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ХРИСТОС НАРОДИВСЯ! CHRIST IS BORN!

Theh Published U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXIX No. 52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 $1/$2 in Ukraine Tymoshenko urges opposition forces European Union declines to initial to unite for parliamentary elections Association Agreement with Ukraine “The government will provoke conflicts, clashes of interests and play off contradic- tions within the opposition,” said Volodymyr Fesenko, board chairman of the Penta Center for Applied Political Research in Kyiv. “For there to be less of that, the largest opposition forces need to restrain their emotions and on many issues and consider not only their own egotistical party inter- ests.” Lacking unity, the opposition forces to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych grew even more divided after the parlia- mentary opposition voted on November 17 to support the scandalous election law, which was tailored by the parliamentary www.tymoshenko.com.ua majority to keep the authoritarian govern- Yulia Tymoshenko in a photo taken dur- ment intact. ing her March visit to Brussels. Critics said that by offering their sup- port, the opposition deputies surrendered by Zenon Zawada their moral authority in contesting or inval- Special to The Ukrainian Weekly idating the election results, which most UNIAN/Vladimir Gontar President Viktor Yanukovych is flanked by Herman van Rompuy (left), president of political experts expect will be skewed by KYIV – Imprisoned opposition leader the European Council, and Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, “adminresurs” (abuse of government resourc- Yulia Tymoshenko released a December 20 during a press conference after the European Union-Ukraine Summit held in Kyiv on es) and possibly be tainted by falsification. letter in which she called upon Ukraine’s December 19. “A loser psychology drives the actions of fractured opposition to unite for the sake of the Ukrainian opposition,” declared the the 2012 parliamentary elections, propos- by Zenon Zawada five years working on the Association front page of the Ukrainian Week maga- ing drastic measures such as merging into Agreement, which would have been a sig- zine, depicting the leaders of Batkivschyna Special to The Ukrainian Weekly a single party. She also rejected speculation nificant step in Ukraine’s EU-integration and the Front for Change (Front Zmin) par- about her own party’s division. KYIV – It was St. Nicholas Day on efforts. The Agreement’s Deep and ties as servants.(The populist Front for The letter came amidst growing divi- December 19 but the European Union (EU) Comprehensive Free Trade Area (FTA) was Change party is widely viewed as the suc- siveness throughout opposition forces that offered no presents, abstaining from initial- completed in October after almost four cessor to the pro-NATO, pro-EU Our will likely lead to the Party of Regions of ing its Association Agreement with Ukraine years of negotiations. Ukraine-People’s Self-Defense Bloc.) Ukraine retaining power. That would also – an event that had been hoped for months The politically motivated imprisonment Indeed it’s the widely held view among imply Ms. Tymoshenko staying in prison and whose failure was deemed by the of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko pro-Western Ukrainians that the parlia- longer, hurting not only her political pros- opposition as a foreign policy catastrophe had derailed the Ukraine-EU Association mentary opposition – consisting of the pects but also those of her Batkivschyna for the Ukrainian government. Agreement, as confirmed in a communiqué issued in Brussels on December 19 by the party, experts said. (Continued on page 22) Ukrainian diplomats had spent nearly Europe on Council and the European Commission. “EU leaders underline the necessity of all-encompassing reforms of Ukraine’s Weekly TV program in Ukraine to focus on diaspora communities judicial system and measures against a politically motivated and selective judicia- TORONTO – On December 17 in Toronto, ry,” the communiqué stated. the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) Ukrainian diplomats held out hope the signed a memorandum with Ukraine’s pact could be initialed as early as January. Channel 5 TV in Ukraine and IMB+ Records Yet that’s not nearly as important has getting in Canada to launch a new weekly television it signed, which would require far greater news journal, “Ukrayinska Hromada” concessions from the administration of (Ukrainian community). President Viktor Yanukovych, namely, the The program, to be aired on Channel 5, release of imprisoned opposition leaders will showcase the activities of Ukrainian Ms. Tymoshenko and Yurii Lutsenko, the for- communities beyond the borders of mer internal affairs minister. Ukraine, as well as world events directly In the same December 20 statement, affecting Ukrainians. Vice-Minister Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin In the early stages of the project, claimed the initialing was delayed for tech- Channel 5 will broadcast video footage nical reasons and required linguistic and under the heading “Ukrayinska Hromada” legal review, avoiding the primary reasons during its daily news programming courte- offered by the EU communiqué the prior sy of the UWC and its member-organiza- UWC day. tions. Ultimately, the intent is to produce a At the signing of a memorandum about the launch of a new weekly television pro- The avoidance of an initialing ceremony separate program under the same name. gram called “Ukrayinska Hromada” (from left) are: Channel 5 Editor-in-Chief confirmed that EU leaders were left with a Volodymyr Mzhelskyi, Ukrainian World Congress President Eugene Czolij and IMB+ (Continued on page 6) Records President Bohdan Mouzitchka. (Continued on page 20) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 No. 52

ANALYSIS

Ukraine loses fight against corruption Yanukovych says he wants to release Yulia Ms. Tymoshenko’s arrest was illegal and that it should be cancelled. “If this decision KYIV – President Viktor Yanukovych said by Pavel Korduban marked for retraining the unemployed have remains valid, it will be a crime,” he said. A been routinely stolen. Funds disappeared on December 21 at his yearend press con- Eurasia Daily Monitor state procurator, in turn, said that, according last year that were intended to help ference that he is interested in the release of to the current Criminal Procedure Code, it is The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Ukrainians launch their own businesses former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko not illegal to choose another measure of has detained a fire inspector for soliciting a after losing their jobs, and it has been virtu- like no one else. “I would not mind if Ms. restraint for a person against whom several $44,000 bribe from a company that was ally impossible for companies to qualify for Tymoshenko was released under certain criminal cases were opened. On December 8 involved in the construction of a new stadi- compensation for creating jobs without conditions stipulated by law. Moreover, I the Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv um for the Euro-2012 soccer championship kickbacks. Mr. Halytsky has been charged would like this case to be completed as soon concurred with a motion by an investigator in Kyiv (www.ssu.gov.ua, November 24). with embezzling money from a fund which as possible. I’m interested as no one else. I of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) to Just two days later the chief of the State was set up to help companies create jobs for want it to happen,” Mr. Yanukovych empha- arrest Ms. Tymoshenko, who was already sized. “I became a hostage of this situation Employment Service, Volodymyr Halytsky, former coal miners. The companies in ques- arrested in the gas case and has been held in and when the Europeans came to us – Jose and several of his subordinates were tion reportedly had to pay 15 percent to 20 prison since August 5, as part of the UESU Manuel Barroso and Herman van Rompuy – detained on suspicion of corruption. Cash percent kickbacks. The newspaper alleged case. (Ukrinform) I said, if you know what is the way out of and valuables totaling $7.5 million were that Mr. Halytsky paid protection money to this situation, tell me, what is the practice, confiscated during a search of their offices national deputies from the Popular Party European court to fast track Yulia’s case but the investigation cannot be stopped, and homes (www.zn.ua, November 26). which is part of the ruling coalition and is legal proceedings cannot be stopped, they KYIV – The European Court of Human The two arrests have been the most headed by Rada Chairman Volodymyr will be considered, and no one has the Rights decided on December 14 to fast track recent manifestations of the scale of klep- Lytvyn (Zerkalo Nedeli, December 2). authority to influence them,” Mr. an application from Yulia Tymoshenko, for- tocracy in Ukraine. Several former top officials have been Yanukovych said. He added that he was mer Ukrainian prime minister and Viktor Yanukovych, upon his election as arrested and jailed for corruption since Mr. ready to support the decriminalization of Batkivschyna party leader. “The court took president in February 2010, like all his pre- Yanukovych’s election as president. Many of articles on which Ms. Tymoshenko has been the decision to give priority to the case ...in decessors proclaimed the fight against cor- them are his political rivals, like former convicted, if the Parliament makes that deci- view of the serious and sensitive nature of ruption as one of his priorities. However, he Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, which sion. He said the idea was to decriminalize the allegations raised,” reads a statement has failed to improve the situation. raises legitimate doubts about their guilt certain articles of the Criminal Code, includ- posted on the court’s official website. Ms. Corruption permeates all walks of life, from both in Ukraine and internationally. ing “Tymoshenko’s Article 365,” however, Tymoshenko’s application was lodged with highway policemen who openly solicit At the same time, several officials who the Batkivschyna party said their leader did the European Court of Human Rights on bribes for speeding to government officials served under Mr. Yanukovych have also not need it and a “political game then August 10. The applications alleges, in par- who thrive on kickbacks. been punished for corruption. Last October, ticular, that Ms. Tymoshenko’s “criminal former Vice-Minister of the Environment began.” Mr. Yanukovych has reiterated that The case of Mr. Halytsky is special when the investigating authorities began to prosecution and detention were politically because it shows how the corrupt system Minister Bohdan Presner was jailed for nine motivated, that there has been no judicial years (Interfax-Ukraine, October 11). Last probe the Tymoshenko case, he had no works at the very top. Under President authority to stop it, and that a selective review of the lawfulness of her detention in Yanukovych, people connected to three or November, the former chief price inspector, Kyiv [Prison] No. 13, and that her detention Tetyana Rud, was sentenced to five years in approach has not been applied in the case. four of the strongest groups in the govern- (Ukrinform) conditions are inadequate, with no medical ment can steal with impunity, the daily jail (Ukrayinska Pravda, November 18). The care provided for her numerous health Segodnya which is linked to the ruling Party chairman of the state commission for finan- Court confirms legality of Yulia’s arrest problems.” The court’s press service also of Regions reported on November 29, quot- cial markets, Vasyl Volha, has been in custo- noted that Ms. Tymoshenko’s application is KYIV – Kyiv’s Court of Appeals on ing its sources. Mr. Halytsky, who apparently dy awaiting a court verdict since last July, based primarily on Article 3 (prohibition of December 21 upheld a ruling by the did not belong to any of these groups, had when he was arrested on suspicion of brib- degrading treatment or punishment), Article Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv been warned that he could face problems ery. 5 (right to liberty and security) and Article There is a perception in Ukrainian society regarding the arrest of former Ukrainian but he just could not stop, according to the 18 (limitation on use of restrictions on that these arrests appear to be only the tip Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in the sources. rights) of the European Convention on of the iceberg and that many officials linked case concerning United Energy Systems of Since 2003 Mr. Halytsky had chaired the Human Rights. The statement also says that to the very top go unpunished. For example, Ukraine (UESU). At the beginning of the Employment Service, which pays unemploy- notice of the application has been given to it is still not clear who owns the estate in a court session, presiding Judge Olha ment benefits and finances companies to the Ukrainian government, which is request- natural reserve area near Kyiv, where Yefimova read out an application by Ms. create jobs, with a break immediately after ed to submit observations. The Pechersk President Yanukovych established his resi- Tymoshenko, in which she asked the court the Orange Revolution in 2004-2005. Thus, District Court of Kyiv found Ms. dence (Ukrayinska Pravda, September 5). to hold a session in her absence. Earlier, a he worked in this position in all the govern- Tymoshenko guilty of abuse of office when Chornomornaftohaz, a subsidiary of the lawyer for the former prime minister, Serhii ments under three Ukrainian presidents. signing gas contracts with Russia in 2009 Vlasenko, said that a ruling issued at a visit- During this period, the service’s social state-owned oil and gas company Naftohaz ing session of the district court regarding protection system was transformed into a Ukrainy, reportedly overpaid millions of dol- (Continued on page 14) system of organized plunder, according to lars for an oil rig to an obscure company the weekly Zerkalo Nedeli. Funds ear- (Continued on page 9) The Ukrainian Weekly FOUNDED 1933 Helsinki Commission chair notes An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Yearly subscription rate: $65; for UNA members — $55. anniversary of Belarus crackdown Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. (ISSN — 0273-9348) WASHINGTON – U.S. Helsinki cratic activists. Over the past year, pres- Commission Chairman Rep. Chris Smith sure on civil society and on the indepen- The Weekly: UNA: Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 (R-N.J.) released a statement noting the dent media has been unrelenting. one-year anniversary of the bloody Meanwhile, the economic situation has Postmaster, send address changes to: December 19, 2010, election-night crack- deteriorated, causing suffering for all The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz down in Belarus, which swept up more Belarusians.” 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas than 700 opposition supporters who “It is high time to hold Lukashenka P.O. Box 280 dared to challenge the rule of Belarusian and his henchmen accountable for their Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka. reprehensible, despicable treatment of “The last year has been an awful one those who defend human rights and The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com for the Belarusian people. The tactics struggle for their country’s freedom. On employed on the infamous night of this sad anniversary, we reiterate our The Ukrainian Weekly, December 25, 2011, No. 52, Vol. LXXIX December 19, 2010, and afterwards con- demand for the immediate and uncondi- Copyright © 2011 The Ukrainian Weekly firm the nature of Lukashenka’s rule – a tional release of Andrei Sannikov, Mikalai dictatorship that perpetuates a perva- Statkevich, Zmitser Bondarenka, Zmitser sive climate of fear to squelch dissent. In Dashkevich, Ales Bialatski and others the past year the dictator has undertak- imprisoned for exercising their funda- ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA en repressive measures on a scale and of mental rights. We call upon Mr. Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3041 a brutality which has not been seen in Lukashenka to immediately cease his e-mail: [email protected] Europe for more than a decade. These campaign of repression and allow civil Maria Oscislawski, advertising manager (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 fax: (973) 644-9510 have included the torture of presidential society to freely function, including e-mail: [email protected] candidates, such as Ales Mikhalevich, human rights defenders, defense attor- Mariyka Pendzola, subscriptions (973) 292-9800, ext. 3042 who recently testified before the neys and independent journalists,” Rep. e-mail: [email protected] Helsinki Commission, and other demo- Smith added. No. 52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 3

