Wally Komaryk’s legacy will live in a work of art in Holy Eucharist Cathedral.
Komaryk, who started the church’s monthly perogy suppers more than two decades ago as a way of raising funds for the church, spent many hours working on the suppers until his death in 2015. With a career that required him to move frequently, Komaryk connected with the Ukrainian church in the cities where he lived.
“That is the first thing he did whenever we were relocated to a new city – he zeroed in on where was the Ukrainian church,” said daughter Ashli Komaryk. “He actually grew up in an orphanage and was raised by nuns. The church for him really represented the fulcrum of family. That’s his foundation. That’s his emotional foundation. That’s his spiritual foundation.”
When he no longer had to move around for work, Komaryk was able to put down roots at the Holy Eucharist Church in New Westminster. After passing away in November 2015, he left some money to the church, but didn’t specify how it should be used.
Father Mykhailo Ozorovych, who had transferred from Ukraine to New Westminster, had an idea on how to use the funds. Before moving to Canada, he’d discovered the Saint Cyprian Association of Iconographers, and suggested their art could adorn the unpainted dome at his new church.
After getting approval from the bishop earlier this spring, Ozorovych made arrangements for the artists to visit Canada. Serhii Koloda, Oleksii Cherednichenko and Dmytro Vasylkiv recently visited New Westminster to paint the dome in the traditional style of Byzantine iconography.
“It’s a very rare art form that we don’t see much here in North America at all, but in Ukraine, Macedonia, Greece, the Byzantine art is still alive and well,” Komaryk said.
Komaryk is overjoyed with the way the church chose to use her father’s gift – and for the opportunity it offered the three artists, as it was the first time they’d ever travelled outside of Ukraine.
“My heart is literally bursting with joy and emotion. They are warm, gentle people. You can tell they have good hearts. I thought, dad would really love them, wouldn’t it be great if he could be here witnessing all of this? Then I thought, this is happening precisely because he’s not here with us,” Komaryk said. “I’m thrilled that dad will be able to have his legacy continue in the church.”
On June 16, community members met the artists from the Saint Cyprian Association of Iconographers, attended a panel discussion with the artists, toured the dome and tried their hand at painting a sample icon.
Since Wally Komaryk’s death, the church has continued to offer its monthly perogy suppers, but that’s not the only way his contributions are being honoured. Hidden amid the Christ Pantocrator design is a little something special for Wally.
“They are actually going to be painting a secret little tribute to him in the dome – it’s a perogy,” Komaryk said. “It’s a very serious theme and image – and then there’s going to be a little perogy on the side, just so that people know to look for it. It’s a very emotional project for me. I am so honoured. I feel like his memory is very alive. I feel him close when we are working on this project. I can see his legacy has made this beautiful experience possible.”
