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INSIDE: • NATO’s new plan for Ukraine: the background – page 3. • Community commemorations of the Holodomor – pages 8-11. • Woonsocket, R.I., parish celebrates centennial – pages 14-15.

THEPublished U byKRAINIAN the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profitW associationEEKLY Vol. LXXVI No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 $1/$2 in Ukraine Holodomor is Ukraine’s Lytvyn returns as Rada chair never-ending trauma Ukraine may soon have new majority coalition by Zenon Zawada Kyiv Press Bureau KYIV – Ukraine’s Parliament, led by the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc, elected Volodymyr Lytvyn as its new chair on December 9, giving Ms. Tymoshenko’s government a chance to remain in place and form a new coalition to include the Lytvyn Bloc. The Tymoshenko Bloc cobbled together 244 votes to support Mr. Lytvyn’s candidacy from a broad range of political forces, including the Lytvyn Bloc, the People’s Self- Defense wing of the Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense bloc and even the Communist Party of Ukraine, which was probably given conces- sions. Upon seating himself, Mr. Lytvyn immediately declared that a new Morgan Williams government coalition agreement had UNIAN/ Oleksander Kosariev Kyiv’s first memorial to the victims of the Holodomor. emerged between the Tymoshenko, Volodymyr Lytvyn, leader of the eponymous Lytvyn and Our Ukraine-People’s by Irena Chalupa refuse to dismantle the statue, claiming political bloc, takes his seat as the newly elect- Self Defense blocs. it has “historic” value. That’s the ed chair of the Verkhovna Rada on December RFE/RL “What’s left is publishing these Communist touch. 9. He previously served as Rada chair in materials and publishing the corre- In many ways, Kyiv is a city of con- Walk a few blocks down to a short, 2002-2006. sponding documents on the (coali- trasts. gray, treeless street called Passage and On one boulevard you will encounter you will be assaulted by ostentatious tion) agreement,” Mr. Lytvyn said. “It’s declared the new coalition, the 32 Our a rather squat, red granite statue of conspicuous consumption: Gucci, Louis understood the decision was reached in quite Ukraine deputies (of the 72-member Lenin, his right hand aloft pointing to Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, Bally, a difficult situation. I am convinced it will OU-PSD faction) who didn’t vote for Mr. the proverbial better tomorrow that, Ferragamo. That’s the nouveau riche, materialize in a practical document.” Lytvyn’s candidacy (therefore, remaining thankfully, after 70 years finally oligarchic touch. Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense loyal to the Presidential Secretariat) with- became yesterday. The authorities Up the hill from these two telling (OU-PSD) national deputies leaked to the held support for renewing Ms. spots stands a small – and until, last press a 13-page document to create a Tymoshenko’s government. Irena Chalupa is the director of week, the only – monument to the vic- National Development, Stability and Order After meeting with President Viktor RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service. The views tims of the 1932-1933 Famine in Coalition of the three factions to initiate Yushchenko on December 11, Our Ukraine expressed in this commentary are the Ukraine. It was erected in 1993. sweeping reforms in all areas of state policy. National Deputy and Lviv native Yaroslav author’s own and do not necessarily However, the day after Mr. Lytvyn Kendzior labeled the coalition agreement reflect those of RFE/RL. (Continued on page 21) “complete demagoguery” – a view held by most Our Ukraine deputies and the president himself. NATO offers ANPs, not MAPs, to Ukraine and Georgia Without the support of the Our Ukraine wing, Mr. Lytvyn’s suggested coalition of by Vladimir Socor The alliance’s Bucharest Summit on since 1997) and the NATO-Georgia three factions doesn’t have the necessary Eurasia Daily Monitor April 2 reached a hard-fought compro- Commission (created immediately after the 226 votes to emerge in the Verkhovna Rada. mise: it declared unambiguously that Russian invasion last August), respectively, People’s Self-Defense can’t form the NATO has pushed aside the Ukraine and Georgia will become mem- as “central” instruments in drafting and coalition without Our Ukraine because only Membership Action Plans (MAPs) as bers of NATO (a political commitment implementing those reforms. “NATO will parliamentary factions, elected to Parliament mechanisms for Ukraine’s and Georgia’s unprecedented in NATO’s history) but did maximize its advice, assistance and support” as blocs or parties, can form the coalition eventual accession to the alliance. On not identify a mechanism or other path to that end and will review progress on an government. December 3 in Brussels, the North toward membership (a failure unprece- annual basis (communiqué of the North According to law, a party can’t split from Atlantic Council (NAC) meeting at the dented in NATO’s enlargement process Atlantic Council meeting, December 3). a bloc and form its own parliamentary fac- level of ministers of foreign affairs decid- from the 1990s to date). The NATO-Ukraine Commission held a tion after getting elected. ed to develop Annual National Programs The NAC meeting in Brussels on meeting at the foreign ministers level on the Political observers said Mr. Lytvyn’s (ANPs) for Ukraine and Georgia, instead December 3 reaffirmed the political deci- same day in Brussels. At that meeting the election could result in a de facto parliamen- of MAPs. The allies have yet to announce sion made in Bucharest regarding Ukraine alliance reaffirmed their “conviction that tary majority consisting of the Tymoshenko how long it will take to develop the first and Georgia, now adding an implementa- Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integ- Bloc, Lytvyn Bloc and People’s Self- ANP and when it will go into effect. tion mechanism: the ANPs, presented as a rity were key factors for ensuring stability Defense, even if a new coalition doesn’t The alliance split over the Ukrainian and “performance-based process,” that is, pre- in Europe” (the only strategic consideration emerge on paper. Georgian MAP applications earlier this sumably free from political distortion. The that entered into NATO’s discourse during Although Mr. Yushchenko called for new year. The United States, Canada, Britain ANPs will provide further assistance to this entire event). parliamentary elections, the Tymoshenko (however unfocused on the issue) and Ukraine and Georgia in implementing nec- The meeting welcomed “progress Bloc succeeded in postponing them far almost all the countries that joined NATO essary reforms “as they progress toward achieved” through the current NATO- beyond the holiday season, keeping Prime in recent years were supportive. Germany NATO membership.” Ukraine mechanism, known as Annual Minister Tymoshenko’s Cabinet of Ministers led a group of Western European countries NATO and the two countries will use the in opposition. NATO-Ukraine Commission (in existence (Continued on page 4) (Continued on page 21) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 No. 50 ANALYSIS NEWSBRIEFS A rogue fleet in the Black Sea NATO proposes new format said on December 5 in an interview with the Agence France-Presse news agency that by Vladimir Socor ognized territorial waters) on August 9, KYIV – NATO Secretary General Jaap de the outcome of the meeting of NATO for- Eurasia Daily Monitor issued an attack warning against any vessel Hoop Scheffer stated on December 3 that eign ministers with respect to Ukraine is within a 35-mile radius, and sank (or so the NATO is proposing a new format of relations “progress.” He said that in the last three Russia’s Black Sea Fleet operated with narrative implies) two Georgian coast guard with Ukraine within the framework of the so- years Ukraine had taken important steps total impunity – political and legal, as well cutters on the high sea. The Russian naval called Annual National Program (ANP). After regarding its aspirations to join the as military – against Georgia during the group then proceeded to “screen” Georgia’s a meeting of the NATO Council at the level of European Union and NATO. “Ukraine’s August war. Breaching the neutrality of Poti harbor, where Russian troops sank the foreign ministers in Brussels, he said: “I can joining NATO has no alternative and it is a Ukraine, where it is mainly based, and tear- remaining Georgian coast guard cutters at say that the allies approved two key items. difficult geopolitical question. There is ing apart international maritime law, the their piers in the harbor (Krasnaya Zvezda, First: all the elements, I repeat, all the ele- much debate on a large piece of interests,” Russian fleet’s actions exploited the vacu- October 29, via BBC Monitoring Global ments remain adopted in Bucharest with he said, adding that a “serious” external um of Western power and international Newsline, November 24). regard to Ukraine and Georgia. All the ele- influence is being exerted in regard to the authority in the Black Sea. As an outcome of this war, Russia has ments, and it includes the fact that later on alliance’s decision on Ukraine. The presi- With the United States and NATO dis- substantially expanded its de facto shore- they will be NATO members if they wish, and dent said that Ukraine has to do a great deal tracted elsewhere and complacent about line, territorial waters and economic zone in it is important to add, when they meet NATO of work at the bilateral level, particularly Russia, and the Turkish government seek- the Black Sea by absorbing Abkhazia. This standards.” According to the secretary general, with Russia. “During these kinds of talks, ing a special relationship with the Kremlin, expansion has no legal basis; but Russia is “without forecasting any subsequent decisions the supporters and opponents of Ukraine’s the Russian fleet enjoyed a free hand to enforcing it in practice, and no one will with regard to MAP [Membership Action Euro-Atlantic integration should receive attack Georgia and to violate Ukraine’s sov- challenge it in the foreseeable future. Plan],” the allies decided to set up the Annual answers to all questions they have,” Mr. ereignty in the process. The Russian fleet can police this expand- National Program. Mr. Scheffer explained that Yushchenko said. He reiterated that The Russian Defense Ministry’s official ed area by operating out of Novorossiysk NATO intends to render enhanced assistance Ukraine’s entry into NATO poses no threat on the Russian coast and, soon, out of newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda has published to both countries in the implementation of the to Russia. “Ukraine is interested in friendly Abkhazia. The Russians plan to create a a lengthy narrative about one part of the necessary reforms,” which “means that NATO relations with Russia, and it will build a naval or coast guard station in Sokhumi and naval operations against Georgia. This will optimize, enhance its assistance within policy based on neighborhood and partner- have begun rebuilding the naval base at account suggests that in late July the the framework of the Ukraine-NATO ship with the Russian Federation,” President Ochamchire in the southern part of Russian fleet was already rehearsing the Commission.” (Ukrinform) Yushchenko noted. (Ukrinform) operation against Georgia that was to fol- Abkhazia. In Soviet times Ochamchire was low in August (just as Russian forces in the used as a submarine base at one stage and NATO and ‘Ukraine’s unwillingness’ Yushchenko see new opportunities North Caucasus practiced a ground opera- for the coast guard at another time. KYIV – The leader of the opposition KYIV – Ukrainian President Viktor tion against Georgia) in late July and up to Abandoned in the early 1990s, the base is Party of Regions, Viktor Yanukovych, Yushchenko said the decisions taken by the August 2. now being repossessed by the Russians as a reacted to the fact that granting the NATO North Atlantic Council, which held meet- According to this partial account, a naval valuable asset due to its location inside a Membership Action Plan to Ukraine was ings at the level of foreign ministers on group including the large landing ships bay. not even examined at Brussels on December 2-3, are opening new opportuni- Tsezar Kunikov, Saratov and Yamal, as well At the moment, Russian divers and other December 2 by saying this constituted ties in the development of Ukrainian rela- as four smaller combat ships, most of them naval specialists are busy measuring the “respect for the choice of Ukrainian peo- tions with NATO. Speaking at a meeting based in Sevastopol, took part in the com- depth and other characteristics of the ple.” He added, “Ukraine as a nation has with United Kingdom Minister for Europe bined-arms exercise Caucasus-2008. These Ochamchire base, preparatory to defining never supported accession to NATO. All Caroline Flint in Kyiv on December 3, Mr. ships and their personnel practiced a “land- its role for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet or the moves towards Ukraine’s rapprochement Yushchenko thanked London for supporting ing by assault troops on an unfortified coast guard. When reactivated, probably with the alliance were based exclusively Kyiv’s plans to join the European Union shoreline” on Russia’s Black Sea coast, starting in 2009, the Ochamchire base will on a secret letter of the three leaders of and NATO. “We appreciate Britain’s con- after which they did not return to Sevastopol operate in close coordination with three other Russian military installations in the Orange coalition, which has long split sistent support in the question of Ukraine’s but anchored in Novorossiysk from July 25 Abkhazia: the Gudauta land and air base up – [Viktor] Yushchenko, [Arseniy] integration with European and Euro- onward, awaiting further orders. (which the Russians are now refurbishing), Yatseniuk and [Yulia] Tymoshenko.” Mr. Atlantic structures,” he said. During the These ships launched the naval operation the of the Federal Security Service (FSB) Yanukovych said that “world leaders have meeting, Mr. Yushchenko and Ms. Flint dis- on August 8, landed naval infantry near border troops in the Gali district (created in realized and acknowledged the fact that cussed bilateral relations between Ukraine Sokhumi, crossed what Russia calls the October to face the rest of Georgia) and the Ukrainian citizens, speaking out against and Britain, as well as the question of estab- “Abkhaz-Georgian maritime border” (that entry into the alliance thus expressed their lishing dialogue on the facilitation of a visa is, deep inside Georgia’s internationally rec- (Continued on page 28) disapproval of further deepening the gap regime for Ukrainian citizens. (Ukrinform) between the two friendly nations of Ukrainians and Russians.” (Ukrinform) Tarasyuk on Ukraine in NATO Naval imbalance in the Black Sea Yushchenko: no alternative to NATO KYIV – No one can doubt that Ukraine KYIV – President Viktor Yushchenko (Continued on page 18) after the Russian-Georgian war by Vladimir Socor Fleet breached Ukraine’s neutrality, using FOUNDED 1933 Eurasia Daily Monitor its territory to attack Georgia. THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Ukrainian President Yushchenko and the An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., During the last decade a network of mar- Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested this a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. 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This de facto con- sidelines and NATO responding with a one- time visit by five ships in September, it has dominium has excluded NATO naval pres- The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com; e-mail: [email protected] ence as such from the Black Sea, to the fallen to the United States to address the frustration of NATO members Romania and imbalance in the aftermath of the Russian Bulgaria and NATO aspirants Georgia and operation. The Ukrainian Weekly, December 14, 2008, No. 50, Vol. LXXVI Ukraine. From the August war to date, the United Copyright © 2008 The Ukrainian Weekly BLACKSEAFOR, Black Sea Harmony States has maintained an uninterrupted and the rest proved completely irrelevant naval presence in the Black Sea. That pres- ence is constrained, however, by the during Russia’s attack on Georgia and in its ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA aftermath. They lack the mandate and the Montreux Convention’s limitations on naval tonnage passing through the Turkish Straits means to deal with real security issues and and duration of naval visits in the Black Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3041 cannot even set the agenda of internal dis- Sea. The United States therefore, has rotat- e-mail: [email protected] cussions without unanimous consent, that ed its ships in the Black Sea at intervals Maria Oscislawski, advertising manager (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 is, without Russian consent in the case of consistent with that convention. e-mail: [email protected] the Russian-Georgian conflict. The 60th Fleet’s flagship USS Mount Mariyka Pendzola, subscriptions (973) 292-9800, ext. 3042 These collective arrangements proved e-mail: [email protected] equally irrelevant when Russia’s Black Sea (Continued on page 28) No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 3 The Holodomor 75 years later: The Chernihiv Oblast by Zenon Zawada oblasts at the time of the Holodomor. Kyiv Press Bureau Though only 36,633 deaths were proven The Holodomor and recorded in the Chernihiv Oblast vol- in the Chernihiv Oblast KONCHA ZASPA, Ukraine – To exe- ume of the Holodomor Victims National cute the Holodomor, the Communist Party Book of Memory, Ms. Demchenko said as 36,633 known casualties* dispatched its “aktyvisty,” urban dwellers, many as 363,000 Ukrainians could have often of the criminal element, who didn’t perished in the region. 71,840 known survivors remaining mind bloodying their hands. “The Chernihiv Oblast was significantly 1,020 population centers affected Although responsible for carrying out larger, and this figure would include those the collectivization, the aktyvisty, or activ- who were ‘rozkurkuleni’ [dekulakized] and 75 known mass graves ists, knew nothing of farming. deported, and those who were arrested,” she “This isn’t buckwheat. You’re messing said. “Collectivization accompanied active * This official figure grossly underesti- with my head,” one aktyvist exclaimed after and massive arrests.” mates casualties, which were as much as examining the crop, according to the testi- Losses were worst on the southern edges 363,000, according to Assistant Prof. mony of the father of Tamara Demchenko, of the Chernihiv Oblast, where as much as Tamara Demchenko of Shevchenko State a Holodomor researcher from Chernihiv. a third of the village population perished. Pedagogical University in Chernihiv. After whipping out his gun, the villagers The residents in the northern part of the convinced the aktyvist that in fact, it was oblast suffered but endured less casualties money to paint his wooden, horse-drawn buckwheat, which has an appearance dis- because villagers knew the backwoods trails cart. that took them across the border to Belarus tinct from rye or wheat. “The aktyvisty came, ate borsch, took and Russia, Ms. Demchenko said. “They sent the worst people, who had varenyky and stuffed their pockets,” some [Bolshevik] revolutionary service or Zenon Zawada The northern Chernihiv regions are known for their swamps and marshes, and recalled a resident of Lypove, a Chernihiv pure-blooded lineage, which was very Assistant Prof. Tamara Demchenko of villagers were able to survive that hellish village. “My brother took a bag of beans, important in those days,” said Ms. Shevchenko State Pedagogical winter, entirely deprived of food, by feeding but they seized it and shoved him in the Demchenko, an assistant history professor University in Chernihiv, who examined on frogs and snails, “which people never snow.” at Shevchenko State Pedagogical University more than 1,000 eyewitness accounts of would have eaten earlier but began doing so The aktyvisty also included women who in Chernihiv. “But their incompetence was the Holodomor in her oblast. astonishing.” by the masses,” she said. didn’t hesitate to ransack cellars and took “Or they went to nearby forests where away whatever food was stored for the win- Among the more overlooked aspects of To perform the murderous collectiviza- mushrooms and berries grew,” she said. ter of 1932, Ms. Demchenko said. the Holodomor is the role played by the tion, Communist officials selected the “But imagine a village where there’s no In speaking of the aktyvisty, Holodomor aktyvisty, low-rung or outcast Communist aktyvisty based on moral and psychological river or forest, just the steppe and chor- survivors often decline to discuss any Party members who were suddenly given criteria, historians revealed. nozem (black earth), which is fertile but the chance to prove themselves worthy, Ms. Many were Bolshevik revolution veter- details about them, she observed, including everything is taken away. The casualty rates Demchenko said. ans and partisans who didn’t advance or their sex, age, physical or ethnic character- there were quite high.” Examining more than 1,000 eyewitness were angry at life, she said. Others were istics. Once social outcasts, the aktyvisty took testimonies of the Holodomor in her native disgruntled villagers who had nothing to In her view, it’s because their resentment to the war against Ukraine’s peasants with Chernihiv Oblast, Ms. Demchenko discov- lose. runs so deep that they don’t want to afford zeal, determined to prove who was now in ered that villagers most reviled the Ms. Demchenko estimated that more them the dignity of remembrance. charge. aktyvisty, who became the face of the than 25,000 aktyvisty were dispatched to “If I knew where they were buried, then In the Chernihiv village of Blystiv, they Communist Party to a peasant class that had 1,020 villages in the Chernihiv Oblast, I would smash their gravestones,” said a labeled and targeted a “kurkul” (well-off no access to information or media to know which was created in 1922 and included Holodomor survivor from the Chernihiv farmer) if he scrapped together enough who was orchestrating the genocide. parts of the present-day Sumy and Poltava village of Pryputnia.

