4,500 attend Famine memorial at St. Patrick's (11/15/98)

4,500 attend Famine memorial at St. Patrick's

by Irene Jarosewich

NEW YORK - Ukrainian Americans of metropolitan New York commemorated the 65th anniversary of the Great Famine of 1932-1933 at St. Patrick's Cathedral on November 8 with a one-hour, two-part program. The Dumka Choir began the commemoration with a solemn rendition of "Otche Nash," which was followed by a "panakhyda" (memorial service) for the famine victims concelebrated by Bishop Robert Brucato, auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York; Bishop Basil Losten, eparch of the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Stamford; and the Rev. Andrei Kulyk from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A.

During the second part of the program Ukrainian Congress Committee President Askold Lozynskyj read greetings from President Bill Clinton and New York Mayor Rudy Guilliani, as well as the text of the Congressional Resolution, which had been approved by both houses of the U.S. Congress. Orysia Voloshyn officially represented New York Gov. George Pataki and read the greeting from his office.

Introductory remarks were offered by Bishop Losten and Bishop Brucato, and the keynote and final addresses were given by Ambassador William Green Miller, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, and by Ukraine's permanent representative to the U.N., Volodymyr Yelchenko.

The cathedral, which seats 4,500, was filled to capacity. Representatives of the event organizers, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, were gratified with the large turnout.

According to Tamara Gallo, director of the New York office of the UCCA, "We are impressed with, and very thankful for, the support that the Ukrainian American community gave this event. We know that several communities organized busloads of people, which we appreciate, since we know that often it is difficult to come into the center of Manhattan. Though our guests also included those not of Ukrainian descent, we believe they numbered only several hundred. And besides the guests from the pre- and post-war immigration, we realize that a very large number of guests were from among the newly arrived immigrants, for which we are very grateful."

Bishop Brucato, represented the archdiocese of New York and brought greetings from Cardinal John O'Connor. In welcoming the guests to the commemoration, the bishop noted that "every Sunday the divine liturgy is celebrated in more than 32 languages in our archdiocese ... and it is a very international community that greets you and prays with you today as you commemorate this great tragedy."

In his greeting to the participants, President Bill Clinton wrote, "... the Famine still evokes strong feelings of grief and anger. We have a solemn obligation to keep alive the memory of the innocent victims who suffered and died because of Stalin's attempt to crush Ukraine."

Ambassador Miller placed the Famine within the broader context of the geopolitics that defined the 20th century. He underscored the unfailing determination of Ukrainians, in spite of incredible obstacles and a history filled with tragedy, to establish an independent state.

For the city and state of New York, Mayor Gulliani and Gov. Pataki declared November 8 as Ukrainian Famine Rememberance Day.

The commemoration concluded with the Dumka Choir leading the guests in singing "Bozhe Velykyi Yedynyi."

President, governor send messages to commemorate Great Famine

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