The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian-Greek Catholic Church in Centralia. PHOTO BY WES CIPOLLA
Originally published in the Pottsville Republican-Herald on August 21, 2022.
CENTRALIA — The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian-Greek Catholic Church sits on its perch, looking down on the town it has outlived.
The mine fire beneath Centralia still burns, as do the candles in its sole surviving church.
Built in 1911 on solid rock instead of coal, it has been spared the rest of the town’s fate, a holy site overlooking hell on earth.
“The church itself is an example of faith,” said the Rev. Jonathan Sawicki, administrator of Prince of Peace Parish in Steelton. “Its mere existence is an example of faith. The building itself is a symbol of the endurance of faith.”
The significance was not lost on Sviatoslav Shevchuk, major archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
He visited the church in 2015 and said that it should be a place of prayer.
Annual pilgrimages began in 2016, and Shevchuk officially declared Assumption BVM a holy pilgrimage site in 2020.
Sunday, the first pilgrimage since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, had special significance.
“Whenever we have an opportunity to gather as a church, to pray for peace, the Lord hears us and will respond in an appropriate way to our prayers,” Archpriest Michael Hutsko said.
Sunday began with confession, followed by the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, the living rosary, Akafist to the Dormition and a moleben (special prayer service) to the Virgin Mary.
“The intercession of the Holy Mother and God is all very meaningful in this sense,” said Oksana Sukhina, who lived in Ukraine until 2020 and came on the pilgrimage with members of her Washington, D.C., church.
“Because we all hope for the stop of the war, for victory, for the salvation, and we know that this war is deeply spiritual,” she said. “There’s something very different about it. This is not only fighting a human enemy.”
Three of her children returned to Ukraine to aid in relief efforts. Her parents came to America after the invasion, but decided to return to support their country.
Assumption BVM reminds Sukhina of the old churches of her home country.
“It was absolutely miraculous for me that the whole town went down and the church is still here,” she said.
At 5 p.m., the moleben began. The church bells rang. Hard summer rain came down on the tents covering makeshift chapels. Women’s heels echoed on the wet blue steps into the church.
The ceremony was at once solemn and opulent.
The voice of Andriy Rabiy, auxiliary bishop for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, cut through the incense. The words of the priests, written in the prayer books, spoke not only to the crisis in Ukraine but to the church itself.
“Again, let us pray that He may preserve this city and this holy church and every city, town and countryside from famine, plague, earthquake, flood, fire, civil war, riot and foreign invasion … O Joy of all the afflicted, patroness of the persecuted, Sustainer of the hungry, Consolation to those in exile.”
The church was decorated with sunflowers, national symbol of Ukraine.
“Rejoice, Mary, fragrant Flower of incorruption, and save all those who place their trust in you.”
Katrine Miles, of Bethlehem, has attended each pilgrimage.
“It’s a family pilgrimage honoring our family who lived in Centralia,” she said. “It’s a holy place, a very very special sacred place.
“There’s something about the atmosphere here. … It’s hard to describe. It’s just something you can feel in your heart and soul. When you’re coming into town and you see it on the hill, it’s like a jewel on the hill.”
She has visited the church since she was a little girl, and her ancestors are buried in its cemetery.
Katherine Sargent is a first-generation Ukrainian American from Easton.
“I came to see everyone come together and ask the Blessed Mother to continue to watch over everybody and those in despair (and) bring them out of this,” Sargent said. “The more we pray, the more the Blessed Mother hears. She will save those in despair.”
Sargent has relatives in Ukraine whom she has never met.
“They’re probably suffering,” she said. “I’m glad we can do what we can here, that we have such freedom.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Vincent Chesney, of Kulpmont, representing the Order of Malta.
“It’s about liberty, it’s about freedom, the things that America stands for,” he said. “Even though some of the news channels have forgotten about Ukraine, we have to keep Ukraine at the forefront of people’s minds, because there are people struggling and dying for freedom there.”
Although he is of Ukrainian descent, he said that it’s about more than that.
“The beauty and reverence of this pilgrimage is one that we wanted to do,” he said. “The history, its location, built on rock, saved from the mine fire, supported by generations of faithful who despite the town fading away, have remained faithful.”
After the moleben, the pilgrims gathered to socialize and share memories of life in Centralia before the fire.
“Father Hutsko’s a gem,” said the Rev. Rose Marquardt, of Mount Carmel, who was born in Centralia. “You’re very lucky.”
“Anthracite coal can be considered a gem,” Sawicki said.