The Orthodox Christian Church was established by Jesus Christ on Pentecost with the outpouring of the All-Holy Spirit upon the gathered Apostles in order that the revelation and teachings of our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ, be preserved, faithfully transmitted, and preached to all the world.

This faith has been passed down from Christ, through the Apostles, and down to the present day through their successors, the bishops of the Church. The faith is expressed and preserved through the Holy Tradition from Christ by means of the Liturgy, Sacred Scriptures, Church Councils, the Writings of the Holy Fathers and Confessors, and ultimately through the lived experience of this faith by the True Believing and Worshipping People of God.

Though it is manifest in this country under the guise of various ethnic entities such as Greek, Bulgarian, Russian, Ukrainian, Serbian, Albanian, Syrian, etc.; these are all the One Church established and nurtured by Jesus Christ who have remained faithful to the Word of His Truth until His Awesome Second Coming to judge both the living and the dead.

Very Reverend Father Dennis Kristof

2101 Quail Avenue
Lakewood, Ohio 44107
(216) 226-5506
http://www.stnicholaslakewood.org

Many Ukrainians who emigrated to this area at the very end of the 19th Century and beginning of the 20th Century were members of the Greek-Catholic Uniate Church and joined the already existing St. Gregory Greek Catholic Church at 2035 Quail Street. As time went on the Ukrainians felt they needed a parish that uniquely served them and a small group began celebrating services in their homes. Finally in 1916 at a meeting of the Brotherhood of St. Basil (a branch of the Ukrainian Workingmen's Association), they officially formed a parish and purchased the present property on Quail Street for $1,600. St. Nicholas Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church was dedicated in October 1916. However, because the Vatican continued to violate the agreements which brought the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in unity with the Pope in the late 16th and early 17th Centuries, the parishioners chose to return to the Orthodox Church incorporating the parish as St. Nicholas Greek-Catholic Independent Ukrainian Church. Though the parish was served by clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America from this time onward, it was not until 1953 that the parish actually changed its name to St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In 1962, a fire destroyed much of the temple's interior. The parishioners rallied and completely restored and rededicated the parish in 1963. In 1980, a more extensive remodeling began, including an onion shaped dome made of anodized aluminum which represents a candle flame and the prayers of the faithful burning heavenward. This remodeling also included additions to the church building, the hall and garage and a beautiful mosaic of St. Nicholas which now graces the entrance to the church. The church was given the title of Pro-Cathedral in December, 1987 is now known as St. Nicholas Pro-Cathedral. In November, 1996, the parish voted to join the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA becoming a member parish of the first united and universally recognized Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

12711 Madison Avenue
Lakewood, Ohio 44107
521-0923
http://www.peter-paul.com/

Ss. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church was organized July 1, 1917, by Father Joseph Takach and a small group of people. On August 11, 1918, the congregation left the Quail Avenue Church and established its new parish on Madison Avenue. In February 1923, a bell was purchased for the church and construction began on a new rectory. An Ikonstasis (this adorns the front of the sanctuary and has a series of Icons with the Royal Doors) was erected. In March 1948, contracts were drawn up to build a new church -- the present structure. The dedication of the church took place on July 2, 1950, and dedicated members of the church continued their generous donations for stained glass windows, pews, chandelier, kitchen equipment, and other necessary items.

The church membership now includes people from many different ethnic backgrounds and converts to the Orthodox Christian Faith. Services are predominantly in English with the use of some Church Slavonic as well. The parish has an active Church School program which meets on Sundays after the Divine Liturgy during the secular school year. Baba's Kitchen is open on most Fridays throughout the year -- giving the neighborhood the opportunity to sample and purchase many ethnic foods. The parish is under the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church in America.

See also The Carpathian Connection: "Birdtown"