Rev. Harbuziuk traveled extensively in the United States and Canada, especially to committee meetings and annual conferences. But he also was invited occasionally as an evangelist and the main speaker at special occasions such as dedications of church buildings and other celebrations.
United States
Listed below are some of his trips around the United States. (Examples of his trips to Canada are listed on the "Canada" page. Separate pages depict his trips to South America, Australia and Ukraine.)
1950s
♦ He attended the baptism of two good friends -- Mr. Kotlarevsky and Mr. Dmytro Masluk -- in Detroit on July 30, 1950, although the act of baptism was done by Rev. Stepan Nischik, who was visiting from Saskatoon, Canada.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk attended the annual conference of the Ukrainian Missionary and Bible Society on Nov. 11-12, 1950 in Irvington, New Jersey.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk preached at the Detroit church during a local conference on May 25-27, 1951.
1960s
1962
♦ He attended the Sunday service of the Ukrainian Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York, where the pastor was Rev. John Piatkowski, on August 26, 1962.
♦ Also on August 26, 1962, he attended the Sunday evening service of the Ukrainian Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, where the pastor was Rev. Volodymyr Domashovetz.
♦ He attended the annual conference in Philadelphia from August 30 to September 3, 1962.
♦ He was the main speaker at Thanksgiving services October 20-21, 1962 in Minneapolis.
♦ At Thanksgiving services November 17-18, 1962 in Detroit, Rev. Harbuziuk and Rev. John Polischuk preached, and Rev. Polischuk conducted the Chicago choir.
1964
♦ As secretary of the Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Convention, Rev. Harbuziuk was the main speaker at the conference of the newly organized Western Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Convention that was held February 21-23, 1964 in Burlingame, California,
♦ He was the main speaker at the dedication of a new church building in Los Angeles on Nov. 7-8, 1964, when he was secretary of the Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Convention. Rev. Harbuziuk preached four times.
1965
♦ He attended the executive committee meeting of the UEBC on January 23-24, 1965 in Pittsburgh.
1967
♦ On October 28-29, 1967, he preached three times during Harvest Holiday services in Los Angeles, and also baptized a man.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk attended meetings of the UEBC executive committee in Philadelphia on Dec. 30, 1967. He and other members of the board participated in a party that evening honoring Rev. Paul Bartkow on the 50th anniversary of his ministry. Rev. Harbuziuk spoke at the event, which was held at Faith Baptist Church in Chester, Pennsylvania. The next day, Sunday, Rev. Harbuziuk preached at the Ukrainian Baptist churches in Newark, New Jersey, and Brooklyn, New York.
1968
♦ He preached at the Ukrainian Baptist Church in Crum Lynne, Pennsylvania, on February 11, 1968.
♦ The church in Minneapolis was visited on March 3, 1968 by Rev. Harbuziuk, as president of the convention, along with Rev. John Barchuk, who was vice-president.
♦ During August 1968, Rev. Harbuziuk visited the Ukrainian churches in New York, Newark, Philadelphia and Crum Lynne, Pennsylvania, as part of his trip to participate in the 7th congress of the International Council of Christian Churches in Cape May, New Jersey.
♦ In the fall of 1968, Rev. Harbuziuk visited the Ukrainian Baptist churches in Rochester, New York, and Niagara Falls, Canada, along with Rev. John Piatkowski, pastor of the New York City church; his wife, Kateryna Piatkowski, who was head of the association's women's division; and Mrs. Helen Chernoff, treasurer of the women's division.
1969
♦ On Friday, July 1, 1969, he attended the dedication of a new church building in Seattle, when he was president of the UEBC. Then he was the main speaker at the 7th annual conference of the Western association, which was held that weekend in the newly dedicated church building.
♦ He was the main speaker at Thanksgiving services October 11-12, 1969 at the Ukrainian Baptist Church in Minneapolis, where Rev. Mykola Bezditko was pastor.
♦ He was the main speaker at Thanksgiving services at the Ukrainian Baptist Church in Los Angeles on November 15-16, 1969.
1970s
1972
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk preached Saturday evening July 1, 1972 during the youth conference that was hosted by the Ukrainian Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York.
♦ He participated in the ordination of John Piatkowski as pastor of the Ukrainian Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York on October 29, 1972.
1973
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk preached in Minneapolis in 1973.
