm, did the preliminary drawings.<ref name=crawford>{{cite news|last=Crawford|first=John A.|title=141-Foot Dome Spans Parma School|work=The Plain Dealer|date=September 27, 1964|page=E34}}</ref> Parishioner<ref name=rees /> Michael Stefanyk, an architect and engineer, completed the plans.<ref name=fallout /> The dome of the school was designed by Roof Structures, Inc. of [[St. Louis, Missouri]], while the architectural firm of T.A. Badowski & Associates consulted.<ref name=crawford />

Designed for 500 students,<ref name=fallout /><ref name=rees /> the structure was circular and features 16 one-story classrooms clustered around a central dome. The classroom ring contained administrative offices, classrooms, a library, and laboratories. The central dome was a combination auditorium, gymnasium, and [[Stage (theatre)|theatre]]. The wall supporting the dome was {{convert|25|ft}} high, and the dome rose another {{convert|48|ft}} above the wall. The dome itself was {{convert|140|ft}} in diameter, while the classroom ring was {{convert|211|ft}} in diameter.<ref name=fallout />

The foundation consisted of [[reinforced concrete]] [[Foundation (engineering)|footers]] standing on bedrock.<ref name=crawford /> The structure had an extensive basement. Initially designed to act as a [[fallout shelter]] capable of serving 2,000 people,<ref name=fallout /> it was redesigned so that half the space was occupied by [[Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning]] machinery while the other half contained seven classrooms and a [[cafeteria]].<ref name=crawford />{{Efn|The number of below-ground classrooms is derived from a June 1964 newspaper article which reported that the building had 22 classrooms in total.<ref name=rees /> Another news media article just three months later noted that there were 15 ground-level classrooms.<ref name=crawford /> This indicates seven classrooms were below-ground.}} The outer wall of the classroom ring was built of brick with stone trim,<ref name=fallout /> while the higher inner wall was concrete block and glass brick.<ref name=crawford /> A hallway around the inner wall gave students access to all classrooms and the dome. Roughly halfway up the inner wall, a balcony projected into the dome. A ring of poured reinforced concrete lay atop the balcony, anchoring it to this wall. Another ring of poured reinforced concrete lay atop the wall. The base of the dome itself was made of steel plate. Each plate was {{convert|9|in}} high and {{convert|1.5|in}} thick, and they were both bolted and welded where they joined one another. The dome was supported by wooden ribs, each {{convert|4|by|10|in}} in size. Manufactured in [[Oregon]], they were curved on the top to match the arc of the dome. Thirty-two ribs were jointed with steel angle plates to the dome rim. Halfway to the dome apex, the 32 ribs were spliced into one another (again using steel angle plates) to create 16 ribs. These 16 ribs were bolted to a steel ring at the apex of the dome. Secondary wooden beams were used between the ribs to enhance the dome's stability. [[Tongue and groove]] planks, each {{convert|2|in}} thick, were spiked to the ribs from the outside. These in turn were covered with {{convert|1|in}} thick composite insulation board. Liquid hot [[Bitumen|asphalt]] was mopped onto the insulation board, building up the roof. A layer of white marble chips was impregnated into the asphalt to complete the roof. The auditorium and balcony could accommodate 1,500 people.<ref name=crawford /> The structure was estimated to cost $1 million (${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|1000000|1961}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars), with another $700,000 (${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|700000|1961}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars) in labor<ref name=fallout /> donated free from parishioners.<ref name=fallout /><ref name=sprague />

When construction began in May 1961,<ref name=sprague /> parish officials believed the high school would be complete in September 1962.<ref name=fallout /> Construction delays were numerous, however, and by June 1964 officials thought that five classrooms might open in September 1965.<ref name=rees /> The building was finally completed in early 1969, and blessed by Archbishop [[Ambrose Senyshyn]] of the [[Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia|Archeparchy of Philadelphia]] on April 20, 1969.<ref name=sprague>{{cite web|last=Sprague|first=Ingrid Schaefer|title=Beyond the Astrodome|work=CBC Magazine|date=September 2, 2015|access-date=June 25, 2019|url=http://cbcmagazine.com/2015/09/02/beyond-the-astrodome/}}</ref>

For various reasons, the school never opened.<ref name=sprague /> It was repurposed into an event center, public auditorium, public theatre, and sports venue. It was first known as St. Josaphat Auditorium,<ref>{{cite news|title=St. Josaphat Holds Boxing Benefit|work=The Plain Dealer|date=October 22, 1969|page=F7}}</ref> but by 1975 had been nicknamed the "St. Josaphat Astrodome" for its resemblance to the [[Astrodome|Houston Astrodome]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Sammon|first=Judy|title=Today|work=The Plain Dealer|date=April 24, 1975|page=A8}}</ref>

===Congregation and chapel===
[[File:Rectory - St Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral (48135948512).jpg|thumb|250px|Rectory]]
[[Archbishop#Eastern Christianity|Archbishop]] [[Constantine Bohachevsky]] erected St. Josaphat Parish in August 1959, appointing Rev. Andrew Ulicky (an assistant pastor at SS. Peter and Paul Church) as the pastor. Brookpark Road was named the dividing line between the mother parish and the new St. Josaphat, whose boundary extended south to [[Medina, Ohio]]. The erection of the new parish came about due to the significant growth among Ukrainian Catholics in the area (now numbering some 450 families).<ref name=parish />

