The Assumption of the Virgin Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church is located in
Northampton, Pennsylvania.  We are a parish of the Ukrainian Orthodox
Church of the United States of America under the omophorion of the

Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. 
Our parish was founded in 1921 by Ukrainian immigrants.  Many of them
were attracted to the area by a flourishing cement industry, with the
greatest influx occurring between 1900 and 1914.  As older immigrants
first settled in Northampton, they were joined by a steadily increasing
number of vibrant young immigrants seeking freedom and the opportunity
to prosper.

    
 A series of disturbing events occurred that threatened the
settler's religious freedom.  The freedom they cherished was beginning
to be restrained to such a degree that by the spring of 1920 more than
100 families had made a decision to form a new church.  This was a
difficult decision for many as family ties were severed and old
friendships ended. 

    
Organizational meetings were held during the summer months of 1920. 
A movement to establish an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church on the
American continent was already in progress.  Our first church service
was held on the second floor of a local meeting hall.  By August 1, the
founders had voted to establish an Orthodox Church and elected their
officers.  Serious consideration was given to buying and renovating the
hall into a church, but a final decision was made to construct a new
building.   A plot of ground was purchased by the trustees on January
20, 1921.  The construction details were directed so skillfully that the
entire cost of erecting the church was $18,000.  Labor and material
costs were minimal, as many parish members freely donated their efforts
and energy.  On September 25, 1921 the struggles and dreams of the
immigrants were culminated with the dedication of a new church - one in
which they would be free to worship God in the Orthodox Faith.

This year, 2011, we start to celebrate the 90th anniversary of our parish.  Since 1921, The Holy Orthodox Faithful in Northampton have been witness to 598 baptisims, 174 marriages, and 416 burials according to the rites of the Holy Orthodox church!