Parish History

 

In 2001, the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate from Karaganda began traveling from time to time to Satpayev to meet with local Ukrainians, most of whom were members of the newly established Ukrainian Cultural Center. In this way, the need arose for spiritual care for the Greek Catholics in Satpayev. In the autumn of 2002, Father Irynei Babynets arrived in Satpayev and began pastoral work there. For this purpose, a small house was purchased, where the priest lived, and one of the rooms was converted into a chapel.

In the summer of 2003, a new priest, Father Roman Zamikhovskyi, arrived in Satpayev. A year later, the Greek Catholic community in Satpayev received land and permission to build a church. Preparations and construction of a wooden church began immediately.

In the autumn of 2007, Father Vasyl Hovera, Apostolic Delegate for Greek Catholics in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, consecrated the Church of Saint Olga, which had been built with the support of German dioceses and the assistance of Ivan Burtyk from the United States. That same year, Father Volodymyr Hrydyn became parish priest.

In February 2012, the Apostolic Delegate appointed Father Oleh Halushka, a priest of the Ternopil-Zboriv Archeparchy, as parish priest. He continued the pastoral work of his predecessors at the parish until 2017.

In the spring of 2018, Father Vasyl Hovera, Apostolic Delegate for Greek Catholics in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, introduced the new parish priest, Father Andriy Nedostup, to the parish.

In the summer of 2020, due to the establishment of an exclusion zone in the settlement of Vesovyi for mining operations, a decision was made to temporarily dismantle the church in order to relocate it to the city of Satpayev.

At present, due to the absence of a church building as such, the parish carries out its pastoral ministry in a limited manner, on Sundays and feast days.

 

Contacts:

Parish of the Holy Prophet Elijah

Parish Priest: Fr. Andriy Nedostup

5/5 Abai Kunanbayev Street, Apt. 46

200003 Satpayev, Ulytau Region

Republic of Kazakhstan

Mobile: +7 771 699 889

Mobile: +7 771 699 8893

E-mail: andrij235@gmail.com

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