♦ As president of the All-Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Fellowship, Rev. Harbuziuk was the main speaker at the Ukrainian Baptist Church in Burlingame, California, when it celebrated its 10th anniversary on September 8 and 9, 1973.
♦ He spoke at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Los Angeles church September 15-16, 1973.
1974
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk preached at the Crum Lynne church during Easter 1974.
* Olexa was a delegate at the convention of the Ukrainian National Association on May 20 in Philadelphia.
♦ He preached at the First Ukrainian Baptist Church of Philadelphia on May 23 and May 26, 1974.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk spoke at Thanksgiving services at the Ukrainian Baptist Church in Irvington, New Jersey on October 27, 1974.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk served as the evangelist during the week of November 24 to December 1, 1974 in Phildadelphia.
1975
♦ The choir of the First Ukrainian Baptist Church of Minneapolis performed a sacred concert at the local Ukrainian hall on Saturday, May 24, 1975. Rev. Harbuziuk was the guest speaker. He also brought messages at the Sunday morning worship service and at a special Sunday afternoon service.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk attended the funeral of Rev. Dr. L. Zabko-Potapovich, longtime editor of The Messenger of Truth,
on November 11, 1975 at the Ukrainian Baptist Church in Crum Lynne, Pennsylvania.
1976
♦ The editorial board of The Messenger of Truth met January 4, 1976 in New Jersey, with Rev. Harbuziuk participating.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk was the guest speaker at the Ukrainian Baptist Church in Irvington, New Jersey when it celebrated the 20th anniversary of Rev. Volodymyr Domashovetz's pastorate on February 29, 1976, along with his 50th birthday.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk preached at the "Celebration of Freedom" that was sponsored by the All-Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Fellowship and held on May 29-30, 1976 at the (2nd) Ukrainian Baptist Church in Philadelphia.
♦ He participated in the ordination of Volodymyr Sauchuk as pastor of the church in Brooklyn, New York, on November 14, 1976.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk preached at the memorial service and funeral of Mrs. Helen Chernoff on December 9 and 10, 1976, in Brooklyn, New York. She had been the treasurer of the women's association for many years.
1977
* Rev. Harbuziuk presented two seminars at a pastors conference at the Evangelical Baptist Camp in Ashford, Connecticut, on April 15-16.
♦ On Sunday morning, April 17, Rev. Harbuziuk preached at the Polish Baptist Church in New Britain, Connecticut. That same afternoon, he preached at the Ukrainian Baptist Church in Hartford, Connecticut. It was the first time he had visited those churches.
* Rev. Harbuziuk was a featured speaker on June 28, 1977, at the 46th annual conference of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, which was held in Des Moines, Iowa.
* Pastor Harbuziuk participated in the 32nd annual conference of the Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Convention, which was held July 1-3 at the First Ukrainian Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
* Rev. Harbuziuk participated, including preaching, in the installation service of Rev. John Kovalchuk as pastor of the Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church in Crum Lynne, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, December 4, 1977.
1978
* Rev. Harbuziuk traveled to Detroit on Oct. 8.
♦ He was the main speaker at the ordination of Rev. Bohuslav Szturma on October 29, 1978.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk was the main speaker at Thanksgiving services Nov. 18-19, 1978 at the First Ukrainian Baptist Church of Minneapolis, whose pastor was Rev. Wasyl Kowalik.
* Rev. Harbuziuk traveled to Philadelphia on Dec. 2.
1979
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk greeted Pastor Georgi Vins in New York on April 27, 1979 upon his arrival after being freed from the Soviet Union.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk and Rev. Domashovetz participated in the ordination of Paul Pasiecznik on June 10, 1979 at the First Ukrainian Baptist Church of Minneapolis.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk traveled to JFK Airport in New York on June 14, 1979 to welcome eight members of the Georgi Vins family upon their arrival after being released from the Soviet Union. Rev. Vins could not be there because he was in Houston speaking to a Southern Baptist Convention conference. Rev. Harbuziuk was the only one allowed to be with the family, which left the terminal through a private exit.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk accompanied Pastor Georgi Vins to the 48th annual conference of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches in Dayton, Ohio on June 25, 1979. Vins spoke about Soviet persecution of Christians.
* Olexa and his brother, Rev. Alexander Harbuziuk who was visiting from Ukraine, visited the church in Detroit on Sept. 9. Sophie Harbuziuk went too.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk accompanied Rev. Vins to the convention of the American Council of Christian Churches that was held in Syracuse, New York in October 1979.
