WASHINGTON – After nearly a year of rigorous planning, the U.S. Committee for Ukrainian Holodomor-Genocide Awareness 1932-1933 (U.S. Holodomor Committee) has finalized its plans for the dedication of the Ukrainian Holodomor Memorial in Washington. In cooperation with the Embassy of Ukraine, a three-day series of events will include an exhibit opening and benefit reception; the dedication ceremony of the Holodomor Memorial; hierarchical divine liturgies; and a commemorative concert featuring prominent highly acclaimed Ukrainian performers. The events aim to promote awareness of the Holodomor, often referred to as the unknown genocide of the 20th century.
An informational exhibit about the Holodomor will be on display at Union Station, Washington’s hub for commuter, bus and rail traffic. It is estimated that over 100,000 people traverse the halls of Union Station on a daily basis. The exhibit will be located in the Great Hall. It will include a model of the Holodomor Memorial, a fully staffed information booth offering material about the Holodomor and panels depicting the history of the Ukrainian Holodomor. The exhibit will be on display November 1-15 and will be open to the public 24 hours a day.
On Friday evening, November 6, a benefit reception will officially launch the weekend of events. The reception will include performances by Maksym Lozynskyj, the Gerdan ensemble and the Cheres Ukrainian Folk Ensemble. Remarks will be delivered by Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. Valeriy Chalyi, as well as by a Holodomor scholar and a Holodomor survivor. Exhibit Subcommittee Chairman Andrij Chornodolsky will serve as master of ceremonies for the event. Proceeds from the benefit will be used to promote Holodomor awareness through high school curricula, professional exhibits throughout the United States and scholarly conferences. Donations for the reception are $250. Reservations are being accepted via e-mail to [email protected].
The pinnacle of the three-day event will be the dedication and blessing of the Holodomor Memorial on Saturday, November 7. As the memorial site is quite small, the dedication ceremony will be held in front of Union Station (one block from the site) on Columbus Plaza. A stage and jumbotron will be constructed on the plaza to ensure that all attendees have a view of the proceedings. The program begins at 1:45 p.m. with the traditional greeting of bread and salt presented to the officials gathered for the ceremony.
President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine has been invited to attend. Rep. Sander Levin, co-chair of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus and sponsor of the Holodomor Memorial legislation in Congress, will deliver the main address. U.S. administration officials, Members of Congress, senators and foreign ambassadors have been invited to the ceremony. Ukrainian community representatives are urged to contact their congressional and senatorial offices and encourage their participation in this event. Holodomor survivors will be acknowledged during the ceremony, and a few will be asked to address the audience.
The U.S. Holodomor Committee has applied for a permit for a “March of Remembrance” from Columbus Plaza, past the Holodomor Memorial to the White House following the dedication ceremony. The march will end with a candlelight ceremony in front of the White House. Ukrainian organizations and churches are requested to bring their flags and banners; individuals are encouraged to bring signs for the dedication ceremony and march. Participants are asked to wear traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts and blouses (vyshyvanky) with clothing that is appropriate for this somber occasion.
The three-day series of events continues on Sunday, November 8, with divine liturgies at the Ukrainian National Shrine of the Holy Family in Washington at 9:30 a.m. and at St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Silver Spring, Md., at 8:15 a.m. A light luncheon will follow both services.
A solemn artistic tribute in memory of millions of Ukrainians who perished in the Holodomor will be held on Sunday, November 8, at 2 p.m. in the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University. Performing will be: the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus and Kobzarska Sich Ensemble (both directed and conducted by Oleh Mahlay), Ukrainian Chorus Dumka (artistic director and conductor Vasyl Hrechynsky), soprano Marta Zaliznyak-Derzhko, baritone Oleh Chmyr, violinist Solomiya Ivakhiv, pianist Angelina Gadeliya and the Hromovytsia Ukrainian Dance Ensemble (artistic director Roxana Dykyj-Pylypczak, choreographer Danusia Pylypczak Wasylyszyn). Among the program’s highlights is Hromovytsia’s modern Holodomor-themed ballet, set partly to Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk’s hauntingly beautiful “Melody.” Ticket prices range from $25 to $75 and are available through the U.S. Holodomor Committee website at http://ukrainegenocide.com/event/holodomor-commemorative-concert/ or directly from Lisner’s box office, http://lisner.gwu.edu/holodomor-commemorative-concert.
As a memento of the occasion, the U.S. Holodomor Committee is offering votive candles etched with the Holodomor logo and commemorative lapel pins with the Holodomor logo. Participants are encouraged to purchase the candle to be lit and held during the ceremony and wear the pin to honor the memory of the millions of victims of Stalin’s genocide of the Ukrainian nation. The candle and pin are $5 each and will be available at all events. For large advance orders of the Holodomor Memorial dedication mementos, readers may contact U.S. Holodomor Committee treasurer Hanja Cherniak at [email protected].
For further information about the dedication ceremonies, readers may contact the U.S. Holodomor Committee by e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at 202-547-0018 or 212-228-6840.