Roman Catholic Deanery of Sumy

The Roman Catholic Deanery of Sumy is a part of Kharkiv-Zaporizhian Diocese of the Roman-Catholic Church in Ukraine. It includes four North-East Ukrainian towns Sumy, Romny, Konotop and Shostka.[1]

The Blessed Virgin Mary Annunciation Parish in Sumy

The center of the Deanery takes its place on picturesque high right bank of Psel River (Dnieper's left tributary) in one of old districts in heart of ancient [2] Ukrainian capital[3] Sumy. In Middle Ages this town had been joined to the possessions of Sophron's Wilderness monastery (near Putivl). To the word that unique cave-priory, founded by first Grecian missionaries, come to Kiev Rus from Byzantine, had been razed almost to the ground in 1960s by communists. In Sumy is situated the Blessed Virgin Mary Annunciation parish, known as the main deanery's temple.

To the number of other significant regional Roman Catholic places belong the Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary in Romny, the Our Lady of Fatima parish in Konotop and St. Joseph parish in Shostka [4]

Sumy
The Blessed Virgin Mary Annunciation Parish in Sumy

The history of comparatively new Roman Catholic parish in town Sumy is dramatic. Ordeals had fallen to its lot while Ukraine's stay in the body of Soviet Union. At the end of the 19th century Sumian Roman Catholics had decided to build their own temple and received permission in 1900 with the aid of famous Sumian Maecenas Paul Kharitonenko (1853–1914), at whose sugar-refineries, the largest in Europe and Russia [5] worked many specialists from Europe, chiefly Roman Catholics from Poland and the Czech Republic.[6] The Blessed Virgin Mary Annunciation Church, performed in Gothic style, had been founded in 1901. "Unfortunately all attempts to find information about the building process as well as its interior have been unsuccessful" [7] yet. Consecrated in 1911, by Jan Tsepliak, bishop of Mogilev, the Blessed Virgin Mary Annunciation Church had been closed down by the authorities in two decades, and was used for improper purpose. It's enough to say, that after the World War II during 50 years there were situated first a museum, then a gym. Only after the disintegration of USSR the temple had been retrieved to regenerate Roman Catholic parish and in spring 1998 had been solemnly reconsecrated.

The first masses (1911–1915) at the temple were led by parish priest Fr. Theodor Ryllo. He also gave lessons in religion in Alexander High School, 1st and 2nd High Schools, technical educational institution and Military College in Sumy and in High School in Lebedin.

His successor (1916–1919) on the post had become chaplain Fr. A. Krzhivitsky, whose assistants during festivities were Fr. Florian Garaburda and Fr. Jozef Varpekhovsky.

The last registration thereat had been on 1919 November 20. Archive documents witness that 1926, February 21 believers had met to create parish council and commission for inspections. The last Mass, before the temple had been closed down, had been held in 1932 by Fr. Vagonis. Some Masses conducted during the World War II.

Reformation, proclaimed by Mikhail Gorbachev, had enabled believers to begin struggle for reviving in the town Roman Catholic parish. And soon, after Ukraine had found independence, at the end of 1991 parish had begun its activity.[8]

At the beginning parishioners gathered on services, once in two weeks (1991-August 1992) conducted by parish priest of the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumption Church in Kharkiv Fr. George Zyminsky, directly on the temple's stairs. Already after returning the temple to the parish, ill-wishers, it happened, turned out the light while service.

The first priest (September 1992-February 1995) of new parish had been appointed priest from Zhytomirian Diocese Fr. Vitaly Skomarovsky. While his cadence in May 1994 the temple had been retrieved.

Next two parish priests had become Fr. Gennadius Bilinsky (March 1995-September 1997) and Fr. Felix Svintsitsky (September 1997-August 1999). During service of the latter the temple had been reconsecrated by the Zhytomyrian bishop Jan Purvinsky in 1998, March 25.

Fourth parish priest (September 1999-June 2006) had been Fr. Stanislav Tanatarov.