♦ He preached at the dedication of the Philadelphia church building on Large Street on Nov. 9-11, 1979.
1980s
1980
* Rev. Harbuziuk flew to Minneapolis on Jan. 12-13.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk spoke at a missionary conference that was held February 3-6, 1980 at Union Grove Baptist Church in the state of Wisconsin. Rev. Harbuziuk also spoke to students at the school operated by the church.
* Rev. Harbuziuk traveled to Washington, D.C., on March 26.
1982
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk preached at Thanksgiving services October 30 and 31, 1982 at the First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church in Minneapolis and also introduced Rev. Georgi Vins, who also spoke. Mrs. Harbuziuk also attended.
1983
♦ He preached and prayed at the funeral of Rev. Paul Bartkow on May 1 and 2, 1983 in Chester, Pennsylvania. Rev. Bartkow had served as president of the UEBC for 20 years.
♦ Pastor and Sophia Harbuziuk and their daughter Elizabeth led a group from the Chicago church in a mission trip to St. Joseph, Michigan, on May 22, 1983. A service was held in the home of Mrs. Helen Kosachuk. Other Chicagoans attending were Rev. and Mrs. Vins with three children, Vera Nischik, John Hodin, Gabriel Blonsky, Igor Domashovetz and Laura Perekrest.
♦ He preached at the ordination of Rev. Mykola Brych on June 19, 1983 in Crum Lynne, Pennsylvania.
♦ He attended the funeral of Rev. Dr. John Berkuta in Philadelphia on July 9, 1983, along with Mr. and Mrs. Maevsky.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk preached in St. Joseph, Michigan, on August 14, 1983, at a service organized by Mrs. Helen Kosachuk, whose husband died a year earlier. Mrs. Harbuziuk and Mr. and Mrs. Blonsky sang a trio. The Chicago church assisted the Kosachuks for a number of years in a missionary outreach in their area.
♦ As president of the All-Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Fellowship, he participated in the dedication of a new building for the Ukrainian Baptist Church in Vineland, New Jersey, on October 2, 1983.
♦ A service was held October 9, 1983 in the home of Mrs. Kosachuk in St. Joseph, Michigan, with Rev. Harbuziuk preaching and Mr. and Mrs. Blonsky and Mrs. Harbuziuk singing.
1984
♦ In 1984, he visited the churches in Philadelphia, Trenton, Vineland and Crum Lynne.
♦ Olexa and Sophia Harbuziuk visited the Slavic Baptist Church of St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1984, where Pastor Harbuziuk preached at revival services April 4-8.
♦ On June 24, 1984, Rev. and Mrs. Harbuziuk, along with 7 other persons from the Chicago church, visited St. Joseph, Michigan, and held a service in the home of Mrs. Helen Kosachuk. About 30 people attended.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk attended a Ukrainian manifestation in Washington, DC, on September 16, 1984, to mark the 20th anniversary of the Taras Shevchenko monument.
♦ Rev. and Sophia Harbuziuk again visited St. Joseph, Michigan, on Oct. 14, 1984 for a service.
♦ Olexa and Sophia traveled to Hemet, California, to attend the funeral of Serge Kabanow on November 13, 1984. Brother Kabanow was the main treasurer of the Chicago church for 15 years. Rev. and Mrs. Harbuziuk also attended services at the churches in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara during the trip.
♦ Pastor Harbuziuk and Sister Nina Wozny attended committee meetings of the church association in Philadelphia on November 24, 1984.
1985
♦ Pastor Harbuziuk attended the funeral of Rev. Andrew Rudyk in New Jersey on February 20, 1985. Rev. Rudyk had been pastor in Rev. Harbuziuk's village in Ukraine.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk preached at the church in Santa Barbara, California, on April 28, 1985, and also spoke at the funeral of Mr. Hodovansky on April 29.
♦ On May 22, 1985, Rev. Harbuziuk preached at the funeral of Mrs. Lydia Vins, 78, in Elkhart, Indiana. She was the mother of Rev. Georgi Vins. Eleven members of the Chicago church participated in the funeral.
♦ Eleven members of the Chicago church went on a mission trip to St. Joseph, Michigan, on June 9, 1985. Rev. Harbuziuk and Rev. Polischuk preached.
