Deacon Bohdan Vasyliv Ordained to Priesthood at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia

The ordination ceremony took place after the Cherubic Hymn. Deacon Bohdan was led by Fr. Daniel Troyan, then professed his faith and pledged obedience to the Archbishop and his successors. The most solemn moment of the rite was the laying on of hands by Archbishop Gudziak, which signified the ordination. Following this, Fr. Bohdan was vested in priestly garments, and the congregation joined the Archbishop and clergy in singing “Axios,” meaning “worthy” in Greek.

After the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Gudziak addressed the newly ordained priest, offering guidance and encouragement. He urged Fr. Bohdan to extend his ministry beyond ethnic confines, stating, “Don’t keep warm with your own, but go to those who suffer and bring them the healing of Our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Archbishop also underscored the critical role of a priest's wife, describing it as a vocation that demands “great delicacy” and “constant preparedness.”

The ceremony was graced by the presence of the Most Reverend Keith J. Chylinski, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Bishop Chylinski, who had previously served as rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, where Fr. Bohdan completed his priestly formation, extended his congratulations to Archbishop Borys and Fr. Bohdan. “At the seminary, we strive to allow the men to freely encounter God and share that experience with others,” remarked Bishop Chylinski.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the newly ordained Fr. Bohdan Vasyliv expressed heartfelt gratitude to those gathered. He offered his first priestly blessings to each person present. His priestly ministry fr Bohdan Vasyliv will start as a parochial vicar at Saint Josaphat parish in Trenton, NJ.