Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church,
(Chapel of Mother of God Hodigitria)
BUFFALO, NY
Very Rev. Marijan Procyk, pastor
308 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo, N. Y. 14206
(From St. Nicholas Website…) Our people began to settle in Buffalo at the end of the 19th century, when the first immigrants came to Black Rock section of the city about 1882. Their first church was built in 1894 on Ideal Street. The first pastor of this church was Rev Mykola Stefanowycz (1895). This church was eventually taken over by the Russian orthodox. In 1905, the Catholics from the East Side, organized as the Brotherhood of St. Nicholas, constructed a little wooden church at 193 Central Avenue.
The lots for the church were purchased at a cost of $300.00 and $1,800.00 was spent on the construction of the building. Fr. Ivan A. Zaklinskyj blessed the church, while Bishop Charles H. Colton, the local Latin rite ordinary, presided. In 1910 the parish was honored by a visit of Metropolitan Andrew Sheptyckyj, when he was on his way to Eucharistic Congress in Montreal, Canada. As the number of parishioners increased, it became evident that the church was too small for the worshippers.
Rev. John Ortynsky, in the church announcements of July 9, 1913, addressed the congregation by saying, “I remind you once again about buying the lots and I am asking every parishioner to offer something, according to his ability, for the purchase of the property. If we do not succeed, people would laugh at us by saying, “They started, but they have been unable to finish.” The land mentioned above was located at the corner of Fillmore Ave. and Oneida St. To the pastor and the parishioners, this location was more suitable for the construction of a church and, therefore, he encouraged the members of the parish to contribute toward the purchase of the land.
Even preparing for the construction of the church, difficulties were experienced. Once again, the voice of the pastor could be heard in the church on November 16, 1913. He said, “I warn those who want to introduce disorder in the church that they will be sorry for their actions. Order must be kept until the matter is clarified.”
Finally, the property was secured for the church. It was blessed on September 13, 1914 by Father Nicholas Voloshtuk. The ground breaking ceremony took place on May 20, 1917. On October 26, 1919, the laying of the cornerstone was performed. The dedication of the church was recorded on November 25, 1920.
Plans for the church were drawn by W. H. Zawadzki. His fee was $2000.00. The general contractor was Bellanca and Sorgi. Excavation was done by Frank Piekar ski ($1,600.00); pouring the concrete for the basement was done by Butler and Mills ($2,000.00); plumbing by Thomas Park; and heating by A. Victor & Co.
The lawyer for the project was Charles L. O’Connor.