♦ Pastor Harbuziuk attended the 40th annual conference in Philadelphia on Labor Day weekend in 1985.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk and Rev. Polischuk again led a group of a dozen people to St. Joseph, Michigan, on September 15, 1985 to conduct a service in the home of Mrs. Helen Kosachuk.
♦ On October 11-13, 1985, Rev. and Mrs. Harbuziuk visited the church in Pittsburgh, where he was the main speaker for the Harvest Holiday (Свято Жнив).
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk preached in both Ukrainian Baptist churches in Minneapolis from October 31 to November 3, 1985.
♦ He traveled to Philadelphia for committee meetings on November 23, 1985, and then preached in Trenton, New Jersey.
1986
* Rev. Harbuziuk flew to Washington, D.C., for the Religious Broadcasters National Conference on Feb. 2.
* Rev. Harbuziuk preached in Minneapolis on March 9.
♦ Pastor Harbuziuk preached at the funeral of Rev. John Barchuk in Vineland, New Jersey, on March 17, 1986.
* Rev. Harbuziuk preached in Hamilton, Canada, on May 4.
* Rev. Harbuziuk attended a conference in Canada on June 1.
* Pastor Harbuziuk attended a congressional conference in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 8.
1987
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk spoke at the 90th birthday celebration for Rev. John Piatkowski that was held January 18, 1987 at the First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church in Philadelphia.
♦ He visited Washington, DC, on February 1, 1987.
* Rev. Harbuziuk was in California on March 8.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk taught seminars at the 6th world congress of the All-Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Youth Fellowship that was held July 6-12, 1987 at Eastern College in St. Davids, Pennsylvania.
♦ He attended the 42nd annual conference of the Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Convention September 4-6, 1987 at the First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church in Philadelphia.
1988
♦ Pastor Harbuziuk participated in observances of "The Millennium of Christianity in Ukraine" that were held in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, October 9, 1988. Other participants included the choir of the First Ukrainian Baptist Church of Philadelphia and various Ukrainian Baptist pastors.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk attended the funeral of John Junko in Santa Barbara, California, on December 13, 1988. Brother Junko was a former member of the Ukrainian Baptist Church of Chicago.
1989
♦ Pastor Harbuziuk preached at the recently established Gethsemane Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church in Fresno, California, on January 15, 1989 at the morning and evening services.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk attended the inauguration of President George H.W. Bush in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 1989.
♦ Pastor Harbuziuk preached at the funeral of Maria Osypovich (Марія Осипович) in Toronto on May 1, 1989.
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk was among the speakers at a Soviet Christian Awareness Conference in central Illinois on May 6, 1989.
1990s
♦ Rev. Harbuziuk preached at the Ukrainian Baptist Church in North Port, Florida, in 1990.
♦ Olexa and Sophia visited the Cleveland church on November 7 and 8, 1992.
♦ Olexa and Sophia were in California on January 2, 1994.
♦ On October 1, 1995, Rev. Harbuziuk participated in the ordination of Pavlo Vdov (Павло Вдов) as pastor of the First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Also, two men were ordained as deacons.
♦ Pastor Harbuziuk visited the Ukrainian Baptist Church of Cleveland, Ohio, on October 22, 1995.
Rev. Harbuziuk (in center of front row) visits a church of recent immigrants from Ukraine, in Sacramento, California, circa 1994.
Rev. Harbuziuk's travels
Rev. Harbuziuk is greeted at the airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1963. At left is Pastor Porfirio Antoniuk. Fourth from right is Pastor М. Pasiecznik (брат Mихайло Пасічник). Third from right is Rev. Michael Bachor (Михайло Бахор). At right is брат Ол. Ойцюсь. During the trip, Rev. Harbuziuk visited churches in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina.
Rev. Harbuziuk spent most of his vacation time going on mission trips and attending various conferences around the world. Countries that he visited included Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Canada, Germany, Italy, England, France, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Kenya, Uganda, Russia and Ukraine. [See other pages for lists of travels to foreign countries.]
Rev. olexa Harbuziuk Legacy
Пастор олекса Романович Гарбузюк
Rev. Olexa Harbuziuk visited the First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church of Sacramento, California, circa 1994.
From left are Pastor Yuri Golas, Pastor Volodymyr Vilchitsa, Rev. Harbuziuk and Brother Oleksander Romanishin.