Rev. Frank Lawryk

Rev. Frank Lawryk [о. Фрaнко Лаврик], (b. August 27, 1912, in Ukraine; d. June 21, 1987, in Johnson City, NY). Talented artist, dancer, musician, and priest at St. John’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Johnson City, NY for forty-two years. Father Lawryk was born in Western Ukraine. When he was just eight years old, his family immigrated to America and settled in Chester, PA. His love of music led him to study voice, piano, and conducting at the West Indies Music Conservatory (Haiti), and later at George Washington University. He entered St. Mary the Protectress Seminary in Philadelphia, and by 1945 he was ordained a priest and installed as the new pastor at St. John’s where he worked with cantor Walter Puchir to build up the choir. Father Lawryk, along with his wife Julia who was equally talented, became the leaders of a vibrant cultural life within the parish. Together they oversaw the construction of a new Memorial Center in 1954, where they instituted classes in singing, piano, folk dancing, embroidery, painting, and pysanky making.

1945: Ordination.

1945-1987: Pastor at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Johnson City, NY).