NEWS ANALYSIS New election law benefits government-backed candidates

by Pavel Korduban example is the relatively new liberal party, but may not clear the 5 percent barrier, far-right Svoboda, according to Strong Ukraine, whose leader, Vice Prime called the new law “a conspiracy,” and said Batkivschyna Deputy Chairman Eurasia Daily Monitor Minister Sergey Tigipko, decided to merge that a party whose leader was imprisoned Oleksander Turchynov. He said in an inter- On December 8, Ukrainian President the party with the PRU (see Eurasia Daily by the authorities should not have sided view with LIGABiznesInform that it was a Viktor Yanukovych signed the law on par- Monitor, September 20). with the government on election rules realistic goal to put forward joint candi- liamentary elections, which the Verkhovna Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr (www.klichko.org, November 17). dates from the opposition in every single- Rada passed on November 17. The new Lytvyn has also indicated on several occa- This was aimed at Batkivschyna whose mandate district (www.liga.net, December law should allow the ruling Party of sions that his People’s Party could merge leader, Yulia Tymoshenko, was sentenced 6). Regions of Ukraine (PRU) to win the elec- with the PRU. in October to seven years in jail for exceed- Meanwhile, a fresh opinion poll by the tions scheduled for October 2012, despite Mr. Lytvyn’s party has been a junior ing her authority in preparing a gas deal Kyiv-based pollster KMIIS has shown that its declining popularity. partner in the pro-government coalition with Russia in 2009. It is widely believed trust in the mainstream parties is falling, The elections law raises the threshold with the PRU and the Communist Party. that she was punished for her opposition so the well-established parties changed parties must cross to win seats, thereby The new law was supported by the to Mr. Yanukovych. the rules just in time to discourage possi- eliminating many rivals, and re-introduces absolute majority of 366 national deputies FZ leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk has ble new challengers. a mixed system under which it should be in the 450-seat legislature, including many claimed that the new law was “a victory The Party of Regions is still in the lead, easier for government-backed candidates oppositionists who participated in drafting for the opposition,” since it “will eliminate but support for it fell from 13.5 percent in to win. the bill. These included members of election fraud.” He announced that his June to 12.5 percent in November, accord- The new rules should also prompt the Batkivschyna and FZ, who explained their party would start talks to form a joint list ing to the poll. The rating of Batkivschyna consolidation of the fragmented opposi- cooperation with the authorities by con- for single-mandate districts with fell from 10.9 percent in June to 10.2 per- tion. The two largest opposition parties, tributing provisions aimed to prevent Batkivschyna, adding that a higher election cent, and the rating of Front for Change fell Fatherland and the Front for Change, or vote-rigging. They said that, had they not barrier gave the opposition a chance to from 7.7 to 7.0 percent. Yet, support for the Front Zmin, have started talks to agree on backed the bill, the PRU, using its numeri- unite (Ukrayinska Pravda, November 18). communists rose from 4.0 to 5.1 percent, joint candidates for single-mandate dis- cal strength, would have pushed through He urged other opposition parties to and for UDAR from 3.1 to 4.4 percent. The tricts. Parliament an even worse bill. join, saying that those not siding with the- share of those who would vote against all, Under the new rules, the 100 percent Apart from introducing the same mixed Batkivschyna-FZ alliance would support were undecided or would abstain, totaled proportional system, where by Parliament system and raising the election barrier, a the government (Channel 5, November 50 percent, rising marginally compared to was elected from party lists, is replaced bill written solely by the Party of Regions 28). This was a change of stance, as last June (www.zn.ua, November 29). with a mixed system, where 50 percent of would have also provided the government summer Mr. Yatsenyuk insisted it was national deputies will be elected from with incentives to falsify election results by unnecessary for opposition parties to The article above is reprinted from party lists according to the same propor- making it possible to vote at home without unite ahead of the election. Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission tional system, and the other 50 percent medical certificates and eliminating oppo- Fatherland and FZ expect several small- from its publisher, the Jamestown from first-past-the-post constituencies. sition candidates on formal grounds such er opposition parties to join, including the Foundation, www.jamestown.org. This is a boon for the ruling party. In the as typos in income declarations late 1990s and early 2000s, when a similar (Segodnya, November 18; UNIAN, system existed in Ukraine, pro-govern- November 17). ment candidates usually defeated their The pro-opposition website Ukrayinska Quotable notes Pravda said the consensus in Parliament rivals in the first-past-the-post constituen- “I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Vaclav Havel, the Czech on the new election law was “a coup of big cies, because they were supported by local Republic’s first democratically elected president and leader of the Velvet Revolution. mayors, council members and rich busi- parties against small parties.” The new His death is a loss for the Czech Republic and for human rights defenders around the nessmen, who were, as a rule, linked to the rules may lead to a three-party system world. He was an inspiration to me and I was proud to call him a friend. He once said ruling elite. consisting of the PRU, Batkivschyna and that his hope was for history to remember him as having done something useful. The threshold for parties is raised from FZ, the website predicted (Ukrainska President Havel spent his life removing chains of oppression, standing up for the 3 percent to 5 percent, and blocs of parties Pravda, November 18). downtrodden, and advancing the tenets of democracy and freedom. When commu- are not allowed to participate in elections. Unsurprisingly, UDAR (Punch), a new nism threatened the peace and prosperity of our world and covered Eastern Europe This complicates the task for small parties, party headed by the boxing champion in a cloud of hopelessness, he wrote plays so powerful they changed the course of both opposition and pro-government. Vitali Klitschko, which opinion polls show history and created new democratic opportunities for millions. And when the people Several of them are likely to disappear. One is the third most popular opposition party of the Czech Republic were finally allowed to express themselves freely, they over- whelmingly chose a man who never wanted to be in politics. “He did something more than useful – he did something extraordinary, and history will remember it. Today, a black flag hangs over the Prague castle in honor of his life Unification efforts and commitment to a better world. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, the people of the Czech Republic, and all those who are committed to advancing human of UOC-KP and UAOC fail rights.” – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in a press statement issued on other bishops laid down the condition of December 18. Religious Information Service of Ukraine resignation of Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv and KYIV – The unification process All Rus’ for the unification. This condition “Vaclav Havel’s words of freedom resonated throughout Europe and helped us between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was also laid down during the second build a free continent. The Velvet Revolution he led was more than inspiring to us. It – Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) and the attempt of dialogue in autumn, 2005,” paved the way for a Europe whole and free.” Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox reads the statement. – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Lithuanian Foreign Affairs Minister Audronius Church (UAOC), which began last autumn, The bishops of the UOC-KP said they Ažubalis, as quoted by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on failed, it was reported on December 14. cannot accept these conditions by any December 18. According to the UOC-KP, the clergy- means as they view Patriarch Filaret as “Vaclav Havel was a true hero of the human rights movement. As a founding mem- men of the UAOC are to blame for the fail- the hierarch with the biggest experience ber and first spokesman for the Charter 77 movement, whose reports the Helsinki ure of the dialogue. Representatives of the of the bishop’s ministry. In addition, they Commission published, he demanded his government implement the Helsinki Final UOC-KP particularly accuse Metropolitans consider the dismissal of Patriarch Filaret Act and other human rights commitments it had freely undertaken. He remained Mefodii and Andrii, who laid down an to be “the dream of the Moscow constant to his ideals – prison and persecution notwithstanding. As a dissident, he unacceptable condition: the resignation of Patriarchate of many years,” which they exemplified the ‘power of the powerless,’ as he called it, the ability of ordinary people Patriarch Filaret. On December 13, in Kyiv, now try to fulfill “through the mentioned representatives of UAOC.” to live for truth and by doing so face down a regime built on lies. the bishops of the UOC-KP gathered at “It is testimony to his enduring devotion to human rights that one of his last public The Synod of the UOC-KP recalled that their Synod in Kyiv passed a statement messages was an expression of solidarity with political prisoners in Belarus. …” many representatives of the higher ranks explaining their position in this regard, – Rep. Chris Smith, chair of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, as quoted in a commission of clergy of UAOC were once part of the reported the website of UOC-KP. press release on December 19. The bishops noted in the document Kyiv Patriarchate but left that Church due that the two Churches made repeated to conflicts. “Even after becoming president, Vaclav Havel continued to serve as the conscience attempts to unite. “Metropolitan Mefodii in 1995 was the of the continent, warning presciently in 1993 that the treatment of Roma was ‘a lit- “The first attempt to unite was made in administrator of UOC-KP, Metropolitan mus test’ for post-Communist civil society. He remained a tireless defender of the 2000-2001, when Symphoniticon was Andrii was a permanent member of the unjustly persecuted whether they were Czech, Cuban, or Tibetan. And, in 2009, as a signed at the residence of the Ecumenical Holy Synod in 1992-1995. Most of the committed trans-Atlanticist, he joined other statesmen and women from Central Patriarch in Constantinople, and later present bishops of the UAOC are former Europe in calling for a renewal of that relationship. Vaclav Havel’s leadership and agreements were reached at a meeting in priests of the Kyiv Patriarchate who left integrity will be sorely missed.” Ternopil. However, these agreements did our Church for the sake of obtaining the – Sen. Ben Cardin, co-chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, as quoted in a com- not result in unification as the head of positions of the bishops,” the Synod’s mission press release on December 19. UAOC, Metropolitan Mefodii and some statement points out. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 No. 52

Canadian government honors St. Petro Mohyla Institute by Al Kachkowski SASKATOON, Saskatchewan – The gov- ernment of Canada officially recognized the St. Petro Mohyla Institute of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan as a National Historic Site at an impressive public cer- emony held at the institute on September 24. About 150 people gathered to witness the program and the unveiling of the tri- lingual bronze plaque that is now mounted outdoors, near the institute’s entrance. The proceedings coincided with the celebration of the 95th anniver- sary of the institute’s founding in 1916. The master of ceremonies for the pro- gram was Allan Duddridge, Saskatchewan member of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. He introduced the Lastiwka Ukrainian Judy-Anne Chabun Orthodox Choir, which opened the pro- Steve Senyk, board president of the A trilingual plaque is unveiled at the St. Petro Mohyla Institute in Saskatoon. Mohyla Institute, addresses the gathering. gram with its trilingual rendition of “O, Canada.” papers and periodicals collection for the conclusion of the formal program with Mohyla Institute’s history Mr. Duddridge then brought greetings purpose of microfilming rare items for its rendering of “Otche Nash,” the Lord’s The Mohyla Institute is named after on behalf of the Historic Sites and the collection of the Canadian Institute of prayer. Metropolitan Petro Mohyla, a leader of Monuments Board. He pointed out that Ukrainian Studies. She realized then that Mr. Duddridge closed the program by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church who there are 2,000 commemorative plaques “everything I touched was Ukrainian thanking all who prepared for and lived in the early part of the 17th century placed throughout Canada by the Board. Canadian history.” She noted how the attended the program. A coffee recep- in Ukraine. As metropolitan, the Steve Senyk, president of the Mohyla institute, in its early years, was part of tion, visiting and viewing of displays Ukrainian Encyclopedia notes, Mohyla Institute’s board of directors, prefaced the “bursa” movement created by the concluded the afternoon. improved the Church’s organizational his greetings by stating that “This is truly Ukrainian intelligentsia in cities and The celebration of the 95th anniversa- structure, set strict dogmatic guidelines, an exciting day.” In the Ukrainian lan- towns. She also mentioned how the ry of the institute continued with an eve- reformed the monastic orders and guage, he welcomed all present. He paid Institute provided an interesting and ning banquet, program and dance at the enriched the theological canon. tribute to the visionaries who founded stimulating environment in which Ukrainian Orthodox Auditorium in For most of the Mohyla Institute’s his- the institute. He especially thanked Dr. Ukrainian women could develop their Saskatoon. tory in Saskatoon, it was named the P. Frances Swyripa, historian of the skills. She also stated that individuals Guests were greeted at the door with Mohyla Ukrainian Institute. When the University of Alberta, for her work in surrounding Mohyla Institute provided music by the Ukrainian Connection. The new building was opened in 1965, the preparing the application for institute to the impetus for the formation of the auditorium was beautifully decorated for name was streamlined to simply Mohyla receive this award – a process that began Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada. the occasion. Institute. After Metropolitan Petro six years ago. The dignitaries then gathered around As guests enjoyed their dessert, John Mohyla was canonized in Ukraine in Mayor Don Atchison of Saskstoon the covered plaque and unveiled it. The Stech, a jazz pianist from New York and 1996 by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church gave greetings and fondly remembered trilingual plaque was then read to the an alumnus of the Mohyla Ukrainian – Kyiv Patriarchate, the board of direc- the excellent meals served at Mohyla assembled guests. Mr. Duddridge read Summer School, entertained by playing a tors of the institute renamed it the St. Institute when he stayed there in the the English and French, while Nadya number of tunes including his well- Petro Mohyla Institute. 1970s as a member of the University of Foty read the Ukrainian. known “Kolomeyka Fantasy.” In his com- Over the years, the students of the Saskatchewan Huskies football team The inscription on the plaque reads as mentary, he recalled the time he played institute, always a co-ed residence, bene- during their training camp. On a histori- follows: “In 1916, the activities of a with the Dumka Ukrainian dance band of fited from an extracurricular program in cal note, he referred to how Ukrainians Edmonton, Alberta, and that one of its Ukrainian culture. Classes and lessons were once marginalized in the communi- dynamic group of Ukrainian immigrants first gigs was in Saskatoon. At the end of were given in many areas, including ty. Yet today things have changed mark- culminated in the founding of the his performance, Mr. Stech was accorded Ukrainian history, language and litera- edly and Ukrainians have entered all fac- Mohyla Institute at the first Ukrainian a standing ovation from the 200 people ture, dramatic arts, Ukrainian choral ets of community life. On behalf of the national convention in Saskatoon. The in attendance. singing and dancing. Culinary arts, citizens of Saskatoon, he congratulated institute, operated as a student resi- Steve Senyk, board president, greeted pysanka writing, bandura (Ukraine’s the Mohyla Institute on the occasion of dence, supported higher education for everyone at this 95th anniversary event national instrument) and “tsymbaly” this designation. Ukrainian youth while also serving as a and commented on how hundreds of the (dulcimer) paying were also offered. Ken Krawetz, deputy premier of the center for cultural and religious events. Mohyla Institute’s alumni have gone on All of the students belonged to the Province of Saskatchewan and a Mohyla In 1918, following a fractious debate, it to become community leaders. Mr. Senyk student society Kameniari, while, since Institute alumnus, commended the early spearheaded the formation of the stated that, by virtue of this prestigious 1923, the girls belonged to their own board members for providing such a Ukrainian Greek-Orthodox Church of designation, the Institute is now publicly society named Mohylianky. Students left place for students of Ukrainian descent Canada. In the ensuing decades, the welcomed to and has become a member the institute with a strong sense of and helping them to go on to achieve institute instilled a sense of community of Canada’s family of National Historic Ukrainian identity and an enhanced success in their careers. leadership in young men and women Sites, which includes places, people, and knowledge of the Ukrainian heritage. Concluding his remarks the stated, who would go on to found a range of events of national historic significance. Those who graduated as school teach- “Memories made here are often the topic Ukrainian organizations.” M.C. Michayluk explained that the ers were in strong demand in the of discussion when alumni get together. The plaque was then blessed in a organizing committee had decided to Ukrainian settlements of Saskatchewan May Mohyla continue for many, many short ceremony by the Rt. Rev. honor the oldest alumni among us. He and indeed western Canada. They were more years.” Protopresbyter Victor Lakusta, chancel- called forward those alumni who stayed expected to conduct cultural classes and Dr. Swyripa, recalled that the first lor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of at the Institute during the 1930s and prepare Ukrainian concerts with the time that she visited Mohyla Institute Canada. 1940s for a presentation and a group children after school hours. Thus the was in the 1970s to evaluate the news- The Lastiwka Choir participated in the photograph. Each member of the group institute played a huge role in the trans- received a Certificate of Honorary mission of Ukrainian culture wherever Membership in the Mohyla Institute and Ukrainians lived. an acknowledgement of thanks and Many of the leaders, having received UUARC receives Humanitarian Award appreciation for their respective contri- training and experience at the institute, butions. ARLINGTON, Va. – United Ukrainian State, Counterpart International, went on the establish Ukrainian church The Lastiwka Ukrainian Orthodox American Relief Committee (UUARC) Network America Lines, International parishes and local branches of Ukrainian Choir and Orchestra performed several President Dr. Larissa Kyj and Services Corp, A.P. Inspections and 20 organizations. folk songs for everyone’s entertainment. Administrative Liaison Motrja Watters humanitarian aid organizations. Currently, the Mohyla Institute is Lastiwka has held its rehearsals at on December 9 attended Counterpart Several organizations were honored accepting the challenges provided by Mohyla Institute since the choir’s incep- International’s and the U.S. State for their work, among them the United changed demographics in the rural areas tion 28 years ago. Department’s 2011 Small/Medium Ukrainian American Relief Committee, and the forces of assimilation, and is Celebrants of Mohyla Institute’s 95th Transportation Program East Coast which received a Humanitarian Award in engaged in preparing innovative pro- anniversary then danced the night away Conference. recognition of “assistance to the less for- gramming to perpetuate knowledge of to the musical renditions of the Represented were the Department of tunate people of Ukraine.” Ukrainian culture in accordance with its Ukrainian Connection. mandate. No. 52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 5