For the celebration of the 2000th anniversary of Christmas, in the temple's courtyard, from its left hand, had been erected the Jesus Sacred Heart Chapel (about 4 metres high). Bronze statue of Blessed Virgin Mary with Infant in Her Arms, bathing in vivid verdure of peaceful and cozy square, from the left side of temple and edifice behind it, where the residence of parish priest and Roman Catholic religious mission are accommodated, attracts every eye. Standing on red brick pedestal with quadrilateral base of black stone, surrounded by flowers, grass and trees, thoroughly polished figure always reminds all of the Sacramental.

From 2002 the canteen at the temple functions by efforts of members of the Secular Franciscan Order, filial of which functions at the parish since spring of 1999.

Fr. Arthur Surovsky (at left) and behind him
Fr. Voicheck Stasevich (in center)
at the Mass

His successors had become parish priest Fr. Arthur Surovsky (since 2006) and present parish priest Fr. Voicheck Stasevich (since August 2008) (both of them you can see on the photo at left).

Now at the temple are successfully developing Sunday School (with the aid of pious nuns), library, theatre, museum, spiritual music band, diverse sections and circles (including spiritual culture circles).

Caritas Spes Sumy emblem

To help those who haven't been lucky in life, the Blessed Virgin Mary Annunciation parish had founded a Roman Catholic mission "Caritas Spes Sumy", that acts at the temple as branch of All-Ukrainian Roman Catholic religious mission "Caritas Spes Ukraina".

On February 6, 2008, and April 15, 2008, had been created web-sites of mission and parish under titles "Caritas Spes Sumy" and "Ave Maria" to elucidate their activities in religious spheres. To support this aim parish publicates bulletin, named "Ave!", informing about Church's history and life of the parish.

Unfortunately, on September 29, 2008, web-sites of mission and parish "Caritas Spes Sumy" and "Ave Maria" had been closed by decision of new parish administration.

A little later parish had opened its new web-site To the Glory of Jesus Christ

On January 15, 2009, author of former web-sites of mission and parish "Caritas Spes Sumy" and "Ave Maria" had created site of the Sumian Historical Web-Society under the title "Ave Maria" to elucidate different historical subjects, including the history of religion and church.

Romny

The tragic history of the Blessed Virgin Mary Annunciation temple in Sumy in no case was just a regrettable exception, but shows a striking example of widespread disastrous practice of persecuting Roman Catholic Church in Soviet Union. Like a long-suffering Sumian parish, had stood a severe test temple of Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary in Romny.

In a short period after the Russian civil war of 1917-20s, this one, made in Roman architectural style, had been confiscated. Chapel, built from the left side, had been subjected to the total destruction. About its existence nothing reminds, but a strait stripe of wrecked wall, in the past joined chapel with the temple. The latter for decades in the known way also wasn't used for proper purpose (Ministry of Education had turned over it at disposal of polytechnic secondary school, that housed inside received premises workshops).

The Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary temple in Romny (nowadays)

Restored Roman Catholic parish could be contented with very little, because open-air divine services were conducted across the street in the courtyard, belonged to a married couple, who'd become parishioners, by priest, come from Sumy at the appointed time. Very difficult task to return temple to the lawful owner, The Holy See, Fr. Stanislav Tanatarov, appointed to Sumy in September 1999, didn't ever consider impossible and at once on a special conference, convened in Romny, had proclaimed his aspiration to reconsecrate the temple. He'd succeeded in getting free the first floor in church, then Fr. Stanislav had liberated ground floor, minister's house and other edifices.

Konotop
The Our Lady of Fatima parish in Konotop (Ukraine)

The Our Lady of Fatima parish, third in Sumian Roman Catholic deanery, had passed through a long way while in 2005 in Konotop had appeared and been consecrated a new Roman Catholic temple, built in modern style.

The place, called by local inhabitants as "seven winds", now is one of town sights owing to Jeff Woolthy, a young member of the Holy Apostles parish from Colorado Springs (which continually renders its Sumian coreligionists help). He'd made the rich donation to the Our Lady of Fatima parish in memory of his prematurely deceased wife. The present parish priest in Konotop is Fr. Zbignev.

