Rising from the ashes: Arnold's St. Vladimir to hold 1st services since 2021 fire

The Rev. Yaroslav Koval stood inside St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church recently, recalling how he rushed into the church during a fire on Dec. 4, 2021.

He entered the burning building because he has led the congregation for more than a decade. He and the parishioners vowed, amid the darkness, flames and billowing smoke, to rebuild the 74-year-old church in Arnold.

As Koval reminisced, he looked up at a skylight as the sun illuminated the newly built altar, which contains a piece of marble with Christian symbols original to the church.

“Everything has to be penetrated by light,” said Koval, who was alerted to the fire by young boys in the neighborhood.

Koval’s first thought that evening was to save religious items needed to celebrate Mass.

This weekend, many of those items will be used inside the church again for the first time in more than two-and-a-half years. They include a chalice for the wine that represents the blood of Christ; the diskos that holds the Communion, which represents the body of Christ; the Gospel book for readings; and the antimension, a special cloth that holds a relic provided by the bishop.

A rededication and consecration of the church is planned, as well as an exaltation and veneration on the Feast of the Holy Cross. The cross from the church miraculously survived the fire, as did some statues, icons and stained-glass windows.

The cross was found the night of the blaze with a missing arm and the face of Jesus Christ covered with cloth. It was located high above the altar. The cross was repaired by artist and Arnold native Stephen Paulovich. It made its way back to the church recently and will be on display when the church reopens.

“See, Jesus Christ doesn’t want to see His church burned,” Koval said after the fire, referring to the cloth shielding Christ’s face that somehow wasn’t burned in the fire.

While there is no explanation for how any of the religious items survived, Koval has a thought.

“I believe it was a miracle,” he said. “And also a sign that you can be close to the evil but nothing will happen to you because you’re with Christ. If you’re with God, who can be against you? We have to believe in miracles, especially at the present time. A miracle is also a sign.”

That sign was to rebuild.

The church now has a smaller sanctuary and a courtyard in the middle. Two bell towers and the facade remain.

There are plans for a museum to hold some of the religious items. Architect Walter R. Boykowycz of Oakland is collaborating with Dan Macek, the executive architect on the project from Canzian/Johnston & Associates in New Kensington. The contractor is Moret Construction Co. of New Kensington.

Boykowycz, who met Koval at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church on Pittsburgh’s South Side, said it took several months for a plan to be approved. Part of the challenge, he said, was that there was $4 million in damages and just $2 million in insurance. The fire claimed no lives and caused no injuries. The cause was never determined.

Construction began last September.

“They told me they didn’t need as big a church because the congregation is smaller,” Boykowycz said. “I was honored to help them have a new, beautiful church and a beautiful courtyard.”

With membership decreasing — there are 45 members — and other churches merging and sometimes closing, Koval is thankful to be rebuilding. He connected with Holy Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Arnold, St. Alphonsus in Springdale and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Natrona Heights, Harrison, for contributions, such as pews.

To reopen on the Feast of the Holy Cross is a special “wink from God,” said Julie Martin of New Kensington, a parishioner since 2017.

“The chanting, the beautiful rituals, the veneration of the cross is probably the singular most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in any church tradition, even ours, which includes many beautiful ancient rituals for every feast day and season,” Martin said. “I think that, for our church, this is a very real and tangible symbol of not only the parish’s survival through this challenging time, but a sign that God is with us in our suffering.

“As with the message of the cross itself: He’s not there high above watching us unscathed. He is with us in our suffering in a compassionate and immediate way. He is there with us even at the very worst that we may be going through.”

St. Vladimir’s is a Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. It has similarities to a Roman Catholic Church but uses a Byzantine liturgical rite instead of a Western Mass, and its clergy can marry. St. Vladimir’s is under the leadership of Bishop Bohdan Danylo of Parma, Ohio, of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat.

Danylo will lead reconsecration rituals and divine services on both days. Priests from throughout the Pittsburgh region are invited.

“From the tragedy comes a sign of how strong the small community has been after this fire,” Danylo said. “It is a place of prayer for all and and a place to gather and give thanks to God. I am so looking forward to this event. Through the first responders, Rev. Koval and the grace of God, so much was preserved.”

Susan Podolski of New Kensington, a parishioner for 71 years, said she can’t wait for the celebration. Her grandparents helped build the church.

“I miss our church so much,” Podolski said as she cleaned some of the religious items. “I know it will look different, but our commitment to this church will never change.”

The date of the fire was the Feast of St. Barbara, who is invoked for protection against lightning, fire and explosions. The Monday after was St. Nicholas Day. St. Nicholas was known for giving gifts to children. Koval, despite having to deal with the aftermath of the fire, handed out chocolates.

Koval said it was his instinct that evening to save as much of the church’s holy items as he could so he would be ready to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, which he did the following morning.

Having those religious items also has helped the congregation move forward from the tragedy, he said.

“We would like to reopen the church to give a sign to all creation that, after death, suffering and pain, we have new life, a new resurrection,” Koval said. “We’ve come back to life from ashes.”