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

The Ukrainian National Association’s Christmas tradition most popular season to communicate these cards are designated for cultural and duce their work without financial reim- with family and friends, to send pictures of educational projects at Soyuzivka. bursement – have contributed their tal- an ever-growing family and in general, to Special thanks are due to all the artists ents to support the Ukrainian National spread great holiday cheer. who have shared their Christmas-related Foundation. (This year’s Christmas cards Unfortunately, the tradition of writing artwork with us. These artists – who over reflect previously contributed works letters and sending handwritten cards is the years have allowed the UNA to repro- from the past several years.) in danger of being substituted with the various high-tech options. However, it is estimated that 1.8 billion cards are sent during the holidays in the U.S. alone. St. Nicholas Feast Day celebrated Therefore, Christmas cards are going to be around for a little while longer. The Christmas season is a time to at St. Michael’s Parish in Woonsocket reconnect with family and friends. It is also a wonderful opportunity to promote awareness for various charitable causes and to encourage those around us to get involved with the community and support our cultural institutions. Over the years, the UNA has aimed to promote Ukrainian artists through its One of the art works chosen for the UNA’s Christmas Card Project, which involves Christmas card project is Jerome Kozak’s featuring their artwork on the covers of “Madonna” (acrylic, 2009). holiday greeting cards. These cards are then sent out to UNA members, who in by Oksana Trytjak turn share them with their friends and UNA National Organizer families. PARSIPPANY, N.J. – The art of sending The proceeds from this fund-raising personal greetings dates back to the effort support the Soyuzivka Heritage ancient Chinese and Egyptian cultures, Center through the Ukrainian National when people shared goodwill messages Foundation (UNF), a not for profit founda- with their friends and family on slips of tion with a 501 C (3) status. All donations WOONSOCKET, R.I. – Ukrainian National Association Branch 241 in papyrus. In Europe, the custom of sending are tax-exempt as permitted by law. Woonsocket, R.I., hosted its annual St. Nicholas celebration for the children of handwritten cards became very fashion- UNA members, loyal readers of its pub- St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church on Sunday, December 4. Msgr. Roman able when paper became mass-produced lications Svoboda and The Ukrainian Golemba and Janet Bardell, branch secretary, greeted the youngsters. Lydia Zuk and readily available. By the late 1800s, Weekly, visitors to Soyuzivka and the com- Klufas and Lydia Kusma Minyayluk planned the event with poems, songs and prefabricated cards started to make their munity members are encouraged to par- a short play. The parents prepared a delicious lunch. Yurij Minyayluk and John appearance and sending invitations, birth- ticipate in this year’s Christmas Card proj- Tkach provided the musical entertainment. Of course, the highlight of the event day greetings and holiday wishes became ect by purchasing a packet of 12 cards for came when St. Nicholas presented gifts to the eager children. Above, St. Nicholas the norm. Today, Christmastime is still the $25. All the proceeds from the sale of is seen with the children and organizers of the event. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 No. 52

