PASSAIC, NJ: On Sunday, October 5, seminarians from the city of Uzhorod in the Transcarpathian Region of Ukraine offered a concert of sacred and liturgical music at the auditorium of the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel. The seminarians are among 125 students currently enrolled at the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Mukachevo's Blessed Theodore Romzha Theological Academy in Uzhorod. They were accompanied by the Very Rev. Archpriest Taras Lovska, seminary rector.

The group has been on a whirlwind three week tour of parishes in the New York/New Jersey area, Eastern and Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and Virginia. The main purpose of the concert-series has been to expose the American faithful to the sacred music tradition of the Ukrainian Carpathian area, promote awareness of the church in Transcarpathia and to support the operation of the seminary. Students were on hand to sell DVDs and CDs of their wide repertoire of music.

His Eminence, Vladyka Mykhayil used the opportunity to make time to visit the Passaic Cathedral and enjoy the concert. He was pleased with the opportunity to speak to Fr. Taras and the seminarians. In addition, he had the chance to talk with Bishop William Skurla, Greek Catholic Bishop of Passaic and Reader Jack Figel, director of Eastern Christian Publications and Orientale Lumen Foundation. Reader Figel has served as the coordinator of the all the arrangements for concert tour and assisted the seminarians in the production of their recordings.

The pleasant evening ended with a tour of the Cathedral of St. Michael, which was made open to the concert attendees through the very gracious effort of its pastor, the Very Rev. Marcel Szabo. Father Szabo spoke about the long history of St. Michael's in Passaic, which began in 1890 and continues today in its role as mother church of the Eparchy. The majestic interior of the cathedral is a tribute to the many, many immigrant faithful, dedicated parishioners, sisters, cantors, priests and bishops who have served in Passaic over these 128 years.

View more pictures of the concert  at this link.

Click here for more information about the Uzhorod Seminary Concert Tour.