Iconography Ukr. Orth. Cathedral

Completion of the interior iconography of St. Andrew Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church -Orthodox Church of Ukraine in the United States in Bloomingdale, IL. 

"We no longer knew whether we were in heaven or on earth"

When Prince Volodymyr the Great (Saint Volodymyr of Kyiv) was seeking a religion for his people, the pagan Kyivan-Rus, he sent emissaries to study and report on the religious traditions of all his neighbor countries. When the emissaries returned from Constantinople, and described the Orthodox worship at the great cathedral of Hagia Sophia, they are reported to have said, "We no longer knew whether we were in heaven or on earth," and of the beauty of the church, "we know not how to tell of it."

We know longer knew whether we were in heaven or on earth. The visitor to an Orthodox church, on stepping inside, should ideally feel transported into a new world, one that affirms in the most forceful way that the beauty of God's creation is a manifestation of His glory and His love for mankind. The iconography that traditionally adorns the interior of an Orthodox church plays a major role in this affirmation. Icons have also traditionally also played an educative role in the Orthodox church, conveying pictorially the lessons conveyed verbally in the Gospels—art that is "a vehicle of the Gospel teaching." And perhaps most importantly, on a theological level, Orthodox icons—especially icons of Christ—are statements affirming the Incarnation: "The undepictable Word of the Father became depictable when He took flesh of you, O Theotokos" (Kontakion for the Sunday of Orthodoxy).

It is with these traditions in mind that our church embarked on a major project to complete the interior iconography of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral.  

It is extremely important that the Cathedral of St. Andrew be completed as it is the administrative center for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in the United States.  Our cathedral will represent the Ukrainian Orthodox Church through its Cossack-Baroque domes, its unique Ukrainian embroidery, relics of saints from the Ukrainian Monastery of The Caves and now through the uniquely Ukrainian Orthodox saints which will adorn the interior.  

Phases 1 (Altar) and phase 2 (dome) have been completed.

You can donate a particular icon or saint or make a donation to the general iconography fund.  for more info please contact me directly.  Upon completion a 50th anniversary hard cover book showing each icon and other items donated to the church over the years will be printed, your family's name and donation will be recorded in this book for generations to come.

We humbly ask for your generous contributions in order to complete this project which has a goal of $250,000.00 and a projected completion date of 2020, when the Cathedral will celebrate its 50th Anniversary.

May God Bless You, 

John Jaresko

Board President and Chairperson