From MAPs to ANPs: background to NATO’s compromise decision by Vladinir Socor ship, for which Ukraine and Georgia do may eventually lead to MAPs, but not to Eurasia Daily Monitor not qualify at present. In fact, the issue The same group membership. Washington and its support- was a multi-year plan to prepare Ukraine ers echo “no shortcuts,” meaning, howev- NATO’s ministerial meeting on and Georgia for future membership; but, of countries that er, that the ANPs should be substantive December 3 decided to offer Annual since previous MAPs had invariably led to and thus lead to membership in due course. National Plans (ANPs), instead of membership within five to nine years, had opposed the The Russian government and official com- Membership Action Plans (MAPs), to Germany and a few other countries main- mentators watched these debating contor- Georgia and Ukraine. The old NATO- tain that the opening of a membership Ukrainian and tions with barely disguised satisfaction Ukraine Commission and the new NATO- prospect to Ukraine or Georgia is prema- (Interfax, ITAR-TASS, Russian Television Georgia Commission are to draw up and ture now. Georgian MAPs at Channel 1, December 3-6). administer the ANPs. Fresh anti-MAP arguments presented NATO’s Bucharest In an accompanying compromise, A compromise between U.S.-led and themselves in the run-up to the December Washington agreed to a limited resumption German-led groups of countries yielded gathering: the deepening crisis of govern- summit in April of NATO’s political dialogue with this decision. Its true significance will ment in Ukraine and allegations in the Moscow, notwithstanding Russia’s occu- become apparent only when the ANPs’ mass media (not in NATO), however, took the same pation of parts of Georgia. In return, Berlin content takes shape. NATO itself (not just about Georgian culpability for the Russian agreed to the language in the Brussels Ukraine and Georgia) faces the risk of invasion of that country. These factors did position at the ministerial meeting’s communiqué, which another internal struggle if the govern- not substantially change the case of the states that NATO’s ANPs will assist ments that opposed the MAPs also resist a “Russia-firsters” but made it more difficult Brussels meeting Ukraine and Georgia to implement reforms timely approval of meaningful ANPs. to overcome by the U.S.-led group of on December 3. on the path to membership, a stipulation Had Ukraine’s and Georgia’s strategic countries (mainly the new member-coun- confirming the Bucharest summit’s deci- significance and their contributions to tries and Britain). In Brussels as at sion that the two countries will become NATO and U.S. operations been the pri- Bucharest, Germany acted far out in front, members of NATO (Communiqué of the ever, the positions remained consistent: mary criterion, the two countries would while France and several other West North Atlantic Council, December 3). Washington and supporting countries have eminently qualified for MAPs, which European governments seemed content to The ANPs’ effectiveness will hinge on regarded the MAP and, failing that, the are technical mechanisms. Russia opposed let the Germans bear the brunt of this their quality and the resources to back the MAPs vociferously, and the German- effort. Italy seconded Germany more ANP, as an integration mechanism, while them up. Disagreements may well re- led group argued that Moscow’s view actively in Brussels. Berlin seemed to turn the MAP process emerge between the same two groups of could not be entirely ignored. The debate Barely a week before the Brussels meet- into a barrier to Ukraine and Georgia. countries over the ANPs’ scope and pace. within NATO thus became heavily politi- ing the United States decided to abandon Ultimately, a small conclave of four Any such differences would be played out cized, mainly by the naysaying govern- the hopelessly politicized MAP track, pro- ministers – Condoleezza Rice of the in the NATO-Ukraine and NATO-Georgia ments but also to some degree by the posing ANPs as substitutes. Germany United States, Frank-Walter Steinmeier of commissions, and presumably referred applicant and supporting countries. strongly resisted the U.S. proposal. Germany, David Miliband of Britain and back to the North Atlantic Council, if nec- The same group of countries that had Complaining that Washington sought to Bernard Kouchner of France – reached the essary. The ANP mechanism could be opposed the Ukrainian and Georgian “circumvent” the MAPs, Berlin insisted compromise decision on ANPs. At German compromised if political wrangles, such as MAPs at NATO’s Bucharest summit in that Ukraine and Georgia had to go through insistence the communiqué mentions the those witnessed at the Bucharest summit April took the same position at the the MAP process as an absolute require- MAP process; but at U.S. insistence, it and Brussels ministerial meeting, end up Brussels meeting on December 3. Most ment, if and when they qualified for it. does so “without prejudice” about its politicizing the ANPs as they did the MAP governments in this group are interested in Paradoxically, Washington and Berlin applicability to Ukraine and Georgia, that process. closer and expanded relations with Russia seemed to have reversed their positions. is, it would not necessarily be used if the on a bilateral level. Both at the summit and The United States switched from champi- ANPs successfully qualify the two coun- The article above is reprinted from at the ministerial meetings they framed oning MAPs to casting them aside, while tries for membership over time. Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission their argument against MAPs as if the Germany switched from resisting to The German minister remains adamant from its publisher, the Jamestown issue were accession to NATO member- defending the MAP process. In fact, how- against “shortcuts,” meaning that ANPs Foundation, www.jamestown.org. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 No. 50 RFE/RL chief speaks on U.S. image in age of Obama NATO offers ANPs... (Continued from page 1) RFE/RL Path Out of the Desert: A Grand Strategy for Target Plans within a multi-year Action Plan for security-sector reforms, America in the Middle East.” He added, “Public as well as the NATO-Ukraine Intensified Dialogue at the political level. WASHINGTON – Radio Free Europe/Radio diplomacy needs to focus on explaining why we Ukraine, moreover, has enjoyed a special status since 1997 under the Liberty President Jeffrey Gedmin and Brookings do what we do. Of course, America’s policies will NATO-Ukraine Charter for Distinctive Partnership. Institution scholar Kenneth Pollack on November not always be popular in other countries; however, The commission did not clarify how the new Annual National 21 assessed the impact of Barack Obama’s election by explaining our motives, public diplomacy can Programs would upgrade the existing framework. Pending such as president of the United States on America’s take the edge off of some of the hostility we image abroad as well as the challenges his admin- engender.” decisions, the alliance decided at this meeting to reinforce the istration will likely face as it confronts the 21st The discussion, titled “Public Diplomacy in the NATO Information and Documentation Center and the NATO century’s “war of ideas.” Age of Obama: Getting the War of Ideas Right,” Liaison Office in Kyiv. “In public diplomacy, the messenger matters,” was arranged at the invitation of EPPC Senior This immediate decision reflects continuing concern over NATO’s Mr. Gedmin said to a packed house at the Fellow Sen. Rick Santorum. low popularity rating in Ukraine and the Orange authorities’ failure to Washington-based Ethics and Public Policy Center Both speakers argued that U.S. international educate the public about the alliance, despite multiple promises to do (EPPC). “President-elect Obama’s global appeal broadcasters such as the Voice of America (VOA), so. The meeting also urged the “political leaders of Ukraine to settle marks a real opportunity for the U.S. to improve Radio Free Asia (RFA) and RFE/RL are effective their differences in a way that ensures domestic stability.” its image overseas. But the message matters, too – tools of soft power that advance America’s foreign Attending the meeting, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs his administration needs to craft sound policies policy interests. Volodymyr Ohryzko spoke of the need for more adequate funding of that advance our interests and values.” “By broadcasting into undemocratic societies, reforms in the military and security sector, and for raising public aware- Mr. Pollack agreed that the Obama administra- RFE/RL gives people hope,” said Mr. Pollack. “It ness of NATO issues. tion represents a chance to improve America’s demonstrates that there are attractive alternatives On the level of cooperation in the field, however, NATO-Ukraine image, but warned that “popularity cannot be a out there for a different world. It also highlights relations remain strong. Ukraine participates in NATO missions and substitute for good policy.” the fact that their governments aren’t providing the operations in Kosovo, the ISAF (International Assistance Force) in “Our actions speak louder than words,” said people what they need – unbiased news and infor- Afghanistan, the NATO Training Mission-Iraq and the naval Operation Mr. Pollack, whose most recent book is titled “A mation and a diversity of opinion.” Active Endeavor in the Mediterranean. It recently acceded to NATO’s Air Situation Data Exchange Program, decided to contribute to the British-French Helicopter Initiative within NATO, offered to participate in the NATO Response Force (NRF) currently being developed, and has recently offered to provide overland transit for equipment and supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan (Communiqué of the NATO- Ukraine Commission meeting, December 3). Also on December 3 in Brussels, the NATO-Georgia Commission held its first meeting at the level of ministers of foreign affairs. The commission had already met in September at the defense minister level to review the military situation in the immediate aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Georgia. During the Brussels meeting the NAC cited its June positive assess- ment of Georgia’s IPAP (Individual Partnership Action Plan) performance and the NAC’s successful visit to Georgia in September. It expressed appreciation for Georgia’s contributions to NATO-led oper- ations and decided to reinforce the NATO Liaison Office in Tbilisi. Publicly at least, the meeting abounded in advice to Georgia to continue upgrading its electoral processes, the professionalism and independence of judges, media freedom, transparency in government and the rule of law. “Georgia’s continuing implementation of reform initiatives will be watched closely by the alliance,” it was noted. While partly warranted and often useful, such admonitions also reflect two distorting political factors. The first is a sense of unful- filled expectations after the U.S. rhetoric about “Georgia, the beacon of democracy” had raised the bar for Georgia unrealistically high. The second distorting factor is Western European political correctness in invoking democracy issues to block Georgia’s path to NATO, despite Georgia’s major strides on those issues from 2003 to date. The Brussels meeting focused more effectively on Georgia’s military and secu- rity issues. It recommended a lessons- learned process after the recent armed con- flict, incorporating those lessons into Georgia’s planned comprehensive review of security documents, as well as improving personnel management within the military, transparency of the defense budget and interoperability of Georgian forces with those of the NATO allies. Attending the meeting, Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Eka Tkeshelashvili expressed gratitude for NATO’s commitment to assist Georgian efforts to achieve NATO standards (Communiqué of the NATO-Georgia Commission meeting, December 3).

The article above is reprinted from Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, www.jamestown.org. No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 5

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM Halloween at Soyuzivka full of fun for young and not-so-young by Sonia Semanyshyn dinner. This gave everyone the energy to change into their costumes for the “zabava” that fol- KERHONKSON – It was the start of another lowed a haunted theater in the library. scary Halloween weekend at “the Q.” On Friday, At 9:30 p.m. the Veselka doors opened to let October 24, the ghouls were out decorating the in the first ghouls and goblins, and by 10 p.m. Trembita Lounge and the Veselka Banquet Hall for the Zahrava band was playing to an almost the creepy celebration that was to begin that eve- packed dance floor. ning. The costume contest began, and the judges had As the evening progressed the weather coop- a mighty tough decision as the costumes this year erated. By nighttime, however, Soyuzivka were amazing, very thoughtful and creative. changed to “Spookyzivka” with a damp foggy Everyone who wanted to be considered for the cos- mist rolling in. The lampposts changed from tume prizes were asked to come and strut their stuff bright lights to ghoulish eyes, while the wind in the appropriate category. Most Original, Best howled through the trees, and the rustling leaves Female, Best Male, Best Couple and Best Group. all made you feel as if someone was watching By 12:30 a.m. the judges had made their deci- you, following you – very eerie. sion and the winners were announced: in the Most It was the perfect beginning to a Halloween Original – the “Fruit Jews” Mykola Hlushko, weekend. Michael Naumenko and Nykola Belko, Best Male People began arriving late Friday evening from – Yurko Kobryn as a hot dog vender, Best Female near and far. The fun continued in the Trembita – Lesia Kozicky as the head on a platter, Best Lounge where at 10 p.m. Zuki and Mike started Russ Chelak Couple – Dianna Dekajlo and Kyle as the Butterfly firing up the revelers with some good tunes. The Winners of the Best Couple costume award: Dianna Dekajlo and Kyle. and the Bug Catcher, Best Group – “The Muppets” party was a little slow to start, but as the evening Franco Nelson, Brandon Reeves, Letticia Gonzalez, progressed everyone got into the “spirit,” and the revelry from the Main House dining room to the lobby so that Quinn Smith, Cameron McClean and Julieete Navarette. continued well into the early morning. everyone could show off their costumes. After the formalities of the announcements everyone Saturday morning dawned a little too early for some of After the parade the children, and some adults too, were relaxed and rocked as the band played on. the guests (while others, we learned, slept in until it was treated to the talents of Jackie the Magician. At one point On Sunday everyone woke up slowly but surely while time to party once more). there was no noise coming from the library, so I went to enjoying the morning coffee and danish in the Main House The littlest ghouls and goblins met with Bohdanka check to see if the magician had made everyone disappear. Lobby and discussing the previous night’s costumes and Puzyk in the Main House to pick out pumpkins and do Luckily, that was not the case. After the show all the chil- revelry. It was a unanimous decision to declare the some arts and crafts. The weather at this point was just dren received little bags of treats. Halloween weekend of 2008 a wonderful experience for not cooperating. It was a rainy dreary day outside, but Then it was time to eat dinner, and Chef Andrij both young and old and to make a point of returning for the children were all dressed up for the short parade Sonevytsky and his staff prepared a wonderful buffet Halloween 2009 at Soyuzivka.

Young UNA’ers

Yulia and Oleksa Belej, twin children of Katrusia and Lubko Belej of Mississauga, Williami M. Fox and Michael Halaufia Fox, children of Orysia and Michael Fox Ontario, are new members of UNA Branch 777. They were enrolled by their of Kissimmee, Fla., are new members of UNA Branch 13. The brothers were grandparents Nadia and Stefko Belej. enrolled by their grandmother Anna Skalij Halaufia.

Do you have a young UNA’er, or potential young UNA’er in your family?

Fiona Grace Kane, daughter of Romona Pakula Kane and Sean M. Call the UNA Home Office, Kane of Dearborn, Mich., is a new Crystal Leilani Martinez and Jonathan Haluafia Martinez, children of Lesia and member of UNA Branch 82. She was 973-292-9800, Naphtali Martinez of Brandon, Fla., are new members of UNA Branch 13. They enrolled by her grandparents Benjamin to find out how to enroll. were enrolled by their grandmother Anna Skalij Halaufia. and Lida Pakula.

THE UNA: 114 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 No. 50

COMMENTARY THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Trypillia in Toronto Tough medicine is needed The exhibit “Mysteries of Ancient Ukraine: The Remarkable Trypilian Culture, 5400-2700 BC,” which is currently on view at the Royal Ontario for Ukraine’s economic woes Museum in Toronto, is itself remarkable. The magnificent display answers the question “Who were the Trypilians?” and attempts to tell visitors how, thousands by Volodymyr Lanovy markets have seemed virtually stable. of years ago, this people succeeded in building the largest settlements in Europe Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Second, Ukraine – like many Western – populated by between 10,000 and 15,000 people. countries – was vulnerable because the The economic crisis in Ukraine has economy had been weakened by inflated This exhibition was organized by the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and the become a reality: enterprises are halting National Museum of the History of Ukraine in collaboration with the Institute of global prices for oil and gas. Before the production, bank branches are going into crisis struck, Ukraine was de facto a major Archaeology and the Archaeological Museum of the National Academy of liquidation, employees are being laid off. Sciences of Ukraine, the Odesa Archaeological Museum, the National Academy contributor to the Stabilization Fund in It is hard to remember that as recently as Russia. Kyiv had no opportunity to build of Sciences of Ukraine and the Vinnytsia Regional Museum. Its presenting spon- three months ago economic-development sor is Northland Power, whose chairman, James Temerty, proudly notes in his up its own reserves like Russia, many indicators were steadily rising. One has the Persian Gulf energy producers, China and foreword to the exhibit catalogue that this is “the first major museum exhibition impression the country has been swept up to reveal the ancient culture of the Trypilians to North American audiences.” He other countries were able to do. Now those in an unexpected tsunami. countries have funds to provide assistance also writes that “This achievement is due in large part of many members of the The metaphor is apt, even though to a Ukrainian Canadian community, who have volunteered their time and support to to their own banks and companies and considerable extent the crisis crept into the even to offer credit to Western countries. help bring the Royal Ontario Museum’s presentation of this remarkable exhibi- homes of average Ukrainians bit by bit. In tion to fruition.” (Other forewords are by First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko and Ukraine is left to compete with other coun- the first half of this year, interest rates tries for help from the International President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine, and William Thorsell, the ROM’s direc- soared and the hitherto stable value of the tor and CEO.) Monetary Fund or to cope on its own. hryvnia was shaken. Investments in the Third, Ukraine’s economy was relative- As reported by Oksana Zakydalsky in last week’s issue, the idea for the exhib- economy dried up, and the construction it at the ROM dates back to 2005 when newly inaugurated President Yushchenko ly weak even before the crisis struck. It is sector slowed down. already in its second year of a rapidly ris- suggested to Mr. Temerty, a Ukrainian Canadian who is chairman of the muse- But an economic tsunami did roll over um’s board of governors, that he should organize a Trypillia exhibit at the ROM. ing trade deficit and a negative hard-cur- us from the outside. And its effects were rency-payments balance. This situation Thus, Ukrainian archeologist Vikenty Khvoika’s discovery way back in 1896 of hard felt in Ukraine, a country that is nei- the settlement at Trypillia is now being revealed to audiences halfway around the meant that the halt of foreign-capital ther among the high-technology countries inflows brought on by the crisis has struck globe. It should be noted that the descriptions of the exhibit’s artifacts are avail- of the West nor among the oil-and-gas able in three languages: English, French and Ukrainian. the national currency hard, producing a giants of the East. Like most countries in sharp decline in production and consump- The Royal Ontario Museum, founded in 1912, is an excellent venue for such the world, Ukraine is between the former an ambitious undertaking (in 2001 it showcased the exhibit “Legacy in Gold: tion. and the latter and seems to have been hit Fourth, the slowdown of commodities Scythian Treasure from Ancient Ukraine”). Its mission, according to the muse- from both sides. um’s website is to “be a world leader in communicating its research and collec- markets abroad means a decrease in orders First, Ukraine – like all the other coun- for Ukrainian industrial and agricultural tions to increase understanding of the interdependent domains of cultural and tries of the world – has become an unwill- natural diversity, their relationships, significance, preservation and conserva- products, decreases in the prices for key ing financial donor to a void that opened exports, and sharp losses for major enter- tion.” It collections contain nearly 6 million objects, and it is visited annually by up in the United States. The outflow of between 750,000 and 1 million visitors, including numerous school groups. prises. capital from our country has resulted in a Clearly, Ukraine’s recovery plan must The landmark exhibit opened at this prestigious museum on November 29 and catastrophic plunge of the stock-market continues through March 22, 2009. Believe us, it’s worth a visit – even from afar. extend beyond merely addressing the indices and an abrupt decapitalization of immediate effects of the crisis. Ukraine And, if you can’t visit in person, we suggest a visit to the museum’s website just Ukrainian enterprises. By contrast, the U.S. to get an idea of what the exhibit is about. Better yet, accompanying the exhibit must not only cover financial deficits and is a gorgeous color catalogue that contains not only photographs – more than 300 credits, but it must also recover the posi- of them – and descriptions of the artifacts on display, but scholarly articles on all tion of its enterprises on global markets Volodymyr Lanovy was Ukraine’s and ensure that production is sufficient for aspects of the Trypilian culture. The 256-page catalogue has been purchased for minisry of the economy and first vice The Ukrainian Weekly’s library, where it will serve as a definitive go-to source domestic demand. prime minister in 1992 and head of the A recovery program should include both on the Trypilian culture and the archeological expeditions that uncovered this State Property Fund in 1997-1998. The wonder. immediate, extraordinary measures to coun- views expressed in this commentary are ter various financial implosions and a com- Having seen the exhibit and studied the catalogue, we simply must extend a the author’s own and do not necessarily huge thank-you and congratulations to all who were involved in bringing this reflect those of RFE/RL. (Continued on page 27) momentous and unprecedented exhibit about the Trypilian culture to the world’s attention. NEWS AND VIEWS

Dec. Turning the pages back... Reflections on D.C. roundtable 18 on ‘Ukraine’s Regional Commitments’ Last year, after Yulia Tymoshenko returned as prime minis- ter on December 18, 2007, the coalition approved 25 ministers by Petro S. Mycio in Washington. 2007 This event marked the ninth edition of for Cabinet posts. Politicians, entrepreneurs, academics In the selection process, Prime Minister Tymoshenko and a roundtable series titled “Ukraine’s and journalists commanded most of the Quest for Mature Nation Statehood,” a her bloc were given preference over economic posts, while attention at “Ukraine’s Regional President Viktor Yushchenko and his Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense bloc series organized by the Center for U.S. Commitments,” an event held back on and Ukrainian Relations, and directed by secured defense, law enforcement and humanitarian posts. October 15-16 at the Library of Congress Six ministers were from the Halychyna region, including Minister of Finance Viktor Walter Zaryckyj. Pynzenyk of Zakarpattia. Minister of Internal Affairs Yurii Lutsenko of Rivne, who led The conference “brought together key the Ukraine Without Kuchma movement in 2001, failed to live up to promises of jail- government and non-government repre- Petro S. Mycio of Long Island, N.Y., is sentatives,” according to the CUSUR ing lawbreakers and was accused of engaging in corruption himself. a graduate of the Virginia Military Vice-Prime Minister for Euro-Integration Issues Hryhorii Nemyria, a native of website (http://usukrainianrelations.org) Institute. He holds a B.A. in history and from Ukraine and the United States, as Donetsk and Ms. Tymoshenko’s top foreign policy advisor, and Minister of Foreign plans to teach English in Ukraine start- Affairs Volodymyr Ohryzko, a native of Kyiv, were strong advocates for Ukraine’s ing in January. (Continued on page 26) integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. Other appointees included First-Vice-Prime Minister Oleksander Turchynov of Dnipropetrovsk, who previously served as the first assistant secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, and had been allied with Ms. Tymoshenko since the early 1990s when they operated a video rental business. Online petition on Duranty’s Pulitzer Vice-Prime Minister for Humanitarian Issues Ivan Vasiunyk, from the Lviv Oblast, served as a longtime advisor to Mr. Yushchenko. The Ukrainian Weekly was informed of of the “Holodomor,” the genocidal fam- Minster of Agricultural Policy Yurii Melnyk, from the Cherkasy Oblast, was the an online petition, created and written by ine in which up to 10 million Ukrainians only minister to remain from the government led by Viktor Yanukovych. Ivan Lozowy ([email protected]), a died in 1932-33. It behooves The New Minister of Culture and Tourism Vasyl Vovkun, from the Lviv Oblast, played a criti- Kyiv political insider. The petition is hosted York Times, whose reporter, Walter cal role in organizing the Orange Revolution and other government events, such as at http://www.petitiononline.com/lozo2008/ Duranty, received a Pulitzer Prize in 1932 Holodomor commemorations. petition.html as a public service. At press and thereafter lied deliberately about the Minister of Defense Yurii Yekhanurov, who was born in the Russian Federation, is a time, there are nearly 3,000 signatures. Holodomor, to return his prize. With close ally of Mr. Yushchenko, who previously served as prime minister before being every day that Duranty’s Pulitzer remains To: The New York Times with The New York Times, the stain of (Continued on page 18) This year, 2008, is the 75th anniversary Duranty’s lies spreads ever wider. No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

