St. Mary the Protectress UO Church, Melville, Sask.

The Formative Years

               The establishment of the Ukrainian Orthodox cultural foundations at Melville is largely due to George (1884-1955) and Kataryna (nee Milan. 1887–1960) Lysechko.

                Upon their arrival at Melville from western Ukraine in 1912 the Lysechkos committed their facilities and dedicated their time and effort to the promotion and enhancement of the Ukrainian Orthodox values in their new community. Their home served as the first “Reading Room” whereat the youth were taught the Ukrainian language, song and dance until the time of erection of the Ukrainian Cultural Centre, the Narodni Dim, in 1925. This Centre accommodated dance instruction, singing and concerts in which George and Kataryna were deeply involved and which they extended with performances into the neighboring communities of  Birmingham, Fenwood, Goodeve, Hubbard and Ituna.

                On July 17-18, 1918, representatives from across Saskatchewan approved the establishment of the Ukrainian Greek-Orthodox Church of Canada. A committee was struck whose function was to organize local Brotherhoods and congregations. George Lysechko was one of its members. On the national level he was a member of the Ukrainian Canadian Committee and on the local level he was readily a helping hand to those with correspondence and interpretation problems in citizenship and immigration. 

Your commitment, effort and dedication to uphold the Ukrainian Orthodox values served as a prime and formative pioneering model manifesting in the establishment of one of the greatest legends in Canadian history—that of the Ukrainian Greek-Orthodox Church of Canada. Rest in peace, George and Kataryna--Vichnaya Pamyat!

                                Photographs and info provided by son Orest (Elvira) Lysechko. 

Back row (L to R): George Lysechko, William Senyk, Steven Wiwchar, Tony Skihar, Peter Kozak, John Safrorik.
Middle row (L to R): Anna Wiwchar, Mary Dubiuk, Ms. Kolody, Mary Adamoski, Julie Kochupski.
Front row (L to R): Mike Krupa, Tony Turta.

Ukrainian Dance Group