Saint John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church

Ruslan Borovyi

The St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church & Grazhda in Jewett is an immaculate wood-carved basilica constructed entirely without the use of nails. The interior is also hand-carved, and features a carved wood iconostasis and grand lapidary, as well as gold-covered features. Designed by architect Ivan Zhukovsky, the church was built in 1962 and dedicated to those who committed their lives to the struggle for the freedom. As part of the Grazhda Music and Art Center of Greene County, the church is open to the public for concerts, Ukrainian craft workshops and art exhibitions, allowing visitors to explore the music, architecture and culture of the Ukraine in the Catskills. Church services are held on Sundays, followed by a lunch buffet. Proceeds benefit the church. ON AUGUST 14, 1960, FORMER professional Ukrainian soccer player John Kobziar invited some of his neighbors to his home in Hunter, New York. The meeting that took place that evening became the first of the “Temporary Committee for the construction of the Ukrainian Catholic Chapel in the Vicinity of Hunter, NY.” Together, the group raised the funds to build what is known today as St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church. Construction began on the chapel and grazhda, or parish hall, in 1961 and was completed in 1962. Both structures were built entirely without nails following Ukrainian vernacular architecture and folk art principles. An offshoot of German blockwork or log construction, the church was built according to traditional Ukrainian solid log or timber building.

Halyna Vasylytsia

Cozy and creative place!

Oxana Lukavenko

Great place, beautiful Ukrainian church, intelligent parishioners! ❤️

Stan Sorochan

Beautiful landmark. A church built entirely of wood with hand-carved ornaments and details.