St. Josaphat Chapel was redecorated after the elevation to parish status. Artist Theodore Katomay of [[Chicago]] created 24 murals for the renovation, 17 of which were placed in the sanctuary. The new murals were in place in time for the Christmas celebration on January 7, 1961, and blessed on January 22 by [[Monsignor]] Dmytro Gresko of SS. Peter and Paul and Rev. Ulicky.<ref>{{cite news|title=Byzantine Rite Church Blessed, Murals Placed|work=The Plain Dealer|date=January 23, 1961|page=8}}</ref>

A fire broke out in St. Josaphat Chapel during the evening [[Mass (liturgy)|mass]] on April 11, 1973. It began in the [[sacristy]], and 40 worshippers fled the blaze. The fire did $100,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|100000|1973|r=-5}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars) in damage, destroying the sacristy and main altar and scorching some [[pew]]s.<ref name=fire />

==Cathedral==
===Construction===
Rev. Ulicky originally sought to build a church immediately after erection of the parish. Church leaders, however, believed construction of the high school should come first.<ref name=opened>{{cite news|title=Parma's St. Josaphat Cathedral to be officially opened|work=The Ukrainian Weekly|date=June 23, 1985|page=4|access-date=June 25, 2019|url=http://ukrweekly.com/archive/pdf2/1985/The_Ukrainian_Weekly_1985-25.pdf}}</ref> In 1973,<ref>{{cite news|title=Msgr. Andrew Ulicky, Ukrainian Catholic Church vicar general|work=The Plain Dealer|date=March 28, 1983|page=B6}}</ref> Father Ulicky was appointed pastor at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in [[Johnstown, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Bihun|first=Yaro|title='An unidentified guest,' and Our Family Collections|work=The Ukrainian Weekly|date=April 9, 2006|access-date=June 25, 2019|url=http://www.ukrweekly.com/old/archive/2006/150619.shtml}}</ref> His successor, the [[Archpriest#Eastern Christianity|Very Reverend]] Yaroslaw Sirko, continued to plan for construction of a church,<ref name=opened /> but died in October 1979 after a two-year battle with [[cancer]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Rev. Sirko, 67, Ukrainian priest|work=The Plain Dealer|date=October 8, 1979|page=B11}}</ref> [[The Right Reverend]] Michael Fedorowich, assigned to St. Josaphat in December 1979, began the process of organizing committees to plan the new church.<ref name=opened />

The structure was designed by the firm of McWilliams Martyniuk Schidlowski of [[Kent, Ohio]],<ref name=romanowych /> and built under the auspices of [[general contractor]] Chopko Construction.<ref name=opened /> The 500-seat building incorporated traditional features such as [[onion dome]]s on the roof and an altar set in the east wall. It also included contemporary and "futuristic" architectural details in order to reflect the then-upcoming thousand-year anniversary of Christianity's introduction in [[Ukraine]].<ref name=romanowych>{{cite news|last=Romanowych|first=Patricia|title=Groundbreaking of St. Josaphat's scheduled for June 24|work=The Ukrainian Weekly|date=June 20, 1982|page=11|access-date=June 25, 2019|url=http://www.ukrweekly.com/archive/1982/The_Ukrainian_Weekly_1982-25.pdf}}</ref>

Ground for the cathedral was broken on June 24, 1982.<ref name=opened /><ref name=romanowych /> The initial cost was estimated at $2.3 million (${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|2300000|1982}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars).<ref name=diocese>{{cite news|title=Ukrainian Diocese Set in Parma|work=The Plain Dealer|date=December 21, 1983|page=F2}}</ref> [[Topping out]] of the church occurred on August 30, 1983, when the {{convert|12|ST|MT}} main [[aluminum]] onion dome was set atop the church.<ref>{{cite news|title=Topping Off|work=The Plain Dealer|date=August 31, 1983|page=B10}}</ref> During construction, the Eparchy of Saint Josaphat was erected in December 1983.<ref name=diocese /> [[Robert Mikhail Moskal]] was installed as the first [[eparch]] (bishop) of the diocese at the unfinished cathedral on February 29, 1984.<ref>{{cite news|last=Holland|first=Darrell|title=Ukrainian Diocese to Install Leader|work=The Plain Dealer|date=February 25, 1984|page=B7}}</ref> A ceremonial cornerstone was laid and blessed on November 11, 1984, which happened to be the 25th anniversary of the congregation's establishment as well.<ref name=cornerstone>{{cite news|title=New Ukrainian Cathedral|work=The Plain Dealer|date=November 10, 1984|page=C9}}</ref>

St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral held its first services on June 24, 1985. Eparch Robert Moskal led a procession from the chapel to the cathedral carrying the [[Blessed Sacrament]] and relics of St. Josaphat, then celebrated a [[Divine Liturgy#The Hierarchical Liturgy|pontifical divine liturgy]] at the new church. The cathedral was blessed once.<ref name=opened />

