Ukrainian church in Arnold on the market for $200K
The closing of a Ukrainian church serving the Arnold community for almost 100 years has left many former parishioners and residents in a state of disbelief.
Holy Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Church held its last Divine Liturgy on Aug. 27 and is listed for sale for $199,999.
“I’m not doing that good. I wish the church could still be open,” said lifelong parishioner and former parish president Walter Sakal, 92, of Arnold.
Sakal said the church closed because of financial reasons and too few parishioners, with only about 10 people attending worship services.
The Very Rev. Mark Swindle of Green Tree has served the parish since 2007.
During its peak, there were more than 100 congregants, a choir and a thriving fundraising program through the sale of pierogies.
Lifelong Arnold resident Michelle Stoner said she always loved eating the homemade pierogies made by volunteers.
“That church has been here since I was a little girl. Those pierogies were sold downstairs, and they were so good,” Stoner said. “I heard about it years ago, rumors that it might close, but this is shocking.”
Rochelle Sakal, married to Walter for 51 years, served as the pierogie chairperson. She fought back tears Sunday, reflecting on the memories and emotions surrounding the closure.
“I made the pierogies, and I naturally got all the people together. That’s what kept our church going — pierogies. Near the end, we didn’t have any volunteers and we were desperately in need, and we quit making the pierogies four years ago.”
The Sakals live two blocks from the church.
They’re still reeling from the reality of not having the church in their lives anymore.
“It broke our hearts. It’s hard. (A) lot of tears,” Rochelle Sakal said. “We married in that church, and we had so many Christmas Eve parties and religious parties.
“It’s very sad because you put your heart and soul with God in this little church, which was our kingdom. We have nothing now.”
Furnishings removed
The original stained-glass windows and pews will remain, but all liturgical furnishings were removed, with items donated to nearby St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church.
The baptismal font is now in a sister Ukrainian Orthodox Church in New Jersey.
Archbishop Daniel Zelinsky officially closed the church, and all deeds and paperwork were signed over to the diocese.
Many of the neighbors along Kenneth Avenue ventured over to the church Friday afternoon to peek inside from the locked front glass door.
“The parish kept dying off,” said William Stoner, a Kenneth Avenue resident residing across the street from the church. “They were lucky if they had a handful of people left. When I moved here 23 years ago it was still small. They’re done.”
The parishioners’ average age is late 80s to early 90s, most of whom are lifetime members, Swindle said.
“I will always be the people’s priest there, even though the physical building is no longer there for us to gather,” Swindle said. “But that’s just the four walls. I still serve the people there.”
Maria Murphy lives across the street from Holy Virgin and said it always looked beautiful when it was illuminated at night.
Murphy said Friday she was surprised to hear the church, built in 1924, had closed.
“The reverend was very nice and he blessed us and the cars. I wish I could buy it. I’ve never been inside, but we are in shock,” Murphy said.
Property for sale
The property is zoned non-conforming, and the neighborhood is zoned R-2.
“There’s a lot of potential for the building, like a daycare, something for the Arnold community,” said listing agent Stephanie Robinson. “Many of the churches have been turned into venues and hoping that whoever ends up with the church will keep some of bones of it and not just slap some paint on it.”
Proceeds from the church sale will go to the consistory in New Jersey, the church headquarters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.
“All monies revert back to the Diocese,” Swindle said.
The rectory has three bedrooms and a finished basement with a kitchen and is attached to the church.
“I hope somebody buys it and does good with it,” William Stoner said. “I want something nice going in there. This is a nice street.”
Michelle Stoner said as a young girl, she’d hide on the church grounds and some kids would sneak cigarettes behind the large pine trees that were on the church grounds.
“This place was jam filled. They used to compete with St. Vlads with the pierogies,” Michelle Stoner said. “Oh the memories.”
The Sakals now worship at various churches in Alle-Kiski Valley.
But the couple still visit the church sometimes to pray because as president, Walter still has a key.
The Sakals planted a rose bush in the front near the steps going to the church basement and said everyone always worked together to make the church nice.
“We would like to see another church buy it and still use it as a church because it is a beautiful church,” Sakal said.
Swindle assured his congregation that he is available for all of their ministerial needs.
“This is my first parish assignment and it’s sad, however, I still keep in contact with every single person who is a parishioner there, via phone or visitation. The reality is the day was coming when we couldn’t keep the church open anymore. That last liturgy had a large amount of tears, a lot of sadness but I’m still their spiritual Father,” Swindle said.
To view the online listing, click here.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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