a display of quite a number of nesting PERSPECTIVES We must keep matryoshka dolls. Curiosity got the best of me, and I BY ANDREW FEDYNSKY momentum going decided to stop and investigate. I went inside and saw three young staffers in Dear Editor: their mid-20s working on putting out new As the commemorations of the 75th stock on the shelves. The consequences of godless atheism anniversary of the Holodomor come to a The young woman came toward me to close, work to raise awareness about the ask if she could help. I thanked her, said Stalin wasn’t God, but he certainly acted ed peasants to spread seeds onto frozen Ukrainian Genocide is only just begin- yes, and asked if the shop carried any as if he were, assuming power of life and fields in late November and December. ning. It is crucial to keep the momentum Ukrainian music. She said of course, took death over millions of people, even entire When farmers failed to achieve the yields going. Committees throughout the world me to one of the sections and pointed out nations. The Soviet Union, as we know, Lysenko had outlandishly promised, they have been organized to focus attention on some CDs. The labels were all in Russian, was an officially atheist country that sup- were charged with sabotage and “wreck- the lack of references to the Holodomor- and the songs were clearly Russian as pressed religion and persecuted believers. ing” and punished by the NKVD. Genocide – especially in the educational well. Still, the instinct to worship is strong – reli- Defending his theories and his position as field. I said as much to the woman and she gious talismans, temples, prayers, etc. have head of the Academy of Agricultural Many universities have Holocaust and said that Russian and Ukrainian were been prevalent in every society that’s ever Sciences of the Soviet Union, Lysenko Genocide resource centers, but it is up to really the same thing. I looked puzzled been, and the Soviet Union was no excep- was responsible for the imprisonment and us to make sure that the Holodomor is and said I thought they were separate tion. When I visited Soviet Ukraine in murder of hundreds of Soviet scientists. included in these programs. Most states countries, much like France and Spain. 1970, I was struck by the ubiquitous, icon- Only in 1964, after the fall of Nikita in the U.S. hold yearly social studies con- She said, oh no, the two were really the like signs announcing: “Lenin Lived; Khrushchev, was Lysenko finally ferences which provide an excellent same and the languages were really the Lenin Lives; Lenin will always Live!” removed. venue to hold workshops regarding the same. Stalin worship in its day was even more The collective farm system, however, Holodomor. I asked her where she came from, and rapturous. In 1944 a collective of 13 stayed, surviving well beyond the fall of An organization called Facing History she said Russia. Ukrainian writers composed “To the Great the Soviet Union in 1991. The Communist and Ourselves is an international educa- I then said I was of Ukrainian ancestry, Stalin from the Ukrainian People,” a poem Party, which had set out to create utopia, tional program that promotes tolerance asked if they were really the same why with passages like this: ultimately settled for simply maintaining through the study of various genocides did Ukrainians vote in such overwhelm- Today and forever, Oh Stalin be praised, its members in a life of privilege. (www.facinghistory.org). This organiza- ing numbers to separate from Russia in For the light that the planets and fields Perversely, the Soviet Union imported tion provides professional development to 1991, and then said I found her comments emit. food throughout the collective farm era. many educators who then pass their and attitude very offensive. Thou art the heart of the people, the truth Without wheat from Kansas and the knowledge on to thousands of students. She said that she was sorry if she and the faith, Dakotas along with the tiny private plots Unfortunately, at this time their curricu- offended me and then pointed to one of We’re grateful to Thee for the sun Thou that provided 80 percent of vegetables in lum contains no mention of the the young men and said in justification of hast lit! Soviet society, famine would have been a Holodomor. her statements: “That’s Vasya. He’s Nine million people signed on. That was recurring phenomenon. As organized groups and individuals, Ukrainian. He and I have had many talks also the year the Soviets conducted mass As for Stalin, it turned out that he had we can and need to make a difference. and he agrees completely with me. If you arrests, deportations and murders to liqui- not lit the sun after all and it didn’t explode We must take action and speak out for the want to, you can go and ask him.” date the Ukrainian Catholic Church. They when he died in 1953. He was just another millions whose lives were cut short by I told her I had no interest in doing so had destroyed the Ukrainian Orthodox mortal who suffered a stroke. He’d been Stalin’s brutal genocide against the and that my conscience wouldn’t allow Church 20 years earlier. consulting doctors for the usual ailments Ukrainian people. me to spend any money in her shop, bid Taking their cue from Karl Marx, who brought on by stress, smoking and age, but her a good afternoon and left. they couldn’t help him much. Pretending Oksana Kiciuk-Kulynych famously declared that “religion is the On Saturday afternoon, I stopped at the to be God and having millions go along Yonkers, N.Y. opium of the masses,” Vladimir Lenin, Panera Bakery on Route 9 in Natick, Joseph Stalin and the other founders of the made no difference at all. Mass., to get a loaf of bread. My server In the final analysis, sunlight, genetics, The letter-writer is chair of Educators Soviet state banned religious worship and was a young man of approximately 17 or plant germination and, yes, brain aneu- for the Study of the Ukrainian Genocide then substituted themselves, claiming the 18 years of age, and he was wearing a risms – all conform to certain natural – Holodomor (New York State Chapter). wisdom and insight to set the course of his- name tag with “Ilya” on it. He also spoke tory, adopting genocidal methods if neces- laws. With mathematical precision, sci- with a bit of an accent, and it was clear sary to steer society toward the “greater entists have described and quantified the that he had not been in this country very good,” as they defined it. chemistry, physics, physiology, etc. for Two incidents: long. According to the First Five Year Plan all those processes and many more. We I excused myself for getting personal adopted in 1929, this required the collectiv- know that gravity, inertia, thermodynam- food for thought and asked him where he was from. He ization of agriculture. If peasants viewed ics, time – everything from the subatomic said from Russia. I asked where? He that as re-imposing serfdom and refused to to the cosmic—is connected in a complex Dear Editor: answered from Russia/Ukraine. I again give up their land, then Stalin, assuming of laws and principles that all of us must asked where? He looked a bit confused godlike powers, decreed they should be obey. No one knows where all that came In the past 24 hours, I’ve experienced and answered Kharkiv. “liquidated as a class.” The result was the from, why it exists at all or where it’s two incidents that, as a Ukrainian I then asked: “Chy hovorysh po going. And because we lack the under- American, I have found very instructive Holodomor. Ukrainsky?” He said no, only Russian Usurping the role of God, Stalin not only standing to fathom those mysteries, we and depressing, providing a lot of food and some English. I said I thought that call it God. And from the awe inspired for thought. claimed power over individuals, classes Kharkiv was a Ukrainian city and that by what we are unable to define or truly On Friday afternoon, November 21, I and nations that stood in his way, but even people there would at least know understand, there flows a universal was driving back to Boston College after over nature. Among the many odious fig- Ukrainian. He looked at me and said that instinct to worship. a meeting at the Harvard Ukrainian ures in Soviet history was Trofim Lysenko, Kharkiv is really more a part of Russia Nearly a hundred years ago, things went Research Institute in Cambridge, Mass., an agronomist who played a bizarre role in than of Ukraine and that everyone there seriously off-track in Russia when the and while driving on Washington Street the Famine and then went on to direct only speaks Russian. I was so surprised Bolsheviks seized power and soon after in Brighton Center I noticed a new shop Soviet agriculture for a generation after- that all I could say was “Hmm, interest- forced their rule and philosophy on other called Melodia, which advertised CDs wards. The son of a Ukrainian peasant, ing.” Lysenko attended the Kyiv Agricultural parts of what had been the Russian Empire, and DVDs in its windows. There was also It was obvious to me that both Vasya School before moving to Azerbaijan in including Ukraine. It resulted ultimately in and Ilya were too young to remember the 1927, where he claimed to have developed moral catastrophe and murder on a scale Soviet Union and that they had spent the a method to plant peas and other produce in never before seen. Tragically, the Putin- We welcome your opinion greater part of their formative years in an the wintertime, supposedly turning frozen Medvedev regime that now rules Russia independent Ukraine. I believe they are The Ukrainian Weekly welcomes letters fields into a luxuriant green landscape. cannot bring itself to condemn the crimes typical of their generation and can only to the editor and commentaries on a vari- Rejecting established principles of genetics, of its predecessors. Instead, they lament the ety of topics of concern to the Ukrainian wonder about the future of a country that he maintained he could alter plant develop- passing of the Soviet Union and even main- American and Ukrainian Canadian com- makes such a little impression on its own ment in such a way that physically imposed tain the trappings of that horrific time. munities. Opinions expressed by colum- youth. nists, commentators and letter-writers are characteristics would be passed onto their Look no further than Moscow’s Red After 17 ½ years of independence, is Square, where the embalmed body (or a their own and do not necessarily reflect this the best that the Ukrainian govern- seeds, inducing crops to adapt to meet the the opinions of either The Weekly edito- quotas of central planners in Moscow. Madame Tussauds replica) of Lenin lies in rial staff or its publisher, the Ukrainian ment and political leaders can do? a massive mausoleum where to this day, Clearly, both young men don’t have any Stalin was delighted: the son of a peas- National Association. ant had developed agricultural techniques people are invited to file past in reverence Letters should be typed and signed (anon- conception of their native country, its of the man who banished God and replaced uniqueness, or its identity. I believe they that doubled, even tripled crop yields and ymous letters are not published). Letters are was doing it by forcing nature itself to him with “the dictatorship of the proletari- accepted also via e-mail at staff@ukrweek- would even look on indifferently if Russia at.” How refreshing it would be if Russia ly.com. The daytime phone number and change – much as Stalin was changing sent in troops to Ukraine as it recently did were to give Lenin, if not a Christian burial, address of the letter-writer must be given in Georgia. society and the course of history. Genetic at least a proper one. No need to drive a for verification purposes. Please note that a If this is typical of the young genera- laws, discovered by Gregor Mendel (a stake through his heart. He’s been dead for daytime phone number is essential in order tions in Ukraine, is there really any hope Catholic priest of all things!) were dis- years. for editors to contact letter-writers regarding for a Ukrainian future? missed as “bourgeois pseudoscience” and clarifications or questions. “fascist.” Please note: THE LENGTH OF LETTERS Peter Woloschuk And so, during the height of the Andrew Fedynsky’s e-mail address is CANNOT EXCEED 500 WORDS. Boston Famine in 1932, party newspapers exhort- [email protected]. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 No. 50 FOR THE RECORD: Opening remarks at Chicago’s Holodomor exhibit On October 24, the Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago hosted the opening of a unique exhibition of art titled “Our Daily Bread – Holodomor through the Eyes of Ukrainian Artists,” commemorating the 1932-1933 Holodomor in Ukraine. The sobering and powerful exhibit fea- tured 40 works of art from the collection of U.S. businessman Morgan Williams, the trustee of over 300 artworks that portray this devastating event. Most were created after 1988 when Ukrainians were finally free to express the horrors of this genocide. At the exhibit’s opening, and in the pres- ence of over 200 guests, including Mr. Williams, Oryna Hrushetsky-Shiffman, granddaughter of a Holodomor survivor, presented a moving personal account of how this tragedy impacted four generations of her Ukrainian family.

by Oryna Hrushetsky-Schiffman When I was first learning the prayer “Otche Nash” (Our Father), the words “khlib nash nasushnyi” (our daily bread) always invoked the same image – my grade school cafeteria. I remember reaching into my brown paper bag for my “daily bread,” while wistfully eyeing the Wonder Bread of the other suburban children. Theirs was white, fluffy, full of air, virtually weightless. Mine was thick-crusted, multi-grained, with “Nobody Wanted to Die, 1932-1933” by Mykola Chervotkin (1989). specks of beige, brown and black – the shades of the earth that spawned it. My daily knew that at Babusia Doka’s house not a have missed a few PTA meetings, burned a and her children – and now Babusia Doka bread was Ukrainian village bread – it bore crumb was to be wasted. few pots while planning fund-raisers, was being denied her own memory. the weight of memory. I did not yet know that in 1932-1933, neglected a few 1970s kiddy fashions, but There were a few brave dissenters, how- Before I ever heard them verbalized, I while millions of peasants starved, a record who could blame her? Halyna and her ever, who chose to investigate further those carried the weight of my grandmother’s 1.7 million tons of their grain was being cohorts were raising hundreds of thousands shocking accounts and statistics. In 1968 memories. I did not yet know that Babusia dumped on Western markets by the Soviet of dollars (and publishing as many words) when Stanford University’s Robert Conquest Doka served a five-year sentence for taking Communist regime. But I knew to speak the for Ukrainian libraries, universities, church- published “The Great Terror,” hardliners three ears of corn from her own field, or that word “Communist” like a swear word. I es, theaters, schools and orphanages. All to would tell him: ”I read your book – secretly she escaped from prison only to find her must have been the only 6-year-old in town preserve the memory of the Holodomor – under the pillow.” children – Marussia, Tarasyk and Halynka – who, when bitten by her little sister, cried: and the rich culture it nearly annihilated. In the 1980s similar resistance met swollen and unconscious. I did not know “Why don’t we send Maryna to Ukrayina to It was a courageous undertaking, consid- Harvard’s Dr. James Mace, director of the that they died in her arms, their corpses bite all the Communists?!” ering the resistance they faced from detrac- U.S. Commission on the Ukraine Famine, tossed by Red Guards onto a cart and Yes, the recipe for memory included rage, tors, who looked the other way – just as which was preparing to testify before dumped into a ditch. but also sanctity. To this day, if my mother President Franklin D. Roosevelt had done Congress when federal funds ran out. But I knew that Babusia would tremble at sees a loaf of bread tossed upside down on a when he recognized the Soviet Union in Determined to raise funds and garner more the sight of any red fabric. I knew she would grocery store conveyer belt, she will reach 1933, at the height of the Holodomor, and witnesses for Dr. Mace, my mother orga- bake thin slices of bread, sew them into past its befuddled buyer and turn it right side then signed the Yalta Accord with Stalin in nized yet another committee. Which meant sacks made of our old dresses, and hang up. As if she could turn history right side up, 1945, “sending us down the river again,” as yet another file cabinet soon impinged on them in the shed – “for a black day” she simply by remembering it – and making many of us heard our parents repeatedly our basement playroom. This one was would say. others remember it. This daunting task has lament. labeled “Chicago Committee in Support of I did not yet know that in the breadbasket consumed her for as long as I can remem- Survivors who fled eastern Ukraine and, the U.S. Commission on the Ukraine of Europe, on the earth’s most fertile soil, ber. after the war, by the grace of Eleanor Famine.” millions of peasants were robbed of the very Rafael Lemkin, who coined the term Roosevelt, immigrated to the West, formed I remember watching Mama gesticulate grain they harvested, as the Soviet Red “genocide” in 1943, explained how Stalin’s the Bahriany Foundation. From the 1950s and pontificate emphatically under her Guards collected 200 grams of bread for three-pronged genocide targeted: first they continually sent publications – featur- breath. She was elsewhere. Perhaps she was each corpse they delivered. But I knew that Ukraine’s “brain” (intelligentsia), then her ing photos, documents, statistics and eyewit- rehearsing a fund-raising pitch, or persuad- at my grandmother’s house, if ever a crumb “soul” (the Ukrainian Autocephalous ness accounts – to the U.N., to heads of state ing a survivor still too fearful of persecution of bread fell to the floor she would scoop it Orthodox Church), and, finally, her “spirit” and to prestigious universities across the to speak. up, kiss it and whisper a blessing over it. I (the peasantry). My mother’s generation in globe, to no avail. For post-war academic In 1991, when Ukraine declared indepen- the Ukrainian diaspora worked diligently to trendsetters, saying anything anti-Soviet was dence, I was living in L.A. I could hear my help resuscitate all three. considered “an affront to liberal decency.” mother’s euphoria over the telephone and Like other Ukrainian mothers, she may She had been denied her land, her harvest imagined her marching through Chicago’s Ukrainian Village – beaming at the blue- and-yellow flags on every balcony. By then, Holodomor survivors were no longer afraid to speak. By then, the failure of the Soviet experiment was no longer possible to dis- guise. Russian intellectuals were calling on Robert Conquest to educate them about their own suppressed history. The Moscow News called his book: “one of the most significant of foreign researches into Soviet history.” The Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute had paved the way for hundreds of scholars who were now discovering, that, as Sally J. Taylor wrote, in her 1990 Oxford Press pub- lication, this famine “remains the greatest man-made disaster ever recorded, exceeding in scale even the Jewish Holocaust of the next decade.” Two years later, Dr. Conquest was awarded the nation’s highest humanities honor – the Jefferson Lectureship. He had been vindicated – and the trendy crowd no longer had to read his book “at night, under the pillow.” Truth had slowly started seeping in through the cracks of America’s amnesia. “For What Do They Crucify?” by “Unforgettable” by Vira Kuleba- “1932-1933 We Remember!” by Valeriy Volodymyr Kutkin (1988). Barynova (2004-2005). Vitter (2006). (Continued on page 27) No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 9 Chicago Ukrainians remember Holodomor at grand requiem in city center by Maria Kulczycky CHICAGO – Chicago’s legendary wind whipped brisk and cold as bundled groups formed in Washington Park, the historical site for public debate and elo- quent discourse that faces Newberry Library, a storied genealogical research center. People held on to flags, banners, signs and emblems as the wind bent and unfurled them. For weeks, radio stations, leaflets, church bulletins, posters, e-mail postings and other information channels had been inviting, encouraging and exhorting Ukrainians all over the city and suburbs to come to the city center on Saturday morning, November 15, to join the pro- cession down Chicago’s central avenues heading for Holy Name Cathedral, the seat of the vast Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. The community had planned a solemn ecumenical requiem to mark the end of its yearlong commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Ukrainian Genocide- Holodomor. The Soviet-organized and meticulously executed genocide was launched to crush Selfreliance UAFCU Ukrainian political aspirations and main- At the altar, the chief celebrants, Bishop Alexander, Cardinal Francis George, Bishop Richard Seminack and Bishop Daniel tain the integrity of the Soviet Union, a lead a capacity crowd in prayer. strategy that has resonance in current events. Decades-long secrecy about the stretched for city blocks as the park emp- tragedy was enforced on victims and rein- tied. The mood grew exuberant as the forced with a blockade on travel and a marchers looked forward and back, and muzzling of the press, making it the larg- realized what had happened. They saw est unknown genocide of the 20th centu- friends, colleagues and neighbors, but ry. The anniversary milestone was a link also faces they didn’t recognize. All were in an international campaign to focus united, making a statement with their attention on the horrific event and have it large ranks, their number calling attention acknowledged as a genocide. of passersby as if to say: “We ask the As yellow buses disgorged their occu- world to recognize our genocide, our pants, many traveling from distant sub- national tragedy.” urbs, the park filled. Monitors nudged As the procession crossed State Street and shaped the crowd into groups by and moved to the stairs of the cathedral, affiliation – parishes, youth groups, civic the massive central doors stood closed, organizations, Ukrainian schools, the cold, forbidding. Then the bells began to Ukrainian consular staff, and the general intone a rhythmic, grim chant, a funereal public of seniors, parents holding the peal. The procession stopped, stood for hands of small children, families with interminable minutes, with buses and traf- strollers. Many participants wore uni- fic piling up on either side. forms and embroidery, as well as black Suddenly the great doors were flung ribbons. open. Four hierarchs stood in full reli- The procession stepped from the park gious raiment, inviting the marchers onto the wide street cordoned off by inside. The cross, wreaths, coffin, flags Cardinal Francis George speaks at the commemoration. police patrol cars. It moved slowly along and clergy entered and proceeded down the route to the cathedral. In the lead were the main aisle as the marchers, 2,000 by young men and women in Ukrainian folk some counts, silently streamed into the garb carrying a birch cross festooned in cavernous sanctuary. black ribbon. Three thorn wreaths came Nestor Popowych, chairman of the next, then a 10-foot blue-and yellow-ban- 75th Anniversary Commemoration ner, followed by a coffin draped in black Committee, welcomed the assembled with a large, stark lettering: “10,000,000 crowd and introduced Cardinal Francis Victims.” George, archbishop of Chicago, for whom A large group of clergy from Ukrainian Holy Name Cathedral is the home parish. Catholic and Orthodox parishes followed This was the first public event at the the coffin. Then came the Ukrainian and cathedral since a long renovation had American flags carried by veterans. The procession of orderly, somber participants (Continued on page 27)

Leading the procession are (from left): Nestor Popowych, chairman of the 75th Anniversary Commemoration Committee; Nicholas Mischenko, president of the A black-draped coffin, followed by Orthodox and Catholic clergy, proclaims Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation; and Victor Vojtychiw, member of both “10,000,000 victims.” committees. All three are children of Holodomor survivors. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 No. 50 Yonkers community remembers the Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933 by Lesia Schur shared some of his recollections of the tragic events of 1932-1933. YONKERS, N.Y. – On Sunday, This commemoration was the culmina- November 9, the Ukrainian community of tion of a series of events the Holodomor Yonkers, N.Y. marked the 75th anniversa- Committee, chaired by Andrij ry of the Holodomor, which was covered Horbachevsky, organized locally to honor in several articles by the news media in the victims of the Famine-Genocide. In Westchester and Rockland counties. May the International Holodomor Approximately 200 people, including Remembrance Flame came to Yonkers as Yonkers Mayor Philip Amicone, his wife part of its worldwide tour culminating in and three members of the City Council, Ukraine. From the flame of this torch an attended the event, which began with a eternal flame was lit and placed at St. solemn procession from the Ukrainian Michael’s Church. Youth Center to St. Michael’s Ukrainian In September the film “The Harvest of Catholic Church. Despair” was shown in the Yonkers The marchers carried commemorative Public Library and subsequently on local signs, two coffins and 100 white crosses, cable TV, thanks to the efforts of Mayor representing the millions of Ukrainians Amicone. who perished in the Famine-Genocide. In addition, throughout the month of The coffins and the crosses formed a November an informational Holodomor symbolic cemetery on the grounds of St. display, organized by Marika Kozicky, Michael’s, where a panakhyda (requiem took place at the Grinton Will Public service) was celebrated by the Very Rev. Library. Philip Weiner, pastor of St. Michael’s To conclude the program, Slavko Church, the Rev. Mark Hirniak and Kiciuk, the chair of the Yonkers branch of Deacon Mykola Drofych. the Ukrainian Congress Committee of Holodomor survivor Alexander Seweryn with his daughter, Kathy, and wife, Two members of the Ukrainian America, who conducted the ceremony, Nadia, at his side during the Holodomor commemorations in Yonkers, N.Y. American Youth Association, Khrystyna thanked all who took part in the com- Babyn and Marta Wislocky, read poems memoration, including the Yonkers Fire Following is a translation of remarks My village, Semenivka, of Kramatorsk titled “Holod 33 Roku” and “Land of Department for lending its tolling bell for delivered in Ukrainian by Holodomor County, was not large but proud of the Plenty of 1933” written by Louis Gomez the procession, the SUMA Federal Credit survivor Alexander Seweryn. (The trans- fact that it was a “free” village, founded de Aranda, Spain’s ambassador to Union for donating the funding for all of lation is by Dr. Maria Kiciuk.) by the Kozaks, where people were not Ukraine. the expenses throughout the year and all serfs like those in neighboring villages. The highlight of the commemoration of the committee members for their As a survivor and witness of the hor- The village had a good elementary was the emotional speech by Alexander efforts in making the commemorative rific Famine-Genocide in Ukraine – the school and cared for its development and Seweryn, a Holodomor survivor, who events of the past year a success. deliberate destruction of my people by growth. The Famine halted everything, The Rev. Weiner then intoned Moscow – I find it extremely difficult the students who came to school looked Lesia Shchur is secretary of Educators “Vichnaya Pamiat” (Eternal Memory) for both emotionally and physically to talk to like ghostly shadows … then someone, a for the Study of the Ukrainian Genocide those who lost their lives in the you today on this topic…. This was the government official, had an idea to orga- Holodomor Famine of 1932-1933. Holodomor. tragic year of 1933. At that time I was 11 nize so-called “breakfasts” for the stu- years old and my wife, Nadia, who is dents. with me today, was not quite 9. The pain I ask you to imagine the rows of chil- from this terrible experience makes it dren ravaged by malnourishment and impossible to forget … over time the pain stricken with diseases raging that spring. may subside somewhat, but in our lives it I was very young, but I clearly remember explodes with incomprehensible strength one morning when a group of county and again and again. local Communists visited our school And how can one forget the great num- before the so-called breakfast … among ber of corpses, especially the small chil- them Viktor Lykhodii, the later execu- dren who died at the train stations of the tioner of the village, and the young cities of Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, Bolshevik Oleksander Hovoryn. Perhaps Kostiantynivka, which were at that time his youth explains Hovoryn’s strange in the Stalin County of Ukraine? The openness when he said, “Look at these famine victims were sprawled all over, bastards – with what shall we wage war?” the government left them lying for days – This Bolshevik must have been looking near train stations, in the alleys, in the into the future since in eight years the war nooks of Lenin Park. broke out with unforeseen consequences During this very time, the specialized in its first phase. factories of the aforementioned cities The Holodomor has not been forgotten were working around the clock to full and despite Kremlin’s opposition, it will capacity, urgently building a gigantic tank not be forgotten. You are a witness to this. factory in Novokramatorsk and perfecting The world finally knows about the trage- other specialized industries. Moscow dy of Ukraine. Despite the machinations was preparing to enslave the world and of some, the U.N. will in time acknowl- put it under its yoke. edge who the authors and perpetrators of Those who fled from the villages and Holodomor are. Europe has already done towns of the regions of Poltava, Kyiv, so. Sumy and other regions, trying to save My wife and I would like to thank all themselves from the Famine-Genocide, of you on behalf of the Holodomor vic- formed the core of cheap slave labor. The tims for commemorating their memory Famine paralyzed the will to live. There today. Our Heavenly Father is looking Ray Wasiczko were unspeakable events by people driv- down on us and he knows on whose side Procession along the streets of Yonkers to commemorate the Holodomor. en to insanity by hunger… the truth lies.

addressed envelope. To The Weekly Contributors: • Full names (i.e., no initials) and their correct English spellings must be We greatly appreciate the materials – feature articles, news stories, press provided. clippings, letters to the editor, etc. – we receive from our readers. In order to • Newspaper and magazine clippings must be accompanied by the name of facilitate preparation of The Ukrainian Weekly, we ask that the guidelines listed below be followed. the publication and the date of the edition. • Information about upcoming events must be received one week before the • News stories should be sent in not later than 10 days after the occurrence date of The Weekly edition in which the information is to be published. of a given event. • Persons who submit any materials must provide a daytime phone number • All materials must be typed (or legibly hand-printed) and double-spaced. where they may be reached if any additional information is required. • Photographs (originals only, no photocopies or computer printouts) submitted for publication must be accompanied by captions. Photos will be • Unsolicited materials submitted for publication will be returned only when so returned only when so requested and accompanied by a stamped, requested and accompanied by a stamped, addressed envelope. No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 11 Ukrainians in Houston mark the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor by Martha Noukas HOUSTON – Three Ukrainian organi- zations in Houston – the Ukrainian American Cultural Club of Houston, Ukrainian National Women’s League of America (UNWLA) Branch 118 and Protection of the Mother of God (Pokrova) Ukrainian Catholic Church – joined together to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor. On Sunday, November 16, at 5 p.m., Ukrainians from Houston and surround- ing areas gathered on the steps of City Hall in downtown Houston to remember the horrible events of 1932-1933, when millions of people died of starvation on the land of Ukraine. As participants arrived at the vigil, they were given candles to hold and were greeted with solemn music, while images of the Holodomor were projected onto a screen above the plaza. On each side of the plaza, poster board displays created by Martha Noukas, president of UNWLA Branch 118, provided detailed informa- tion and visuals about the devastation of the Famine. The Zhuravli Ukrainian Dancers, dressed in folk costumes, stood on the top The Holodomor commemoration held on Sunday, November 16, on the steps of City Hall in Houston. steps behind the podium and held church banners, while several community youths of Houston, who greeted all the guests 1930s and the political apparatus that gious omissions of journalistic reporting held small Ukrainian flags and and served as master of ceremonies. Dr. ruled the country during that time. with regard to the 1932-1933 Famine in Holodomor placards. Ewa Thompson, professor of Slavic stud- Dr. Thompson very eloquently summed Ukraine. The essay was read by Natalka The program began with an introduc- ies at Rice University, spoke first, setting up who the perpetrators were and Voynarovska. tion by Olia Holowka-Palmer, president the groundwork for the evening’s event. described the destruction of the Gregory Buchai, honorary consul of of the Ukrainian American Cultural Club She described life in Ukraine in the early Holodomor. She also gave positive rein- Ukraine, was then invited to the podium. forcement to the commemorations being He shared his mother’s personal recollec- conducted around the world as a sign of tions of her youth and the horrors she strength for the Ukrainian nation. witnessed as a child in Ukraine during the Larissa Scates, the chair of the Houston 1932-1933 Famine. Mr. Buchai’s speech Holodomor Commemoration, wrote an was very moving and a poignant homage essay titled “Holodomor – The Unknown Genocide,” which addressed the egre- (Continued on page 27)

The Houston Holodomor Commemoration Committee (from left): Martha Noukas, president of UNWLA Branch 118; Natalka Voynarovska; Olia Holowka- Palmer, president of the Ukrainian American Cultural Club of Houston; Lydia Bodnar-Balahutrak, Houston area artist and member of the National Holodomor Committee; Irene Potoczniak; and Larissa Scates, chair of the Houston Holodomor Commemoration Committee.

