About Us
St. Andrew, called “Andrew the First-Called,” was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and the brother of St. Peter. Born in Bethsaida, a fishing village near the Sea of Galilee, Andrew worked as a fisherman before becoming a disciple. He initially followed John the Baptist, but after John identified Jesus as the Lamb of God, Andrew became the first disciple to follow Jesus. This distinction earned him the title “First-Called.” He also introduced his brother Peter to Jesus, playing a pivotal role in shaping the early apostolic community.
Andrew’s missionary work took him far and wide. He is traditionally credited with preaching Christianity in regions such as Greece, Asia Minor, and Eastern Europe, including Scythia, corresponding to parts of modern Ukraine and Russia. According to Ukrainian tradition, Andrew traveled to the site of present-day Kyiv, blessed the hills, and prophesied that a great Christian city would rise there. This makes him particularly significant to the Ukrainian Church, where he is honored as the founder of Christianity in the region.
Andrew was martyred in Patras, Greece, on an X-shaped cross, now known as St. Andrew’s Cross, which symbolizes humility and devotion. He became the patron saint of several nations, including Ukraine, Scotland, Russia, and Romania. In Ukraine, St. Andrew’s spiritual legacy is deeply tied to its Christian heritage, underscoring his role as a key evangelist and unifier of the faith. His feast day, November 30, celebrates his enduring impact on Christianity and its spread across the world.
Our Clergy
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Father Kostiantyn has served the St. Andrew Mission since its inception in 2019. Our mission has had the pleasure of watching his spiritual growth from a subdeacon, a deacon, and now our priest!
Born and raised in Kolomyia, Ukraine, he grew up practicing his faith in secret which played a key role in his passion for Christ and the Church. In 1998, he started his higher education, but dropped out to pursue his true calling as a priest.
He was ordained to the subdiaconate and later the diaconate in 2023. Finally, on December 1, 2024, he was ordained to the priesthood by His Eminence Bishop Benedict Aleksiychuk, Bishop of the Eparchy of St. Nicholas of Chicago.
Father Kostiantyn lives in Dallas, TX with his wife, pani-matka Therese, and their two beautiful children, Antonia and Kostiantyn. He owns and works at an audio/video/internet installation company. He continues to split his time between our mission and St. Sophia’s Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church where he serves alongside his brother, Father Pavlo.
It is a blessing to have him serve at St. Andrew The First-Called Mission.
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Father Pavlo has served the Austin mission since its inception in 2017, making the journey from his home parish of St. Sophia’s Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Dallas, Texas.
Prior to being the pastor of St. Sophia’s, Fr. Pavlo was a full-time chaplain at St. Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center (which is also where he did his clinical pastoral education residency) and he assisted at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Chicago. During his years of hospital ministry, he worked in pediatrics, maternity, medical surgery, and oncology units. His strengths of listening and compassion were undoubtedly refined through his chaplaincy work.
Born and raised in Kolomyia, Ukraine, he graduated from a minor law school there in 1997. He then received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from St. Basil’s College, Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in Stamford, CT in 2002. After two years at St. Joseph’s seminary in Yonkers, NY majoring in Theology, he moved to the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC from which he received his Sacred Theology Baccalaureate degree in 2006. He was ordained to the subdiaconate in 2007, the diaconate in 2008, and the priesthood in 2009 by eternal memory +Bp. Richard Stephen (Seminack).
During his years in school, Father Pavlo was involved in various ministries including teaching catechism to third and fourth graders, working as a volunteer at the Catholic hospice for cancer patients, and being a spiritual counselor at the shelter for abused adults. He now dedicates most of his time to the areas of parish growth, finances, and relations with Ukrainian and other Catholic communities of the DFW area (both Eastern and Western). Fr. Pavlo also serves as a syncellus for clergy at St. Nicholas Eparchy. In addition, he is in charge of the Eparchial missions.
He is married to pani-matka Luba and together they have five children: Nicholas, Nadia, Sophia, Anastasia, and Mark. His personal interests include sports, literature, spirituality, and medical ethics.
It is a blessing to have him serve at St. Andrew The First-Called Mission.