Shostka

The center of the fourth parish, chapel, named in honour of St. Joseph, now is situated in the private house in Shostka. The present parish priest there is Fr. Thomas.

References/printed sources
  1. 2008. Rzymsko-Katolicke Koscioly Dekanatu Sumskiego (Diecezja Carkowsko-Zaporozska Ukraina). — Sumy: Ellada Publishing House, 2007; p.p. 4, 5, 7, 8.
  2. 1. "Secrets of Condratevs" (article; translation; original text in Ukrainian see in: "Good Day", Sumy, newspaper, #4; Friday, January 20, 1995; p.5 ("Добрий день", Сумська газета, №4, 20 січня 1995 р.; с.5)): "...ancient Sumian site of old town..."
    2. Sumian Land From Antiquity Till Nowadays. Scientific handbook. Compiler: L. A. Pokidchenko.— Sumy: Publishing House "Slobozhanian Land", Sumy Regional State Administration & State Archives of Sumy Region, 2000 (translation; original text in Ukrainian see in: Сумщина від давнини до сьогодення. Науковий довідник. Упорядник: Л.А. Покидченко.— Суми: Вид-во "Слобожанщина", Сум. обл. держ. адм. та Держ. архів Сум. обл., 2000).— Part I. From the history of populated areas of Sumy Region. Sumy; p.23 (Частина І. З історії населених пунктів Сумської області. Суми; с.23):
         "As far back as the beginning of Anno Domini, in the 2nd-6th centuries, hereat lived Slavs. Vestiges of their settlement and graveyards had been discovered in the South-West part of the town, on Pavlov Street. In 8th-10th centuries in the area of former village Topoli existed a settlement of Severians, and in Luca till our times had remained traces of large site of ancient town of days of Kiev Rus, that some researches identify with Old Russian town Lipetsk." — Annotation: mentioned in this excerpt of article "Severians" were one of groups of Slav tribes in Middle Ages, and other two — Topoli and Luca — are districts of modern Sumy.
    3. Sumian Land in the History of Ukraine. Educational material. Belashov V.I., Belinska L.I., Blyznuk A.M. & others. Editorial board: Golubchenko V.U. (editor-in-chief), Blyznuk A.M. & others. Readers: Andrushchenko V.P. (academician, D.Phil., prof., rector of Kiev National Pedagogic University) & others.— Sumy: Publishing House "McDen", Sumy Regional Museum of Ethnography, Museum of Education and Science of Sumian Land & State Archives of Sumy Region, 2005 (translation; original text in Ukrainian see in: Сумщина в історії України. Навчальний посібник. Бєлашов В.І., Бєлінська Л.І., Близнюк А.М. та ін. Ред колегія: Голубченко В.Ю. (гол. ред.), Близнюк А.М. та ін. Рецензенти: Андрущенко В.П. (акад., докт. філос. н., проф., рект. Київ Нац. педаг. унів.) та ін. — Суми: Вид-во "МакДен", Сум. обл. краєзнавч. музей, музей освіти та науки Сумщини та Держ. арх. Сум. обл., 2005).— Section I. Sumian Land in the most ancient times. On border and in the first half of the 1st millennium A.D., p.33 (Розділ І. Сумщина за найдавніших часів. На рубежі та в першій половині І тис. н.е., с.33):
         "The researching of Chernyachov culture on territory of our land ... had begun ... N. Macarenko. In 1950-60s were conducted excavations of graveyards in town Sumy..."; p.37 (с.37): "Often those ones are found by chanse during earth- and building- work. In such way had been discovered graveyards on Pavlov Street..." — Annotation: Beforementioned "Chernyachov culture" was archaeological culture of the period of the Great transmigration of peoples of the 4th-6th centuries. A.D.
         Section II. Epoch of Kiev State of the 9th-12th centuries. Archaeological monuments of Old Russian origin, p.51 (Розділ ІІ. Епоха Київ. держави IX-XII ст. Археологічні пам'ятки давньоруського походження, с.51): "Large Old Russian site of ancient town, which was studying by scientists in the area of Topoli Street in Sumy, is considered as ancient fortress Lipetsk."