Shevchenko Society sponsors sessions at AAAUS focusing on the Holodomor

PHILADELPHIA – This year’s National Roman Serbyn). Convention of the American Association for Participating in the above, as well as in the Advancement of Slavic Studies other sessions dealing with Ukrainian topics (AAASS) was held in Philadelphia on were Slavic scholars from Canada, Italy, November 20-23. Over 1,200 Slavic area Ukraine and the United States. scholars attended the conference, participat- The Shevchenko Scientific Society also ing in about 586 sessions and panels. sponsored a reception for all convention The Shevchenko Scientific Society participants interested in Ukrainian studies (USA) organized and sponsored two ses- who attended a meeting of the American sions: “The Holodomor in Ukrainian Association for Ukrainian Studies (chaired Literature” (chaired by Thomas Bird, with by Alexandra Hrycak, president of the asso- presentations by Halyna Hryn, Mark ciation). Andryczyk and Larissa Onyshkevych) and Over 100 publishers exhibited their recent “The year 1933 and Soviet Acts Regarding publications at the convention. In contrast to the Ukrainian Language” (chaired by Dr. conventions during previous decades, about Onyshkevych, with presentations by Yuri a third of the publishers displayed their Shevchuk and Serhiy Wakulenko). books on Ukraine and related subjects – tes- There was also a history session on tifying to the interest that Ukraine now holds “Soviet Famines and the Ukrainian in the scholarly world. Holodomor of 1932-1933” (chaired by Lubomyr Hajda, with presentations by – Shevchenko Scientific Society Press Hennadii Boriak, Andrea Graziosi, and Group 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 No. 50 BOOK NOTE: Latest volume of Hrushevsky’s history of Ukraine “History of Ukraine-Rus’ ” (Volume Daria Mucak-Kowalsky of Etobicoke, in other sources. Unparalleled in breadth 9, Book 2, Part 1) “The Cossack Age, Ontario, in memory of her late husband, of research, Hrushevsky’s work brings to 1654-1657.” Edmonton-Toronto: Mykhailo Kowalsky. Mrs. Mucak- life a turbulent and politically decisive Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Kowalsky is a well-known and longtime period in the life of the Ukrainian people. Press, 2008. 566 pp. $119.95. benefactor of the CIUS and Ukrainian Book launches were held for the new studies. Over the course of many years, volume on September 20 at the Shevchenko The ninth volume of Mykhailo she, and her husband supported or helped Scientific Society in New York, on Hrushevsky’s “History of Ukraine-Rus’ ” to create important and visionary under- September 25 at the University of Alberta, is by far the longest in the 10-volume takings through exceptionally generous on October 5 at the University of Toronto, series. Written in the late 1920s, after donations. The largest of these projects is and on October 20 at the Ukrainian Hrushevsky had returned to Ukraine from the Kowalsky Program for the Study of Research Institute, Harvard University. exile, the volume is based mainly on a Eastern Ukraine, which supports scholar- Volume 9, Book 2, Part 1 of the “History wealth of documents gathered by ly activity related to Left-Bank Ukraine. of Ukraine-Rus’ ” is available in a hardcov- Hrushevsky and his students in the The pivotal event covered in this part of er edition for $119.95 (plus taxes and ship- Moscow archives. Many of these docu- Volume 9 of the “History” is the Pereiaslav ping; outside Canada prices are in U.S. dol- ments were little used or unknown to pre- Agreement of 1654, which brought Kozak lars). The entire set of the “History” is avail- vious historians. (or Cossack as rendered in these volumes) able for the subscription price of $1,100, The Peter Jacyk Center for Ukrainian Ukraine under a Muscovite protectorate. while the subscription price of Volumes 7 to Historical Research at the Canadian Needing military assistance to continue the 10 (in six books) representing the “History Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS), struggle with the Polish-Lithuanian of the Ukrainian Cossacks” is $600. A sub- whose major project is a complete English Commonwealth, against which the Kozak scription placed today entitles the subscriber translation of Hrushevsky’s “History,” Host and much of the Ukrainian populace to receive volumes 1, 7, 8, 9 (Book 1 and issued Book 1 of Volume 9 in 2005. had rebelled in 1648, Hetman Bohdan Book 2, Part 1) right away, and the remain- The very long Book 2 of this volume is Khmelnytsky was prepared to make an Polish and Tatar forces, against which ing volumes as they are published. being issued in two parts. Book 2, Part 1, agreement that brought Muscovy into the Muscovy provided no effective protection. Orders can be placed online at www.uto- comprising Chapters 6 to 9 of conflict on terms favorable to the Kozaks. On the basis of the travel diary of Paul ronto.ca/cius or by contacting CIUS Press, Hrushevsky’s volume, was published by Hrushevsky analyzes the diplomatic and of Aleppo, a Syrian cleric, Hrushevsky 430 Pembina Hall, University of Alberta, CIUS Press in September. This book was military developments that led up to the gives an account of daily life in Ukraine Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H8; telephone translated by Marta Daria Olynyk, a agreement, and in Chapter 7 he presents the at the time, with many details unavailable 780-492-2973; e-mail, [email protected]. Montreal-based translator, editor and most detailed and thoughtful treatment in broadcaster. It was edited by the director modern historiography of the Pereiaslav of the Jacyk Center, Dr. Frank E. Sysyn, Council of January 1654 and the subse- with the assistance of CIUS Press Senior quent understandings with Moscow. BOOK REVIEW: Illuminations Editor Myroslav Yurkevich. Other chapters trace the difficult course The consulting editor of the volume, of Kozak Ukraine’s relations with Muscovy who also wrote the introduction, was Dr. in 1654-1955: the joint military campaign of Ukrainian literature in translation Serhii Plokhy, who now holds the against the Polish-Lithuanian Mykhailo Hrushevsky Chair of Ukrainian Commonwealth, which almost led to disas- “In a Different Light,” A Bilingual History at Harvard University. Other ter because of poor coordination; the Kozak Anthology of Ukrainian Literature scholars advised on terminological and leadership’s efforts to take control of the Translated into English by Virlana Tkacz historical issues. western Ukrainian and southern Belarusian and Wanda Phipps as Performed by Yara The preparation of this volume was lands; the ferocious battle of Dryzhypil; and Arts Group,” compiled and edited by funded by a generous donation from the devastation of the Bratslav region by Olha Luchuk. Lviv: Sribne Slovo Press, 2008. 792 pp. $70 (shipping included).

by Peter Bejger Images, light, music and space define the theatrical experience. But it all comes down to the word – and not necessarily those found in the scripts created by con- ventional playwrights. “Poetry is meant to be read aloud, and the stage is the best place for it, “ writes award-winning the- ater director, translator and poet Virlana Tkacz. THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION In her introductory essay to this fasci- will mail Christmas greetings and small gift packages to nating compendium of historic and con- temporary Ukrainian literary texts, Ms. American-Ukrainian service people presently serving their Tkacz – who is equally at home in country in many parts of the world. Manhattan’s East Village, the Carpathian Mountains, Harvard and among Buddhist nomads in Siberia – reveals the creative UNA wishes to solicit your help in getting names, addresses and ranks process behind stage works that have won of any Ukrainian you may know who is serving in the armed forces. her critical acclaim for her Yara Arts performed. In this manner, the book Help make this project successful! Group on three continents. reflects the very personal professional “Due to my grandfather’s enthusiasm and emotional journey of the creator. for dialects and my mother’s love of liter- And what a trip! Tkacz’s home base is UNA will mail Christmas and New Year’s greetings to our service the experimental theater La MaMa E.T.C. people by December 25, 2008. ature, I learned to appreciate Ukrainian poetry and thought it could inspire inter- in New York, where she works as a direc- esting theater. I was fortunate to work tor. Much of the material she and Ms. We wish to contact all our service men and women. with Wanda Phipps, an African-American Phipps have translated has been first per- With your help we will reach most of them! poet ... we would sit at my kitchen table formed in special workshops by students reading each text we translated back and at Harvard University’s Ukrainian Summer Institute. These performances Name: forth, adding and changing words out loud till it sounded ‘just right.’ ” served as a springboard for later produc- The rhythmic dialogue over the kitchen tions at LaMaMa and tours in Ukraine. Rank: table has produced a body of bilingual Ms. Tkacz’s theatrical forays into and bicultural presentations that are lav- Ukraine would in turn create productive Address: ishly documented in this volume. In addi- encounters with Ukrainian writers and tion to poetry, this book contains tradi- texts that would lead to performances fur- tional Ukrainian epics, ritual songs, leg- ther afield. For example, Ms. Tkacz was ends and incantations that were translated seduced by the poetry of Oleh Lysheha, Please send the information by December 10, 2008, to: for Yara Art Group’s theatrical perfor- whose long poem “Swan” inspired proj- Ukrainian National Association, Inc., mances throughout the world, as well as ects with the Buryat National Theater in the Siberian city of Ulan Ude. The numerous color photographs of the UNA National Organizer – Oksana Trytjak Buryats were eventually invited to work shows. The organizing principle of the 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280 with Ms. Tkacz in New York and she later anthology is simple, but unusual – in the staged the complete Lysheha poem as a Parsippany, NJ 07054 order the translations were created and telephone: 973-292-9800 x3071 theater piece titled “Swan” at La MaMa and Harvard. e-mail: [email protected] Peter Bejger is a freelance writer and filmmaker who lives in San Francisco. (Continued on page 26) No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 13 Shevchenko Society hears lecture-concert presentation on Skoryk by Lavrentia Turkewicz musical education, eventually graduating from the Lviv Conservatory, where he stud- NEW YORK – The Shevchenko ied with Stanislav Liudkevych (1879-1979), Scientific Society on Saturday, November 1 Roman Simovych (1901-1984) and Adam hosted a lecture-concert presentation by Dr. Soltys (1890-1968). In 1960 he continued Victor Markiw on the theme “Solo Piano postgraduate studies at the Moscow Works of Myroslav Skoryk.” This lecture Conservatory, where he studied with Dmitri preceded a concert that took place later in Kabalevsky. the evening at the Ukrainian Institute of After graduating in 1964, he returned to America, as part of the Music at the Institute Lviv where he taught at the Conservatory series, honoring the composer on his 70th for two years; thereafter he moved to the birthday. capital where, at the Kyiv Conservatory, he Dr. Victor Markiw, professor of music at has been teaching composition and contem- the University of New Haven, received his porary harmony techniques to this day. MFA in piano performance from New York In recent years, Mr. Skoryk has been liv- University, where he studied with ing in both cities and currently holds the Volodymyr Vynnytsky, Vladimir Feltsman posts of professor and dean in the depart- and Paul Ostrovsky. In 2007 he earned his ment of history of Ukrainian music, chair- doctorate in musical arts from the man of the Ukrainian Center of Music at University of Connecticut. His 167-page the Peter I. Tchaikovsky National Academy dissertation was titled “Myroslav Skoryk: of Ukraine in Kyiv, and professor and dean Life and Solo Piano Works.” of composition at the Mykola Lysenko Volodymyr Tkachenko Following a bilingual introduction by Music Academy in Lviv. At the Shevchenko Scientific Society (from left) are: Anthony Cistulli, Albert Vasyl Makhno, chairman of the Shevchenko Dr. Markiw continued with a discussion Celotto and Victor Markiw. Scientific Society’s Publications Committee, of the stylistic development of Mr. Skoryk’s the program began with an exhilarating per- music, noting that the tendency among bridge between the two traditions, Dr. position, Dr. Markiw discussed its historical formance of Mr. Skoryk’s jazz-driven composers in the second half of the 20th Markiw stated that Mr. Skoryk’s “rhythmic background, after which he provided an “Three Extravagant Dances for Four century was to seek “their own style by practice relies heavily on syncopation, analysis of the piece. Hands.” (1998). Accompanying Dr. Markiw experimenting with a variety of musical which is an inherent attribute of both jazz Polystylism, as the new technique came was a colleague from the University of New possibilities.” Consequently, Mr. Skoryk’s and Ukrainian Carpathian folk music.” to be officially known, appeared with the Haven, Prof. Albert Celotto. musical output since the early 1960s includ- In the mid-1970s, Mr. Skoryk began rise of postmodernism at the end of the 20th After the performance, Dr. Markiw pro- ed symphonic, chamber, vocal and piano exploring a “new method” of composing century. According to Skoryk, the new ceeded with a reading of excerpts from his music that was inspired not only by not seen previously in his works, which he movement was not only “very fashionable,” dissertation, beginning with a biographical Ukrainian folk music but also jazz, a style labeled “Stylistic Games.” In Dr. Markiw’s but it also “declared the possibilities of uni- sketch of the composer. from which the ban was lifted in the post- words, “Skoryk begins to step away from fication of the un-unified, a paradoxical Born July 13, 1938, Mr. Skoryk is the Stalin era. folk influences; however, this does not cohabitation of musical styles contained in son of amateur musicians – his mother, a As a student, Mr. Skoryk was taught in mean that he abandons folkloric writing a work covering diverse extremes of musi- chemist who played the piano, and his the traditions of such Ukrainian composers altogether, but that these elements become cal material borrowed from different centu- father, a historian-ethnographer who played as Mykola Lysenko, Liudkevych, Lev more or less subsidiary.” As the first of such ries and styles.” the violin. During their exile in western Revutsky and Borys Liatoshynsky; on the works, the Partita No. 5 (1975) is not only Mr. Skoryk claims that he is influenced Siberia (1947-1955), the young Skoryk other hand, his affinity for jazz leaned Mr. Skoryk’s longest composition for piano by “a classic style which germinates from studied piano with a student of towards those elements as evident in the but also bears a different character from his Prokofiev, Bartók, Szymanowski and Rachmaninoff (Valentyna Kantorova). musical works of George Gershwin, Aaron earlier works. Upon their return to Lviv, he continued his Copland and Leonard Bernstein. Drawing a Prior to performing the innovative com- (Continued on page 28)

Concert at Ukrainian Institute honors composer Myroslav Skoryk by Bohdan Markiw Scientific Society by pianist Victor Markiw, a faculty member at the University of New NEW YORK – On November 1 in Haven. Dr. Markiw’s presentation was titled Manhattan, Myroslav Skoryk’s 70th birth- “Quotation and Cross-Reference in day was celebrated most appropriately with Myroslav Skoryk’s Partita No. 5 and Three two memorable musical events. Extravagant Pieces for Four Hands.” The The first event was an afternoon lecture latter piece was performed by Dr. Markiw and performance at the Shevchenko with assistance from Albert Celotto, a col- league at the University of New Haven. Dr. Markiw deftly incorpo- rated detailed musical examples from both works into his lecture, highlighting significant periods of the composer’s musical accomplishments. During his informative and entertaining lecture, Dr. Markiw ventured into the more complex aspects of Skoryk’s music but did so in an easy-to-understand manner that made the dual pre- sentation all the more enjoyable to the audience. Dr. Markiw culminated his presence on stage with a com- pelling performance of the two works he had previously dis- cussed and introduced to the gathering. The second birthday celebra- tion, an evening concert held at the Ukrainian Institute of America, featured select works by Mr. Skoryk. The program began with the works “Poem” and “Carpathian Rhapsody” for violin and piano performed by Lavrentia Turkewicz Myroslav Skoryk takes a bow at the UIA. (Continued on page 28) 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 No. 50 St. Michael’s Parish in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, celebrates its 100th anniversary by Peter T. Woloschuk WOONSOCKET, R.I. – St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church here celebrated the 100th anniversary of its canonical estab- lishment as a parish by Bishop Soter Ortynsky OSBM, the first Ukrainian Catholic bishop in the United States. The festivities on Sunday, October 26, concluded a spate of anniversary events in eastern New England that included the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Boston, the 90th anniversary of the establishment of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Salem, Mass., the 100th anniver- sary of the establishment of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Manchester, N.H., as well as the 100th anniversary of the estab- lishment of the Boston Deanery of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Seven seminarians – Ilie Babota from Rona de Sus, Romania; Celso Belo of Prudentopolis, Brazil; Ioan Dubrovici of Remeti, Romania; Pedro Fulop of Tretama, Brazil; Yuriy Melnyk of Ternopil, Ukraine; Ioan Santa of Czaciunesti, Romania; and Carlos Semchechen of Prudentopolis, Brazil – arrived from St. Basil’s College Seminary in Stamford, Conn., on Saturday evening to rehearse for the singing of Sunday’s pontifi- cal liturgy. On Sunday morning the officiating clergy began gathering early in St. Michael’s recto- ry, which is located directly behind the church. Promptly at 10 a.m. a procession Bohdan Komarynskyj which included Bishop Paul P. Chomnycky, St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Woonsocket, R.I. OSBM, eparch of Stamford; the Very Rev. Bohdan Danylo, rector of St. Basil’s century of service, a century of faith, and a dent of the U.S. – Ukraine Foundation, was raise children and educate them, and to cele- College, Stamford; the Rev. James Morris, century in growing closer to God.” the main speaker. During the course of his brate life. And by working together here in pastor of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian “The parishioners here in Woonsocket presentation he went over the history of the Woonsocket, they successfully created a Catholic Church in Salem, Mass.; the Rev. have persevered in spite of all obstacles, and parish and dwelt on the special impact of community representing the aspirations of Ivan Mazuryk, dean of men at St. Basil’s you have not only maintained our Catholic two pastors who served the parish for more their Ukrainian homeland. We can only College; and the Rev. Roman Golemba, pas- faith but our beautiful Ukrainian rite, tradi- than 35 years. imagine how exciting that must have felt – tor of St. Michael’s, began to move from the tions and culture as well,” he emphasized. “As many of you know,” he said, “I grew to be able to do so much here in the United rectory to the church. “And not only have you managed to do this, up in this parish. Even after I moved away States that in Europe was not possible.” The group was greeted at the main doors but you have also served as a shining exam- in 1978 to work, first in New York City, and “Looking back now,” he continued, “it is of the church by trustees John LeMieux and ple for others. And this is our true duty as later in Washington, D.C., I stayed in contact possible that the good times that we all had John Tkach. Flowers were presented by Catholics and Christians; to help others and with St Michael’s by my visits to my mother here seem even a bit more special because children of the parish Olexandra Klufas, lead them to God.” and father until their passing in 2004 and of all the difficulties that we encountered, Larissa Klufas, Stefan Minyaluk, Danylo Following the liturgy, the festivities 2007, respectively. Today, as I work for the not only as parishioners of St Michael’s, but Karchut and Olexander Komarynskyj, who continued with a gala banquet at the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation in our nation’s as new Americans – as newly arrived immi- were all wearing Ukrainian national dress. Coachman’s Lodge in Bellingham, Mass. capital, I believe I can further appraise and grants or the sons and daughters of immi- Bishop Chomnycky was the main cele- Joining the officiating clergy and parish- appreciate the role of St. Michael’s beyond grants. We all know that it wasn’t easy – the brant of the pontifical liturgy and also served ioners were the Very Rev. Canon Edward just a religious context.” language barrier, trying to find a job that as homilist. Young, pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul “First of all, I want to point out,” he could feed a family and encountering dis- During the course of his sermon the bish- Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ludlow, began, “that like Christ, we want to love crimination in many aspects of life. Besides op said, “It is important for us to stop and Mass. and the Holy Ghost Ukrainian others and to do good works. In the broad- economic hardships, there was the ultimate celebrate this important milestone in the life Catholic Church in South Deerfield, er sense, we want to seek justice and to sacrifice for those were called to fight in our of St. Michael’s Parish. Today we mark a Mass.; the Very Rev. Archpriest Yaroslav right wrongs. Isn’t it funny how those nation’s wars.” Nalysnyk, pastor of Christ the good works and acts of kindness King Ukrainian Catholic Church are the things we remember in Jamaica Plain, Mass., and dean throughout our lives?” of the Boston Deanery; the Rev. “From this perspective,” he con- Anthony Perkins, pastor of St. tinued, “I would ask you to think of Michael’s Ukrainian Orthodox and remember the parishioners and Church in Woonsocket; the Rev. pastors of this church, St Michael’s, Vasily Lickwar, pastor of the here in Woonsocket. With all the Dormition Orthodox Church of struggles that entail to begin a new America in Cumberland, R.I. and religious organization, you know two other Woonsocket pastors, that our founding parishioners the Rev. Edward St. Godard of loved their faith and their fellow Holy Family Catholic Church man.” and the Rev. Gerald F. Finnegan, “We can now look back and SJ, of St. Charles Borromeo appreciate that those who traveled Catholic Church, who had been to Woonsocket from their Ukrainian unable to attend the liturgy homeland – whether in the early because of commitments in their 1900s, following World War II, or own parishes. at any time during this parish’s Olga Santos, master of ceremo- 100-year history – were impacted nies, welcomed the 240 guests and by historical forces,” Mr. Kun con- then called on Bishop Chomnycky tinued. “Many things were beyond to pronounce the invocation. their control – such as war, eco- Following the prayer, Mr. Tkach, nomic hardship and even political parish trustee, made the toast and rule. However, these brave individ- the assembly responded with the uals took their lives into their own singing of the traditional “Mnohaya hands in trying to do, seek and Lita.” obtain what must have been John Kun, native son of St. unimaginable – the opportunity to Bishop Paul Chomnycky of Stamford, Conn., The church’s pastor, the Rev. Roman Golemba. Michael’s and current vice-presi- live, work and pray in freedom, to celebrates the liturgy. No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 15

Bohdan Komarynskyj Parishioners and guests in front of the church on the day of the parish’s centennial celebration.

