Parish History

 

In October 1997, at the invitation of M. Parypsa, Chairman of the Ukrainian Society, Bishop Vasyl I. Medvit, OSBM, Apostolic Visitor for Greek Catholics in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, came to Pavlodar to meet with an initiative group wishing to organize a Greek Catholic community in the city. In April 1998, Father Irynei Babynets, OSBM, and Brother Anatoliy Holovchuk, OSBM, arrived in Pavlodar for pastoral ministry. With the permission of the local Roman Catholic Bishop Jan Paweł Lenga, divine services were temporarily held in the Roman Catholic church. At the same time, Father Irynei began looking for a house that could be converted into a church.

On May 2, 1999, Bishop Vasyl Medvit came to Pavlodar, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Roman Catholic church, and introduced the community to its pastor. On August 15, 1999, guests from the United States visited Pavlodar: Ivan Burtyk and Askold Lozynskyj, President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Ivan Burtyk, who had already visited Kazakhstan twice, promised to find funds for the construction of a Ukrainian church in Pavlodar, which he soon succeeded in doing.

In June 2000, Father Irynei purchased a house and began construction work. In the two-story building, a chapel was arranged on the first floor, while the second floor became living quarters for the priest. On February 15, 2001, on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the first divine service was held in the chapel. It was celebrated by Father Irynei Babynets together with Father Anthony, a Roman Catholic priest. M. Parypsa was also present at the opening and congratulated the parishioners on their new church.

On May 20, 2001, Bishop Vasyl I. Medvit, together with Archbishop Marian Oles, Apostolic Nuncio to Kazakhstan, and Bishop Tomasz Peta, Apostolic Administrator of Astana, consecrated the Chapel of the Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul.

During two years of pastoral work by Father Irynei and Brother Anatoliy, the parish began to grow and new people joined the community. Every Sunday, divine services were held for children and young people, after which Brother Anatoliy conducted catechism classes for them.

While serving in Pavlodar, Father Irynei also regularly visited two communities that he had opened in Shiderty, 185 km away, and Berezovka, 180 km away.

In November 2001, Father Ivan Mysliuk arrived in Pavlodar for pastoral ministry. During this time, a church choir was organized.

In 2006, Father Yaroslav Holovchuk became parish priest.

From 2012 to 2015, Father Roman Kotsur served as an assistant priest at the parish.

Father Yaroslav Holovchuk continues his ministry to this day. During his service, he opened new pastoral service locations:

2008 — Trofimovka, Voskresenka, and Maly Berezniak
2010 — Orlovka
2013 — Yaroslavsk

From 2011 to 2013, Father Yaroslav periodically traveled to Ust-Kamenogorsk to celebrate divine services, with the aim of opening a new parish.

In 2015, after the renovation of the basement premises, it became possible to open a Sunday school at the parish. The school continues its activities on Saturdays and Sundays.

As it became increasingly difficult each year to combine the chapel and parish house in one building, a decision was made to build a new church.

In 2020, construction of the new church in Pavlodar began.

On August 28, 2024, the new church was consecrated. The consecration was presided over by Bishop Stepan Sus, Head of the Pastoral and Migration Department of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, together with Archbishop George Panamthundil, Apostolic Nuncio to Kazakhstan, Roman Catholic bishops from Astana, and priests of the Byzantine and Latin rites serving in Kazakhstan.

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Pastoral Service Locations:

Berezovka, Pavlodar Region — 185 km, once a month

Trofimovka, Pavlodar Region — 220 km, once a month

Orlovka, Pavlodar Region — 120 km, once a month

Maly Berezniak, Pavlodar Region — 240 km, once a month

Yaroslavsk, Pavlodar Region — 220 km, once a month

 

Schedule of Divine Services:

Monday

10:00    Divine Liturgy

Tuesday

10:00    Divine Liturgy

Wednesday

10:00    Divine Liturgy

Thursday

10:00    Divine Liturgy

Friday

10:00    Divine Liturgy

Saturday

10:00    Divine Liturgy

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Contacts:

Greek Catholic Parish of the Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul

Parish Priest: Fr. Yaroslav Holovchuk

13 Yelgin Street

Pavlodar

Republic of Kazakhstan

Tel.: +7 (7182) 33 58 91

Mobile: +7 771 042 0001

E-mail: yaroslav.golovchuk@gmail.com

Skype: pater_jaroslav