A special place in her work is held by the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia, where she created the iconostasis and mosaics. “Mrs. Christine spent more time in this church than many others. Every stone here was placed by her hand,” Metropolitan Borys Gudziak noted during the ceremony conferring upon her the highest award of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church.
On November 14, 2021, Christine Dochwat was awarded the Order of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia. The citation highlighted her “many years of extraordinarily fruitful work in the field of sacred art,” as well as her deep spiritual life, service to the Church, and moral authority.
A video of the award ceremony is available at the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHWZYd3UIn4&list=RDzHWZYd3UIn4&start_radio=1
She spoke with particular warmth about her work on the Cathedral, calling it a true blessing.
We invite you to watch a video in which a young artist from Lviv, Ulyana Krekhovets, shares her encounter with the work of Christine Dochwat and how it influenced her own path:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsMy91fUoks
This is a story of two women from different generations and different continents, united by a shared vocation. Christine created at a time when the voice of women in the Church was only just beginning to be heard. Ulyana continues this quiet voice, filling it with new colors.
Today, in a special way, we pray for Mrs. Christine, trusting that her icons will continue to serve as a place of encounter with God for generations to come.
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Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing on Tuesday, April 7, at 9 AM at SS Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Phoenixville, PA, 19460. Requiem Liturgy will be celebrated at 10 AM. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, Elkins Park, PA.