The Diocese of St. Nicholas of the UGCC in the USA announced the sale of the church of St. Archangel Michael in Chicago. The reason is many years of fruitless attempts to restore the parish community and the financial inability to maintain the parish. The decision was made based on the results of multi-level discussions in the diocesan advisory bodies.
This was reported in an official appeal to the Sinkel Department of Development and Strategic Management of the Diocese of St. Nicholas by Father Mykola Buryadnyk.
“The realities of life of Ukrainian church communities in the United States of America often differ from the realities in Ukraine, and even in Europe. This applies to both pastoral approaches and financial issues, which are particularly demanding and clearly regulated in the USA,” said Father Mykola Buryadnyk.
According to him, in recent years, the Diocese of St. Nicholas has been able to significantly revitalize most of its parish communities, build and acquire new churches, and open missionary communities in several states of the United States: in Austin (Texas), Portland (Oregon), Cody and Casper (Wyoming), Kalispell (Montana), Orange County (California). A new church was also built in Palatine (Illinois) and a church and estate were purchased in Richmond (Illinois).
At the same time, not all communities were able to reach the level of self-sufficient functioning. In particular, it is specified that the parish of St. Archangel Michael in Chicago for a long time had virtually no parishioners.
“On average, about ten people were present at Sunday services. A small group of regular visitors did not have the financial capacity to maintain the parish. That is why for almost twenty years the Diocese of St. Nicholas was forced to financially support this community and its pastor,” the appeal says.
It is separately noted that in 2024, Bishop Benedict addressed all parishes in Chicago and the surrounding area with a letter in which he openly warned of the possible consequences:
“In the event of a further absence of the faithful, the acute question of closing the parish will arise, since maintaining the settlement without a living parish community is impossible,” the official letter emphasized.
According to Fr. Mykola Buryadnik, the issue of the future of the parish of St. Archangel Michael was considered at once at three levels of diocesan administration – the College of Diocesan Advisors, the Presbyterian Council, and the Economic Council.
“As a result, all three councils, independently of each other, came to the same conclusion: the parish must be closed, and the real estate must be alienated,” he noted.
The appeal also explains that the decision to sell church properties in the USA is part of the broader reality of church life, associated with high population mobility and changes in the areas of residence of the faithful.
“American reality is constant population mobility. During his life, the average American changes his place of residence on average from eight to eleven times,” explained the syngel of the diocese.
During the process of alienating the church, according to him, the diocese made maximum efforts to preserve the sacred heritage.
“All liturgical utensils were taken out: liturgical utensils, icons, and even the iconostasis, which was transferred and installed in a recently purchased church in Richmond (Illinois),” Father Mykola Buryadnyk specified.
“This was one of the most painful and difficult decisions that had to be made in recent years,” he emphasized.
Despite the significant efforts of priests and volunteers, in particular, Father Lubomyr Mandziuk, who tried with his family to revive the community, the church service was attended by only a few people, and later by no one except the priest himself and his family.
“We invested at least $50,000 in the restoration of this facility, not counting the large amount of volunteer work,” noted Father Mykola.
However, the efforts did not bear fruit: the parish was never able to revive, neither among the English-speaking nor among the Ukrainian-speaking faithful. He emphasized that, despite the painfulness of the decision, the main value of the Church remains a living community of believers.
“Undoubtedly, the church itself is of great importance. However, even more important is the living church community that fills it with prayer, faith and service,” he concluded.
For reference
The parish, founded by Galician emigrants at the beginning of the 20th century, played an important role in shaping the Ukrainian community in Chicago. The Union of Ukrainian Women of America, the Ukrainian National Union and the Red Cross Society operated here. The church itself was built in 1960 in West Pullman, a southern district of the city. However, in recent years, the parish has been in decline.
On October 20, 2025, the Eparchy of St. Nicholas of the UGCC sold the church of St. Archangel Michael in Chicago along with the land for $175,000. Along with the loss of the sacred building, according to the religious community, parishioners also lost unique spiritual, cultural and artistic values.
As Ukraine’s Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna known, the fresco of the famous Ukrainian artist from the diaspora Mykhailo Dmytrenko "The Last Supper", decorated with gilding, as well as about two dozen colored stained glass windows, presumably made in Italy, remained in the premises.
The new owner of the temple became one of the Christian denominations, the name of which is not disclosed.
Photo: Taras Petryshyn
Author: Inna Mikhno