Exaltation of the Holy Cross Parish (Olevsk)

Chronicle of the Construction of the New Church in Olevsk

In September 1996, Fr Józef Lipecki first applied to Olevsk Settlement Council for a plot on which to build a church. Subsequently, under decision no. 49 of Olevsk Settlement Council of People’s Deputies dated 30 April 1999, a state deed (I-ZhT no. 002066) granting permanent use of the land was issued.

Foundation work began in 2001 and was carried out by Olevsk SPMK-7, continuing from spring until late autumn. In 2002, some of the sand-lime bricks required for the church were delivered from Liubomyrka in the Rivne region, about 150 km from Olevsk, along with reinforced-concrete structures.

The foundations were blessed in May 2003 at a liturgy presided over by Bishop Stanislav Shyrokoradiuk. Work on the walls began immediately afterwards, with funding supported by Bishop Shyrokoradiuk. Parishioners provided most of the auxiliary labour, while the bricklayers came from Olevsk and surrounding villages, including six parishioners.

From May to December 2003, the church walls were almost completed, but frost interrupted construction of the tower, which was finished in April 2004. Preparation of wooden roof trusses began in the winter of 2004, and the church was roofed with metal tiles the following year. From January 2005 to February 2009, Fr Valerii Vakulenko served as the first Olevsk parish priest to reside permanently at the chapel. Construction was nearly completed during his ministry. Interior and exterior finishing work continued from 2005 to 2009.

In February 2009, Bishop Jan Purwiński appointed Fr Vitalii Uminskyi pastor in Olevsk. The new church was dedicated on 23 May 2009 at 11:00.

Jan Purwiński, Bishop of Kyiv-Zhytomyr, had been due to preside at the solemn Mass but was unable to attend because of ill health. Auxiliary Bishop Stanislav Shyrokoradiuk took his place. Many priests concelebrated, including numerous former pastors in Olevsk. After Mass, a solemn Eucharistic procession took place around the church.

In March 2012, Fr Ihor Skomarovskyi became parish priest in Olevsk.

On 16 June 2012, Bishop Jan Purwiński blessed a bell. From 14 September that year, its daily ringing began reminding Olevsk’s residents of God’s presence and calling them to prayer.

On 25 May 2014, the fifth anniversary of the church’s dedication was solemnly celebrated. Mass was presided over by Bishop Stanislav Shyrokoradiuk, who had recently been appointed Bishop of Kharkiv-Zaporizhzhia. The celebration coincided with a visit of the pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima to our parish and the beginning of the terrible events in Crimea and the Donbas.