Ukrainian bishop vows to rebuild church destroyed in explosion

Published: 2004-09-13

COLCHESTER, Conn. (CNS) -- Bishop Basil H. Losten of the Ukrainian Diocese of Stamford pledged to rebuild a Ukrainian Catholic church in Colchester following a Sept. 10 explosion that reduced the church to a pile of rubble but left a statue of Mary intact. No one was hurt in the 6:45 a.m. explosion at St. Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, which was believed to have been "caused accidentally by a leak in a 50-pound propane gas tank located on the premises," the diocese said in a Sept. 11 statement. Father Kiril Manolev, St. Mary's pastor, escaped unharmed along with his pregnant wife and 3-year-old son from the rectory attached to the church. The rectory had some damage but remained standing. Father Manolev was married in his native Macedonia before his 2001 ordination for the Ukrainian Diocese of Stamford. Outside the United States, married men may be ordained Catholic priests in Eastern churches such as the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

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