Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Philadelphia Celebrates Its Feast Day

On Sunday, October 25, 2026, Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Philadelphia celebrated its parish feast day. On this occasion, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak, Archbishop of Philadelphia, presided at the Divine Liturgy. Father Volodymyr Kozak serves as the parish administrator.

During his homily, Metropolitan Borys reflected on the importance of faith, freedom and the role of the Church in preserving Ukrainian spiritual and cultural identity, particularly during times of persecution and war.

He recalled the history of Ukrainian Catholic communities in the United States and the dedication of generations of clergy and faithful who built churches, sustained parish life and supported the Ukrainian people throughout decades of Soviet persecution.

Speaking about Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, Metropolitan Borys emphasized the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the sacrifices they continue to make in defense of their freedom and independence. He stressed that freedom, independence and faith require sacrifice, responsibility and a willingness to overcome difficulties.

He also encouraged parishioners to strengthen their communities through personal relationships, prayer and mutual support. Addressing the challenges of loneliness and social isolation, the Archbishop invited the faithful to open their hearts and homes to others and remain actively involved in parish life.

Christ the King Parish was established in 1949, and construction of the church building was completed in 1965. For more than seven decades, the parish has served as a spiritual home for generations of Ukrainian Catholics in Philadelphia.

Among the church's notable treasures is a copy of the miraculous icon of Christ the King, painted in 1956 by artist Petro Andrusiv. The painting was based on a small reproduction of the icon found in Father Petro Pylypets' book Remembrance in Zarvanytsia. The small icon was brought from Ukraine to the United States by the wife of Father Vasyl Holovinsky when the family fled the communist regime.

Christ the King Church is also a designated pilgrimage site of Our Lady of Zarvanytsia, maintaining a spiritual connection with one of Ukraine's most significant Marian pilgrimage destinations.

At the conclusion of his homily, Metropolitan Borys encouraged the faithful to overcome fear, remain steadfast in their faith and continue serving God and one another.