Rev. Ivan Zayatz

Rev. Ivan Zayatz [Іван Заєць], (b. 1895 in Kremenchuk, Poltava, Ukraine; d. October 22, 1963, in Youngstown, OH). Orphaned at age of ten, Rev. Ivan Zayatz began studying music in Rostov with composer Hryhorij Davidovsky. He proved to be a talented musician and soon established himself as a choral conductor. In 1946, Zayatz was a Ukrainian refugee living at the German DP camp in Mainz-Kastel. At that time, he was choir director for the Metropolitan Choir which was formed under the auspices of Patriarch Mstyslav (Skrypnyk), then Bishop of Pereyaslav. Zayatz led the choir on a tour of European cities, giving over one hundred concerts. Later in life, he chose to become an Orthodox priest. Upon his arrival in the U.S. in 1957, Father Ivan was assigned to St. Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Chester, PA, and afterwards to SS. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Youngstown, OH, where he continued his musical activities. He died on October 22, 1963.