IN MEMORIAM: Jerome Shestack The Ukrainian Weekly dedicated champion of human rights “From DP to DC” The landmark exhibit “From DP to DC. Displaced Persons: A Story of Ukrainian Refugees in Europe 1945-1952,” opened on November at the Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago. (It remains on view through January 31, 2012.) The exhibit demonstrated that, indeed, displaced persons “have stories that must be told,” as Orest Hrynewych, first vice-president of the UNM, had stat- ed in an article that appeared in The Weekly. The “From DP to DC” exhibit in Chicago must be hailed as a major step in that direction, and its organizers deserve our praise and gratitude. This newspaper’s readers first heard about the upcoming exhibit back in February, in a story headlined “Ukrainian National Museum seeks artifacts for DP exhibit.” The UNM at that time was asking the Ukrainian community to sup- port its upcoming exhibit – whose aim was “to present the broad sweep of the DP experience in an interactive setting” – by loaning DP camp artifacts to be used in the display. As Mr. Hrynewych wrote in The Weekly, “The objectives of this exhibit are to inform and educate the Ukrainian community, especially the Fourth Wave immigrants, the general public and the youth in our community about this chapter of post-World War II history.” The opening weekend of the exhibit on November 4-6 was particularly nota- At a White House meeting (from left) are: Vice-President Walter Mondale, Ulana ble, with presentations by experts in their fields: Prof. Mark Wyman, author of Mazurkevich, Jerome Shestack, Orysia Hewka, Chrystia Senyk, Sam Dash and Vera “DPs: Europe’s Displaced Persons, 1945-1951”; Dr. Lubomyr Y. Luciuk, author of Andryczyk. “Searching for Place: Ukrainian Displaced Persons, Canada and the Migration of Memory”; and Dr. Myron B. Kuropas, author of “The Ukrainian Americans: Roots by Ulana Baluch Mazurkevich Every year without fail Jerome Shestack and Aspirations 1898-1954.” Dr. Kuropas spoke on the topic “The Displaced would join the Ukrainian Human Rights Persons Act of 1948: It almost didn’t happen.” (You can read the full text of his Ukrainians have lost a great friend. Committee in commemorating January 12 very enlightening presentation in The Weekly’s November 27 issue.) Philadelphia has lost a great man, a man as the Day of Solidarity with Ukrainian A bilingual (English-Ukrainian) catalogue was published as a worthy compan- who demonstrated that the law and the Political Prisoners. Anytime a human rights ion to the exhibit, which was arranged chronologically and by themes, such as pursuit of human rights were not mutual- activist was sentenced to a labor camp or the diverse facets of camp life, and included a recreated DP camp room. A “Living ly exclusive. A man blessed with unlimit- “psychiatric hospital,” Mr. Shestack would Memory” wall was a place for former DPs to write down basic information about ed humanity, a man blessed with bound- join the committee in demonstration, themselves and their experiences. less compassion. Jerome Shestack (1923- always to raise awareness of what was A story by William Hageman in the Chicago Tribune reported on this highly 2011) was a leading human rights activ- going on in the Soviet Union. He was pas- successful exhibit: “Some quarter-million Ukrainians were left in Germany after ist. He was ambassador to the United sionately committed to the defense of the war. About half ended up in the camps — converted army barracks and old Nations Commission on Human Rights, human rights and to human freedoms. warehouses and buildings mostly — rather than return to Ukraine, where they president of the International League for Mr. Shestack wanted the White House to would have been at the mercy of Stalin’s troops. The exhibit features an amazing Human Rights and president of the be informed of the Soviet Union’s denial of collection of artifacts from the camps: embroidered blouses and shirts made American Bar Association. He passed human rights in Ukraine, and to that end he from parachutes, a punch bowl that was repurposed as a sports trophy, a doc- away on August 18. organized a meeting of the Ukrainian tor’s collection of equipment that he used to treat people in the camps. There’s I met Jerome Shestack at the Sakharov Human Rights Committee with Vice- also a giant map noting about 100 camp locations.” hearings in Washington. This was during President Walter Mondale at the White The artifacts are a concrete manifestation of the highly organized community the heyday of the Soviet Union, when the House. At this meeting the vice-president life that flourished in the DP camps in less than ideal conditions. “They said one gulags were filled with poets, writers and was informed about the situation in thing they can’t take away from you is what’s in your mind,” Mr. Hrynewych told dissidents of all stripes. The only “crime” Ukraine and the arrest of Mr. Lukianenko. the Tribune. “So they pushed education. It was their mantra. They set up grade committed by these brave men and women When the nuclear accident occurred at schools, high schools, a university.” The vibrancy of DP camp life and the resil- was demanding their basic human rights. Chornobyl, Mr. Shestack joined the commit- ience of the DPs laid the groundwork for these refugees’ later success as émigrés Mr. Shestack spoke passionately and elo- tee in protesting the nuclear disaster; each and citizens of the countries where they ultimately settled after World War II. quently on their behalf. year he would join us in observing this The DP story is a proud one that deserves to be shared. We sincerely hope that When Mr. Shestack became ambassador anniversary date. the Chicago organizers of “From DP to DC” take this exhibit on the road to other to the Commission on Human Rights at the Mr. Shestack continued to be a good major cities where it can educate even more segments of the public about this United Nations, he was one of the first to friend to Ukraine. After Ukraine’s indepen- important historical episode. raise names of the imprisoned with Soviet dence and the Orange Revolution, Mr. officials. Prior to that, no public official ever Shestack and I spoke about honoring raised a specific name of a political prison- President Viktor Yushchenko with the er. This was the first time that Ukrainian Philadelphia Liberty Medal. As a highly political prisoners were named. Among respected member of the board of the Dec. Turning the pages back... those mentioned were Mykola Rudenko Philadelphia Liberty Medal Committee, Mr. and Levko Lukianenko. Shestack persuaded the board to award the Fifty-five years ago, on December 30, 1956, approximately Mr. Shestack spoke for the poets, for the Liberty Medal to Mr. Yushchenko, contrary 30 3,000 protesters gathered at Manhattan Center in New York to writers, for all those who were silenced by to the wishes of some on the board who protest the Soviet occupation of Ukraine. Organized by the the brutal regime. He was their voice. He wanted the medal to be presented to Bill 1956 Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, the protest featured gave them a face. He gave them a name. An, Clinton. The following year, former addresses by U.S. Secretary of Labor James P. Mitchell, U.S. Sen.- above all, he gave them hope. They were Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush elect Jacob K. Javits (D-N.Y.), U.S Rep. Michael Feighan (D-Ohio); not forgotten. shared the Philadelphia Liberty Medal. and a statement by incumbent Sen. Herbert H. Lehman (D-N.Y.) was read by Stephen The Ukrainian Human Rights Committee Mr. Shestack’s commitment to Ukrainian Jarema, UCCA executive secretary. worked with Mr. Shestack on many proj- causes will be greatly missed, as will his Mr. Mitchell, in his address, said: “Recently two highly significant documents found their ects. His office and his home were always steadfast dedication to the cause that all way to the free world, disclosing the most appalling conditions in forced labor camps. These open to us. Through him we met many human beings have God-given rights that documents were written by two Ukrainian political prisoners at the gigantic Soviet forced important dignitaries who would work no power on earth could be permitted to labor camp complex located in Mordovia, about 400 miles southeast of Moscow. with us in raising awareness of the situa- take away. “The original Ukrainian texts, dated September and October 1955, are painstakingly tion in Ukraine. Mr. Shestack and I would I will always remember Jerome Shestack written on pieces of linen cloth that may have been torn from the lining of coats. Bit by bit, write op-ed pieces for the Philadaelphia as the epitome of the tireless and passion- through secret means, they have found their way to the free world. These documents are Inquirer, to give light to the thousands lan- ate champion of universal human rights particularly significant because they show that despite the promised elimination of forced guishing in labor camps. He decried those who once said, in speaking of the denial of labor camps after the death of Stalin (forced labor camps which incidently had never been who remained silent in the face of atroci- human rights, “It is only a short step from acknowledged to exist); despite this promise, these documents show that the concentra- ties. silence to complicity.” tion camp system still remains a basic institution in the Soviet economy.” Michael Piznak, master of ceremonies and UCCA executive treasurer. noted that the fight for Ukraine’s freedom from the Soviets continues, as it did with the Ukrainian three organizations. Insurgent Army (UPA), the Ukrainian underground, and the partisans and students whose Weekly TV program... “This memorandum is an important rebellion in Kyiv incited Moscow to send in and fire tanks on the protesters. (Continued from page 1) step in informing Ukrainians living in Dmytro Halychyn, president of the Ukrainian National Association and the Ukrainian Ukraine and beyond its borders about the Congress Committee of America, stated that reports from Ukraine showed that UPA fight- The memorandum was signed by UWC social, national-cultural, educational and ing units, in their fight against Soviet Russian troop and MVD detachments, were able to President Eugene Czolij, Channel 5 Editor- informational activities of the over 20-mil- derail Soviet troop trains and blow up bridges used by the Soviets to quell the Hungarian in-Chief Volodymyr Mzhelskyi and IMB+ lion-strong Ukrainian diaspora and the uprising, and pointed to the fact that Ukrainians, proud and unconquerable in spirit, Records President Bohdan Mouzitchka in Ukrainian World Congress,” stated UWC (Continued on page 22) the presence of representatives of all President Czolij. No. 52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 7 IN THE PRESS: Havel, Putin and Yanukovych “Vaclav Havel, living in truth,” edito- Czechoslovak ‘Velvet Revolution,’ when rial, The Washington Post, December the sight of massive crowds gathered in 19: Prague’s Wenceslas Square prompted a rot- “… [Vaclav] Havel pioneered an entire- ting Communist bureaucracy to collapse, ly new form of political revolution — one proved that Mr. Havel’s strategy could work. Our Arab brethren that is as relevant in the tumultuous year It also helped to establish a model that has Actually, they are not just Arabs. They Baghdad and Cairo, Alexandria and Mosul. of 2011 as it was when he first spelled it spread around the world — to Serbia and include Persians, Egyptians, Ethiopians, So what are these Eastern Christian out in the mid-1970s. His simple but Ukraine, Lebanon and Kyrgyzstan, and Greeks and other peoples in the Middle East Churches? Their number and variety are extraordinary idea was that the most now — in another landmark year of rev- and Northeast Africa. And in this instance I bewildering. They fall into several ritual effective way to defeat a totalitarian olution — Tunisia and Egypt. …” am not speaking of the Muslims. Rather, I traditions: besides the Byzantine rite with regime was for citizens to reject its lies have in mind the millions of Eastern which we are familiar, there are the and ‘live in truth.’ That meant, first of all, “Putin’s Black Eye and Yanukovych’s Christians in troubled countries like Iraq, Armenian, Chaldean (or East Syrian), telling the truth in answer to official pro- Beauty Sleep,” by Alexander J. Motyl Egypt, Syria and Ethiopia. Most Christians in Antiochian (or West Syrian), Coptic and paganda, but also behaving as if funda- on his blog, “Ukraine’s Orange Blues,” those countries are either Orthodox or Ethiopian rites. Most of their followers mental human rights — which most dic- on the World Affairs website, Eastern-rite Catholic. They are thus the inhabit lands that were Christian before tatorships claim to respect — could be December 16: brethren of Ukrainian Orthodox and the Arab and Turkish conquests. taken for granted. “Regardless of how the current post- Catholics in a special sense, and despite dif- The Orthodox Patriarchate of “This was a peaceful strategy but also election protests in Russia turn out, the ferences of geography, language and culture. Constantinople is based in officially secular one that required enormous courage. many thousands of ordinary Russians In the political turmoil that has shaken but overwhelmingly Muslim Turkey, where After writing his seminal essay ‘Power of who took to the streets to demand their the predominantly Muslim countries they Christians number less than 0.2 percent of the Powerless’ in 1978, Mr. Havel spent rights deserve three big cheers. Their inhabit, these Christians often end up as the population. The largest Christian com- nearly five years in prison, where his courageous behavior has dispelled a few victims. munity in the Middle East, on the other health was badly damaged. For 16 years myths about Russia and sent a powerful On October 31, 2010, for example, 42 hand, is in Egypt, with more than 10 percent afterward he suffered incessant monitor- signal to all post-Soviet dictators. Christians, two of them priests, were fatally of the population. Of these, about 95 percent ing and harassment from the secret “… The mostly young and middle-class shot by terrorist gunmen in Our Lady of are Coptic Orthodox. To the south, Ethiopia, police of Czechoslovakia, the most coldly demonstrators have effectively squashed Salvation Cathedral in Baghdad. Last the world’s oldest Christian state after repressive regime of the Soviet bloc. … January 1, as parishioners of the Coptic Armenia, experienced the anti-religious pol- “The stunning success of the 1989 (Continued on page 19) Church of the Two Saints in Alexandria, icies of the Marxist Derg regime between Egypt, were leaving a New Year’s Eve mass 1974 and 1991. Today, Orthodox Christians shortly after midnight, a bomb planted in a make up 43 percent of the population. car parked at the church entrance exploded, About 10 percent of the inhabitants of Syria, killing at least 21 people. (Touchstone, or 2 million people, are Christian, of which Kremlin leaves Havel tributes to others March/April 2011, p. 10). Last March, thou- about half belong to the Antiochian Orthodox sands of Islamic extremists set fire to 59 Church. In Lebanon, the Maronite Catholic by Heather Maher “Vaclav Havel, a man who embodied the strength of personality and talent in churches and at least 28 homes in and minority, with over a million and a half faith- RFE/RL the face of totalitarianism... was a rare around Asendabo in western Ethiopia, kill- ful, retains its historic influence. A mix of Leaders from all corners of the world model of politics in which consistent ing at least one person believed to belong to Christians, mostly Greek Orthodox, officially have paid tribute to Vaclav Havel – dissi- defense of, and loyalty to, principles and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Over 4,000 constitutes 6 percent of Jordan’s population. dent, revolutionary, playwright, and the ideals is above all else. Havel will remain people were displaced in the violence, after In Iraq, dictatorship and war have contribut- first president of the Czech Republic – forever in our memory as a brave and Muslims accused a Christian of desecrating ed to the steep decline of the Christian com- munity. Since the Iranian revolution of 1979, who died on December 18. uncompromising fighter under a totali- the Qur’an. (Touchstone, May/June 2011, p. most of Iran’s Christians have emigrated to But from the Kremlin there has been tarian regime, against which he was able 10). Just last October 9, police and armed the West. Israel’s Christian minority num- only silence. to build honesty and human dignity. forces at Maspero in Cairo attacked demon- bered nearly 20 percent at the creation of Neither President Dmitry Medvedev, “Unfortunately, the president of the strators protesting the burning of churches. Twenty-seven people, most of them the Jewish state. Over a third was lost when Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, nor Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev Christians, were killed. Anxious about their the Palestinians fled in 1948-1949. Today, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has pub- has found it unnecessary to express con- future in a post-Mubarak Egypt where the Arab Christians – predominantly Melkite licly commented on Mr. Havel’s death. Mr. dolences to the Czech nation. More Muslim Brotherhood may gain control, Greek-Catholics – constitute some 2 percent Medvedev did, however, offer a swift important for the Kremlin was the death many Coptic families are emigrating. (David of Israel’s population. Further emigration reaction to the passing of North Korean of DPRK leader Kim Jong Il. Ignatius, “Cairo’s Christians Worry about could eliminate the Palestinian Christian dictator Kim Jong Il, who died one day “We understand that mutual relations Egypt’s Next Chapter,” The Washington presence in the Holy Land. While Saudi earlier but whose death was announced between Russia and the Czech Republic Post, November 8, 2011). Christians officially do not exist, the king rec- one day later. The Russian president sent were sometimes strained, but that does But why, aside from ordinary compassion ognizes that many expatriates in Saudi not apply to relations between our his condolences to Pyongyang almost and (in some cases) common faith, should Arabia are Christian. (“Christians in the nations... immediately. Ukrainians take a special interest in the fate Middle East,” cited below.) “We share the grief of loss that the As reported by website Czechposition. of these Eastern Christians? From a theological perspective, the pic- com, the Russian Embassy in Prague told Czech Republic is currently experiencing, First, we have common problems and ture is complex. The Assyrian Church of the the CTK news agency on December 20 and we express our deep condolences to experiences. Many of these Churches’ histo- East goes back to the 5th century, when it that it had sent an official letter of condo- the relatives of the Czech nation and of ries resemble ours, marked by foreign con- rejected the Council of Ephesus of 431. The lence in the name of the “Russian leader- Vaclav Havel.” quest, schism, decline, reunion and revival. Oriental Orthodox Churches arose from dis- ship” to Czech President Vaclav Klaus. (It It ends with several hundred signa- Some have experienced the pressures of agreement with the Council of Chalcedon of was reported on December 21 that tures and an invitation to readers to add Latinization. Like Ukrainians after World 451. More familiar to Ukrainians are the Russia will send Vladimir Lukin, the their own thoughts of sympathy. War II, many Northeast African and Middle Eastern Orthodox Churches. Several of the country’s ombudsman, to the funeral on Mr. Havel wrote his last commentary Eastern Christians have been driven from Orthodox Churches have Uniate counter- December 23.) for Novaya Gazeta, on December 9, about their homelands by hostile regimes, war parts which, like the Ukrainian Catholic Mr. Havel’s hatred of communism and the disputed Russian parliamentary elec- and revolution. Thus, for example, while in Church, represent Orthodox who at some symbol as a democratic reformer put tions days earlier. “There can be no talk 1932, one in five Iraqis was Christian, today point re-united with Rome. The Lebanese- him at odds with Russia after the col- of democracy as long as the leaders of it is one in 33. Moreover, Middle Eastern based Maronite Catholic Church, however, lapse of the Soviet Union, and he was the state insult the dignity of citizens, émigré churches face the same challenges has no Orthodox counterpart. especially critical of Putin. control the judiciary, the mass media and of cultural and spiritual survival as ours. In So when we sit down to Christmas Eve But news of Mr. Havel’s death pro- manipulate election results,” he wrote. some North American cities like Detroit, we supper, let us remember our fellow Eastern pelled many ordinary Russians out of On December 19, Deputy Editor Vitaly are neighbors. Christians in the Middle East and Northeast their warm apartments and houses and Yaroshevsky wrote in praise of Mr. In addition, familiarity with the Africa. Many of them are giving their lives through the cold Moscow streets to the Havel’s unflagging concern for Russian Christian experience in these lands can for their faith. Perhaps connecting with Czech Embassy, where a book of condo- freedom: “The passing of Vaclav Havel is help us better understand their politics, these present-day martyrs will give our lence had been set out. Radio station not just a loss for Czechs. It’s a loss for us and the effects of our nation’s policies. Has own flagging faith a reanimating jolt. Ekho Moskvy reported that a steady all, because now it will be much harder our military presence in Iraq upset the del- Further reading: Ronald G. Roberson, CSP. stream of people was still arriving at for us to struggle with the complex cir- icate inter-religious balance? Can it bring The Eastern Christian Churches: A Brief closing time on December 19. cumstances within our country.” stability and toleration? Survey (7th edition). Washington, DC: In the face of the Kremlin’s silence, hun- And finally, it is in the Middle East and USCCB, 2011. “Christians in the Middle East” dreds of Russians have found their own Copyright 2011, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted Northeast Africa today that the Church is (Special Edition), One (New York: CNEWA), ways to express their feelings. A website with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ most threatened – and most alive. For mar- Vol. 36, No. 5 (September 2010). has been set up in Mr. Havel’s memory, Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, tyrdom is not just something that hap- www.havelinmemoriam.ru, and the text, Washington DC 20036 (see http://www. pened in ancient Rome. It is happening Andrew Sorokowski can be reached at written in both Czech and Russian, reads: rferl.org/articleprintview/24429114.html). today in the streets and squares of [email protected]. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 No. 52 No. 52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 9

COMMENTARY: Should Ukraine forget its history?

