Parma youths remember victims of Great Famine (07/16/00)

Parma youths remember victims of Great Famine

PARMA, Ohio - The youth of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral on June 4 solemnly remembered the 7 million to 10 million victims who were killed in 1932-1933 during the man-made Famine-Genocide in Ukraine.

The commemoration, which took place between the 8:30 and 10:15 a.m. Sunday liturgies, was held in front of the Famine Monument on the parish grounds. A memorial service was served by the cathedral's clergy: the Rev. John R. Nakonachny, the Rev. Volodymyr Steliac and the Rev. Deacon Ihor Mahlay. Also participating was the Rev. Yaroslav Stebelsky, a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate.

Responses were sung by the parish choir, directed by Markian Komichak. During the service children placed carnations at the base of the monument.

Following the service, the Rev. Nakonachny spoke about the importance of remembering the Famine victims and the sacred duty of passing on this remembrance to our youth. Roman Kowal, a student at the parish's Ukrainian School, spoke about the Great Famine.

He was followed by Andrea Komichak, Junior UOL chapter president, and Matthew Kisil, Junior UOL chapter vice-president. Both spoke in detail about the events leading up to the Famine and the results of collectivization. They then placed a wreath of yellow and blue flowers at the monument. The commemoration concluded with the singing of the hymn "Bozhe Velykyi."

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