At St. Volodymyr Church in Santa Clara: New Iconostasis Blessed and New Priest Ordained
On Sunday, October 19, 2025, St. Volodymyr Parish in Santa Clara celebrated a very special and joyful day. During the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, Bishop Benedict blessed the new iconostasis and conferred priestly ordination on Deacon Oleh Zatvarskyi.
Concelebrating with the Bishop were:
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Fr. Roman Bobesiuk, Administrator of St. Volodymyr Parish;
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Fr. Oleh Kepeshchuk, Administrator of the Immaculate Conception Church in San Francisco;
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Fr. Damian Higgins, Superior of the Transfiguration Monastery;
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Protodeacon Marko Krutiak and Deacon Oleh Zatvarskyi, who was ordained that day.
After the Liturgy, Bishop Benedict addressed the faithful, highlighting the spiritual meaning of the icon screen as a “gateway to the Kingdom of God” and emphasizing the importance of the new priest’s calling to serve God’s people.
Parishioners warmly thanked the Bishop for his pastoral visit, prayers, and guidance, and they wished Fr. Oleh Zatvarskyi abundant blessings in his new ministry.
The celebration concluded with Fr. Oleh giving his first priestly blessing and a festive meal filled with joy and gratitude.
This day was a significant event not only for St. Volodymyr Parish but also for the entire St. Nicholas Eparchy, which welcomed another devoted priest into its community.
More photos from this special day can be seen here: PHOTO GALLERY