by Alexander Motyl cal narrative could never be attained. known as the State of Slobbovia. Second, appear to coincide with post-modernist Second, can we, living human beings, one can write a history of the Slobbovian claims about indeterminacy, meaning- PART I actually follow President Peres’s advice people, or nation. That would entail trac- lessness, subjectivism and relativism, it is and, in the absence of a mega-totalitarian ing all the social, economic, political and actually rooted in fairly traditional under- Back on November 25, 2010, while on state, forget history of our own volition? I cultural developments that led to the standings of history. Facts exist in Danto’s a state visit to Kyiv, Israel’s President do not see how. emergence and consolidation of a self- reading, and historians are able to deter- Shimon Peres noted: “If Ukrainians were For one thing, we would have to forget conscious ethno-cultural community mine what they are. Historians must to ask me for advice, I would say: forget how to remember – not to remember called the Slobbovians. Third, one can therefore pay obeisance to chronological history.” I confess to having been, and still accurately, but just to remember. That write a history of the territory of time, they must produce coherent narra- being, stunned, intrigued and perplexed seems logically impossible. Slobbovia. That would entail tracing all tives, and they must demonstrate that the by Peres’s comment – so much so that I For another, most people in most coun- the relationships between and among all facts they claim as facts are indeed facts – would like today to look more closely at tries of the world today live in societies the people and peoples inhabiting the ter- that is, that they are statements about the notion of “forgetting history” and try that involve some form of public conten- ritory of Slobbovia. reality that, by virtue of their being sup- to determine whether and under which tion – and every form of public conten- Which of these national narratives is ported by persuasive evidence, actually conditions such a thing might be possible tion always draws on memories, histories better or best? The answer is that, other correspond to reality. or desirable, in general and in the case of and some record of some past. things being equal, they are all equally Histories can therefore be “objective” Ukraine in particular. Thirdly, we live in an age in which all good or all equally bad as historical nar- accounts of what happened, but they can Let us start by engaging in two thought people everywhere have some kind of ratives. If the historians do their home- never be full or final accounts produced experiments. Let us imagine what a soci- collective identity with some sense of work, write with integrity, and arrange from some transcendental vantage point. ety that forgets all history would look like. what the group’s boundaries are and of genuine facts in logically coherent chron- Multiple incomplete histories of anything Then, let us imagine the opposite – a soci- where it came from. For better or for ological narratives, then each resulting are as inevitable and unavoidable as mul- ety that remembers all history. worse, identity presupposes memory or narrative is valid. tiple lines intersecting some one point. A A society that forgets all history would history, or some combination of the two. Fair enough, one might say, but is not feminist history can therefore be as good be even more nightmarish than George Finally, even if some society decided to the very notion of national narratives or as bad, as a historical narrative, as an Orwell’s. Remember: Orwell’s state need- forget history, it could succeed only if passé? Should not truly serious historians anti- or non-feminist history. A nationalist ed history. It manipulated history, by con- every other society were to forget history. develop non-national or post-national or national history can, by the same logic, tinually rewriting it to meet the political Since non-forgetters could manipulate narratives that boldly venture into bor- be as good or as bad, as a historical narra- needs of Big Brother. A society that for- forgetters, however, there would be little derlands and other marginal spaces out- tive, as an anti-nationalist or non-national gets history would have to destroy every incentive for potential forgetters to follow side the state and the nation? Is not that history. single book, journal, article, blog, record- in the footsteps of the first forgetter. kind of history intrinsically better histo- It follows that dominant – or hegemon- ing, film and artwork no later than one In that sense, forgetfulness resembles ry? ic – historical narratives need not actually day after it appeared. In effect, such a disarmament. Who would do it first, The answer is no. As we shall see, there be better as coherently organized chrono- society would live exclusively in the knowing that historical disarmament are excellent theoretical reasons for writ- logical arrangements of facts. They only moment and be engaged in an unceasing would encourage others to retain their ing national narratives. appear to be better because we – or, more attempt to obliterate everything that arsenals of history? And just as it is I adopt the view of history developed precisely, historians and reading publics – could serve as memory. extremely difficult to get countries with by the philosopher Arthur Danto in deem them better. Other things being And since anything can serve as mem- huge nuclear stockpiles to disarm, so too “Narration and Knowledge.” Danto engag- equal, certain histories strike us as better ory, it would have to destroy everything – it would be extremely difficult to get es in a thought experiment and asks than others because they are more rele- starting with all religions, all commemo- countries with huge stockpiles of memo- whether an “ideal chronicle” consisting of vant to present-day concerns or more rations, and all distinctive buildings and ry – such as all of Ukraine’s neighbors – to every single historical fact would amount reflective of present-day views or norms. ending with years, months, days and pos- forget history. to a genuine history. His answer is that an Thus, a feminist history may strike us as a sibly, even numbers. The past and future There is another barrier to forgetful- infinitely large collection of facts would better reading than a non-feminist histo- tenses would also have to be banned, the ness, one specific to Ukrainians and other not and could not be a usable or even ry, but that is so, not because, to quote former for obvious reasons, the latter for post-colonial nations. adequate historical narrative. Why not? Leopold von Ranke, “wie es eigentlich implying that the present is the past in In order to forget history, one must For the simple, if somewhat counterintui- gewesen sei” is demonstrably feminist, relation to the future. Indeed, semantic first remember it. And in order to remem- tive, reason that complete comprehen- but because, inspired by feminism, we change would have to go and the meaning ber history, one must first have a history – siveness is antithetical to history. In reali- look for, and find, feminist facts in “as it of words would have to be fixed forever. a recorded narrative relating the nation’s ty, every history is and has to be partial, really was.” A society that remembers all history development over time. Call that a nation- every history is and has to be “slanted,” By the same token, the current infatua- would be equally dystopian. This society al history or narrative. Like any historical and every history is and has to be a story. tion with borderlands is right to treat bor- would not only preserve every single text narrative, a national narrative is perfectly And stories, as you know, are always sto- derlands as a legitimate way of engaging – whether written, painted, filmed, or compatible with all norms, ideologies and ries, never of everything, but always of history, but it is wrong to suggest that recorded – but it would have to record values that do not explicitly deny the very something with a beginning, middle and borderland approaches are intrinsically every conversation, every whisper and possibility of national narratives. Liberals, end. superior to national narratives. They are every thought. No less important, it conservatives, nationalists, feminists, As a result, all historians always and not. They just happen to be different, but would have to incorporate every single socialists, fascists, Catholics, Protestants, everywhere, intentionally and purpose- it is a difference that, today, strikes us as recorded text into a continually evolving Orthodox, Muslims, Buddhists and Jews fully, write intrinsically imperfect and better – and that, tomorrow, when our grand historical narrative. can all produce equally good national incomplete narratives that make perfect vantage point changes, could just as easily A society such as this would actually narratives if they do their homework, sense for the historians writing from par- strike us as worse. resemble Orwell’s – not because it wants write with integrity and arrange genuine ticular vantage points reflective of their to distort history, but because it needs facts in logically coherent chronological place in time. Every history is thus a nev- Above is the text of the Wolodymyr both obsessively to rewrite history every narratives. er-ending work in progress, because the Dylynskyj Memorial Lecture delivered by hour of every day and ceaselessly to prop- There is no necessary reason to write vantage point of the historian can never Alexander J. Motyl, professor of political agate a maximally comprehensive narra- national narratives – one can, after all, be frozen in time. science at Rutgers University-Newark on tive served up in its most up-to-date ver- write the history of salt, sex, celebrities, Although Danto’s view of history may May 6 at the University of Toronto. sion. codfish, textile workers, rock music, and Let us ask a few more questions about so on – but for better or for worse many, if these dreadful societies. not most, histories are written in this for 2011, which was released by First, is either society possible in manner. Ukraine loses... Transparency International on December 1. Ukraine now shares position 152 out of 183 today’s world? The answer, fortunately, is And, as we know from Frantz Fanon, (Continued from page 2) no. newly independent nations and states with Tajikistan. This is the lowest position An utterly forgetful society would have a proclivity for these types of narra- registered in Latvia which had won an for the country ever, and Ukraine is lower on require such a massive concentration of tives, as independence creates a particu- apparently fake tender, while Energy the list than all of its peers in the Central and totalitarian power as to make Orwell’s lar vantage point for history writing, Minister Yuriy Boyko asked the SBU to find Eastern Europe region including Russia. It state – or North Korea – seem liberal by demands that national narratives emerge out who was behind the reports about the scored only 2.3 on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 indicating the highest level of corruption, comparison. I do not see how such a sys- to provide legitimacy for the new nations deal (Zerkalo Nedeli, May 27, June 4). down from 2.4 last year. tem could emerge at a time of mass com- and states, and enables formerly A survey conducted by the International At the same time, Ukraine has failed to munications, market economics, mass oppressed peoples or groups to find their Finance Corporation last year revealed chill- establish an independent anti-corruption diversity, mass education and the like. voices and recover their memories. ing figures: an average Ukrainian company body by the December 1 deadline set by the At first glance, an utterly remembering There are three possible types of spends some 10 percent of its annual turn- European Union. This has been one of the society seems more possible, inasmuch as over on corruption, and the share of those national narratives. Consider a newly EU’s requirements for visa liberalization businesses which used unofficial ways of the Internet is creating a permanent independent state called Slobbovia. First, (Kommersant-Ukraine, December 6). record of every electronic communica- one can write a history of the Slobbovian solving problems with state officials rose tion. On closer inspection, however, it is state. That would entail tracing all the from 35 percent in 2008 to 46 percent in The article above is reprinted from clear that, since the amounts of data such political formations that contributed to 2010 (Kommersant-Ukraine, November 2). Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from a society must collect would be infinitely the emergence and consolidation of the Unsurprisingly, Ukraine slipped 18 posi- its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, large, a comprehensive and grand histori- administrative and coercive apparatus tions in the Corruption Perceptions Index www.jamestown.org. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 No. 52

U. of Ottawa hosts Danyliw Seminar on Contemporary Ukrainian Studies by Oksana Zakydalsky nationalist underground. Prior to the onset of collectivization in Special to The Ukrainian Weekly 1947, the UPA had used strategic violence OTTAWA – Sixteen presentations and 27 (violence against identifiable groups). As scholars and doctoral students from collectivization proceeded, it became hard- Ukraine, Western Europe, the United States er to differentiate between those who and Canada comprised the program of the joined the collectives voluntarily and those 2011 Danyliw Research Seminar on who were coerced. The UPA turned from Contemporary Ukrainian Studies. strategic to indiscriminate violence, which Held on October 20-22 at the University led to the collapse of the cooperative bar- of Ottawa, under the auspices of its Chair of gain between the insurgents and the locals, Ukrainian Studies and sponsored by the and the insurgency was left without Wolodymyr George Danyliw Foundation, resources to continue its operations. this was the seventh annual seminar orga- Aleksandra Melnyk (University of nized by Prof. Dominique Arel, who holds Toronto) analyzed in detail, through Soviet the Ukrainian Studies Chair. documents, the investigation of a case of The papers presented were gathered anti-Jewish violence in Kyiv’s Podil district, under four themes: “Ukraine and Politics,” perpetrated on September 30, 1941, which “World War II and Memory,” “Education resulted in the hanging of three local peo- and Identity,” and “Holodomor and Gender.” ple three years later. (The full program of the seminar is avail- Myroslav Shkandrij (University of Oksana Zakydalsky able at www.ukrainianstudies.uottawa.ca.) Manitoba) spoke on nationalism and litera- A view of the presenters at the Danyliw Seminar. The largest number of papers – six – ture in the Inter-war period. He claimed were presented under the theme of “World that interwar Ukrainian nationalism was account with statistical analysis of the data Tetyana Kloubert (University of Jena, War II and Memory.” Some of the papers not only a political and ideological phe- from a survey done in May 2011 for why Germany) presented the results of a challenged accepted views and raised con- nomenon but also a literary current. Seven nationhood might not, in fact, boost civic research project that investigated the tentious issues which have resulted in prominent writers most often associated loyalty. question of coming to terms with the past “contested memories” of the war period. with the nationalist literature of the OUN Anton Shekhovtsov (George Bell and focused on the issue of historical guilt John-Paul Himka (University of Alberta) are Yevhen Malaniuk, Olena Teliha, Leonid Institute Kreiser-Fellow, Crimea) spoke on as taught in adult education. The empirical presented a paper titled “The Organization Mosendz, Oleh Olzhych, Yurii Lypa, Ulas “The Rise of the Ukrainian Far Right.” He data was gathered in 2009 through con- of Ukrainian Nationalists, the Ukrainian Samchuk and Yuri Klen. highlighted the paradox that the presence versational interviewing and the guiding Police and the Holocaust,” which sought to Although they were influenced by of far right parties is an indication of the research question posed to teachers in show the connections between the Dmytro Dontsov’s writings (the dichoto- democratic nature of Ukraine while, at the adult education was: “Is the problem of Ukrainian police, the OUN and its role in mous structures – friend or foe, the West or same time, it poses a threat to the develop- guilt and responsibility with regard to the the Holocaust. Prof. Himka set out to Russia; the need for a total severing from ing democracy. Ukrainian past discussed in Ukrainian explain the role of the OUN in the forma- the past; the justification for violence, amo- The rise of the Svoboda party has been educational institutions?” tion of the Ukrainian police. “But although rality and passion), they did not accept successful due to efficient strategies and Tatyana Zhurzhenko (University of OUN members did not join the police to kill them uncritically. They gave literary organization, and the growing legitimacy Vienna) spoke on the contested meaning Jews, they joined a force that played a expression to the ideology and helped to of the far right. He also drew attention to of Holodomor memorials in Ukraine. Using major role in the Holocaust in western forge the new mentality and sense of politi- the fact that, although it is not in the two examples, the Kyiv memorial “Candle Ukraine,” he claimed. cal community. Verkhovna Rada, there has been a dispro- of Memory” and the Kharkiv memorial to Kimberley Partee (Strassler Centre for Orest Zakydalsky (Ukrainian Canadian portionately high presence of Svoboda on the victims of the Holodomor, the paper Holocaust Studies, U.S.) focused on the con- Research and Documentation Center, two main Ukrainian political talk-shows: analyzed public debate and political con- cept of collaboration and showed how the Toronto) described one of the oral history Yevhen Kyselyov’s “Velyka Polityka” and flict around both projects. The internation- legal imperatives generated by the trials of projects of the Center – interviews with Savik Shuster’s “Shuster Live.” Associates of al recognition of the Holodomor as geno- the “Trawniki men” (Trawniki was a train- Ukrainians who rescued Jews during the party leader Oleh Tiahnybok have been cide became a top priority of Ukrainian ing camp for guards used in implementa- Holocaust in Ukraine. The first section of invited to every second program of each foreign policy while rituals of collective tion of the Final Solution) influenced the the paper, where evidence was drawn from show. mourning become part of nation-building. perception of collaboration. interviews with survivors and aid givers, Iryna Solonenko (International Yet, three years after their official inaugu- The trials relied on legal codes, whose dealt with the complexities surrounding Renaissance Foundation, Kyiv) examined ration, the new Holodomor memorials conventions misrepresented and distorted rescue and aid. The second section was the role of the European Union as an actor remain politicized. history, for example, in equating anti-Semi- focused on the role of rescue in the politics in Ukraine’s transformation. The paper Oksana Kis (Institute of Ethnology, Lviv) tism with Nazism. She pointed out that col- of memory of the Holocaust in Ukraine. explained why and under what circum- observed that “both scholarly and popular laboration during a time of terror and bru- His central point was that neither the stances the EU was able to push for writings on this subject [Holodomor] tend tal occupation is a difficult activity to define Holocaust nor rescue and aid during the improvements in some areas, while it failed to visualize the horrors of starvation pri- and publicly condemn. Holocaust are integral parts of the discus- in others, by examining two case studies: marily with heartbreaking pictures of des- Serhiy Kudelia (George Washington sion and remembrance of the German public procurement legislation and judicial perate women.... Constructing the histori- University) dealt with the causes of the occupation of Ukraine. reform. The first was a success, but not the cal image of a Ukrainian woman as an defeat of the post-war insurgency in west- There were three papers under the second. eternal helpless victim of historical pro- ern Ukraine. He explained that it was not, theme “Ukraine and Politics. Stephen The theme of education was considered cesses ultimately dislodges the very possi- as has been widely believed, that it failed Shulman and Stephen Bloom (both of through three prisms: disadvantaged bility of recognizing and exploring wom- because the Soviets built a wide intelli- Southern Illinois University) asked the youth, citizenship identity and the ques- en’s agency in history.” Her study focused gence network within the Ukrainian question “does nation-building increase tion of historical guilt. Alla Korzh on patterns of women’s survival strategies, Insurgent Army (UPA). It was collectiviza- the strength of citizen loyalty in Ukraine?” (Columbia University) examined how forms of resistance and modes of accom- tion that helped the Soviets defeat the and provided a theoretically grounded Ukrainian youth – alumni of orphanages – modation to the structural restrictions envisage the role of education in their lives. through which women managed to sup- Her methodology included interviews and port their families during the Famine. focus groups. Herr conclusions were not Maryna Bazylevych (Luther College, very promising for the disadvantaged U.S.) examined the meaning of the high youth: vocational education is still produc- percentage of women in the medical pro- ing factory workers with manual skills fession in the USSR and, subsequently, in demanded in the Soviet centrally planned Ukraine, from the standpoint of the economy, while education fails to provide understanding of feminism. She conclud- full-time employment opportunities to uni- ed that women’s experiences of post- versity graduates. socialist transformations have not been Antonina Tereshchenko (University of universally negative or disadvantaging. Porto, Portugal) inquired about ways Many women have been able to benefit young people in Ukraine understand and from these changes. construct their citizenship identities. A special lecture was delivered by Maria Analyzing this question was complicated (Masha) Lipman (Carnegie Moscow by the fact that citizenship is a contested Center, Russia) speaking on the issue of concept in Ukraine. Her discussion was a Ukraine under President Viktor comparative study in two borderland Yanukovych and Russia’s Ukraine policy. regions of Ukraine – Donetsk and Lviv. The Ms. Lipman is an author and the editor of findings suggested that there was a need the Pro et Contra journal published by for curriculum reform in citizenship educa- Carnegie Moscow Center. She has had a tion which would refocus on accommodat- monthly op-ed column in The Washington Dominique Arel Serhiy Kudelia ing within-nation diversity. Post since 2001. No. 52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 11 Winnipeg holds conference on Ukrainians in Canada during WWII

