EDITORIAL

Christmas 1996

As we mark the Nativity of Jesus Christ according to the Julian calendar, we recall that Christmas is marked in Ukraine also on January 7 by all Ukrainian Churches. And, it is worth noting that this will be the fifth anniversary of the first Christmas celebration in newly independent Ukraine.

Five years ago, in 1991, we noted that our tradition of sitting down to Holy Supper with our families and close friends had assumed much more meaning with the advent of long-sought independence for our dear Ukraine, as the faithful in Ukraine, whose Churches had been reborn and revitalized openly marked the feast of Christ's birth. We were referring of course to the fact that both the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church had returned to Ukraine. Thus, we had reason to celebrate the birth of Christ, as well as the rebirth of our native Churches on Ukrainian soil.

Five years later, we can say that Ukraine's Churches appear to be flourishing as new houses of worship are popping up all over the countryside, many of them thanks to the financial help of the diaspora as parishes here adopt parishes there and help the faithful build churches to serve their needs. However, we are saddened by the still unresolved events surrounding the funeral of Patriarch Volodymyr of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate) and the Ukrainian government's grossly insufficient response - a response that seems to stem from the mistaken impression that separation of Church and state means ignoring the fact that a religious denomination's rights were trampled. We are heartened also by the fact that the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church has finally been able to appoint a visitator for its faithful in eastern Ukraine. But, we are disappointed that this Church still has not been able to attain patriarchal status and to regain its rights as a particular Church.

Thus, our thoughts naturally turn to Ukraine as we prepare to share the traditional 12-course Sviata Vecheria with our loved ones. As we light the candles on our dinner tables just as the first star appears in the night sky, we symbolically unite with our brethren in Ukraine.

And, as we thank God for all His blessings upon our families and our nation, it is fitting also to pray for the continued spiritual rebirth of our homeland and to seek unity and wisdom for our nation.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 7, 1996, No. 1, Vol. LXIV

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