    4. Sumian Land From Antiquity Till Nowadays. Scientific handbook. Compiler: L.A. Pokidchenko.— Sumy: Publishing House "Slobozhanian Land", Sumy Regional State Administration & State Archives of Sumy Region, 2000; p.23 (translation; original text in Ukrainian see in: Сумщина від давнини до сьогодення. Науковий довідник. Упорядник: Л.А. Покидченко.— Суми: Вид-во "Слобожанщина", Сум. обл. держ. адм. та Держ. архів Сум. обл., 2000; с.23):
         "Old Russian chronicles name such large towns on territory of Sumian Land ... town Lipetsk (Lipovetsk) in Sumy."; ibidem, p. 164 (там же; с 164): "In January, 1284 [in internecine war] had been burnt many populated areas ... in Lipetsk ... principality...", the capital of which was situated in Lipetsk, now district Luca in Sumy.
  3. Sumian Land From Antiquity Till Nowadays. Scientific handbook. Compiler: L.A. Pokidchenko.— Sumy: Publishing House "Slobozhanian Land", Sumy Regional State Administration & State Archives of Sumy Region, 2000 (translation; original text in Ukrainian see in: Сумщина від давнини до сьогодення. Науковий довідник. Упорядник: Л.А. Покидченко.— Суми: Вид-во "Слобожанщина", Сум. обл. держ. адм. та Держ. архів Сум. обл., 2000).— Part I. From the history of populated areas of Sumy Region. Sumy; p.24 (Частина І. З історії населених пунктів Сумської області. Суми; с.24):
         "Had happened alteration in administrative status of town. Before 1732 it was a center of regiment, in 1732-1743 was governed by Chancellery of Committee of Founding Slobodian Regiments, situated in Sumy." — Annotation: Chancellery of Committee of Founding Slobodian Regiments played role of government of Slobodian Land, now North-East Ukraine.
  4. 2008. Rzymsko-Katolicke Koscioly Dekanatu Sumskiego (Diecezja Carkowsko-Zaporozska Ukraina). — Sumy: Ellada Publishing House, 2007; p.p. 4, 5, 7, 8.
  5. "Love Sumy Insomuch As I Do" (article; translation; original text in Ukrainian see in: "Good Day", Sumy, newspaper, #29; June 28, 1996; p.5 ("Добрий день", Сумська газета, №29, 28 червня 1996 р.; с.5)):
        "Production of sugar-refineries of company "I.G. Kharitonenko & son" had been carried on to get acknowledgement all over the world. Sugar-stuffs of Kharitonenko won medals, honorary diplomas at world expositions in Nizza, Paris, Philadelphia. In 1912 P. Kharitonenko possessed 8 sugar-refineries. These were: the largest in Russia and Europe Pavlov's sugar-refinery in Sumy, that every year produced 5 million puds (80 million kg) of lump-sugar; sugar-refineries — Vyrovsky, Natalian, Parkhomian, Ugroedian, Yankovorovsky (Kharkiv province); Krasnoyarusky (Kursk province); Chanovsky (Chernigov province). Pavel Ivanovich also was the largest shareholder of Tsiglyarovsky sugar company. Used the largest personal credit of the State Bank — 9 million roubles.
        In 1914 to P. Kharitonenko belonged 10 sugar-refineries, about 30 thousand tithes of leasehold for crops of sugar roots. Factories of Pavel Ivanovich were assessed at 60 million roubles, and supplied sugar to the North and South of Russia, Siberia, where he had storage at greatest cities. And not only in Russia, but also abroad, specifically in Iran, Europe, USA too, where Kharitonenko competed with Cuban sugar manufacturers."
  6. Religious Information Service of Ukraine
  7. 2008. Rzymsko-Katolicke Koscioly Dekanatu Sumskiego (Diecezja Carkowsko-Zaporozska Ukraina). Sumy: Ellada Publishing House, 2007; p. 15.
  8. Sotnik A. N. This is our history. Chronicle-documentary work on religious life in Sumian Land in connection with history of Christianity in Ukraine. Rovno: Svitankova Zorja, 1997; p. 144.


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