CIUS WINNIPEG, Manitoba – A group of scholars met in Winnipeg on November 11-12 to examine issues related to Ukrainian Canadians and the second world war. The gathering was a joint ini- tiative of the Kule Ukrainian Canadian Studies Centre at the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS), the Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies at the University of Manitoba, and the Oseredok Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Center in Winnipeg. Additional financial support was pro- vided by the Wasyl Topolnicki Memorial Fund and the University of Manitoba Department of German and Slavic Studies. The well-attended event featured 10 Peter Melnycky (Alberta Culture and presenters from various parts of Canada Community Services) reveals little- who addressed a wide range of topics that Dr. Jody Perrun (Royal Military College) speaks about Ukrainian Canadian national- known facts about Alberta Ukrainians in stimulated lively discussion, engaging the ists and communists in Winnipeg during World War II. the Royal Canadian Air Force. audience and session chairs alike. The conference was introduced by Jars service personnel held by the UCRDC in (among them reports of local Ukrainian and because of the growing threat posed Balan (CIUS Kule Center) with a recitation Toronto. Although the collection is small women marrying Americans stationed or by Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, the of a 1903 poem by the pioneer-era com- (37 interviews) and not wholly represen- working in the Edmonton area during the image of Joseph Stalin and his Bolshevik munity activist Michael Gowda, who tative, it nonetheless provides some war years), as well as accounts of the regime gradually turned from that of a argued in his work that Ukrainian immi- revealing insights into the motives and involvement of Ukrainians in all aspects of menace to Western democracies into that grants would only be recognized as fully experiences of those who joined the the war effort. of a lesser evil, setting the stage for the “Canadian” once they had fought and Canadian Armed Forces. A short Remembrance Day ceremony view of the Kremlin as a trusted ally dur- shown readiness to die for their adopted Dr. Serge Cipko (CIUS Kule Center) fol- was held at 11 a.m., hosted by Borys ing World War II. country. It was this notion of the need to lowed with a look at wartime coverage of Gengalo, a former major in the Canadian The third session put a distinctly human make a “blood sacrifice” that partly Ukrainian Canadians in the Edmonton Militia. The commemoration featured a face on the war. Suzanne Holyck-Hunchuck inspired the title of the conference: Journal and the Edmonton Bulletin, not- video presentation about the participa- (independent scholar, Ottawa) spoke about “Becoming Canadian: Ukrainian ing that two organizations in particular – tion of Canadian forces in conflicts and “Three Brothers in Service,” basing her Canadians and the Second World War.” the Ukrainian Labor-Farmer Temple peacekeeping duties since World War I; a presentation on her own family history, The first session opened with a presen- Association and the Ukrainian Canadian reading of a memoiristic sketch describ- supplemented with contextual research. tation by Orest Zakydalsky from the Committee – received considerable atten- ing the experiences of a Winnipeg veteran Peter Melnycky (Alberta Culture and Ukrainian Canadian Research and tion from the mainstream press. Other named Joseph Malyna, who sought Community Services) then focused on Documentation Center, who discussed articles of interest included death notices, unsuccessfully to join the elite “Devil’s Alberta Ukrainians decorated for distin- oral interviews with Ukrainian-Canadian obituaries and wedding announcements Brigade”; and the recitation of a special guished service in the Royal Canadian Air prayer composed for Ukrainian Canadian Force. His talk included the story of troops by the Rev. Semen Sawchuk, while Russell Bannock (born Slawko Bahniuk in he served as a chaplain in the Canadian Edmonton in 1919), one of Canada’s most Army. decorated but largely unrecognized war- The second session of the day dealt time pilots. He also shared excerpts from with “the war before the war.” Dr. the poignant correspondence between Myroslav Shkandrij (University of another Alberta airman and his parents Manitoba) examined events in Carpatho- back home, in which the former made a Ukraine in 1938-1939. He noted the huge conscious effort to write in Ukrainian expectations of Ukrainians in Canada and even though his grasp of the language elsewhere in the diaspora that this tiny was imperfect. territory would serve as the nucleus of a At the last session of the first day, future Ukrainian state, as well as the gen- Andrij Makuch (CIUS Kule Center) spoke eral willingness of Western politicians about the effect of the 1939 Molotov- and pundits to accept the legitimacy of Ribbentrop Pact, which forced the this fledgling autonomous territory Ukrainian Canadian pro-Communist Left before it was militarily suppressed. to do a complete about-face from the Jars Balan then discussed how the “United Front” against fascism that it had image of the Soviet Union evolved in the been promoting since the mid-1930s. course of the 1930s from that of “Red Needless to say, this put Soviet supporters Scare” to the friendly “embrace of the in an incredibly awkward and dangerous Russian Bear.” Using stories drawn from Dr. Roman Yereniuk (Center for Ukrainian Canadian Studies, University of position. Manitoba) talks to a recent immigrant from Ukraine, now serving in the Canadian the English-Canadian press, he showed Militia, during the Remembrance Day commemoration. how with the help of skillful propaganda (Continued on page 22) 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 No. 52

MUSIC REVIEW: Roman Hurko’s Divine Work by the Rev. Peter Galadza matter of repeating melodic phrases or particular chords, but conveying the deep sense of mystery that characterizes Roman Hurko is a Ukrainian Canadian who has just all authentic worship – Eastern worship in particular. The composed and recorded his third divine liturgy. Like all his composer likes to point out that Eastern Church music work, it is divine indeed. Of course, the liturgy is called should correspond to the environment in which it is per- “divine” because it is the work of the God-man, Jesus Christ. formed. Byzantine icons, architecture and liturgical gestures But Hurko arguably has been deemed worthy to become – are not the expression of casual or “popular” sentiment; they musically – a partaker of the divine nature (see II Peter 1: 4). are epiphanies of the Awesome. Mr. Hurko’s latest liturgy “premiered” the weekend of But Mr. Hurko never allows his appreciation for the “terri- November 12 and 13 at St. Francis Xavier’s Roman Catholic fying mystery” to turn dour. Just when one begins to fear that Church and St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in New the composition may be headed towards the ponderous, Mr. York City. I was able to attend the former and, like Volodymyr Hurko injects an exhilarating phrase with unexpected – and the Great’s emissaries, I knew not whether I was in heaven more contemporary – chords or tempo. And the transition is or on earth, “for on earth there is no such beauty.” flawless. One notes in particular the transition to the third Before sitting down to write the present article I decid- verse of Psalm 102 and 145 (the Typica), respectively. ed to test my impressions by listening to the CD recording Like any great liturgy, this one is punctuated with master- of the liturgy. The music is every bit as glorious as I pieces – selections that will enter “the canon.” Among these remember it from St. Francis Xavier’s. Fortunately, it is are Mr. Hurko’s cherubicon (“Izhe Kheruvymy”) and the even available on iTunes! anaphora (“Mylost Myra”). Thus, just as most Ukrainian The present liturgy is the fifth major work by Mr. Hurko in choirs sooner or later learn Dmytro Bortniansky’s cherubi- 11 years. Since 2000, he has composed and recorded two con No. 7 or Artem Vedel’s “Anhel Vopiyashe” – to name just Carlos Martin other divine liturgies, along with a panakhyda (requiem) for two items in “the canon” – future choirs will surely learn Composer Roman Hurko at the premiere of his liturgy. the victims of Chornobyl, and a Vespers. But this latest com- these, and other pieces, from this liturgy. Of course, the fact position – while every bit as beautiful as its predecessors – is that these works are in English means that one can expect to tradition. I stopped counting several years ago, but I sus- different: it is entirely in English. hear them sooner or later in other churches – from Greek to pect he has surpassed the 50 mark for recordings of Mr. Hurko writes in the liner notes: “The impetus for this Anglican to Roman Catholic. Galician, Carpathian and other Slavic chant (not to mention particular setting of the divine liturgy was twofold: First, to Another masterpiece, which probably, however, will not Western music). These CDs are a kind of living archive for a accommodate those Anglophone Eastern Christians who are enter “the canon,” is the “Alleluia,” sung before the gospel tradition that may have fallen on hard times (more on that no longer as familiar as were their ancestors with the lan- and appended to the cherubicon. The only reason it will below), but like all great traditions is bound to revive. guages used in their services… also to help those who have likely not catch on is its complexity; the average choir will Ukrainians and Byzantine-Ruthenians owe this Irish married into the Eastern Church by allowing them to take have trouble rendering its ethereal chords and rhythm. American a special debt of gratitude. part in the service using their native English language.” Questions of reception aside, this “Alleluia” is simply stun- The liner notes list a pool of other professionals – solo- Of course, there is a third category: adults who have cho- ning; it elevates one into the fluidity of angelic motion. ists and technicians – who are responsibility for the unsur- sen to be baptized or otherwise received into one of the Mr. Hurko’s attention to the distinctiveness of such piec- passed quality of the recording. Mr. Hurko’s wife, Carmen, Ukrainian Churches. And it does happen. Kyivan Christianity es is indicative of his broader appreciation for the struc- deserves special praise as the CD’s producer and organizer has everything it needs to undertake the world’s evangeliza- ture and meaning of the divine liturgy. For example, unlike of the premiere. tion. Mr. Hurko’s liturgy is added proof. many Baroque or Romantic compositions that, ignoring The CD includes a stunning, additional, surprise. In 2004, The clergy’s parts, both on the recording and at St. Francis the text, approach the “Monogenes” (“Only-Begotten Son,” for the launch of “The Divine Liturgy: An Anthology for Xavier’s, were sung by the Rev. Edward Evanko and the Rev. “Yedynorodnyi Syne”) as a backdrop for melodic virtuosity, Worship,” published by the Sheptytsky Institute in Ottawa, George Drance, SJ. Father Evanko, a former Broadway actor Mr. Hurko employs a simpler, chord-based chant, bringing Mr. Hurko produced an exquisite setting of the irmos for the and singer-turned-Ukrainian Catholic priest, does not disap- to focus the words of this profession of faith. feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. For years I had hoped point. The resonance, diction and power are outstanding. And Among the elements that give this liturgy a modern feel that Mr. Hurko would someday make available a recording of while Father Drance’s voice may not be Broadway quality, it is the occasional use of mild dissonance. Parts of the Creed that arrangement. That day has come. Quite frankly, this one complements the Rev. Evanko’s with added prayerfulness. In immediately come to mind. But again, Mr. Hurko under- piece alone is worth the price of the CD. Mr. Hurko takes the fact, one wonders why the two did not switch roles, with the stands that he is composing liturgical, not concert, music. standard, traditional melody from the 1904 Lviv Rev. Evanko, instead of the Rev. Drance, singing the deacon’s Consequently, while the “dissonant chords” function to con- “Irmolohion” (the canonical collection that contains the mel- parts. But that is a trifle. Their contribution is marvelous. nect us with contemporaneity, they never overtake the ody line for many of the Ukrainian Catholic Church’s chants), And then there are Mr. Hurko’s compositions. This is a work. One is reminded of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Vespers, and weaves a breathtaking tapestry of ethereal “heaven- monumental work, and for the premiere almost 100 singers where the composer occasionally transcends “convention” scapes” using innovative polyphony. The CD provides the gathered to perform it. The recording involves “only” fifty, without becoming idiosyncratically “original.” Indeed, Mr. original, unison version found in the “Irmolohion,” immedi- but the effect is no less monumental. From the very first Hurko knows that liturgy is a corporate act. Individual ately followed by Mr. Hurko’s arrangement. One is able to “Amen” one knows that the Kingdom has come in power impulses are to be harmonized with the communal – and hear plainly what is involved in the process. (see Mark 9: 1). And by the fourth “Lord, have mercy” one not because the community is a “collectivity” that stifles This, incidentally, indicates a possible focus for Mr. realizes that like all of Mr. Hurko’s work, not only will this be creativity, but because the communal requires an amenable Hurko’s next project. Unbeknownst to most listeners, the impeccably professional; it will also be rooted in tradition – idiom for communication. And this liturgy communicates! vast majority of Rachmaninoff’s immensely popular Vespers, yet fully contemporary. While worshippers at St. Francis Xavier’s had the privi- for example, is simply an arrangement of traditional monad- Mr. Hurko’s approach to tradition is profound. It is not a lege of seeing Mr. Hurko himself conduct his liturgy, J. ic chants (many of them rooted in the Kyivan tradition, by Michael Thompson, who also provides an insightful the way.) I cannot even begin to imagine the splendor that Archpriest Peter Galadza is Kule Family Professor of Introduction to the liner notes, conducted the recording, Mr. Hurko could spawn were he to arrange other parts of the Liturgy at the Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian sung by the “Schola Cantorum of St. Peter and Guest Artists.” Irmolohion or traditional Galician chant. Alexander Koshetz Studies, St. Paul University, Ottawa. Mr. Thompson is a hero for Christians of the Slavonic did it. Stanislav Liudkevych did it. Mr. Hurko could easily do it – and he would even outdo these masters. Turning to the “hard times” hinted at above, many a Ukrainian Christian will be tempted to ask: who will actually perform such sophisticated music? Gone are the days when even small-town parishes had choirs that regularly rehearsed and sang the liturgy. To begin with, the influx of new immigrants from Ukraine frequently brings qualified singers. And unlike their post-World War II predecessors, they are more receptive to English. Certainly a dynamic pastor in one of North America’s urban centers would be able to generate interest in getting Mr. Hurko’s music performed on a regular basis, especially as non-Ukrainians (among them singers) are increasingly drawn to our parishes. There is also the fact that several of the pieces might be amenable to congregational use. Whatever the case, Mr. Hurko is to be commended for sewing without regard for the harvest. Fatalism is obviously foreign to his psyche; a spirit of hope guides his will. This is an outstanding example for all of us in the Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox communities. Mr. Hurko did not wait to be asked to do this work. He does not seek hierarchical approv- al – though he is obviously not “a loner.” He and his wife themselves sought out and provided the financial resources. And our world is the better for it. More particularly, Ukrainian Christian culture is the better for it. “Culture” is not an abstraction, but the concrete labors Carlos Martin of a Lysenko, a Koshetz, a Kudryk. Today we can revel in the The Revs. Edward Evanko and George Drance with part of the choir at St. Francis Xavier Church in New York. vitality of this culture because of a Mr. Hurko. No. 52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 13

