Parma Cathedral will complete iconography project by Christmas

PARMA, Ohio - Over the past few years, St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral here has undertaken a number of major projects, always with an emphasis on the close bond between Parma and Ukraine.

In 1988, the parish erected a 40-foot mosaic of the Baptism of Ukraine. Water from the Dnipro River and stones from Kyiv were added to the mortar binding the mosaic.

In 1993, on the 60th anniversary of the Great Famine in Ukraine, sand from the base of the famine monument in Kyiv was placed at the base of the monument that was erected beside St. Vladimir's Cathedral in Parma.

In 1995 the parish undertook its quarter-million-dollar iconography project. The parish once again joins spiritually not only with Ukraine but also with the spiritual center of Orthodoxy - Constantinople. Gold chips and paint from icons obtained from the ruins of the Dormition Sobor of the Kyiv Lavra Monastery, as well as chips from the ancient Hagia Sophia Sobor in Constantinople (Istanbul), Turkey, were added to the 10-foot icon of the Mother of God that is on the ceiling in front of the iconostas at St. Vladimir's.

It is hoped that, through these symbols, youths for many generations will have a deeper awareness of the history of their Church .

The entire project, which includes over 20 icons, is being done by the Eikona Studio of Cleveland and should be completed by Christmas, January 7.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 7, 1996, No. 1, Vol. LXIV

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