Phoenixville Ukrainian Church Pastor: 'Do Not Remain Silent'

PHOENIXVILLE — Marijka Cyhan arrived early for a 6 p.m. service at Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Phoenixville to pray for her friends, family and her homeland of Ukraine.

Carrying a yellow-and-blue striped sign saying “Please Pray for Ukraine,” and pins with blue-and-yellow ribbons, the 78-year-old Chester County woman was greeted by the Rev. Ihor Royik.

Royik leads a prayer group every Wednesday evening at the neighborhood church on Fairview Street.

The church plans to host a vigil at 6 p.m. Friday at Reeves Park, 148 Third Ave., Phoenixville.

About 40 local parishioners gathered inside the ornate church with gold trimmings and colorful stained-glass windows. The church is situated in a quiet residential neighborhood.

Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Phoenixville mirrors Ukrainian churches across the nation where natives of the homeland are praying for peace and democracy.

Royik, 53, who is known as Father Roy to his parishioners, delivered a message.

“Do not remain silent,” Royik said. “Write to congressmen and to people who are in charge. They can provide weapons and missiles that Ukraine can use to protect itself.”

The world has to know what is happening in Ukraine because it has worldwide implications, the priest said.

Royik said he speaks to priests in Ukraine daily to get the latest update. His parents, who are now deceased, lived there. Close relatives are still there.

“It’s devastating,” he said. “It’s a genocide of the Ukrainian people.”

Royik reported to his congregation the latest news from Ukraine. Most of the parishioners have close family and friends living there.

He said buildings have been leveled and cities hit with rockets.

“Today, we have sad news in the city of Mariupol,” he said. "A children’s hospital was bombed. One of the 1,000 pound bombs was dropped on a children’s hospital.”

Royik said that false news is being spread by the Russians. As an example, he said a Russian spokesperson said Ukrainian Nazis kicked out all of the mothers who were expecting from the bombed hospital.

“It’s so cynical that it literally makes me sick,” Royik said. “They are innocent children, some who were just born.”

Prayers for Ukraine

The parishioners each received a prayer booklet, with a special prayer for Ukraine.

“Strengthen the people as they face great danger,”the prayer asked of God.

Royik sang the hymns in both Ukrainian and English. Programs were provided, written in both languages as well.

Royik grew up in western Ukraine and was ordained as a priest in the Ukrainian Catholic Church. He served as a priest in Ukrainian Catholic Churches in Canada, Melrose Park, and Phoenixville, where he has been for the last seven years.

Royik has not been able to see his relatives and friends in Ukraine for the last two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

His relatives in Ukraine are housing refugees from Eastern Ukraine. Royik said he is in daily contact with his family in Ukraine.

“Putin is pushing buttons all over the whole world,” Royik said. “The entire world is against the war.”

Royik asked everyone to pray for Ukraine.

May Zielinski, 63, of Phoenixville, like many of the parishioners, said her parents migrated to the United States in 1949.

“I have many cousins in Ukraine,” she said. “I pray for Ukraine.”

Marusia Dombchewsky, choir director, said Putin must be prevented from putting young men out to kill people in Ukraine.

“He must be stopped,” she said.