Father Constantine Zarsky

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Father Zarsky served the Holy Ghost Ukrainian church in Sydney, NS from 1940 to 1971. For this, and his dedication to the parish, he is fondly remembered. This display unit contains: (top left) 1 - a photo taken of Fr. Zarsky at Sydney’s Abbass Studios; 2 - Fr. Zarsky’s calling card; (top right) 3 – a book certifying Fr. Zarsky’s studies in Lviv (a major city in present-day Ukraine), 1939; 4 – Fr. Zarsky’s certificate of Canadian citizenship; 5 – a photo in which Fr. Zarsky and Bishop Borecky celebrate a liturgy, circa 1948-49 (*in this photo, see the embroidered textile in front of the altar and, in the foreground, the processional fan, both of which were featured in the Mnohaya'lita exhibit); 6 – Fr. Zarsky’s passport, showing he immigrated in 1937; 7 – Fr. Zarsky’s certificate of baptism; 8 – a photo of Fr. Zarsky together with parishioners, circa 1950s. These two photos show activities inside the original Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church Hall, built in 1928. Photos donated by the Beaton Institute Collections. All other items donated by John and Sandra Hawrylak.

Children assembled in the hall with the nuns and Fr. Zarsky, early 1940s. / Photo: Beaton Institute Collections / CKP_3941 The school certificate of John Hawrylak is signed by a nun who taught in the school. John Hawrylak also

remembers Sister Marta, whose memorial card sits with his school certificate.

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Community Life

The priests and nuns who have served the Holy Ghost Parish have played supportive roles for their parishioners. They have also been important members of wider Whitney Pier and Cape Breton communities. Parish members also contribute time and efforts to a variety of clubs and organizations based in the church and hall, keeping their community active and vibrant. As in many Ukrainian parishes across Canada, music and dance are significant in the culture and practise of Cape Breton’s Ukrainian immigrants and their descendants. These include sacred chant and choral music, as well as stage performance genres of choral and instrumental music, and operettas. Ukrainian concert dance has been popular since at least the 1920s, to the delight of local Ukrainian and wider Cape Breton and Maritime communities. Music and dance performances continue to be much anticipated as part of the parish’s many social celebrations. Many community events of the past are remembered fondly by parish members; these events have enabled them to celebrate together and to share their culture with neighbouring communities. Parish members continue to act on opportunities to create events that both celebrate and share their faith and cultural heritage.

These are historical prayer books of the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church. The priest’s servicebook that lies open is from the early 1900s, and is in the old Church Slavonic language. The “Prayerbook for the Christian Family,” open to an icon of the Holy Family, was printed in the city of Zhovkva (present-day Ukraine), in 1936. The closed book, embossed with a Chalice on the cover, was printed in Philadelphia in 1954. It is the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom – regularly prayed, like the Roman Catholic Mass.