The consecration of St. Josaphat Cathedral was delayed until May 1, 1988, the year in which Ukrainians observed the thousand-year anniversary of Christianity in Ukraine. This also allowed for completion of all [[iconostasis]] and other interior decorations.<ref name=opened /> [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] [[Myroslav Ivan Lubachivsky]], head of the [[Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church]] worldwide, led the April 29 rites consecrating the main altar, assisted by Archbishop [[Maxim Hermaniuk]] of the [[Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg|Archeparchy of Winnipeg]], Archbishop [[Stephen Sulyk]] of the [[Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia|Archeparchy of Philadelphia]], [[Exarch]] [[Michel Hrynchyshyn]] of the [[Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saint Vladimir the Great of Paris|Apostolic Exarchate of France, Benelux and Switzerland]], Eparch Andrew Pataki of the [[Ruthenian Catholic Eparchy of Parma]], and others.

Consecration of the walls occurred on May 1. A procession led by Cardinal Lubachivsky, Archbishop and Papal [[Nuncio|Pro-Nuncio]] [[Pio Laghi]], Bishop [[Anthony Pilla]] of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland]], Bishop [[James William Malone]] of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown]], and Bishop Emeritus [[William Michael Cosgrove]] of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville]] circled the building before entering. Cardinal Lubachivsky anointed the wall behind the main altar with [[chrism|holy chrism]], Archbishop Laghi the north wall, and Archbishops Hermaniuk and Sulyk the south and west walls. The walls were sprinkled with [[holy water]], concluding the consecration rite. A [[Pontifical High Mass]] followed.<ref>{{cite news|title=St. Josaphat Cathedral Dedicated in Parma|work=The Ukrainian Weekly|date=July 10, 1988|pages=11, 15|access-date=June 25, 2019|url=http://ukrweekly.com/archive/pdf2/1988/The_Ukrainian_Weekly_1988-28.pdf}}</ref>

===Cathedral history===
The cathedral is the seat of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saint Josaphat.<ref name=diocese /><ref name=cornerstone />

St. Josaphat's aluminum domes gradually faded to a [[celadon]] color due to weathering. They were painted gold in the 1990s.<ref name=goldendomes>{{cite news|title=Parma's St. Josaphat Cathedral gold domes get $550,000 renovation|work=The Plain Dealer|date=October 6, 2015|access-date=June 25, 2019|url=https://www.cleveland.com/parma/2015/10/parmas_st_josaphat_cathedral_g.html}}</ref>

A shrine to [[Theotokos of Pochayiv|Our Lady of Pochaiv]] was dedicated on the cathedral grounds on May 23, 2010. The shrine was the result of a seven-year design and fundraising effort by the St. Josaphat Apostleship of Prayer, a group of women congregants. The shrine was designed by a Cleveland firm, Kulchytsky Architects. The brick shrine holds a mosaic in the likeness of the painted Ukrainian icon, which was designed by Eikona Studios of Cleveland and created in [[Italy]]. The shrine was blessed by Bishop [[John Bura]], then [[Apostolic administration|apostolic administrator]] of the Eparchy of St. Josaphat.<ref>{{cite news|last=Russ|first=Dick|title=Parma cathedral dedicates Our Lady of Pochaiv Shrine|work=The Ukrainian Weekly|date=July 11, 2010|page=9|access-date=June 26, 2019|url=http://www.ukrweekly.com/archive/2010/The_Ukrainian_Weekly_2010-28.pdf}}</ref>

The domes atop the cathedral were replaced in 2015. Parishioners of St. Josaphat began raising funds about 2010 to replace the cathedral's five domes, which had deteriorated over time. Architect Christ J. Kamages was hired to design the replacements, and Unique Services & Applications installed them. The new domes are made of [[stainless steel]] and covered with [[titanium nitride]], a [[ceramic]] material with a brilliant gold sheen. Construction of the domes began in the spring of 2015, and were blessed by Eparch [[Bohdan Danylo]] on October 5. Installation was completed in November. The $550,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|550000|2015|r=-5}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars) domes are expected to last from 50 to 200 years.<ref name=goldendomes />

==See also==
*[[List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States]]
*[[List of cathedrals in the United States]]

==References==
;Notes
{{notelist}}

;Citations
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat-inline|St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral (Parma, Ohio)}}
* [http://stjosaphatcathedral.com/ Official Cathedral site]
* [http://stjosaphateparchy.com/ Eparchy of Saint Josaphat in Parma official site]

[[Category:Ukrainian-American culture in Ohio]]
[[Category:Eastern Catholic churches in Ohio]]
[[Category:Ukrainian Catholic cathedrals in the United States]]
[[Category:Churches in Cuyahoga County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Parma, Ohio]]
[[Category:Byzantine Revival architecture in Ohio]]
[[Category:Eastern Catholic cathedrals in Ohio]]
[[Category:Churches completed in 1985]]
[[Category:1951 establishments in Ohio]]