THE 65th ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREAT FAMINE

Philadelphia rally recalls genocide of 1932-1933 in Ukraine

by Petrusia Sawchak

PHILADELPHIA - "Your truth, your memory will live from generation to generation," said Ulana Mazurkevich, head of the local Ukrainian Famine Commemoration Committee comprising 45 organizations, at a rally held across from the Liberty Bell on November 21.

Ms. Mazurkevich continued, "Let us stand in vigilance to man's inhumanity to man. It was a famine silenced and denied."

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the Great Famine. The rally was just one of several Philadelphia events organized by local activists Vera Andreyczyk, Ihor Kushnir, Orysia Hewka and Jurij Nakonechnyj to remember the tragic chapter in history when 7 million died of starvation orchestrated by Stalin.

A solemn panakhyda (memorial service) was held on November 15 at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception celebrated by Bishop Walter Paska along with eight priests. The Prometheus Male Chorus conducted by Nestor Kyzymyshyn sang the responses. All Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox churches held liturgies and services that day for those who perished during the genocide of 1932-1933.

Following the service, a commemorative program was held in the cathedral's hall. To bandura accompaniment, Petro Hursky and Bohdan Turczeniuk sang "With a Pure Heart" and "Little Orphan." Volodymyra Kawka gave a dramatic reading, "Requiem of the Famine," written by Petro Marusyk. The keynote address was delivered by Michael Sawkiw, director of the Ukrainian National Information Service in Washington.

After the Prometheus Chorus gave its rendition of "Otche Nash" and "Pid Tvoyu Mylist," a candlelight vigil was held for the dead.

During the rally on November 21, Dr. Mykola Zhulynsky, a former member of Parliament who is in the forefront of the democratic movement in Ukraine, underlined that the Communists had used "food as a weapon" to bring the Ukrainian nation to its knees. He also spoke of the atrocities committed in western Ukraine during the 1940s. Dr. Zhulynsky, today director of the Shevchenko Institute of Ukrainian Literature, stressed: "We cannot let the world forget."

A panakhyda for the victims of the famine was offered by the Rev. Michael Ciuman of the Protection of Our Lady Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church; Protopresbyter Frank Estocin, pastor of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Church; and the Rev. Orest Mychalynshyn of St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church. Response were sung by St. Vladimir's choir under the direction of Mr. Hursky.

Pamphlets about the famine were distributed during the rally to the audience. The leaflets were prepared by Christina Prokopovych of the Ukrainian Heritage Museum at Manor Junior College.

Philadelphia Mayor Edward Rendell presented the city's proclamation of November 21 as "Ukrainian Famine Day of Sorrow," noting that "the purpose of the famine was to crush the political, cultural and human rights of the Ukrainian people."

Hymns were sung by the choirs of two churches: the Ukrainian Evangelical Pentecostal Church, conducted by Volodymyr Yaremchuk, and the First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church, whose choir director is Luba Vasylykiv.

Among the Famine survivors present at the rally were Petro Hursky, Wasyl Jewtushenko, Iwan Kononenko, Margarita Borzakiwska and Nina Kwashynska. Mr. Hursky remembered that his father hid flour and salt pork in the woods in order to survive. Mrs. Borzakiwska survived because her father had been an army officer under the last tsar and still had enough influence to get food.

Most, like the mother of Pavlo Lymarenko, were not as fortunate. Trying to hold back tears, Mr. Lymarenko was at the rally with his son, who held a picture of his late grandmother.

As candles were lit in memory of the departed, Ms. Mazurkevich said, "Let the light of truth shine forever."

As the beautiful strands of composer Myroslav Skoryk's "Melody" were heard in the background, girls representing the Plast Ukrainian Youth Organization carried "the wreath of sorrow" and laid it upon the crucifix erected on the plaza. Many other youths from the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM) were present.

Various eyewitness accounts of the genocide were read; these were complied from the "Voices of Survivors" taken from the testimony of witnesses recorded by the U.S. Commission on the Ukraine Famine.

Pastor Yaroslav Pristatsky of the Ukrainian Evangelical Pentecostal Church concluded the rally with a prayer in memory of those who perished during the famine.

The rally was covered by the news affiliates of the ABC and NBC networks, as well as the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, December 20, 1998, No. 51, Vol. LXVI

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