The History of SAINTS PETER AND PAUL
UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH in PHOENIXVILLE
Ukrainian Greek Catholics began to settle the Phoenixville region at the start of the 20th century. These immigrant families from Western Ukraine initially worshiped at St. Michael's Byzantine Catholic Church in Mont Clare. On April 4, 1928 a meeting was held to establish an Ukrainian Catholic Church in Phoenixville. Their first visiting priest was Father Eugene Bartosh of Camden, NJ. This small but spiritually strong group of men and women soon decided to raise funds to build a small church of their own.
With God's blessing, the construction of the new church began on July 28, 1929 and the cornerstone was blessed on October 17 of the same year.. Andrej Nesspor, a member of the newly-established parish, was named architect and builder. A dedication service was held on Christmas morning in 1929. In the spring of 1931 Father Hryhorij Smaylo was assigned the first Ukrainian Catholic pastor for the newly formed parish.
Simultaneously, the parishioners organized “Saturday School” in order to teach their children about their Ukrainian national and religious heritage. In the next several years a parish hall was built to serve the parish's social needs as well as a school for the parish youth. Grounds for the church cemetery was purchased on Filmore Street and the rectory was purchased.
As the parish grew, there was a need for a larger church. Under the leadership of Rev. Isidore Nahayevsky, the old church was torn down and a new church was built. Construction began in March, 1970 and was completed the summer of 1971. Plans were prepared by Architect G.C. Freeman of Reading, and the church was built by Builder Cyrus J. Ecker of Sanatoga. Inside the cornerstone there is a piece of rock from St. Peter’s Tomb in the Vatican, as well as a piece of rock from St. George’s Cathedral in Lviv, Western Ukraine. This is a symbol of spiritual unity of SS Peter and Paul Parish in Phoenixville with those two centers of Christianity.
Very Rev. Ihor Royik
301 Fairview Street Phoenixville, PA 19460
Our History
Priests Who Have Served
Rev. Eugene Bartosh, 1928 - 1929
Rev. Dmytro Mykytiak, 1930
Rev. Hryhorij Smaylo, 1931 - 1941
Rev. Basil O. Sheremeta, 1942 - 1946
Rev. Marian Kawola, 1947 - 1949
Rev. John Dorohovich, 1949 - 1950
Rev. Paul Shymansky, 1951 - 1954
Rev. Stephen Sulyk, 1955 - 1956
Rev. Stephen Malaniak, 1956 - 1968
Rev. Martin Canavan, 1968
Rev. Isidore Nahayewsky, 1968 - 1973
Rev. John Beckage, 1973 - 1976
Rev. Emil Nakonechny, 1977 - 1978
Rev. Edward Levandusky, 1978 - 1982
Rev. Andrew Baunchalk, 1983 - 1990
Rev. Ronald Popivchak, 1991 - 2006
Rev. Mykola Ivanov, 2006 - 2012
Rev. Stepan Bilyk, 2012 - 2015
Rev. Ihor Royik, 2015 - Present