“For those of us now who have lived them on for future generations, so that we However, within a few months of the new church in the Ukrainian style with three through the post-World War II period, Kun can look forward to our bicentennial jubilee first liturgy, a Ukrainian Catholic parish cupolas was begun at the cost of $62,000. It added, “we understand about justice being in 100 years.” was formed in Cumberland Hill, R.I. There was completed within a year and was conse- denied to people – both here in the United Following the remarks, the parish trustees were tensions within the group right from crated on September 24, 1924. When the States and in our ancestral homeland, and Msgr. Golemba presented Bishop the start, and there was also intense parish moved into the new edifice, the prop- Ukraine. We also know that through the Chomnycky with a small token of apprecia- prosyletization from the Russian Orthodox erties on West School Street were sold. Soviet period the Ukrainian Catholic Church tion. Live music was provided by Alexander Mission and in 1907 a portion of the par- However, soon after the completion of was an illegal underground Church in and Liliana Chudolij. Favors for all of the ish converted to Russian Orthodoxy and the church, parishioners were caught up Ukraine. That is why I believe Ukrainians participants were donated by Cathy and Paul took over the property in Cumberland Hill. in the controversies then facing the here held their Christian convictions even a Lalanne in memory of Joseph and Mary The Ukrainian Catholic portion of the par- Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United bit stronger, not only in Woonsocket but in Wasylean. ish moved the focus of its activities to States, and they also confronted questions so many communities in the diaspora. They At the conclusion of the formal program, Woonsocket, renting space in Lyceum Hall of orthodoxy and church jurisdictional understood and appreciated how precious it the Rev. Morris prayed the benediction. for regular services which began on issues. As in 1907 the parish split in two was to have the freedom of worship. They St. Michael’s Jubilee Committee was December 7 of that year. and after 12 years of legal battles the would not be defeated even by the evil force composed of the members of the Parish A few months later, in the spring of Rhode Island Supreme Court declared of communism.” Council and included Messrs. Lemieux and 1908, the Rev. Michael Struminsky was that St. Michael’s would remain under the “Our church members at St. Michael’s,” Tkach, Mrs. Santos, Dr. Michael Klufas, appointed the first permanent pastor of the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Catholic Mr. Kun said, “demonstrated, donated their Dmitry Wolansky and Cornel Osadsa. new, canonically established parish. In Church, while the second group formed time and energies, educated others, and January 1909 St. Michael’s was legally St. Michael’s Ukrainian Orthodox Parish stood up for a free and independent Ukraine *** incorporated as a religious organization in and constructed its own church in the the state of Rhode Island, boasting a mem- – at Rhode Island Heritage Days in Ukrainian settlers first came to immediate neighborhood. bership of some 600 families. In June Providence, at international events at Barry Woonsocket and the entire Blackstone The Rev. Basil Tremba was appointed 1909, the parish took out a mortgage of Field and by going to distant events, like the Valley, which stretches through a good por- pastor in 1932 and served for 17 years; he unveiling of the Taras Shevchenko $5,500 and purchased two buildings on was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Galysh, tion of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, in West School Street. One was converted Monument in Washington, D.C., in 1964, the mid-1890s. Most of them were young, who served for 18 years. The two priests and so many other countless activities into a church, while the other became the were able to restore stability in the parish and the overwhelming majority were single, rectory. In 1910 the Rev. Volodymyr through the years.” adventurous males. As with all the other and during the 35 years of their combined “Today America and Ukraine are better Dowhovych was appointed pastor by pastorates did much to deepen the spiritual Ukrainian settlements in eastern New Bishop Ortynsky and in 1911 he was suc- places for the tireless work of the parishio- England, people were drawn to the area by life of the parishioners. They also were ners of St Michael’s Church,” Mr. Kun ceed by the Rev. Vasyl Turula. responsible for the installation of a new the opportunity offered for work in the mills Father Turula was a young and energetic pointed out. “We have stood side by side and factories, particularly the textile, felt and iconostas, a new tabernacle, stained glass with fellow Ukrainians and Americans in priest and he served at St. Michael’s for nine windows and the decoration of the interior woolen mills and the leather factories. years. During his pastorate the parish pur- our faith, and through moral, personal and Following the lead of other settlers, the of St. Michael’s according to Ukrainian financial assistance. ‘In loving our neighbor chased land for a parish cemetery in church rubrics. early immigrants quickly recognized the Blackstone, Mass.; paid off the mortgage in as ourselves,’ we made both countries freer, need for a church serving their own needs They purchased land for a picnic grounds stronger, more humane and just.” 1914; and purchased a large lot of land on on Summer Street in Blackstone, Mass., and and customs. They organized themselves Blackstone Street for the site of a future, Speaking in Ukrainian, long time parish- and contacted the Ukrainian centers in New erected a covered pavilion there. They also ioner Irene Klufas then said, “When I first larger church, as well as an adjacent lot with bought another building on Blackstone York and Philadelphia for assistance, and in a house on it that would serve as the future came to Woonsocket more than 50 years Street for parish functions including parties the spring of 1903 the Rev. Teofan rectory. The parish grew rapidly, and ago, the church was full and you had to and social events. Obushkevych celebrated the first Ukrainian between 1911 and 1920 Father Turula bap- come early or you had to stand outside the The depression hit the Blackstone Valley Catholic liturgy in Woonsocket’s Precious tized 1,290 children. doors and follow the liturgy as best you hard and times were difficult. Many mills Blood Roman Catholic Church. At first, ser- After the Rev. Turula, the parish saw five could. I also remember that the church was went out of business, and many members of vices were sporadic and were performed by pastors in a single year. However, it contin- painted in a primitive fashion with many St. Michael’s were forced to relocate in circuit-riding Ukrainian Catholic priests. ued to grow, and in 1923 construction of the angels. Near each angel was what I thought search of work. The number of parishioners was its name. It was only some years later began a long and slow decline and was only that I found out that the names were those of slightly offset by a number of new Ukrainian the benefactors who had paid for the paint- families who came into the area at the end ings.” of World War II. “I also remember the excitement in the However, parishioners of St. Michael’s parish in the late 1950s when it was decided remained active, and their ties with Ukraine to redo the interior of the church in proper and Ukrainian culture and tradition remained Ukrainian Byzantine fashion and the noted strong. Over the years there were many artists Sviatoslav Hordynsky and Serhiy good times, including activities with the Lytvynenko were engaged to do the work,” Holy Name Society, the Women’s Sodality Mrs. Klufas said. “I can still hear the choir and the altar boys. There were bazaars, under the direction of Bohdan Lechman and church dinners, summer clambakes, trips to I can recall the many joyful and sad events Stamford, Conn., and to Sloatsburg, N.Y., St celebrated at the church.” Nicholas parties, Christmas and Easter gath- “However, time, the disappearance of the erings. mills and the factories, and assimilation In 1978 the Rev. Mitred Archpriest John have all taken their toll,” she pointed out, Mowatt was named pastor and served for 10 “and St. Michael’s has changed with them. years and in 1997 the Rev. Golemba was On the occasion of this centennial jubilee appointed by Bishop Basil Losten and has we need to thank God for all of the blessings served for the past 11 years. that we have received and humbly ask that In its 100-year history St. Michael’s has He continue to help us maintain our church At the jubilee dinner (from left) are: Bishop Paul Chomnycky, the Rev. Roman had 27 pastors; five of them served for a and our traditions and enable to us to hand Golemba, and parish trustees John Tkach and John Lemieux. total of 65 years. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 No. 50 No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 17 “East Village Afternoon” exhibit highlights Ukrainian presence in NYC NEW YORK – The recent exhibit “East ‘East Village Afternoon.’ ” Taras Shevchenko Place as it was very Mr. Kushnir has been a plein air painter Village Afternoon,” featuring paintings by Ms. Taylor’s paintings are “floral and recently, before the glass went up on the for over 25 years, and has exhibited in gal- Andrei Kushnir and Michele Martin Taylor, foggy,” reminiscent of Pierre Bonnard, and Cooper Union Hive. It’s a familiar New leries and museums throughout the United included several works highlighting the Mr. Kushnir’s works in this exhibit “conjure York sight: the half-constructed skeleton of States. He is a member of the Salmagundi Ukrainian presence in that part of New York the remnants of our lost city,” wrote blogger another box, the blue walls, the day-glo Club (New York City), the Washington City. Jeremiah Moss. safety fencing. It looks as if something alien Society of Landscape Painters, and the The blog “Jeremiah’s Vanishing New Mr. Kushnir’s small paintings, Mr. Moss has landed among the startled masonry, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society. York,” which describes itself as “a bitterly continued, “feature neighborhood store- warning of more to come.” (http://vanish- Ms. Taylor has her own unique post- nostalgic look at a city in the process of fronts – Moishe’s Bakery, Saifee Hardware, ingnewyork.blogspot.com/2008/09/east-vil- impressionistic style that includes garden going extinct,” on September 30 wrote of Lanza’s. I was most taken by his capturing lage-afternoon.html.). landscape, interiors and figures. More the exhibit: “… on East Sixth Street, in the of the East Village in its transition from an The exhibit was on view at the American than 1,200 of her original works are twin shadows of the Cooper Square Hotel accessible community of low-rise tenements Painting gallery, 206 E. Sixth St., New York, found in public and private collections and the Cooper Union ‘Hive,’ the little to a glass-towered party destination for the through November 2. throughout the world. American Painting gallery goes local, fea- affluent.” turing the work of artists Andrei Kushnir Citing the painting “Past, Present, and Michele Martin Taylor in a show called Future,” the blogger notes that it “shows

“St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church” (oil on panel) by Andrei Kushnir. “Surma Books” (oil on panel) by Andrei Kushnir.

“Past, Present, Future” (oil on panel) by Andrei Kushnir shows Taras Shevchenko Place, with the construction of the new Cooper Union building (future) on the left, McSorley’s Ale House (past) in center, and St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church and School (present) on the right. “Lunch at Veselka Restaurant” (oil on canvas) by Michele Martin Taylor. 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 No. 50

of Ukraine’s membership in the European NEWSBRIEFS Union, noted the press service of Ukraine’s (Continued from page 2) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry will be a NATO member after all, com- (MFA). The ministry said on December 4 mented Borys Tarasyuk, chairman of the that it also expects final approval of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Euro- Eastern Partnership by EU member-states integration, at a roundtable held at the offic- to take into account Ukraine’s approach. In es of Ukrinform on the topic “Ukraine- general, the ministry welcomed this project NATO: What Next?” Mr. Tarasyuk said the initiated by Poland and Sweden aimed at latest NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in creating an important Eastern European Brussels continued the process launched in dimension in the external policy of the April in Bucharest. “The decision to start a European Union. Moreover, the MFA wel- new format of relations, namely elaboration comed the fact that the European of the Annual National Program Ukraine- Commission had taken into consideration NATO, and the intention to amend the fun- Ukraine’s approach to the major goal of the damental document regulating our relations, Eastern Partnership, which foresees support namely the Charter on a Distinctive for effective political association and eco- CLACLASSSSIFIEDIFIEDSS Partnership between the North Atlantic nomic integration between the EU and its Treaty Organization and Ukraine, gives partner-states. The ministry also hailed the TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL MARIA OSCISLAWSKI (973) 292-9800 x 3040 grounds to say that Ukraine continues the project’s policy based on a differentiated OR E-MAIL [email protected] course toward achieving NATO member- approach with each partner and dedicated to ship,” Mr. Tarasyuk said. According to Mr. supporting each individual country to prog- Tarasyuk, a transfer to the format of Annual ress in its own way and at its own speed. SERVICES National Program de facto means that “Such a flexible approach is a guarantee of Ukraine will keep on working with the alli- turning the future policy of the EU into a ance in the MAP format, as such programs really effective mechanism, as a counterbal- are envisaged by the NATO Membership ance to the conceptually incomplete Action Plan. Mr. Tarasyuk also commented European Neighborhood Policy,” read the on Russia’s stance on not extending the MFA’s statement. The European Union has MAP to Ukraine: “Someone in Russia is proposed the Eastern Partnership project to trying to interpret this as a victory of this six countries: Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, country. This is an attempt at wishful think- Azerbaijan, Armenia and Belarus. ing.” Vadym Prystaiko, deputy director of (Ukrinform) PROFESSIONALS the NATO Department at Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, added that Nemyria on Eastern Partnership excessive politicization of the MAP issue KYIV – The Eastern Partnership pro- became an obstacle on the Ukraine’s path gram “might foster Ukraine’s integration towards the alliance. He noted, however, with the European Union,” Vice Prime that Ukraine has gotten a key signal from Minister Hryhorii Nemyria said on the alliance: “there is a consensus on December 8 following a meeting with Ukraine’s accession.” Thus, Mr. Prystaiko said, Ukraine has gained an accelerated Hans-Gert Pottering, the president of the mechanism to help it join NATO. European Parliament. “We believe that this (Ukrinform) initiative and this policy, given that relevant institutional and financial support is provid- MFA comments on Eastern Partnership ed, will allow the creation of new opportu- GEORGE B. KORDUBA nities for those EU neighboring countries KYIV – Ukraine is ready to support the Counsellor at Law that really wish to become EU members in Eastern Partnership program suggested by the future,” Mr. Nemyria noted. The official Emphasis on Real Estate, Wills, Trusts and Elder Law the European Union if this program does Ward Witty Drive, P.O. Box 249 not become an alternative to the prospects (Continued on page 19) MONTVILLE, NJ 07045 Hours by Appointment Tel.: (973) 335-4555

Turning the pages... (Continued from page 6) succeeded by Ms. Tymoshenko. Minister of Education Ivan Vakarchuk, who was born in Moldova, served as rector of the Ivan Franko State University in Lviv since 1990. Minister of Emergency Situations Volodymyr Shandra, from the Ternopil Oblast, is a nuclear engineer and served in the same capacity under the first Tymoshenko gov- ernment. Minister of Environmental Defense Heorhii Filipchuk, from the Chernihiv Oblast, served as chair of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc’s (YTB) Vinnytsia headquarters. Minister of Family, Youth and Sports Yurii Pavlenko, from Kyiv, served in the same post in the first Tymoshenko government and is a parent of a godchild to Mr. Yushchenko. MERCHANDISE Minister of Fuel and Energy Yurii Prodan, who was born in the Russian Federation, was a veteran of Ukraine’s energy industry and advised Mr. Yushchenko during his presidency. Minister of Health Vasyl Kniazevych, from the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, was a per- sonal physician to the president. One-on-One Minister of Industrial Policy Volodymyr Novytskyi, from the Khmelnytskyi Oblast, PSAT / SAT / ACT Tutoring was general director of the International Center of Economic Development in Ukraine Foundation for Learning and served as an assistant industrial minister since 1992. Locations in Harding & Randolph Minister of Justice Mykola Onischuk, from the Zhytomyr Oblast, was an attorney 973-895-1774 who parted ways with Anatolii Kinakh after the latter abandoned the opposition to become economy minister in the Yanukovych government. Minister of Labor and Social Policy Liudmyla Denysova, who was born in the FOR SALE Russian Federation, was the only woman in the Cabinet aside from Ms. Tymoshenko. Ms. Denysova served as finance minister in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. For Sale - 1 Family residence (close to Soyuzivka) Minister of Regional Development and Construction Vasyl Kuibida, who was born one level ranch, 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 1144 sq ft, in the Russian Federation, served as mayor of Lviv from 1997 to 2002 and is a leader full finished basement, oil heat, 2 decks of the People’s Rukh of Ukraine. and attached garage on 1 manicured acre. Minister of Transport and Communications Yosyp Vinskyi, from the Kmelnytskyi Excellent condition, private. Asking $245,000 Olga – Tel (845) 742-4297 – Fax (845) 566-1826 Oblast, abandoned the Socialist Party of Ukraine when Oleksander Moroz joined the Russian-oriented Anti-Crisis Coalition in 2006. “I am happy that the democratic forces were able to return to government to install Cemetery Crypt For Sale order in the country,” Ms. Tymoshenko told a press conference, adding “the govern- Venice Memorial Gardens, Venice, FL ment appointed today is highly professional and consists of experienced people who Ukrainian Section, Top Level don’t have a conflict between business interests and their governing tasks.”

Please call Irene Source: “New Cabinet of Ministers is decidedly pro-Western,” by Zenon Zawada, 713.789.0239 The Ukrainian Weekly, December 23, 2007. No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 19

1932-1933 in Ukraine. Documents and NEWSBRIEFS Materials” was published in English and (Continued from page 18) French and presented at the Ukrainian recalled that the summit meeting of heads House. The books include documents and of state and government of Eastern materials revealing the reasons, process, Partnership member-states and European scale and consequences of the Holodomor, Union member-states is supposed to take documents of the Communist Party and place in 2009, to be followed by the formal various organs of Soviet authority on the implementation of the program. The Eastern local, republic and all-union levels. The Partnership program will be considered at book also includes the correspondence of the European Union summit that is to be Joseph Stalin, Lazar Kaganovich, held in Brussels. (Ukrinform) Viacheslav Molotov, Stanislav Kosior and other leaders of the Soviet Union in the Russian Orthodox patriarch dies 1930s. According to Ukrainian Acting First KYIV – Patriarch of Moscow and All Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Yurii Russia Alexei II, the head of Russia’s Kostenko, “These books are unique due to Orthodox Church, died on December 5 at the selection of facts and historical materi- the age of 79, announced Vladimir als. They prove that the Holodomor was a Vigilyansky, spokesman for the Moscow planned genocide of the Ukrainian people.” Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox The author of the books, doctor of historical Church. Alexei II was the 16th patriarch of sciences Ruslan Piroh, noted that these Moscow and Russia and the primate of the works reveal the psychology and mentality Russian Orthodox Church. He was born as of Stalin’s leadership, which paved the way Alexei Ridiger in Tallinn, Estonia, to the for the Holodomor. (Ukrinform) family of Russian emigrants; he is a descen- dant of the German Baltic noble family of 13,000 illegal migrants caught in 2008 von Rudiger, a branch of which adopted Orthodoxy in the 18th century. In 1990 KYIV – In the course of the first 10 Alexei was chosen to become the new patri- months of 2008, Ukraine detected 13,000 arch of the Russian Orthodox Church. He is illegal migrants, repatriated over 2,000 for- the author of more than 450 theological and eigners via court verdicts, and detained 90 church-historical articles, speeches and more groups of illegal migrants numbering works. Ukraine’s President Viktor 641 men in total, said Mykhailo Andrienko, Yushchenko extended condolences on the head of the Internal Affairs Ministry’s death of Patriarch Alexei II. “A man who department charged with fighting human was a spiritual authority for millions of trafficking. He said that 128 criminal cases Orthodox laity has left the mortal life,” the were opened pursuant to Article 332 of the condolences read. The Ukrainian president Criminal Code (illegal trafficking of people stressed that the multi-faceted activity of across the state border of Ukraine). Criminal Patriarch Alexei II significantly influenced proceedings were instituted against 37 the religious revival in post-Soviet countries human trafficking managers and 47 accom- and helped society return to its Christian plices (compared to 22 and 42, respectively, origins. “Having visited Ukraine, Alexei II over the same 10-month period in 2007). inspired our compatriots with his deep (Ukrinform) belief… A cherished memory of the apos- tolic patriarch will remain in our hearts for- Odesa police to speak English ever. Let the Lord lay his soul to rest,” the KYIV – The administration of the president noted. (Ukrinform) Internal Affairs Ministry of Ukraine in the Holodomor monograph in Croatian Odesa region is planning to teach the English language to municipal police offi- KYIV – A book titled “Genocide of the cers in order to improve security during the Totalitarian Regime in Ukraine 1932-1933. 2012 European Football Championship, the Holodomor” was presented on November local police department head, Dmytro 21 in Zagreb, according to the Ukrainian Kucherenko, said on November 21. He diplomatic mission in Croatia. The noted that the training would proceed on the 300-page monograph, which appeared basis of the Odesa University of Internal thanks to the joint efforts of the Ukrainian Embassy in Croatia, the Community of Affairs. The university says special com- Ukrainian-Croatian Cooperation Khorus, puter programs will help the policemen the Ukrainian studies department of Zagreb learn enough English so that they will be University and the Croatian Helsinki Group, able to communicate with foreign visitors includes translations of documents, research to the city. (Ukrinform) by leading Ukrainian and foreign historians, Ukraine second at Junior Eurovision articles and speeches of famous political and public figures, and accounts by wit- KYIV – Ukraine’s singer Viktoria Petryk nesses of the Famine-Genocide. Among the took second place at the Junior Eurovision authors of the book are: Croatian Helsinki Song Contest – Lemesos 2008, held in Group Chair Ivo Banac, Kateryna Cyprus in late November. She sang “A Yushchenko, Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, Sailor” and earned 116 points. Georgia’s Vasyl Danylenko, Dmytro Soloviy, Robert Bzikibi won the contest with their song Conquest, Volodymyr Serhiychuk, Vasyl “Bzz...!” and received 154 points, while Barka, Ulas Samchuk, Vasylii Grossman, Lithuanian singer Egle Jurgaityte was in James Mace, Stanislav Kulchytskyi, Andrea third with 103 points. Participating in the Graziozi, Allan Bessanson and Evhen contest were junior artists from 15 coun- Paschenko. The book was presented to rep- tries. (Ukrinform). resentatives of the Croatian public and authorities, the Ukrainian community and Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Russia members of diplomatic corps accredited in Zagreb. Ukraine’s Ambassador to Croatia KYIV – According to the results of a Markiyan Lubkivskyi noted that the appear- social study conducted by the FOM- ance of the book is an extraordinary event Ukraine public opinion fund, 70.9 percent and a significant contribution to distribution of the Ukrainians have a positive attitude of information about the greatest tragedy of toward Russia. In addition, the study found Ukrainian people. He thanked everyone that 17.1 percent of Ukrainians said they who participated in its publication for their were indifferent to Russia, 9.8 percent had a “assistance in reconstructing the complicat- negative attitude to it, and 2.4 percent found ed mosaic of Ukrainian national memory it difficult to answer the question. In and consciousness.” Mr. Lubkivskyi also October 68.6 percent of the people polled expressed hope that the Croatian Parliament by FOM-Ukraine said they viewed Russia would soon recognize the Holodomor. positively. The study was conducted on (Ukrinform) November 12-24 among 2,000 respondents Holodomor book in French, Ukrainian in 160 population centers; the statistical sampling error was less than 2.2 percent. KYIV – A book titled “Holodomor (Ukrinform). 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 No. 50

In gratitude

On April 30, 2007, our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Eugene Jarosewich, passed away unexpectedly. His memory has been graciously honored and our family has received much solace from our community, for which we are deeply grateful.

The family is particularly indebted to Rev. Nestor Iwasiw, Rev. Mark Morozowich, Rev. Taras Lonchyna, Rev. Robert Hitchens, and Rev. Deacon Teophil Staruch for their many hours of thoughtful conversation and consolation, and for officiating at the parastas, the funeral and liturgies in memory of Eugene.

We are grateful for the moving letters of tribute, the numerous cards and telephone calls offering condolences and words of support, the beautiful flowers, the liturgies in his memory, the many gifts of kindness and generous contributions to causes he supported, among them the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family in Washington, D.C., the Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation, the US-Ukraine Foundation and St. Rita’s School in Solon Ohio. A sum of $17,525 was collected for these causes. Contributions to the UCNS of the Holy Family, a sum of $9,950, directly supported the renovation of the bell tower, which was completed in fall 2007. Contributions to the UCEF, a sum of $6,545, at the request of the family that the funds be used to support understanding between the Ukrainian Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholics in Ukraine, went towards a scholarship fund for Ukrainian Orthodox students from Eastern Ukraine to study at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, and supported the publication of a spring 2008 issue of Soprychastia, a journal of the university’s Institute for Ecumenical Studies.

We thank the staff of the Ukrainian National Association and both publications, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly for their kind words, financial contributions and sup- port. We were touched profoundly by the reflections about “pan Evhen” of columnists Taras Szmagala Jr. and Khristina Lew in The Ukrainian Weekly in their columns “Diamonds to Dust”.

There are not enough words to express the gratitude we feel for the generosity and excellent sense of humor shown our family by the members of the Plastoviy kurin Burlaky, as well as their affection for Genio Granata.

We deeply appreciate the continued professional recognition and support from Eugene’s colleagues at the Department of Mineral Sciences at the Smithsonian Institute, and most recently, the efforts of Ed Vicenzi and Greg Meeker and their colleagues from the Microbeam Analysis Society in organizing a memorial symposium “Microbeam Analysis of Terrestrial and Planetary Sciences” in honor of Eugene Jarosewich at the Society’s annual conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico in August 2008.

