The spiritual center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. hosted a “Candle of Remembrance” commemorative event on October 4 at St. Andrew Memorial Church, marking the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor of 1932-1933.
The event was part of a worldwide effort coordinated by various organizations, including the Ukrainian World Congress, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance. A flame of remembrance has been traveling on an 85-day journey across five continents, concluding on November 24 in Kyiv.
The ceremony included the reading of 85 names of the millions of victims, symbolic of the 85 years, and a memorial litia that was served by the Very Rev. Yurij Siwko, the Very Rev. Petro Levko and the Rev. Vasyl Pasakas, as the faithful held lit candles and the seminarians led the responses and the singing of “Memory Eternal” (Vichnaya Pamiat).
Guests had a chance to view a small commemorative exhibit at the back of the church, where informative posters, pamphlets and books were available, especially the multi-volume series “Book of Memory” (Knyha Pamiati) that lists the names of victims according to each of Ukraine’s oblasts. The books were on display at the Consistory Library on October 4-12.