Everyone seems to be following the drama and tragedy unfolding in Ukraine after invasion by Russia.

Perhaps nowhere is interest more intense than in Schuylkill County, site of the country’s highest concentration of people claiming Ukrainian ancestry.

Four of the top 10 American communities with a concentration of Ukrainian descendants are in Schuylkill County.

In first place is Cass Township, where 14.3% of residents claim to be of Ukrainian descent, according to the U.S. Census.

Others in the top 10 are Gilberton, St. Clair and Frackville.

Why is this so? Well, the easy answer is, that’s where Ukrainian immigrants settled.

But there’s so much more to the story and it’s fascinating to look at Ukraine’s presence in the county landscape.

The Schuylkill County Historical Society says the people of Ukraine immigrated with their lifestyles.

“Many of them had a biblical worldview, and religion was a part of everyday life,” said the society in a recent statement.

As a result, Ukrainian churches popped up across the county in the late 1800s.

Leading the way was the first Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the United States, Shenandoah’s 1884 St. Michael the Archangel.

In fact, the church - in a big way - became a symbol of Ukrainian life in the new land.

Specifically, it was:

• The first building of the organized Ukrainian diaspora in the U.S.

• The very first building built by Ukrainian immigrants in America.

• The first Ukrainian church in all of the Americas.

• The site of the origin of an organized Ukrainian American community.

• The site of establishment of the first Ukrainian brotherhood in the U.S., St. Nicholas of Shenandoah.

• The site known as the cradle of organized Ukrainian American community life.

In 1908, Ukrainian Catholics built a second St. Michael’s Church, repurposing the first historic structure as a hall.

But the new church burned down in a 1980s blaze, forcing the congregation to again use the old hall as a church until a new one was built in 1983. The original wood-frame building, unfortunately, was demolished about 2015.

While Shenandoah earns prominence in its pioneering role in Ukrainian culture, the same process was unfolding in many other Schuylkill communities.

Distinctive onion-domed houses of worship sprouted: St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Minersville, St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church in Frackville, St John’s Ukrainian Catholic in Gilberton, Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic in St. Clair, and St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, McAdoo.

Today, Ukrainian culture continues to shape life in Schuylkill County and the Southern Anthracite coal fields.

Naturally, residents are following events overseas with emotion. Some have relatives still living in Ukraine.

Others identify strongly with the motherland through genealogical ancestry.

Their devotion demonstrates a loyalty to tradition and an appreciation for the safe harbor of new life in a new land.

As for new refugees, Gov. Tom Wolf said March 7 that Pennsylvania stands ready to help and will open its doors.

The governor is urging the general assembly to provide $2 million to the office of resettlement to support Ukrainian refugees displaced by war.

“The people of Ukraine have shown immense courage and bravery which should have never been necessary. Pennsylvania stands with Ukraine. I will do everything in my power to ensure Pennsylvania’s support of Ukraine and also sever ties with Russia.”

Those hopeful words carry weight in Schuylkill County because those refugees, in some instances, are friends and relatives.

Contact Donald R. Serfass at dserfass@tnonline.com.