We are sure that the support and love shown Eugene and his family would have left him dumbfounded, and, as is his family, deeply humbled. In particular, we thank:

Christina Andrushkiw • Vera and Bohdan Andrushkiw • Lubomyr and Nadia Babiak • Leonid and Maria Babich • Benjamin and Halle Barnett • Daniel and Tetiana Bazarko • Marta and Nestor Bazarko • Andrew and Natalie Bej • Ulana Bilinski • Teresa Ben • Lesia and Andrew Bihun • Lida Bihun Forbes and Doug Forbes • Andrew and Diane Bihun • Yaroslav Bihun, and Ada Kulyk • Ulana Bihun Van Vleet and Justin Van Vleet • Lidia and Orest Bilous • Marta Bohachevsky-Chomiak, and Rostyslav Chomiak • Halyna Boretsky • Halyna Breslawec Levine and Arthur Levine • Viacheslav Briukhovetsky (National Univeristy Kyiv Mohyla Academy) • Chrystia Brodyn • Cathe Brown • Tom Bukowski (The Knights of Columbus) • Walter and Zora Camp • Sophia Caryk • Theresa Caryk • Elizabeth Catlos • Lida and Borys Chabursky • Irena Chalupa and Askold Krushelnycky • Tom Chase • Hanja Cherniak • Children of Chornobyl Relief and Development Fund (Nadia and Zenon Matkiwsky; Tanya Vena, Valerie Burachinsky, Alexa Milanytch) • Roy and Grace Clarke • Margaret Colley • James and Ingrid Collins • Melissa and David Cooms • Laryssa Courtney • Brad Crown and Jim Doussard • Luba and Eugene Czernobil • Orysia and Orko Dackiw • Alex Daly • Tatiana Demchuk • Yuri and Irene Deychakiwsky • Orest Deychakiwsky • Donald and Pat Diggs • Elyssa and Jeff DiRenzo • Olenka and Jurij Dobczansky • Robert and Marya Dodd • Judith Doyle • Ananda Dube • Olha Dudiak • Nadia Duik • Jaroslav Dutkewych and Bohdanna Urbanovych • Marta Dyczok • Donna Dykyj • Bohdana Dzuban • Marta Farion and Ihor Wyslotsky (Kyiv Mohyla Foundation) • Sarah Farnsworth and Alex Shepl • Natalia Feduschak • Oresta Fedyniak • Yuri and Chrystyna Ferencevych • Richard Fiske • Becky Fredriksson • Martha and Bill Freels • Bevan French and Mary Hill • Robert and Lois Fudali • Bohdan and Myroslava Futey • Mykola and Yaroslava Francuzenko • Robert Garfinkle • Tamara Gallo Olexy and Mark Olexy • Ihor and Natalie Gawdiak • Bohdana Geleta • Roman and Anna Golash • Joseph and Barbara Goldstein • Leslie and Wayne Good • Yakov and Sophia Gottesman • Kenneth and Iryna Graves • Clint and Kate Greenleaf • Tricia and Gerhardt Grieb • Jeffrey Grossman • Rev. Borys Gudziak • Roma and Andrew Hadzewycz • Adrian and Marta Halarewicz • Lee and Andrij Halarewicz • Areta Halibey • Myron and Lidia Harwanko • Roman and Maria Hawryliak • Ihor and Roma Hayda • Ann Himchak • Orest and Roma Hladky • Boris and Ulana Hlynsky • Bohdana and Wolodymyr Hnatkowsky • John Holder • Hanlon Holder St. Clair • Kay Holder • Robert Holder • Tara Holder • James and Adrienne Hollis • Walter and Dorota Honcharyk • Terry and Ann Hoover • Blair Howard • Christine Hromockyj • Kelly and Evan Humphreys • Daria and Mark Jakubowycz • Christine Jarosewich Schwartz • Myron Jarosewich, Jr. • Myron and Daria Jarosewich • Marijka Jurach and Vitalij Garber • Marta and Orest Kebalo • Levko and Ulana Kamenetski • Adrian and Sonia Karmazyn • Elizabeth and Michael Kawac • George Kiebuzinski and Zhdanna Skalsky • Katherine Kilduff • Bee Kimmel • Eugene Klymko • Roman and Luba Knysh • Anatole and Luba Kolomayets • Marta Kolomayets and Danylo Yanevsky • Mykola and Oksana Koropeckyj • Irene Kost • Natalie Kouzmina • Michael Kowalysko • Bohdan and Marta Kowcz • Petro and Sonia Kowcz • Roman and Oksana Kowcz • Taras and Marika Kowcz • Oksana and Taras Kozbur • Marta Kozbur • Oksana Kraus • Roman and Tamara Kraus • Aniza Kraus • Martha Kraus • Taras and Tamara Kravec • Jeffrey Kristick • Marta and Jan Krzywucki • Vladimir and Natalia Kryzhanovski • Ilko Kucheriv • Andrij Kudla Wynnyckyj • Yaropolk and Marta Kulchyckyj • Irene and George Kupchynsky • Gero Kurat • John Kurey • Myron Kuropas, Sr. • Larysa Kurylas and Steve Lann • Olha Kurylas • Oles and Irene Kuzma • Chrystyna Kuzmowych • Ksenia Kuzmych • Motria Kuzycz • Orest Kyzyk • Roman Kyzyk • Marsha Lea and Steve Morrison • Bohdan Lechman • Burt and Karen Leete • Gail and Robert Leventhal • Oksana and Wasyl Lew • Khristina Lew and Adrian Gawdiak • Roman and Tania Lewyckyj • Maria Lishchak • Natalia Lonchyna • Irena Lonchyna • Vasyl and Ludmilla Lopukh • Bob Lord • Deborah and Glenn MacPherson • Ihor and Diane Makarushka • Roman Makarushka • Olena Makarushka-Kolodiy and Oleh Kolodiy • Ryna Beth Marinenko • Paul and Emilia Marushka • Olya and Ihor Masnyk • Brian Mason • Ihor and Helen Matwyshyn • William and Judy Melson • Laurie McLeary • Nadia and Robert McConnell • Tim McCoy • Diane and Scott McKay • Marylin and Ken Meek • Adrianna Melnyk • Jon and Mary Moon • Fredrick Mosher and Alice Alexander • Bruce and Eileen Mulno • Mary Mycio • George and Oksana Nesterczuk • Rachel and Harold Nichols • Mark and Kathy Niekrasz • Orysia Niekrasz • Rosalie and Richard Norair • Stephen Olynyk • Oresta and Andre Olexy • Edward Olsen • Lori Ondusko • Charles and Eugenia Osgood • Juliana Osinchuk • Christine and Orest Paclawskyj • Adia Panchysyn • Jaroslava and Jaroslav Panchuk • Peter and Levka Pankow • Steve Pankow • Kwitoslava and Bohdan Paschyn • Allen Payne • Larysa and Dmytro Pencak • Renny Perdue and Michael LeDonne • Marta Pereyma • Matthew Petra • Roman Petra • Anya and Jurij Petrenko • Adrian Pidulski • Plast: kurin Pershi Stezhi • Plast: Vataha Burlakiv • Howard Plotkin • Serge and Tania Polishcuk • Bohdana Popel • Marta Popovich • Bohdan Popovych • Irena Popovych • Jeffrey Post • Jeff and Kelly Potter • Alexander and Anna Pryshlak • Ishia Pryshlak • Anna Pyszczymuka • Christine and Michael Pyszczymuka • Taras and Olha Pyszczymuka • Christine and Jeremy Rakowsky • Lesia and George Rakowsky • Josephine Ricks and Jeffrey Clark • David Rigsby • Malcolm and Daphne Ross • Dorene and Alan Rubin • Maria Rudenska-Silver and Steve Silver • Ksenia Salewycz • Daria Samotulka • Anna Samutyn • Vira Semenenko • Marika and Roman Serbyn • Walter and Marilyn Sharko • Adrian Shepelavey and Jude Szypa • Christina Shepelavey • Anna Shepelavey • Nadia and Myroslav Shmigel • Eugene and Marta Shmorhun • Inga Shmorhun • Sandy Silverman and Robin Alvarado • Alexander and Dada Sloniewski • Motria and Roman Sloniewski • Kateryna Sloniewski Ntep and Armand Ntep • Marika and Orest Slupchynskyj • Natalie Sluzar • Richard Smith • Neonila Sochan • Andrew and Oksana Sorokowski • Sorena Sorenson • Kathryn Sos-Hayda, and Roman Hayda • Renata Sos • Ulana and John Sos • Sarah Speare and Michael Brennan • Irena Stadnyk • Teophil and Arunia Staruch • Irena and Mykola Stawnychy • Daria Stec • Maria and Myroslaw Stec • Ethel and Larry Stewart • Roksolana Stojko-Lozynskyj • Susan and Paul Strand • Alex and Lisa Stratienko • Frank Sysyn • Hattie Sysyn • Taras Szmagala Jr. and Helen Jarem • Taras and Katherine Szmagala Sr. • Bob and Mera Talinovski • Tall Timbers Citizen’s Association • Sofia Taranova • Yaroslav Tashuk • Petro Teluk • Ira Teluk • Adriana Terleckyj • Ihor and Olenka Terleckyj • Nestor Terleckyj • Tania Terleckyj • Yuri and Patricia Terleckyj • Mark and Christine Terpylak • Oksana Terpylak • James and Michelle Terry • The Washington Group • Twyla Thomas and Jeff Taylor • Tatiana and Scott Thompson • Helene Toporowych • Arkadij and Yulia Tsapun • Tania Tsapun • Luba Turchyn • Martha Turczyn • Luba and Roman Turkevych • Ellen Turnue • Tamara and Stephan Tymkiw • Ukrainian National Association, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly staff: (Roma Hadzewycz, Chrystyna Ferencevych, Lev Khmelkovskiy, Maria Oscislawski, Alexandra Khmelkovskiy, Oksana Stanko, Stefko Woch, Joe Banach, Nina Bilchyk, Ida Fox, Lida Ciapka, Petro Chasto, Olenka Pylypchuk, Ihor Pylypchuk, Daria Malinowski, Walter Honcharyk, Stephan Welhasch, Matthew Dubas, Oksana Trytiak, Nadia Solobay, Valenyna Kaploun, Maria Drych, Larysa Oprysko, Awilda Rolon, Maria Pendzola) • Ukrainian National Association Executive Committee (Stefan Kacharaj, Christine Kozak, Roma Lisovych) • UNWLA, Branch 75 • UNWLA Branch 78 • Edward Vicenzi • Ihor and Tamara Vitkovitski • Marta and Ihor Voyevidka • Dmytro and Oksana Wesolowskyj • Jenny and Steve Wenande • Georgia and Barne Wheeler • Mark and Donna Wilkerson • Frank Wlotzka • Maria and Ivan Wolonec • Lubomyra Woronewych, and Daniel Greenberg • Andrij Woynarowsky • Tanya Woynarowsky • Roxolana and Michael Yaromovych • Paul Yarrish • Tatiana Yasinsky • Barbara and Joseph Yuhas • Irene Zabytko • Modest and Natalia Zacharczenko • Yuri and Anna Zelinsky • Raisa Zelinsky • Jaroslava Zelinsky Johnson and Weldon Johnson • Marta Zielyk • Oleh and Vera Zwadiuk • Oksana Zwadiuk • Christine Zynjuk

We extend our thanks and gratitude to all.

Wife, Lydia Daughter, Irene with husband Aleksandr Burakovskiy Daughter, Martha with husband Stephen Holder Son, Andrew with wife Tania and sons Nicholas, Daniel and Timothy No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 21

for a day to participate in the unveiling of the collapse of communism brought about World War II. Western Ukraine, which in Holodomor is... the new memorial complex in the capital. a restoration of a previous independence. 1933 was not part of the USSR, is not sur- But in Ukraine, the Ukrainian nation – as prisingly the exception. (Continued from page 1) Death of a national identity Together these three points in a community possessing a clear sense of What does it mean to be Ukrainian Ukraine’s capital create a kind of historic And yet large swathes of Ukraine its identity, history and cultural values – today? What is Ukraine? What is the Bermuda Triangle into which things dis- remain deeply ambivalent about the remained a national minority in its own Ukrainian idea? Former President Leonid appear and people forget. Lenin gave Famine. Eastern and southeastern Ukraine country even after independence. The Kuchma at one time created quite an angry birth to the people who created the – where the Famine took its greatest toll damage from the Soviet legacy was such backlash by stating that the Ukrainian idea Famine; luxury goods should make every- – even today, when the facts about the that Ukrainians lacked a broad consensus had not worked in Ukraine. If a country one forget the deprivations of the Soviet Famine are widely publicized and acces- concerning their future. All that remained called Ukraine endlessly convenes confer- past and the pain of the Famine. But sible, has the fewest memorials. The first were the surviving structures of Soviet ences on self-identity, if pundits pontificate today almost 50 million Ukrainians some- attempts to commemorate the victims Ukraine. The country was no longer a ad nauseum on “project Ukraine,” if how remain held hostage by one, two, or took place very far away from Ukraine in Ukrainian Soviet republic, but it was also Ukrainians themselves can’t define their all three of these points of reference. fact; Canadian Ukrainians erected the not a Ukrainian Ukraine, in the sense in identity or their values, then one can safely Ukraine’s current president, Viktor first Famine memorial in 1989 in which Poland is Polish or the Czech admit that the country has something of an Yushchenko, has made remembering the Edmonton. Republic is Czech. identity crisis. Famine a cornerstone of his presidency. In The late historian James Mace, who The orchestrated Famine wiped out Is it important to have the world 2006, the Parliament passed a law recog- joined the Famine project at the Harvard millions of nationally conscious acknowledge the Ukrainian Famine as an nizing the Famine as an act of genocide Ukrainian Research Institute and collected Ukrainians. Whether or not one accepts act of genocide? For the Ukrainian state, against the Ukrainian people. Mr. material for Robert Conquest’s seminal that the Famine was genocide, there is lit- yes. But will such recognition help the Yushchenko went to great lengths to work “The Harvest of Sorrow,” called tle doubt that it was targeted against country itself? Will it ease the effects of ensure that this year’s 75th anniversary of Ukraine a post-genocidal society. Ukrainian nationalism, against Ukrainian- the Famine trauma? Will it steer the Famine be commemorated on a nation- Becoming a Famine expert in his own ness. Mykola Khvyliovy, one of the most Ukrainian society onto a path of self- al level. Foreign leaders participated in the right, Dr. Mace made Ukraine his adopted popular and talented writers of the period awareness? Will it compel the eastern commemorations; conferences were held; homeland. He believed that what and a committed Communist, shot him- Ukrainian citizen, who is descended from memorials unveiled, candles lit and the Ukrainians call Holodomor (murder by self in helpless protest. The creative the ethnic Russians who were resettled names of the dead remembered. hunger), maimed Ukraine to such an extent engine of a people was destroyed, slow- into the towns and villages emptied by In a particularly moving sign of solem- that it created a discontinuity in the normal ing down and distorting nation building the Famine, feel a connection to this nity, the president and the prime minister development of the Ukrainian people. for decades. The Soviet regime prevented country? Will it give the inhabitants of even suspended their endless bickering In the former Warsaw Pact countries, families and individuals from processing the more than 13,000 towns and villages both personal and national grief. For more who died in 1932-33 a voice and a name? than 50 years, Ukraine could not address And, most importantly, will today’s this trauma openly. diverse Ukrainians, who aren’t particular- 1994. He climbed his way into the Ukrainian society, however, was soon ly eager to listen to the stories of their Lytvyn returns... Presidential Administration, serving between to experience new shocks: the purges of painful past, hear those voices? (Continued from page 1) 1999 and 2002, when Mr. Kuchma was sus- 1937-1938, war, Nazi occupation and the It seems to me that James Mace was in place for at least five more months. pected of ordering the murder of journalist Holocaust, Soviet reconquest and the on to something. The Famine is not an Ms. Tymoshenko can replace ministers Heorhii Gongadze. 1946-1947 famine. The scars of the only an event in Ukraine’s past – it is an during that time, and she indicated that she A voice believed to be Mr. Lytvyn’s was Holodomor are overlaid by those of these event in its present and its future. would consider replacing Economy Minister recorded on the Melnychenko tapes, widely other tragedies. Yet, under the consequenc- Bohdan Danylyshyn and Finance Minister believed to prove the Kuchma government’s es of these repeated blows, traces of the Copyright 2008, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted Viktor Pynzenyk, possible scapegoats for alleged involvement. 1932-1933 Famine are unmistakable. with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ When the voice similar to Mr. Kuchma’s the global financial crisis. Without taking it into account, for instance, Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, said he is considering suing Gongadze for Mr. Lytvyn’s election, and the subsequent it is impossible to account for the much Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org. his articles, as his lawyers had advised him, coalition talks, did nothing to relieve the weaker – compared to what happened in Link: http://www.rferl.org/content/ the voice similar to Mr. Lytvyn’s said, “No, ongoing battle between Ms. Tymoshenko’s 1914-1922 – Ukrainian national move- Holodomor_Is_Ukraines_NeverEnding_ we don’t need to do that.” government and the Presidential Secretariat. ment that arose in the great upheaval of Trauma/1357818.html. “I know what to do with Heorhii At the December 11 parliamentary ses- Gongadze,” the voice similar to Mr. sion, the Tymoshenko Bloc submitted legis- Lytvyn’s said. “Allow [Minister of Internal lation to replace the current State Property Affairs] Yurii Kravchenko to visit me.” Mr. Now at a special price! Fund Chair, Valentyna Semeniuk- Kravchenko is widely believed to have Samsonenko, who is favored by the arranged for police officers to murder Presidential Secretariat, with Andrii Portnov, Gongadze. a Tymoshenko Bloc deputy and business During the Orange Revolution Mr. partner to Viktor Medvedchuk. Lytvyn played a careful, neutral role as Rada The influential State Property Fund, chair, cutting deals with the Orange forces which determines what state enterprises will when he noticed the tide turning in their be privatized and to whom, was a key battle- favor. ground in the war for control of government Since then, he has retooled his political between Mr. Yushchenko and Ms. image as a strict centrist who refuses to get Tymoshenko. enmeshed in the battle between the U.S. and Ms. Tymoshenko also called on Russia for influence in Ukraine, thus garner- Parliament to vote to dismiss Volodymyr ing his strongest support in central Ukrainian The two-volume “Ukraine: A Concise Encyclopedia,” Stelmakh, chair of the National Bank of oblasts, where residents hold similar views. an essential reference work published Ukraine, alleging corruption and misman- Politicial observers have said bribes for agement. votes in those regions also helped his politi- for the Ukrainian National Association In response, Mr. Yushchenko called on cal bloc return to Parliament in the his opponents not to politicize the National September 2007 election. by the University of Toronto Press. Bank and its leadership. Mr. Lytvyn’s success will depend on Mr. Lytvyn’s election marks the second whether he is able to maintain his image as a Volume I (1963): General Information; Physical Geography and time a confidante of former President mediator of Ukraine’s battling political fac- Natural History; Population; Ethnography; Language; History; Leonid Kuchma joined forces with Ms. tions, observers said. Amidst the slew of Culture; Literature. Tymoshenko, who grew desperate in her legislation that awaits parliamentary approv- search for political allies in her war with the al is the 2009 budget, which has yet to be Volume II (1971): The Law; The Ukrainian Church; Scholarship; president, even considering a coalition gov- passed. ernment with the pro-Russian Party of At minimum, however, Mr. Lytvyn’s Education and Schools; Libraries, Archives, Museums; Book Regions of Ukraine (PRU). election brought stability back to Ukraine’s Publishing and the Press; The Arts; Music and Choreography; Mr. Medvedchuk, Mr. Kuchma’s tumultuous political arena, Ms. Tymoshenko Theater and Cinema; National Economy; Health and Medical Presidential Administration chair in assured a national television audience on the Service and Physical Culture; The Armed Forces; Ukrainian 2002-2004, had been offering Ms. evening of December 10. Abroad. Tymoshenko help in dealing with the “I will personally take care of this Russian Federation’s government, earning Parliament and this newly created coali- him a return to Ukraine’s Higher Justice tion,” she said. “I will never allow the abuse Now offered at a clearance price of $37.50 for each volume, Council, which has the authority to appoint of the Verkhovna Rada and of the country, and dismiss key judges. which we observed in recent months. No plus $5.00 postage. Meantime, Mr. Lytvyn was a trusted con- presidential elections are worth political fidante to the former president ever since adventurers throwing the country into a rift Mr. Kuchma tapped him as an advisor in of revolt and chaos.” To order, send check to: Svoboda Book Store To subscribe to The Ukrainian Weekly: call 973-292-9800 x 3042. 2200 Route 10 Parsippany, NJ 07054. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 No. 50 The Trypillia exhibit in Toronto: a meeting with organizers from Ukraine by Oksana Zakydalsky since achieving independence, the Ukrainian state has not given “one penny” TORONTO – A week before the exhibit for archeological digs, which take place “Mysteries of Ancient Ukraine: The only because of non-Ukrainian grants. Remarkable Trypilian Culture (5400-2700 Although there are laws on ownership BC)” was scheduled to open at the Royal and distribution of archeological artifacts Ontario Museum (ROM), the Ukrainian in Ukraine, “black archeology” is ram- community had the opportunity to meet the pant – vandalism and robbery of archeo- five archeologists and scholars who brought logical sites (often done to satisfy the the exhibits artifacts from Ukraine. demands of rich collectors of ancient arti- The event was organized by Lida facts), as well as “inside” robbing of Smilka of St.Vladimir’s Institute, and the museum treasures. Privatization of land is program was introduced by Dr. Daria a serious threat where commercial enter- Darewych of the Shevchenko Scientific prises, in spite of laws about archeologi- Society of Canada. cal assessments, do not perform them Dr. Denys Kozak – deputy director of and, therefore, many sites are lost. the Institute of Archeology, National Dr. Oleksii Korwin-Piotrowskii – also Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and from the Institute of Archeology – heads manager of the Department of Archeology the Institute of Trypillian Expeditions and Oksana Zakydalsky of the Early Slavs, described the archeo- is the author of the article “Eneolit of At a presentation on Trypillian culture (from left) are: Lida Smilka, Nina logical situation in Ukraine today. He Ukraine: The Trypillian Culture in Kowtaniuk, Wladyslaw Petrenko, Oleksii Korwin-Piotrowskii, Tetiana emphasized that Ukraine, among the Ukraine” in the official ROM catalogue. Radiyewska and Denys Kozak of Ukraine with Daria Darewych of the countries of Europe, is one of the richest With the aid of maps, Dr. Korwin- Shevchenko Scientific Society of Canada. in archeological sites – for example, there Piotrowskii explained how the Trypillian are about 60,000 Trypillian sites. But he culture is divided into three periods: They spoke about the museum’s collec- was represented by Wladyslaw Petrenko, called the situation in the field “cata- Early, Middle and Late Trypillia. tions which hold about 70,000 artifacts of research associate. He is the author of the strophic” because of problems such as the Nina Kowtaniuk, deputy general direc- the Trypillian culture. catalogue article “Ancient Trypillians in lack of funding, so-called “black archeol- tor, and Tetiana Radiyewska, who works The third institution that lent artifacts the Steppe Zone: Usatiw Culture.” He ogy” and the privatization of land. in archeological attribution, represented to the ROM exhibit is the National described the collections of the Odesa Dr. Kozak informed the audience that the National Museum of History in Kyiv. Archeological Museum of Odesa, which museum, which was founded in 1825.

Wherever you are, Youth publication about Trypillia The Ukrainian Weekly can be there with you available in Ukrainian and English by Oksana Zakydalsky crafts and games. The editor and author of the text is Tanya Dzulynsky. Check out HE KRAINIAN EEKLY online at TORONTO – On the occasion of the T U W Although the publisher of the book is the landmark exhibit of Trypillian culture in Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization’s www.ukrweekly.com Toronto, the publisher of the Plast magazine for cub scouts Hotuys, published a book for Hotuys magazine – the Ukrainian-language young people on the theme of Trypillia, version has already been mailed to sub- with separate editions in Ukrainian and scribers of Hotuys – it is suitable for a wider English. youth readership and for us in Ukrainian The 48-page books are titled “Trypiltsi – language schools. The English-language Nashi Predky” and “Trypillia, Ancient version was published in order to reach a Ukraine.” The books – prepared in the for- wider youth readership. mat of an activity book – includes the his- To order the publication, which costs tory of Trypillia, descriptions of the ele- $10, readers may contact the bookstore ments and artifacts of Trypillian culture, Koota-Ooma by e-mail: kootaooma@bell- many colored illustrations, Trypillia-themed net.ca.

The covers of the Ukrainian- and English-language versions of a new book for younger generations about the Trypillian culture.