St. Michael the Archangel Parish of Montreal celebrates centennial

Danylo Bobyk Parishioners and clergy at the centennial celebration of St. Michael’s Parish.

by Roman Golash that they attended at St. Michael’s. of Montreal was established as a result of grants, to be later interwoven with the On Sunday, October 30, a pontifical lit- the spiritual needs of the first Ukrainian fate of families of internees during the MONTREAL – St. Michael the urgy was celebrated by Bishop Chmilar immigrants to Canada. These needs were war years of 1914-1918. It evolved with Archangel Parish of Montreal celebrated and invited clergy. A special blessing took perceived through the pastoral wisdom the second wave of immigrants, whose its 100th anniversary on Saturday, place of two: the icon of the Blessed of the great metropolitan Servant of God lot was to arrive during the years of the October 29, with a banquet that was Mykhailo Charnetsky was donated by Andrey Sheptytsky, when he visited Great Depression of the 1930s. attended by 500 guests. Eugene Struminsky and a stained glass Montreal in 1910. The history of the parish was expand- During the ceremonies, a special sur- Icon of St. Michael the Archangel was The centennial history of St. ed with the arrival of the third wave of prise guest, Yosyph Nahorniak (who is commissioned and donated by Bohdan Michael’s parish is the story of each indi- settlers, who came to Canada as refu- 100 years young) received a certificate and Danna Lozynsky for the centennial vidual parishioner, as well as the story of gees, driven from their homeland due to from Bishop Stephen Chmilar recogniz- celebration. the development of the entire Ukrainian military conflicts of the second world ing him as being one of the original The unveiling of a memorial plaque community in Montreal. war. parishioners. also took place outside the church, after On the pages of this history one finds To remember, honor and further Local Ukrainian performers enter- which all participants gathered by a such illustrious names as Metropolitan develop the pages of this history is now tained guests during the festive dinner group photograph. Sheptytsky, Hetmanych Danylo the obligation of those who belong to the that evening at the Le Rizz reception hall. The celebration of this special event Skoropadsky, the Rev. Julian Katriy, most recent wave of immigrants, as well Many of the out-of-town guests were included many preparatory projects ini- OSBM, the Rev. Josaphat Jean, OSBM, as of those who for generations have able to catch up with old acquaintances. tiated during the year, with the publica- Patriarch Josyf Slipyj, Major Archbishop deep-seated roots in Canada. Not only was the event a reunion for peo- tion of the commemorative book and dis- and Cardinal Lubomyr Husar and others. Readers may visit the webpage htp:// ple who moved from Montreal, but it was plays of archival material. This history was written by the lives www.ukemonde.com/stmichael/ to view also a chance to remember the life events St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish of the first wave of Ukrainian immi- photos and video of the celebrations.

St. Mary Church celebrates 105 years MCKEES ROCKS, Pa. – A hierarchical The Rev. Tomson thanked the parishio- divine liturgy marking the 105th anniver- ners, guests and visitors to the church for sary of the parish of St. Mary Ukrainian their presence and expressed his hope that Orthodox Church was concelebrated on the 105th anniversary celebration of the November 27 by Metropolitan Constantine church’s ministry will give birth to a more and Bishop Daniel of the Ukrainian dedicated and fruitful ministry for the Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. years to come. The Rev. Timothy Tomson, pastor, was A luncheon was held after the liturgy, joined by Ukrainian Orthodox clergy from with parishioners recalling the history of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area: the Very St. Mary’s Parish. Some recalled raising Rev. Stephen Ripa, the Very Rev. Roman money when the “new” church was being Yatskiw, the Rev. Paisius McGrath, the Rev. built – for the iconography, the stained- Mark Swindel and the Rev. Deacon Dennis glass windows and the pews. Lapushansky. The Rev. Michael Zak, pastor of “This is my home, my heart. These are St. John the Baptist Carpatho-Rusyn Orthodox my people and I love every single person in parish, also joined in the celebration. this church,” said an elderly parishioner. Metropolitan Constantine thanked the “This is the same with everyone. We are parish choir for singing during the service, one big family. We are one. It is amazing.” Bishop Daniel, (seated, left) with Metropolitan Constantine, joined by Pittsburgh area as well as the assisting clergy and faithful She then recalled how several parishioners clergy, including: (from left) the Very Rev. Stephen Ripa, the Rev. Deacon Dennis for their dedication to the ministry of the had moved out of town, but returned for Lapushansky, the Very Rev. Roman Yatskiw, the Rev. Mark Swindel, the Rev. parish and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church the anniversary celebration. “McKees Timothy Tomson, the Rev. Michael Zak, and the Rev. Paisius McGrath, as well as of the U.S.A. Rocks is still their home,” she added. altar servers and sub-deacons. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 No. 52

Bethlehem Peace Light in Ukraine Vatican 257 wooden Christmas tree orna- supported by the Ukrainian side. He added NEWSBRIEFS ments made by folk art craftsmen and about that now, while Ukraine and the EU are try- LVIV – On December 20, Lviv Plast mem- 2,000 glass folk art ornaments. A large fir ing to build strong long-term relationships, (Continued from page 2) bers received the Bethlehem Peace Light tree for St. Peter’s Square was cut down on Ukraine has to show its commitment to from Polish scouts at the Rava-Ruska democratic principles, rule of law, good and sentenced her to seven years in prison, November 18 in the Zakarpattia Oblast. It is Customs point. Afterwards it was to be governance and fundamental freedoms. with no right to hold public office for three 30 meters high, weighs 4 tons and its trunk passed to the Cathedral of St. George, where President Viktor Yanukovych earlier that years after that. (Ukrinform) has a diameter of more than half a meter. it will be kept. On January 3, it will be passed (Religious Information Service of Ukraine) day said Ukraine and the EU are close to Klitschko ready to sacrifice sports career the completion of work on the text of the be transported to children’s homes, orphan- Ukrainian Christmas tree at Vatican Association Agreement and the transition KYIV – WBC world heavyweight champi- оn to other cities. Before that, the flame will to preparations for the signing and imple- ages and boarding schools. On January 3-6, THE VATICAN – On December 16, the on and leader of the UDAR Party Vitali mentation of the document. (Ukrinform) the Bethlehem Peace Light will be passed to lights were turned on on the Christmas tree Klitschko has said that he is ready to retire all the churches of Lviv. According to repre- that had been transported from Ukraine to Moody’s downgrades Ukraine ratings as a boxer for the sake of political activities sentatives of the Plast Ukrainian Scouting in Ukraine, the party’s press service report- the Vatican. Earlier that day, Pope Benedict Organization, the main purpose of passing XVI received a Ukrainian delegation. The KYIV – Moody’s Investors Service has ed on December 20. “It is a big challenge to along the flame is to spread peace, light and revised its B2 outlook for the ratings of the build European and democratic standards audience was held in St. Clement’s Hall at good will to each home. (Religious the Vatican, reported the Information Ukrainian government’s debt commit- here in Ukraine. But I know that if you don’t Information Service of Ukraine) Department of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic ments in the national and foreign currency fight you won’t win. If it is necessary for me Church (UGCC) on December 19. Patriarch from stable to negative. The agency noted to quit my boxing career to win this fight for UCU sends Vatican 43 fir trees Sviatoslav, head of the UGCC, said, “The that the outlook downgrade is due to risks Ukraine’s future, I will do it,” Mr. Klitschko Christmas tree which Ukraine presents in Ukraine’s budget financing and external said in an interview with the British news- KYIV – The Ukrainian Catholic University today to the holy father is a symbol of unity liquidity income, as well as the downside paper The Financial Times. “Of course, peo- has sent 43 fir trees to the Vatican. They will and Christmas peace. First of all, it is a sym- risks to economic growth and political sta- ple know me first as a boxer. But is there a be used to decorate St. Peter’s Square and bility. The negative outlook also applies to the Apostolic Palace on Christmas. The trees bol of unity of the Ukrainian land as this is a school that produces politicians? Anyone beautiful tree, brought from the beautiful Ukraine’s country ceiling rating of B1 and a who has the honest desire to do good for were sent by UCU on November 30, upon ceiling of B3 on deposits in foreign curren- request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of region of Zakarpattia, and it represents all their people and country can and should be of the regions of Ukraine and all the nation- cy. (Ukrinform) Ukraine. “In this way, the university contrib- a politician,” the boxer said. Mr. Klitschko alities living in it. This Christmas tree is a utes to the organization of Ukrainian Expert: borrowing to be more expensive said his focus now is on defending Ukraine’s symbol of unity and peace within the democracy and European Union member- Christmas at the Vatican. A part of Ukraine Catholic Church in Ukraine, whose exis- KYIV – The worsening of Ukraine’s ratings ship hopes. “Many of Ukraine’s politicians will remain in the Vatican even after tence in the form of the two rites (Byzantine by Moody’s at the B2 level in national and talked of European values but lived in ways Christmas, as the young trees will be planted and Latin) is a vivid sign of unity and broth- foreign currencies from “stable” to “negative” that contradicted them. In spending much there and will grow in the Italian soil,” said erly cooperation between local Catholic will consequently make it more expensive time abroad during my sports career in UCU’s vice-rector for administration and Churches in Ukraine to the world and a visi- for the government to borrow from all credi- Europe and the U.S., I have seen and experi- ble testimony of the communion and filial tors, except for the International Monetary enced the values and living standards that 5. UCU sent to the Vatican five- to -10-meter- respect of Ukrainian Catholics for the suc- Fund (IMF). The head of the analytical exist there. My countrymen deserve to live highdevelopment, fir trees Myroslavfrom tree Senyk‚ farms оn in December the Lviv cessor of St. Peter, His Holiness Pope department of the group Investment Capital this way too,” he said. (Ukrinform) Oblast. The university is also sending to the Benedict XVI. The tree is a symbol of coop- of Ukraine (ICU), Oleksander Valchyshen, on eration between the Catholic Church and December 19 commented on the conse- Orthodox Church in Ukraine, as shown by quences of Moody’s decision. “The down- the presence of the representatives of our grading of the outlook was preceded by a Orthodox brethren here today at this number of well-known reasons: problems of ancient Square of St. Peter. ” He added, “As fulfilling the budget, the worsening of the we inaugurate this Christmas tree, we balance of payments, the absence of access TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL MARIA OSCISLAWSKI (973) 292-9800 x3040 to creditors, stagnation in the IMF program or e-mail [email protected] would like to address the whole world with a call to unity and peace, since unity and and a negative political background in light peace are necessary values to build a pros- of the imprisonment of the former prime SERVICES PROFESSIONALS perous and safe common future.” (Religious minister,” he noted. A specialist at Dragon Information Service of Ukraine) Capital’s department for international sale of debt stocks, Olha Slyvynska, noted that “the Pope Benedict XVI invited to visit Lviv market mostly follows and responds to the LVIV – Mayor Andrii Sadovy of Lviv has news on development of gas talks and gener- invited Pope Benedict XVI to visit Lviv, the al macroeconomic statistics, whereas the downgrading, as a consequence of those events, has no impact on the market.” December 17. “During a solemn audience, Analysts of the Sokrat investment group, in LvivCity MayorCouncil’s Andrii press Sadovy service invited reported the pope оn turn, said that worsening of the outlook on to visit Lviv and asked for a blessing for all the long-term sovereign rating of Ukraine residents of the city of Lviv,” the statement has already had a negative impact on the read. On the evening of December 16 a moods of investors in the national stock mar- Christmas tree brought from the Ukrainian ket. (Ukrinform) Carpathian Mountains was installed on St. Peter’s Square in Rome. Prior to this, the Tymoshenko pushes for with EU Agreement Ukrainian delegation, led by the Vice Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Borys KYIV – During a meeting with European Kolesnikov, was received at a papal audi- Commissioner for Enlargement and ence. (Interfax-Ukraine) European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko Barroso on relations with Ukraine called for the rapid conclusion of the European Union-Ukraine Association OPPORTUNITIES KYIV – Further relations between Agreement, as reported by the commission- Ukraine and the European Union are in the er’s press service on December 13. During a hands of the Ukrainian authorities and will meeting with Ms. Tymoshenko that took Earn extra income! be determined by political developments in place late on December 12 in a Kyiv deten- the country, European Commission The Ukrainian Weekly is looking tion center, the European commissioner for advertising sales agents. President Jose Manuel Barroso said at a assured the ex-prime minister that EU offi- For additional information contact press conference as part of the Ukraine- cials were closely following her case and Maria Oscislawski, Advertising Manager, European Union Summit in Kyiv on would insist on the observance of all her The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. December 19. Mr. Barroso emphasized that rights and on a fair appeal process. “I was having reached this important point, the glad for the opportunity to have a private political events in Ukraine that will now conversation with Yulia Tymoshenko, and to HELP WANTED shape the pace of subsequent events and talk to her about her health condition and the key to strengthening relations between about the developments in her case. I Housekeeper/nanny Ukraine and the EU is in the hands of the informed her about the EU’s concerns live out, needed in Long Island, Port Washington/ Ukrainian government. He added that, first regarding this process and assured her that Manhasset area. 6 year old child, in school. You and foremost, the European side is con- we would continue to follow closely her must have a car. Hours are 7:30 am until 6 pm, cerned about the application of selective appeal, and would insist upon the need for some later nights. Salary $15/hour. justice towards some former members of her to benefit from all her rights to defend Contact Katia at (646)508-6792. the Ukrainian government, as well as herself in a fair process,” the press service reforms, in particular, constitutional and quoted the commissioner as saying. Mr. Fule judicial reforms. Mr. Barroso said relations and Ms. Tymoshenko also discussed the Run your advertisement here, with Ukraine are extremely important for prospects for a long-term political associa- in The Ukrainian Weekly’s CLASSIFIEDS section. Europe, but noted that the values on which these relationships are based must be fully (Continued on page 15) No. 52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 15

