St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Parish in Atlanta (Georgia)

St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Parish in Atlanta (Cumming), Georgia, is the primary spiritual sanctuary, cultural hearth, and missionary center of Ukrainian Orthodoxy in the Peach State. Located at 4818 Smith Drive in the northern metropolitan Atlanta area (Forsyth County), the parish was established in May 1998 under the patronal protection of Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. It belongs to the Eastern Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA under the canonical omophorion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, ministering to hundreds of Ukrainian-American families across Georgia and the American Southeast.

From Rented Chapel to Consecrated Parish Property (1998–Present)

In May 1998, newly ordained priest Father Bogdan Maruszak and his wife Pani-matka Ivana arrived in Atlanta to begin full-time pastoral ministry for the burgeoning Ukrainian population of metropolitan Atlanta. In its early pioneer years, the mission community had no permanent temple, gathering every Sunday in a rented institutional chapel. Each week, parishioners diligently set up a portable iconostasis, holy altar, analogia, and sacred vessels, packing everything away into storage after the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy.

Through sacrificial giving and steadfast determination, Father Bogdan and the parish council acquired their own multi-acre church property on Smith Drive in Cumming. Converting the site into a permanent church sanctuary and community center, the mission achieved full-fledged parish status, recognized throughout the Metropolia as a flourishing spiritual vineyard.

Sacred Architecture and Parish Life

Nestled in a serene wooded setting north of Atlanta, the church complex at 4818 Smith Drive offers a peaceful retreat for worship and fellowship:

• Sanctuary Dome and Orthodox Cross: The gable of the chapel entrance is crowned by an onion dome supporting a high silver Ukrainian Orthodox three-bar cross, welcoming worshippers along Smith Drive.
• The Holy Altar and Iconostas: Inside the nave, a canonical iconostas separates the altar table from the faithful, featuring hand-painted icons of Christ the Savior, the Holy Theotokos, Saint Andrew the Apostle, and the Archangels.
• Fellowship Hall & Hospitality: Adjacent to the nave is a spacious parish hall where the St. Andrew Sisterhood hosts traditional coffee hours, festive holiday luncheons, and cultural gatherings featuring authentic Ukrainian cuisine.
• Church School & Youth Ministry: The parish operates a dedicated church school educating children in the Orthodox Christian faith, scripture, liturgical music, and the Ukrainian language.

Archpastoral Visitations and Pastoral Guidance

St. Andrew Parish has enjoyed the loving paternal guidance of the Primates and Hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. For fourteen years, the late Metropolitan Constantine served as the parish’s beloved spiritual father. In December 2008, Bishop Daniel visited Atlanta to mark the parish’s 10th anniversary, presenting Blessed Certificates of Recognition to dedicated founders.

Most recently, His Eminence Archbishop Daniel led solemn archpastoral services on the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, commemorating the anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear tragedy and praying for fortitude, resilience, and victory for the people of Ukraine.

Humanitarian Mission and Relief for Ukraine

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale aggression, St. Andrew Parish has become a major hub of humanitarian solidarity in the American Southeast. Father Bogdan, Father Mykola Hutsul, and the parish board coordinate regular relief collections, purchasing and shipping portable electric generators, emergency battlefield trauma medical supplies, surgical bandages, and baby essentials directly to regional hospitals in Ukraine.

The parish also serves as an open haven for newly arriving Ukrainian refugees throughout Fulton, Gwinnett, and Forsyth counties, providing resettlement guidance, language aid, and spiritual comfort.

Chronological Milestones of St. Andrew Parish

Parish Information & Contacts