The spelling of “Trypilian” The catalogue of the exhibit “Mysteries spells with a double L the name of the of Ancient Ukraine: the Remarkable modern town where the culture was first Trypilian Culture (5400-2700 BC),” now discovered, Trypillia. These spellings fol- on display at the Royal Ontario Museum low those employed in the Encyclopedia (ROM), carries an explanation for its use of Ukraine, an intensively researched of the spelling “Trypilian” as opposed to scholarly work published in five volumes “Trypillian” (the adjectival form from the by the University of Toronto Press between name of the town Trypillia). 1984 and 1993. This publication has been The ROM notes: “This exhibition spells used as the exhibition’s standard for the the word Trypilian with a single L, and spelling of Ukrainian names in English.” No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 23 ON LOCATION: Filming the story of Georgia’s “lost crusaders” by Christina Kotlar ing the Russian language that was forced upon the people. Anyone present at the Ukrainian Film Georgians are an ancient people identi- and Cultural Festival held at Soyuzivka in fying themselves as Karthians and tracing July 2007 may recall watching the award- their origins to Noah’s great-grandson winning short film “Balloonist” written Karthlos. Georgia is a small but signifi- and directed by Lesya Kalynska. It’s an cant piece in the landscape of mountain uplifting story about team effort and col- kingdoms including Colchis (the legend- laboration between a young Ukrainian ary land of the Golden Fleece) on the man and an elderly yet feisty Georgian Black Sea. who originally take on a vodka promotion The country converted from paganism job from the whiny Russian businessmen in the 4th century, following Armenia’s who inexplicably cancel at the last min- conversion to the Christian faith a quarter ute. The two take off in the hot air bal- of a century earlier. King Gorgasali loon despite the Russian’s vehement (446-502) is still considered to be the demands and lambastes, gliding away father of the nation (not unlike St. into the sunset with plans to eventually Volodymyr). St. George slaying the drag- land in Ukraine. At the time, the underly- on is a powerful symbol, and other saints ing theme may have been having the guts are held in considerable reverence. to take on a challenge that involves risk – This is where the brave knights (not incredible, big-time risk. really “crusaders”) of the Caucasus come Ms. Kalynska then presented a trailer in, bound by their oath to protect the for a film about ancient Georgian martial honor and spirit of the Caucasus, former- arts warriors in the faraway hills and val- ly the Georgian Kingdom, as they fought leys of the Caucasus Mountains in the with sword and dagger and became Republic of Georgia. Her feature docu- known for their fortitude and strength. mentary, “In the Land of the Lost Their virtue and prowess was legendary Crusaders,” is based on an unprecedented among the people of Georgia, who passed The film crew starting out in Tbilisi (from left): Ucha, Christina Kotlar, Giorgi, view of a world on the verge of uncere- the legends down generations through Lesya Kalynska and Dato. moniously fading into history’s black stories and song. hole of oblivion. With foresight and deter- And a few remained in the mountains reminded of the Kozaks whose dedication us to this historically significant land. mination, Ms. Kalynska, and Niko fighting well into the 1950s. and passion to a cause – their freedom and And so in August of last year our film Abazadze, producer, who studied the Ultimately, the domination of the the Zaporozhian Sich – was eventually crew embarked on a long, arduous film martial arts warriors for 15 years, bring a Soviets took its toll. Despite the fact that destroyed during Catherine the Great’s shoot that culminates to present-day relatively unknown aspect of Georgian Joseph Stalin was born in Georgia, the reign. This passion brought her to Georgia events. culture to our attention. Soviet regime set out to destroy every tra- as it did Serhij Mychalchuk, director of A year later I spoke briefly with Mr. In July 2007 I became part of the film- dition and remove national symbols. photography. Mr. Mychalchuk’s work is Zbazadze one day before he boarded a making team as co-producer and found “In the Land of the Lost Crusaders” extensive and recognized internationally, plane to Tbilisi, a day before it closed myself on a plane with Ukrainian and takes the audience to a place to which including in the film “Mamay,” a masterly down. I asked about his family in Tbilisi Georgian filmmakers headed out to few are given access. The film crew trav- cinematographic effort based on an epic and his brother Rizo, a high-ranking offi- Tbilisi, the capital of the Republic of poem that became Ukraine’s official entry cer in the Georgian army. He said his Georgia. Since this was a very low budget eled on narrow roads along steep inclines production, we begged, borrowed and and the journey took us to remote villag- into the 2004 Academy Awards. As co- brother was fighting near the border and found funding for the scheduled 20-day es. Led by a local guide, Mindia, on foot producer and myself a documentary film- he was going out to help them fight the shoot in the Caucasus Mountains. and horseback, we saw a land where the maker, I understood the urgency that called Russians. I haven’t heard anything since. Georgia is a transcontinental country masters of the swords are sole heirs to located at the juncture of Eastern Europe this invaluable knowledge and expertise. and Western Asia with a total area of The project began several years ago 26,912 square miles, about the size of West with Mr. Abazadze, a student of martial Virginia. Its west coast is on the Black Sea, arts and a Georgian living in New York, is bordered on the north by Russia, on the who wanted to go back to his homeland south by Turkey and Armenia, and on the in search of the Khesuverti, the guardians east by Azerbaijan. The people refer to of the Caucasus Mountains. Mr. themselves as Kartvelebi, their land as Abazadze’s family came from an aristo- Sakartvelo and their language as Kartuli, cratic family whose lineage could be officially the Georgian language overcom- traced back to 6th century Georgian princes. The Abazadze household in Tbilisi, where we established our pre-pro- Christina Kotlar is a writer, producer duction office, was once an enormous and documentary filmmaker. To read residence that was eventually reduced more about “In the Land of the Lost into small housing units during the long- Crusaders” and the making of a feature endured Soviet occupation. documentary, and to view photos from In a 2005 location scouting tour, the the film shoot, go to www.filmfestivalre- producer found three masters still alive in views.com. remote villages. Ms. Kalynska was

Brothers Niko and Rizo Abazadze. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 No. 50 No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 25 Vovkulaky fraternity of Plast celebrates 50 years of activity by Oksana Zakydalsky members are involved with youth as counselors – for example, at the 2007 TORONTO – Shortly after the 1957 international jamboree in Canada, two of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization’s the five boy scout camps were led by jamboree in Grafton, Ontario, three Vovkulaky, who also contributed over a groups of young Plast members from dozen camp counselors. Toronto, Chicago and Montreal who had In Ukraine, the head of the Plast orga- met there decided to found a new Plast fraternity (kurin) – and so the Vovkulaky nization, Vyacheslav Stebnytsky, is a were born. Vovkulaky member and the chairman of Fifty years later, 75 members of the the national council of National fraternity from Canada, United States and Organization of Scouts of Ukraine, Levko Germany – including 10 founding mem- Zakharchyshyn, is also a member. bers – met in Toronto from October The program of the celebrations was a 10-18, to celebrate the golden anniversary combination of camaraderie and planning of the Vovkulaky. sessions for future activity. The formal At the same time, Vovkulaky in anniversary banquet was held on Ukraine, who joined the fraternity soon Saturday, October 11 – both in Toronto after Plast was reborn in Ukraine in the (75 members and 70 guests) and in Lviv 1990s, held anniversary celebrations in (20 members and 35 guests). On Sunday, Lviv. after a church service, the groups in The Vovkulaky fraternity is one of the Toronto and Lviv, linked by Skype, dis- most active in Plast leadership and educa- cussed the future activities of their frater- tional programs. A large number of its nity.

Vovkulaky at their 50th anniversary celebrations in Toronto.

Vovkulaky in Lviv celebrate the Plast fraternity’s 50th anniversary.

Scout leader from Ukraine visits with his counterparts in Canada by Oksana Zakydalsky scouting organizations in Ukraine – Sich, SPOK and Plast, with Plast being the TORONTO – Levko Zakharchyshyn, a largest. Mr. Zakharchyshyn explained member of the Vovkulaky Plast fraternity, that NOSU is not a federation or confed- was invited to Toronto not only to take eration of the three groups but more of a part in the group’s 50th anniversary cele- “vessel,” currently empty, that needs to brations but also, as chairman of the be filled by a membership based on the national council of the newly created three scouting groups. National Organization of Scouts of NOSU has a governing body, the Ukraine (NOSU), to explain the status national council, which Mr. and organization of that scouting organi- Zakharchyshyn heads, that is to shape the zation and to get an understanding of the integration process. He said this does not challenges facing Plast in Ukraine. mean, for example, that current members As previously reported (July 20), NOSU was co-founded by three existing (Continued on page 26)

Levko Zakharchyshyn (right) with John Neysmith, international commissioner of Scouts Canada, and Oksana Zakydalsky. 26 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 No. 50

ing various scouting groups together to I will not stray into detail over what Scout leader... cooperate on common projects. He agreed Reflections... topics were discussed by the speakers and (Continued from page 25) with Mr. Zakharchyshyn that the integra- (Continued from page 6) what questions were posed by the audi- have to abandon Plast to become mem- tion of the scouting movement in Ukraine well as various other countries, including ence. It is worth mentioning, however, bers of NOSU but can be members of was the most important task at hand and those of the European Union. They were that the majority of speakers discussed both. Mr. Zakharchyshyn pointed out that that the national council should take the there to serve the various interests of their relevant and pertinent topics, and deliv- the existing groups need to achieve an lead as soon as possible. respective governments and organiza- ered their arguments effectively. understanding and agreement of NOSU’s Mr. Zakharchyshyn said he hoped that, tions. To the dismay of many of my fellow mission and approaches to governance. in some way, Scouts Canada could help in So, “whom do you represent?” asked Ukrainian Americans, I also concur with Mr. Zakharchyshyn said that the current easing the integration of the three groups Natasha Mazuk of the Open World some of the arguments presented by some leadership of NOSU would benefit from into one truly national scouting organiza- Program in Kyiv. of the speakers, in particular Kostyantyn contact with and advice from an estab- tion. When asked why it was Canada that “Not really anybody... actually, I guess Gryshchenko, Ukraine’s ambassador to lished scouting organization to see how it Ukraine was turning to rather than a I’m representing myself,” I replied, with Moscow, who offered different perspec- works. He asked for a meeting with Scouts European scouting organization, which a subtle chuckle. tives on Ukraine’s “regional commit- Canada, which was set up by Vlodko would be closer, Mr. Zakharchyshyn I became aware of this event while ments.” Mr. Gryshchenko argued that Luciw, past president of Plast in Canada. explained that Canada is a long-standing reading a Ukrainian newspaper, and I whatever dialogue occurs between On October 17, Mr. Zakharchyshyn, Mr. partner of Ukraine in helping to establish a decided I would try my best to attend this Ukraine and the West, Russia should be Luciw and this writer met with John civil society. conference, even if it meant driving down included in this dialogue as a result of Neysmith, international commissioner and Canada’s multicultural values have I-95 in a beat-up old vehicle and staying being both Ukraine’s largest trading part- Peter Sundborg, executive director, Central served as an example to Ukraine in its with old friends of mine in Vienna, Va. ner and its immediate neighbor to the Ontario Region, at the Scouts Canada integration of regions with distinct histo- Well, why not? The availability of east. headquarters in Toronto. ries, Mr. Zahbarchyshyn noted. He saw spare time is a privilege accorded to But never mind my opinions. At the meeting Mr. Zakharchyshyn this as a parallel with the integration into recent college graduates still trying to fig- After the conference’s initial stages, I explained that NOSU was created to NOSU of three scouting organizations, all ure out what to do with themselves. soon found out why I had attended. Not bring together three of the largest scout- of which have existed for at least 10 years My whole life I have been taught to only am I a proud Ukrainian American, ing groups in Ukraine. Although all three and have developed traditions and prac- show love and reverence to a country in but I am also a concerned one as well. groups subscribe to the mission of scout- tices of their own. which I was not born and have travelled Like so many other Ukrainians and ing and NOSU already has a constitution Mr. Neysmith invited Mr. to only once. I was told to never forget Ukrainian Americans, I am concerned registered with the Ukrainian govern- Zakharchyshyn to write up a proposal for my roots, which apparently run deep into about the current state of affairs in ment, the key challenge at this point for a cooperative project of NOSU with Ukraine’s fertile soil. After a brief period Ukraine and its uncertain future, both the national council of NOSU is to devel- Scouts Canada, although he pointed out in my life when I utterly rejected any so- long-term and immediate. And what op an integration process and a system of that he was soon leaving his post as inter- called “roots” that I might have, I have could we possibly do while living half- governance. national commissioner to become a mem- come to terms with the reality that I am a way across the world? Mr. Neysmith, who had been at the ber of the Scout Conference (the execu- Ukrainian American, and understood that Solutions to such difficult and complex recent conference of the World tive body of WOSM). I should be proud of that fact. Today I do problems are hard to come by and will Organization of the Scout Movement The Canadian scout leaders were very indeed love and revere a faraway country take much time and effort by those who (WOSU) held in South Korea and who welcoming and showed a readiness to known as Ukraine. dedicate themselves to these issues. had worked on behalf of the World Scout consider cooperation with Ukraine. But So where did my interests lie in attend- However, forums for deliberating, such Bureau in Yalta, Ukraine, (the location of they cautiously warned Mr. ing this conference? In Ukraine, where as the roundtable series, offer clear paths the Eurasia Scout Region headquarters to Zakharchyshyn that Plast, which current- else? to such necessary solutions by bringing which Ukraine belongs) was well ly is the only one of the three scouting Ukraine, as we know, is a country with together some of the best minds and dedi- informed about the scouting situation in groups in Ukraine that has international a rich culture, extensive history and an cating these people, in one sitting, to the Ukraine and asked specific questions contacts, should now turn most of its abundant potential. However, as we also attainment of the goal of building a strong about NOSU. He explained some of the attention to the integration process of know, our beloved country is in a dire and prosperous Ukraine. work that Scouts Canada, a member of NOSU if it wants to influence the out- state. The Orange Coalition has collapsed I was certainly pleased that I decided the Americas Region, had done in bring- come. with various political factions vying for to attend this year’s roundtable. control, while many politicians simply So, in response to the question “Whom serve their own interests, meanwhile for- do you represent?” I should have replied: getting about the general populace. “Everyone who cares.”

tive work, a work whose creation from Illuminations... original concept to final performance is (Continued from page 12) explained in exquisite detail through com- Within this magical circle of creation mentary by all involved, as well as press and re-creation, the numerous projects of reviews. the Yara Art Groups all share a common This anthology presents the literature thread. Each production is characterized from over 20 theater pieces performed by by provocative re-contextualizations, star- Yara under the directorship of Ms. Tkacz tling juxtapositions, and a tight inter- as well as an extremely useful list of bio- weaving of text and performance. graphical notes on the authors. Reflecting universal thematic concerns such as femi- For example, Yara’s theater piece “A nism, ecology, love and the role of nature Light From the East” (later renamed “In in human consciousness, “In A Different the Light” for a bilingual version that Light” offers a unique insight into an went on tour in Ukraine) included poems ancient and rich oral tradition. by the 19th century national bard of Ms. Tkacz’s life work has been to build Ukraine Taras Shevchenko. As many bridges, and this remarkable book illus- readers of this publication know all too trates the heroic service her Yara group well, most public performances of has performed to popularize in an excep- Shevchenko’s poetry both in the diaspora tionally creative manner Ukrainian litera- and Ukraine have been marked by exag- ture among audiences who otherwise gerated solemnity and dire sentimentality. would have no access to its classics and Yara brilliantly transcended the dreary contemporary explorations. Yara’s dangers of bowing to a patriotic icon by embrace of experimentation and multicul- choosing poems revealing a personal turalism is ambitious and often fraught dimension of the writer and through the with difficulty. addition of startling yet complementary Nevertheless, the last words of texts by the early 20th century modernist Tychyna’s poem “War,” written in a har- poet Pavlo Tychyna. Tychyna was a com- rowing context decades ago, indicate the plex and controversial writer whose delir- crucial importance of undertaking the ious riffs on the surreal brutality of the journey and focusing on the rewards to be Ukrainian revolution and civil war could found. be most appreciated today by the shell- “On the right – the sun. shocked residents of Baghdad and Kabul. On the left – the moon. The Shevchenko/Tychyna continuum Ahead – the stars.” in the piece is further enriched by The book, compiled and edited by excerpts from the diaries of experimental- Olha Luchuk, with an introduction by ist theater director Les Kurbas and 18th Natalia Pylypiuk, is available for $70 century poet and philosopher Hryhorii (shipping included) from: Yara Arts Skovoroda. This dreamy collage of texts, Group, 306 E. 11th St., No. 3B, New enhanced by originally composed “east- York, NY 10003; telephone, ern” music and a stage design of Zen-like 212-475-6474; e-mail, [email protected] simplicity, creates a haunting and medita- www.brama.com/yara. No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 27

his deep and comprehensive study and protect the rights of minority shareholders, Chicago Ukrainians... propagation of knowledge about Tough medicine... mandate transparency in corporate (Continued from page 9) Ukrainian liturgical music, and assisted (Continued from page 6) accounting and reporting, and introduce kept the main sanctuary shut to services. by Michael Holian, a conductor, musician plex of structural and institutional reforms, online trading. It must create investment The cardinal came to the lectern and and teacher. The music resonated through without which we will be unable to compete banks and encourage public share offer- cited St. Paul, commenting on the ecu- the sanctuary, supported by the responses in today’s globalized and pitiless world. ings. It must adopt a broad program of menical nature of the service. He of the bishops and the 20 priests sur- Over the long term, global economics demonopolization and credible anti- inveighed against all totalitarian regimes, rounding them, and melding the spirits of will come down to a struggle among coun- monopoly regulation. It must introduce market-oriented particularly the Communist terror that the assembled crowd. tries for a share in the global investment reforms of key sectors that remain under destroyed millions. Photographers, reporters and camera- flow. Therefore, it is essential that our state control: the fuel and energy complex, Next, the new bishop of the Western men from the local NBC and ABC affili- national anti-crisis program include agriculture, machine building, transport, Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox ates and Ukrainian media wandered reforms that will make Ukraine a worthy through the cathedral, capturing the road management, telecommunications, Church, Bishop Daniel (Zelinsky) competitor in this struggle. uplifted faces, the rows of Holodomor housing and utilities, and others. The coun- addressed the crowd. An impassioned Ukraine must improve its hard-curren- survivors in the front pews, the youth try must also face the fact that its manage- speaker, he quoted Taras Shevchenko’s cy, credit and investment markets. They organizations in uniforms, and the sleep- ment system is shortsighted, cumbersome, poem, “The Plague,” noting how it fore- must be deregulated, transparent, accessi- ing baby in a mother’s lap. onerous and inefficient. shadowed the horror and suffering of the ble to everyone globally and protected Bishop Richard Seminack, head of the Yes, there is work to be done. Holodomor of 1932-1933. His shout, “10 against administrative interventions. million!” rang out through the cathedral, St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Chicago, concluded the service with a It must implement far-reaching tax Copyright 2008, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted to the 65-foot rafters. “We have to teach reform to reduce corporate and individual our succeeding generations. And we can moving recollection of the ritual of bak- with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ taxes, while also introducing mandatory never forget!” ing bread that his grandmother practiced, Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, contributions to the state’s pension, insur- Archbishop Alexander (Bykovetz) of “blessing and praying at each step, pick- Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org. ance and environmental funds. It should Detroit, a survivor of the Holodomor, ing up a crumb that fell to the floor and spoke in Ukrainian about the loss of kissing it,” he recalled. Bread is holy to impose taxes on real estate and the con- Link: http://www.rferl.org/content/ future generations, both in numbers and Ukrainians, and this bread, the basis of sumption of energy and natural resources. Tough_Medicine_Needed_For_Ukraines_ in potential, “the Sheptytskys, Mazepas, their life, was taken away from them, he Kyiv must reform the stock exchange to Economic_Woes/1355819.html. Vyhovskys, Petliuras and Banderas,” as noted. Their resulting starvation created a well as the artists, musicians, writers and wound that hasn’t healed through suc- other lights of the community that were ceeding generations. extinguished before they could be born. Bishop Richard thanked all the partici- The hierachs returned to the altar and pants who so massively participated in the requiem service began: lyrical, melod- the solemn ceremony, concluding right at ic incantations in the Kyivan style of the high noon. panakhyda (requiem) sung by a choir col- The crowd filed out, a little more noisily lected from the best voices of the numer- now. All had been visibly inspired by an ous Ukrainian Orthodox and Catholic event that will rank among the most mem- parishes throughout the region. It was orable and affirming expressions of a com- conducted by Dr. Vasyl Truchly, noted for munity message in the city’s history.

world. That government is currently lob- Opening remarks... bying the U.N. to declare the Holodomor (Continued from page 8) a genocide. Seventy-five years later the Today, armed with newly disclosed burden of memory is slowly returning to Soviet archives and the power of the its homeland. Internet, a new generation of Ukrainians It has been a heavy load to carry. But, as and Americans is sharing the story of the Thomas Mann put it: “Beauty can pierce Holodomor. Thanks to organizations like one like a pain.” Often the pain imposed the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide upon a culture spurs it to unearth its beauty. Foundation, the Illinois Senate passed a Like the pain, the beauty in our lives was bill requiring every school in the state to bountiful. We were inundated with philo- include the Famine-Genocide in history sophical literature, theater and poetry, textbooks. Last month, the U.S. House of romantic folk songs and dances. Symphonies Representatives passed a resolution con- and ballets based on those songs and dances, demning the Soviet regime for the sublime crafts and mysterious rituals, Holodomor. humorous expressions and witty aphorisms. Three Holodomor documentaries were And, of course, delectable cuisine. Not sur- released this year, with more in develop- prisingly, my infatuation with Wonder Bread ment. Academic studies, articles, books, did not last very long. plays, exhibits and commemorative rituals Today in my household even the driest, are being produced by Ukrainians across the hardest bread does not get thrown away. globe. At the Harvard Ukrainian Research We share it with our squirrel and rabbit Institute symposium last fall Prof. Leonid neighbors. At school, when they open Heretz pointed out that the impetus for their Gortex lunch boxes, my children are Harvard’s 25-year-old Famine Project came not the only ones who find dark, whole from the Ukrainian community. grain bread. The suburban cafeteria has At last month’s Chicago conference, become a much more culturally diverse the brainchild of Chicago’s 75th space. The other day, my customarily Anniversary Holodomor Commemoration rambunctious son Zorian spotted some Committee, Prof. Volodymyr kids using their sandwiches as food-fight Chumachenko graciously thanked the ammunition. He ceased his antics. “That’s Ukrainian diaspora for preserving not funny,” he told them, “that’s a sin.” Ukraine’s history until an educated, dem- And they actually listened. Without even ocratic Ukrainian government could bear knowing it, Babusia Doka’s great-grand- the responsibility of sharing it with the son was sharing a grain of her memory.

ize the event. Special thanks were given Ukrainians in Houston... to Lydia Bodnar-Balahutrak and Ms. (Continued from page 11) Voynarovska for putting up the visual dis- to the Holodomor’s victims. plays about the Holodomor in the The Houston Holodomor Houston Public Library downtown. She Commemoration committee members encouraged everyone to visit the displays, which would run through the month of were all very moved by the article titled November. “To Remember the Holodomor” written The Rev. Mykola Dovzhuk was called by President Viktor Yushchenko of to the podium to close the solemn cere- Ukraine and decided to include it in the monies. Assisting him were altar boys program. The article was read by William Joseph Kuchta and Alex Pankewicz. After Palmer. a short memorial service for the dead Ms. Holowka-Palmer thanked the (panakhyda), all in attendance sang guest speakers and all who helped to real- “Vichnaya Pamiat” (Eternal Memory). 28 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 No. 50

counterparts. of this class to Egypt, seven to Turkey and Shevchenko Society... Quoting directly from other composers Naval imbalance... one to Bahrain, and built four of them for (Continued from page 13) or evoking other styles, Mr. Skoryk uses (Continued from page 2) the Australian navy. Frigates of this class Shostakovich.” He also mentions Ravel, contrasting elements within individual Whitney, destroyers USS Dallas and Barry, are regarded as far more advanced and Debussy and Prokofiev as the major movements, such as tonality vs. dodeca- oceanographic ship Pathfinder and other powerful than any ship in the Ukrainian influences on his creativity, stating that phony; Ländler vs. Vienna waltz; Soviet U.S. ships have been cruising in the Black navy’s inventory (UNIAN, October 9; “in the music of these composers, we see anthem vs. Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture; Sea and visiting Georgian, Bulgarian and Glavred, November 18). traditional ‘old tonal music’ with brilliant banal romantic sentimentalism and parody; Romanian ports, as well as Ukraine’s naval Some West European countries also findings in modal structures and new har- or creates, in Dr. Markiw’s words, “an port in Sevastopol. The Mount Whitney’s show an interest in improving Ukraine’s monic revelations.” eclectic fusion of neo-baroque and neo- second visit ended on November 19 and has naval capabilities, following the Russian In Mr. Skoryk’s view, “classical” refers romantic manners.” been followed seamlessly by the USS Barry fleet’s defiance of Ukrainian sovereignty. not only to “the folkloric basis contained The composer also uses cross-reference on a two-week mission (AGERPRES, Dutch diplomats and the Swedish defense in many works of these composers,” but technique, borrowing stylistic elements from November 20). attaché in Ukraine met on November 19 also to all the techniques which had exist- earlier movements, which, according to Dr. Although largely symbolic, these naval with the Ukrainian navy’s commander, ed concurrently during the 20th century, Markiw, “is in itself a form of quotation.” visits provide a visible demonstration of Admiral Ihor Teniukh, at the Ukrainian such as the later neo-classical works of Then, he unifies the work in the finale by U.S. security commitments in the region. naval base in Sevastopol. They discussed Stravinsky, or Alban Berg’s expressionistic again repeating elements from former move- Beyond symbolism, however, the naval possible Dutch participation in the Sea mixture of tonal structure with dodeca- ments. As opposed to Alfred Schnittke who imbalance between Russia and its neighbors Breeze-2009 exercise (an annual U.S.-led phonic elements. uses quotations as a means to create sharp needs to be addressed in practical terms fol- exercise in Ukrainian coastal areas) and Similarly, according to Dr. Markiw, Mr. contrast, Mr. Skoryk is able to integrate all lowing the attack on Georgia. possible cooperation by Sweden with the Skoryk’s harmonic language can be sum- parts stylistically in his own language. The United States and Ukraine are dis- Ukrainian navy’s reform program. (UNIAN, marized as the juxtaposition of tonal and In his introduction, Dr. Markiw cited cussing the possibility of the U.S. handing November 19). atonal practice; furthermore, his style “is Joseph McLellan, the music critic from over two frigates of the Oliver Hazard Perry Following Russia’s invasion of Georgia, based on the foundation of tonal principles The Washington Post, who wrote that “He class, armed with guided missiles, to the NATO has disinvited Russia from the alli- of the music of the past, however, not [Skoryk] should be better known in this Ukrainian navy. U.S. Defense Secretary ance’s Active Endeavor operation in the excluding occasional references to dodeca- country; he is an original, a composer with Robert Gates and Ukrainian Defense Mediterranean (where Russian participation phonic and serial music, also with influenc- a distinct identity, a mastery of many idi- Minster Yurii Yekhanurov broke this news was only token in any case). It remains to es from electronic and minimalist music.” oms – jazzy, folk-style and moderately on the October 8 during a meeting in Ohrid, be seen whether BLACKSEAFOR activi- In the Partita No. 5, the “Stylistic avant-garde – that he uses to shape works Macedonia, of the defense ministers of ties will continue business as usual with the Games” technique is initially implicated in embodying piquant contrast, convincing South-East European countries. The discus- Russian fleet, after its attack on Georgia and the work’s “In Modo Retro” heading and climaxes and sometimes impish wit” (The sions are in progress. breach of Ukrainian neutrality. For its part, constitutes, in Dr. Markiw’s words, “a con- Washington Post, February 26, 2000). First built in the 1970s by the United Turkey seems set to proceed with Black Sea glomeration of various stylistic hints and As a pianist, Dr. Markiw has performed States, frigates of this class are equipped for Harmony unperturbed by Russia’s recent genres of composers like Bach, Ravel, on stage, radio and television. He plans to anti-submarine and surface combat, as well conduct. Chopin and Strauss.” Thus, within the popularize the music of Mr. Skoryk as for air defense. According to Ukrainian work all styles of the past are represented through lecture-concerts, articles and his sources, the U.S. Navy currently has 30 The article above is reprinted from in juxtaposition with their 20th-century own CD recordings. frigates of this class on active duty and Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission another nine in reserve. From 1994 to 2002 from its publisher, the Jamestown the United States handed over four frigates Foundation, www.jamestown.org.

Crossing Years Black Sea ports would probably have to A rogue fleet... commence by 2010 in order to be complet- a novel (Continued from page 2) ed on schedule. planned naval station in Sokhumi. Under Moscow, however, takes the position the Russian Navy’s modernization program, that talks with Ukraine on withdrawing George O. Dzul 16 new ships are said to be planned for the fleet can be held when the 2017 dead- delivery to the Black Sea Fleet by 2015 line draws near. This would practically (RIA Novosti, November 21; Messenger, ensure the Russian fleet’s stay in Ukraine November 24). past the deadline, with or without “An odyssey that transcends its time and place... A Robinsonade Inasmuch as the new ships will take up Ukrainian consent to prolong the basing of the XXth century” The Day Ukrainian National Newspaper berthing space at Novorossiysk, agreement (see Eurasia Daily Monitor, Ochamchire and Sokhumi, this will October 23). “George Dzul evokes before us a fantastic panorama of the undoubtedly become an excuse for Russian period 1939-1999” Literaturna Ukraina foot-dragging on withdrawing the fleet from The article above is reprinted from Sevastopol, where the lease from Ukraine Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission www.amazon.com will expire in 2017. Given that fleet’s size, from its publisher, the Jamestown Ukrainian Bookstore – Edmonton, AB – 780-422-4255 the relocation from Sevastopol to Russian Foundation, www.jamestown.org. Surma – New York, NY – 212-477-0729

by the composer. Mr. Kharenko was the Concert at... leader of the string quartet, while Mr. (Continued from page 13) Vynnytsky’s sparkling virtuosity was excep- Yuri Kharenko and the composer himself. tional. The performance of “Poem,” which was The Piano Concerto No. 3 is program- written for the Vladimir Horowitz matic with movements titled “Prayer,” International Competition in Kyiv, had its “Dream” and “Life.” The third movement, U.S. premiere that evening. Pianist Mykola which contains a direct quotation from the Suk followed with an emotional rendition opening movement’s theme, was dramati- of Partita No. 5 for solo piano, which he cally supported by a heartbeat-like rhythm premiered in 1975 and has since embraced from the gran cassa, and dissonant chords as his showpiece. In his interpretation, the from the strings. After several measures, the music emitted an ethereal transparency with strings give over to the gran cassa thus cre- subtle shadings and varied dynamic ranges. ating the eerie sensation of an echo. Another U.S. premiere that evening was Later in the program, Mr. Vynnytsky the performance of The Partita No. 6 for accompanied Ms. Khoma, who played string quartet performed by Oleksander another moving piece titled “A-Ri-A.” Mr. Abaev and Yuri Kharenko, violin; Boris Vynnytsky also performed one of Mr. Deviatov, viola; and Natalia Khoma, cello. Skoryk’s most popular solo piano works, the The piece, which calls for four demanding “Burlesque.” The final piece, “Three Jazz solos for each instrument, was greatly Pieces for Four Hands,” was artfully per- enhanced by the highly successful formed by Messrs. Vynnytsky and Skoryk. Ukrainian Institute of America debut of first Upon the completion of the evening’s violinist Mr. Abaev, who exhibited his tal- performances, an obviously appreciative ents as a chamber musician with a very audience responded with an enthusiastic solid solo performance replete with a beau- ovation for the composer. The tumultuous tifully sweet tone, especially evident in his ovation that followed proved to be a fitting performance of Mr. Skoryk’s “Melody.” conclusion to an unforgettable birthday for The second half of the concert featured Ukraine’s leading composer and a lasting Volodymyr Vynnytsky on piano performing memory for the Ukrainian people and all Skoryk’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with string who treasure the genius of Myroslav quartet and gran cassa, which was played Skoryk. No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 29 OUT AND ABOUT

Current through February 7 Exhibit, “Following Yonder Star: The Art of Stamford, CT music by Hrim, St. Basil College, Winnipeg, MB Ukrainian Christmas Cards,” Oseredok 203-329-8693 or 203-253-8005 Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Center, 204-942-0218 December 31 New Year’s Eve, featuring music by Whippany, NJ Chetverta Chvylya, Ukrainian American December 17 Christmas concert, St. Nicholas Ukrainian Cultural Center of New Jersey, Passaic, NJ Catholic School, 973-779-0249 973-652-5389 or 973-585-7175

December 19-20 Concert, “Winter Sun: A Festival of New Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events New York Arts and Tradition,” Yara Arts Group, advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions Ukrainian Institute of America, from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors 212-288-8660 and as space allows; photos will be considered. Please note: items will be printed a maximum of two times each. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. December 19 31st Annual Festival of Lights, featuring Kensington, MD St. Nicholas Day observance with “Traditional Christmas Eve Dinner” by Dana Loun, Temple Visitor’s Center, Philadelphia Archeparchy plans www.powerofspirit.org/claendar.html

December 20 Holiday Bazaar and St. Nicholas program, to hold Women’s Day in March Bethesda, MD Taras Shevchenko School of Ukrainian PHILADELPHIA – The Archeparchial College of Medicine and Albright College Studies, Westland Middle School, Women’s Day Committee has announced in Reading, Pa. www.ukieschool.org that the next Women’s Day will be held Presently she is a board-certified inter- on Saturday, March 28. The theme nist with Pottsville Internists Associates. December 20 Concert, “Ukrainian Christmas at is “From Grief To Grace,” based on She is also the medical director for Seton Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square,” featuring Akkolada the “From God’s fullness we have all Manor Skilled Nursing Home, co-director Chamber Choir, Church of the Holy Trinity, received… grace upon grace” (Jn.1:16). for the Schuylkill Osteoporosis Clinic and [email protected] The keynote speaker will be Kimberly a member of the Cancer Committee for Hashin, M.D., who will guide the reflec- the Schuylkill Medical Center East December 20 Christmas Bazaar, Ukrainian League of tions for the day. Dr. Hashin is a lifelong Norwegian. Philadelphia Philadelphia, 215-656-8521 or 215-332-5760 member of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Dr. Hashin is the wife of attorney Catholic Church in Minersville, Pa., Albert Evans and the mother of Albe and December 20 Memorial lecture dedicated to Ihor where the Rev. Archpriest Michael Alan Evans. New York Rymaruk, Shevchenko Scientific Society, Hutsko is pastor. For further information about Women’s 212-254-5130 Dr. Hashin received her training from Day, readers may write to Sister Dorothy Pennsylvania State University, Milton S. Ann Buskowski, OSBM, at dabusowski@ December 26-28 Dramatic presentation, “Still the River Flows,” Hershey Medical Center, where she com- stbasils.com or call 215-379-3998, ext. New York Yara Arts Group, La Mama Experimental pleted an internal medicine residency in 35. Registration forms may be obtained Theater Company, 212-475-7710 1993-1996 and was chief resident in from local pastors or the office of the 1996-1997. Prior to that, she graduated Archeparchy of Philadelphia. Pre- December 31 New Year’s Eve celebration, featuring from Pennsylvania State University registration is $25 or $30 at the door. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 No. 50 UKELODEON FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

A young participant’s report on remembering the Holodomor by Irena Browar Attendance was high for the CHICAGO – The Chicago com- speakers’ conference on the follow- memoration of the 75th anniversary ing day, despite torrential rains that of the Holodomor began with a two- flooded the area. Archbishop day conference at the Cervantes Alexander Bykovetz opened the Institute. conference with eyewitness testimo- On Friday night, September 12, ny. The conference speakers there was a reception at which included Volodymyr Chumachenko, attendees mingled at an exhibit of Lubomyr Luciuk and Nigel Colley, historical posters created by the grand nephew of Welsh journalist Ukraine 3000 International Gareth Jones. Charitable Foundation chaired by Conference attendees included Ukraine’s First Lady and former students of Grades 8-10 from the Chicagoan Kateryna Yushchenko. local Ukrainian schools. Attendees also watched a pre- Dr. Chumachenko spoke about view screening of the movie how the secret of the Famine that “Holodomor – Ukraine’s Genocide killed millions was kept from the 1932-1933” by Bobby Leigh, direc- rest of the world, and Dr. Luciuk Members of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization at the commemoration. tor, and Marta Tomkiw, producer. spoke of the diaspora and the This is a moving piece which prom- Holodomor. Mr. Colley spoke of his A solemn procession from St. The panakhyda (memorial ser- ises to be monumental upon com- great uncle’s attempt to expose the Andrew’s Church ended with the vice), was followed by a Ukrainian pletion. Holodomor and how it led to his laying of a memorial wreath at the youth concert consisting of a series The exhibit also included docu- murder. This day also ended with Holodomor monument on the of poems, songs and stories related ments, period photos, eyewitness the screening of “Holodomor – church grounds. to the Famine-Genocide of Ukraine. accounts and archival materials Ukraine’s Genocide 1932-1933” from collections of the Ukrainian with Mr. Leigh and Ms. Tomkiw on National Museum in Chicago and hand to answer questions. Mishanyna The following Saturday, a memo- from several individuals in the Picking up on the theme of U.S. presidents begun in last month’s Chicagoland area. rial service was held at the Genocide Memorial of St. Andrew’s Mishanyna, this month we challenge you to find the names of the Church in Bloomington, Ill., to com- remaining 18 presidents. Bonus: find the name of the next presi- Irene Browar, 14, is a freshman memorate the 10 million victims of dent of the United States. (Surely you know his name!) at Hinsdale Central High School. the Holodomor. Attending were the ARTHUR GARFIELD PIERCE She enjoys art, track, ski- general public and students from BUCHANAN HARDING POLK ing, Ukrainian folk dancing and the surrounding schools, as well as activities of Plast Ukrainian members of the youth organizations CARTER HAYES TAYLOR Scouting Organization. Plast, SUM, and ODUM. CLEVELAND JACKSON TYLER COOLIDGE MADISON VAN BUREN FILLMORE MONROE UAYA’s Hartford branch holds its opening assembly

HARTFORD, Conn. – Members of the Hartford, Conn., branch of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (UAYA) are seen above gathered for an assembly on October 7 at the Ukrainian National Home of Hartford. The program consisted of a prayer, a welcome from youth leaders and introduc- tion of youth counselors for 2008-2009, as well as recognition of the win- ners of Zlet 2008 and participants of UAYA summer camps. No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 31 Plast scout group enjoys Connecticut teen to attend a unique musical experience Presidential Inauguration by Alexandra Lodynsky I have been invited by the People To People Program, started by Dwight D. Eisenhower, to attend a truly rare and historic event, the 2009 Presidential Inauguration in Washington. I have been part of this student ambassador program since I was 11 years old and have traveled to England, France, Italy, Australia, Austria, and many more countries. I have been honored for my academic achievement, leadership ability and interest in global citizenship. I get to see the world, meet so many people, and make so many new friends. I Alexandra Lodynsky have been blessed for these opportu- nities in my life. sophomore at Amity High School, I will be leaving for Washington on Plast scouts with musicians and carolers from the Carpathian Mountains. member of St. Michael’s Ukrainian January 17 and returning on January Catholic Church, the Ukrainian NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – birth of the Son of God while fore- 22, 2009. I will also have a chance to Ridna Shkola in New Haven and a Thanksgiving weekend offered a casting a fertile spring and future go to Arlington National Cemetery, member of the Zolotij Promin very special experience for four harvests. Korean War Memorial, World World Ukrainian Dance Group in Hartford. “yunaky” (Plast scouts), Olesh The next part was especially II Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, I have also attended The Roma Hatala, Mykola Paslawsky, Lesyk interesting for the group as the the Smithsonian American History Pryma Bohachevsky Dance Academy Gorloff and Maksym Bondarenko elder Hutsul displayed and demon- Museum, Ford’s Theater, People to at Soyuzivka for four years. I also from the Cobras in the Whippany, strated his hand-made instruments. People Inaugural Ball, U.S. Capitol enjoy playing the piano. My parents N.J., area. There were five flute-like instru- Building and many more sights. I will are Adrian and Halia (Jurczak) As part of their project to earn the ments: floiara, telenka, duda, den- also have a White House photo Lodynsky and I have two younger merit badge for music, they tsivka and sopilka. He also played opportunity. brothers, Andre and Adrian Lodynsky. explored the roots of traditional the volynka, or bagpipes made of I live in Bethany, Conn., and am a I turned 16 on November 2. Ukrainian music. It was a coinci- goat skin. Another long hornlike dence that Halyna Shepko of instrument was called the rih. Shawangunk Ridge Farm, in New The scouts then listened to an Paltz, N.Y., near Soyuzivka, invited enchanting group of young to teen- them to attend a very unique gath- age children who played banduras ering of talented musicians that as well as sang a number of songs. included bandurists and folk sing- Julian Kytasty, master bandurist, ers from the Carpathian Mountains taught many of these present at a in Ukraine. summer bandura camp and per- The boys were magically formed on what he called a “staro- immersed into a scene which opened davna” (ancient) bandura. at the front door to the bellowing Mykola Paslawsky recalled view- sound of the trembita, the 12-foot- ing a photo album shared by long mountain horn, as the “koliad- Virlana Tkacz, in which she nyky” (carolers) waited to be invited described to him the monthlong in by the hostess of the house. winter ritual when all koliadnyky The traditional “koliada,” or win- carol together. ter song ritual, was then accompa- At the conclusion of the evening, nied by Mykhailo Tafiychuk, the the group of Plast yunaky left this fiddler, master instrument maker musical party behind a little bit and blacksmith of the Carpathian more enriched by an experience for Mountains. Though the koliady which many people yearn – the age- were not the familiar ones, the boys less song of the koliadnyky who found themselves humming the share their harmony and good wish- catchy refrains that celebrated the es among all in their villages.

The next edition of UKELODEON will be published on January 18.

Please send in your submissions by January 9 to [email protected].

We look forward to hearing from you! 32 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008 No. 50

NEW YORK: Yara Arts Group presents a Ueno, with music director Julian Kytasty, PREVIEW OF EVENTS workshop in Hutsul music with the legendary featuring the Koliadnyky of Kryvorivnia, the musician and instrument maker Mykhailo Tafiychuk family, Antonia Ermolenko, Lilia Friday, December 19 2 E. 79th St. at Fifth Avenue. Admission: $15. Tafiychuk and the Koliadnyky of Pavlovska, Svitanya Women’s Vocal For information call 212-288-8660. NEW YORK: Yara Arts Group and the Kryvorivnia. Discover the how traditional Ensemble, Downtown Bandura Early Music Ukrainian Institute of America present Saturday, December 20 instruments are made and played. Learn the Group, Natalia Honcharenko, Mike Andrec, “Winter Sun: A Festival of New Arts and ancient winter songs. You do not have to be Roman Turowsky, Nadia Tarnawsky, NEW YORK: Yara Arts Group and the able to read Ukrainian or music to partici- Brandon Vance and Yara artists plus the Tradition.” An exhibit of contemporary art Ukrainian Institute of America present “Winter inspired by the Hutsul koliada will be opened pate. The workshop will be held on Saturday Koliada Puppets on Friday and Saturday, Sun: A Festival of New Arts and Tradition.” A in the afternoon. You must pre-register. For 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. that evening at 8 p.m. Featured artists: Anya gala concert will feature the Koliadnyky of Farion, Annette Friedman, Maya Hayuk, time and place of workshop call Yara, Tickets: $25; $10 for children. La MaMa Kryvorivnia joined by the Svitanya Women’s 212-475-6474, or e-mail [email protected]. Experimental Theater is located at 74 E. Roman Hrab, Peter Hrycyk, Peter Ihnat, Vocal Ensemble, Julian Kytasty and the New Adriana Kulczycky, Svitlana Matviyenko, Fourth St (between Second and Third ave- York Bandura Ensemble, Nadia Tarnawsky, NEW YORK: The Shevchenko Scientific nues). For information call 212-475-7710. Andrea Odezynska, Oksana Prokopenko, Brandon Vance, the Shepko family, Lilia Society invites all to an evening dedicated to Mariya Tarassishina, Marybeth Ward and Saturday, January 14 Pavlovsky and family, plus Yara artists. Ritual the memory of Ihor Rymaruk (1958-2008), a Andrea Wenglowskyj. The Koliadnyky of food as interpreted by food artist Olesia Lew prominent Ukrainian poet. The program, part CARTERET, N.J.: St. Demetrius Kryvorivnia will perform in all the rooms of will also be presented. The event is at 8 p.m. at of a “literary bazaar” series at the society, Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral and St. Mary the Fifth Avenue mansion, joined by Julian the Ukrainian Institute of America, 2 E. 79th St. will feature talks about the late poet by Prof. Ukrainian Catholic Church are co-sponsor- Kytasty, Nadia Tarnawska, Brandon Vance, at Fifth Avenue New York. Admission: $25. or Vasyl Makhno, Dr. Larissa Onyshkevych and ing a Malanka (Ukrainian New Year gather- plus Yara artists Cecilia Arana, Zabryna $30 for both this event and the one on Friday Dr. Bohdan Rubchak. Songs with lyrics by ing) at the St. Demetrius Community Guevara, Eleanor Lipat and John Guth, The (see listing above). For information call Ihor Rymaruk will be performed by Dr. Mark Center, 681 Roosevelt Ave. Music will be event is at the Ukrainian Institute of America, 212-288-8660. Andryczyk and Yaryna Yakubyak (the by Na Zdorov’ya. Tickets are $55, which “Yeezhak” group). Svitlana Makhno will includes admission, choice of sirloin beef read selected poems by Ihor Rymaruk. The or chicken Francaise dinner, open bar, mid- program will take place at the society’s build- night hors d’ouvres and a champagne toast. ing, 63 Fourth Ave. (between Ninth and 10th The center is located just blocks from Exit streets) at 5 p.m. For additional information 12 of the New Jersey Turnpike; there is a call 212-254-5130. Holiday Inn right off the exit. Doors open Soyuzivka’s Datebook at 6 p.m.; dinner will be served at 7 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, December 26-28 December 31 – New Year’s Eve January 10 – Ukrainian Engineers’ music starts at 8 p.m. For table and ticket with Fata Morgana 12/31/08 Malanka with Svitanok 1/10/09 NEW YORK: La MaMa ETC and Yara Arts reservations call Peter Prociuk, Group present “Still the River Flows,” a new 732-41-5452. Tickets will not be sold at the January 6 – Ukrainian Christmas theater piece by Yara Arts Group directed by door; outside liquor is prohibited. Deadline Eve Supper Virlana Tkacz and designed by Watoku to purchase tickets is January 11.

PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES

Preview of Events is a listing of community events open to the public. It is a service provided at minimal cost ($20 per listing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the Ukrainian community. To book a room or event call: (845) 626-5641, ext. 140 216 Foordmore Road P.O. Box 529 Information should be sent to: Preview of Events, The Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Kerhonkson, NY 12446 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054; fax, 973-644-9510; e-mail, E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]. NB: If e-mailing, please do not send items as Website: www.Soyuzivka.com attachments; simply type the text into the body of the e-mail message.