domestic political situation in the DRC is NEWSBRIEFS characterized by latent tension. The author of the bill is Ukrainian President Viktor With deepest sorrow (Continued from page 14) Yanukovych. The financing of costs related we share with our family and tion with Ukraine and concluded that a to Ukraine’s participation in the peacekeep- strong consensus among all Ukrainians is ing mission is to be covered from the state friends that on Sunday, needed for it. (Interfax-Ukraine) budget, with their further reimbursement December 11, 2011 by the United Nations. An annex to the draft Yanukovych, Fule talk for three hours law states that large-scale social and political passed peacefully at home into protests and actions of discontent with the eternity our dearest, beloved KYIV – A meeting between Ukrainian interim election results, which were orga- President Viktor Yanukovych and High nized by opposition movements and parties, and unforgettable Commissioner for Enlargement and have not stopped in the country since wife, mother and grandmother European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule December 10. “The situation in the country lasted over three hours on December 13. is described as tense and is characterized by The administration of the president of prolonged confrontation between the armed Ukraine did not give any details of the con- forces of the DRC and illegal armed groups. Sonia Kuncio versation. “The meeting was held tête-à- At this time, the armed forces of the DRC née Krehovets tête,” a source from the presidential admin- cannot maintain control over large parts of istration told reporters. (Interfax-Ukraine) the northeastern region of the country,” born on October 26, 1922 in Remyzivtsi, Ukraine Ukraine may send peacekeepers to Congo reads an explanatory note to the document. Servicemen of the Ukrainian armed forces KYIV – The Verkhovna Rada on have been actively participating in peace- Panakhyda was celebrated on December 20th at Thomas December 19 registered bill No. 9604, which keeping missions since 1992. Over this peri- M. Quinn & Sons Funeral Home, Astoria, NY. A Holy Mass was proposes sending up to 200 Ukrainian od, about 37,000 members of Ukraine’s mili- peacekeepers to the Democratic Republic of tary have participated in international celebrated on December 21st at the Holy Cross Ukrainian Congo (DRC). According to the draft law, the peacekeeping operations. (Ukrinform) Catholic Church, Astoria, NY, followed by burial at the Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery at Campbell Hall, NY. In deep sorrow: husband Mykola Remembering children Lubomyra with husband Stephen Stephen with wife Cecilia Aerospace Engineer Lesia with husband Ted Augustin J. Rudnyk, grandchildren Daniel Kuncio Taissa Kuncio dead of cancer at 84 Michael Rapawy

On October 15, 2011, the Ukrainian community lost war hero, space pio- Eternal memory. neer, accomplished musician, and much-loved father Augustin J. Rudnyk. Mr. Rudnyk passed away in his home in Los Angeles, California, surrounded by his family, after a long battle with cancer. He had just turned 84 several weeks ago. Born on September 18, 1927, in Lviv, Ukraine, Augustin Rudnyk showed an immediate propensity for both languages and music. By the time he was a teenager he had mastered seven languages and was studying at the famous Music Conservatory of Lviv under renowned Professor Yuri Krych. By the ten- der age of only 14, Rudnyk was playing as First Chair Violinist and had become the youngest violinist to ever play in the Lviv Opera House Orchestra. As the violence of World War II swept through Europe, young Rudnyk’s language skills had endeared him to the advancing American forces and he was recruited to work as one of the youngest operatives with U.S. Army’s elite Counter Intelligence Corps (C.I.C. – precursor to today’s C.I.A.). After the war his C.I.C. work continued in concert with the Allied post-war agency U.N.R.R.A. (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) where his jobs included ferreting out runaway Nazi war criminals, Soviet defectors, Soviet moles, and spies. Later, reuniting with the remnants of his dislocated family, he immigrated to the United States where he made the unlikely transition from concert violinist to aerospace engineer - working at the Dzus Fastener Corporation for his uncle William (Volodymyr) Dzus (the company’s renowned founder). He mar- ried Romana Ludkewycz (related to famous Ukrainian composer Stanislav Ludkewycz ) in New York in 1958, and several years later the young couple moved to Southern California where Augustin Rudnyk established a long and distinguished career as an aerospace engineer. His work included being part of the team that developed and built the communication systems for the Apollo moon missions’ Lunar Modules (LEM’s) that safely landed the first men on the moon. When NASA’s Apollo program ended, he worked on the engineering recording systems for NASA’s Space Shuttles, as well numerous U.S. military space projects. His department was later bought out by Kodak, where he would later retire as part of their DataTape Division. Throughout his lengthy and intense career, Mr. Rudnyk still managed to make ‘family’ his priority. He found time to play an active role in U.N.A. (Ukrainian National Association), Ukrainian Engineers’ Society, Ukrainian Culture Center of Los Angeles, as well as participate in his children’s school PTA activities, Plast (Ukrainain scouting), and Ridna Shkola (Ukrainian Saturday school for kids) - where he even served as a teacher for some time. Augustin Rudnyk is survived by his wife of over 50 years, 4 children, and one grandson. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, people contribute to their local cancer research center in his name.

(Marian Rudnyk/ Hollywood, California ©2011MarianRudnyk.All Rights Reserved.)

577 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 No. 52

Roman Rozumnyj Myroslav Petriw (left), president of the Vancouver branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Roman Rozumnyj Congress, with filmmaker Yurij Luhovy and Daria McMorran at the Vancouver pre- Filmmaker Yurij Luhovy discusses “Genocide Revealed” with Walter Zavadell (left) miere of “Genocide Revealed.” at the Vancouver film premiere. “Genocide Revealed” screened at Vancouver Film School

MONTREAL – The feature documentary and were talking for the first time about what “Genocide Revealed” was recently screened to they and their family endured during the students at the Vancouver Film School (VFS), a Stalinist period. leading center for training and higher learning She said she was torn between keeping this a in all areas related to media and entertainment very private, non-obtrusive moment, or record- production in Canada. ing it, thereby giving their stories life and expo- The VFS has 13 different programs related sure, so others would finally understand what to the entertainment arts, including film pro- happened to them during the Famine-Genocide duction, with a limited yearly student enroll- of 1932-1933. This was the first time VFS ment. This was the first Ukrainian film to be screened a film on a Ukrainian topic. screened at the school. Three days later, “Genocide Revealed” was Present at the VFS screening was the pro- premiered in Vancouver to the Ukrainian com- ducer-director of “Genocide Revealed,” Yurij munity organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Luhovy, who answered questions about the Congress, Vancouver branch, the Ukrainian process of putting together a film, the difficulty Women’s Association of Canada and the of making an independent production and how Ukrainian Studies Foundation of British one goes about to begin to search for and Columbia. obtain the rights to use documents, photos and “Genocide Revealed,” a recent winner of 12 archival film footage in a film. international awards, is being shown at various Also speaking at the screening on venues throughout North America. For a list of September 22 was his daughter, a VFS student, upcoming screenings readers may visit www. Adriana Luhovy, who was the main cameraper- yluhovy.com. Organizations may call 514-481- son on “Genocide Revealed.” She spoke of how 5871 or e-mail [email protected], to difficult it was for her to listen to the testimo- arrange a screening of “Genocide Revealed,” nies of survivors and how she tried to cope which is narrated by actor Graham Greene, or with filming them during very sensitive, trau- “Okradena Zemlya” (the Ukrainian version), Yurij Luhovy matic moments when the survivors opened up narrated by actor Bohdan Beniuk. Adriana Luhovy prepares Famine-Genocide survivor from Odesa for a filmed interview. Luhovy documentary premieres in Calgary

by Uliana Holowach-Amiot Museum of Canada, Calgary Collection and the Calgary Canada was the evening’s mistress of ceremonies. She branch of the Ukrainian Self-Reliance Association, along introduced honored guest Yurij Luhovy, the producer and CALGARY – The Calgary premiere of the powerful multi- with the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business director of “Genocide Revealed,” which has received 12 award-winning feature documentary, “Genocide Revealed” Association of Calgary and the Ukrainian Canadian international awards, including those for Best Historical took place at St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cultural Congress. Film, Best Documentary and Best Direction. Center. The event was sponsored by the Ukrainian Uliana Holowach-Amiot of the Ukrainian Museum of Mr. Luhovy recounted the difficulties, both emotional and technical, in the production of the film, and empha- sized the necessity for the completion of the shorter educa- tional adaptation of the documentary for use in schools and universities across North America. He also thanked the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association for their generous support in the making of the feature documentary. The audience was riveted during the screening of “Genocide Revealed.” Among those in attendance was Wayne Cao, member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Calgary Fort, himself a Vietnamese refugee. Mr. Cao is a frequent guest and speaker at the Calgary Holodomor commemoration held in November. Ms. Holowach-Amiot thanked Mr. Luhovy for having the strength and the courage to produce such documentaries, which bring to light the injustices suffered by the Ukrainian people throughout history. Following the view- ing, individuals were moved to financially support the important and much-needed educational version of the film. All proceeds from the September 19 event were des- ignated toward this project. To make a donation toward the educational version of Simon Roy the film, readers may contact MML Inc. – Genocide At the Calgary premiere of “Genocide Revealed” (from left) are: Bohdan Romaniuk, president of the Ukrainian Revealed, 2330 Beaconsfield Ave., Montreal QC H4A 2G8. Canadian Professional and Business Association of Calgary; Uliana Holowach-Amiot, Ukrainian Museum of Canada, For an income tax receipt, checks should be made payable Calgary Collection; Yurij Luhovy, producer/director; and Michael Hantzsch, vice-president, UCPBA Calgary. to “Shevchenko Foundation-Genocide Revealed.” No. 52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 17

Irondequoit sister cities organization hosts educators from Poltava by Christine Hoshowsky IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. – An Open World delegation of edu- cators from Poltava, Ukraine spent a weeklong visit in Irondequoit, N.Y. this past fall. The Irondequoit-Poltava Sister Cities organization hosted the delegation and orga- nized an extensive program to promote mutual understand- ing and shared experiences about education. Participants included highly motivated Ukrainian school administrators, a principal and teachers from several Poltava schools among whom were: Yulia Kril, assistant principal for academic and student affairs, I.P. Kotlyarevskiy Prep School No. 1, Poltava; Tetyana Kryvoshapka, deputy head of Character Education Complex No. 14 (preschool and elementary education); Maryna Kyrylyuk, department of mathematics, Mykhaylo Ostrohradskyy Poltava Region Graduate Institute of Education; Yevheniy Romanov, direc- tor, Poltava Specialized School No. 3.; Olesya Vovchenko, teacher of German, Specialized School No. 3; and Lylyia Sereda, facilitator, Feodosiya, Crimea. Accompanying the delegation was Alexander Etlin, an Open World interpreter from the U.S. Upon their arrival, the delegates were met by representa- tives of Irondequoit-Poltava Sister Cities. At dinner that eve- ning, the delegation was welcomed with the traditional The Open World delegation: (front row, from left) Lilya Sereda, Tetyana Kryvoshapka, Olesya Vovchenko, bread and salt platter and toasted with wine, compliments of Wolodymyr Pylyshenko, Dr. Randall Stone, Maryna Kyryluk, (back row) Yuliya Kril, Yevheniy Romanov, Dr. Irene Lyko Smith, manager of the Ukrainian Cultural Center. Christine Hoshowsky and Anna Kornylo. On Saturday, the delegates met with several leaders of the Ukrainian community. First, they visited the Ukrainian tives of the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Project Among those who helped coordinate parts of the pro- Federal Credit Union (UFCU) where they met Oleg Lebedko, at Monroe Community College. The delegates also met with gram were: Olena Dilai, assistant professor of mathemat- CEO, and Tamara Denysenko, board member and past CEO. faculty and administrators at East and West Irondequoit ics, Monroe Community College; Olena Prokopowych, Then Wolodymyr Pylyshenko, the director of the Ukrainian Central School Districts. At Nazareth College they explored assistant professor of political science, Nazareth College; Library at the UFCU, showed them around the facility. opportunities for international education, and at the and Dr Evhen Lylak, professor in the Department of The delegates then attended a concert presented by the Rochester Institute of Technology they visited a robotics lab. Liberal Studies, Rochester Institute of Technology. students of the Ukrainian Saturday School under the direc- As the program continued they viewed the Rochester The Open World Program is a non-partisan initiative of tion of Zhanna Polyanska Wirlo, the school’s principal. On Ukrainian Diaspora Archival Collection at the Rush Rhees Congress. It is managed by the independent Open World Sunday, at the discretion of their host families, guests visit- Library and then paid a visit to the Skalny Center for Leadership Center at the Library of Congress. The pro- ed some Ukrainian churches. Polish and Central European Studies, both at the gram is designed to enhance understanding and capabili- Irondequoit-Poltava Sister City volunteers scheduled pro- University of Rochester. ties for cooperation between the United States and the fessional sessions with leaders in the Rochester, N.Y., area. The cultural program included trips to the Genesee countries of Eurasia and the Baltic states by developing a The delegates met the Irondequoit Town Supervisor, Mary Country Museum and the Strong Museum of Play. The network of leaders in the region who have gained signifi- Joyce D’Aurizio with whom they talked about local gover- highlight of their visit was a trip to Niagara Falls at the end cant, first-hand exposure to America’s democratic, nance and education. They had a meeting with representa- of the tour. accountable government and free-market system. 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 No. 52

NOTES ON PEOPLE

Celebrates 30 years of priestly service Chosen as Jersey’s 2012 Top Home Chef MORRISTOWN, N.J. – When Inside Jersey, a magazine of The Star-Ledger, announced its search for Jersey’s 2012 Top Home Chef, Donna (Bohdanna) Pochoday-Stelmach submitted a favorite recipe for consideration. The magazine was looking for non-professional chefs to compete in the categories of original appetizers, entrees and desserts. Ms. Pochoday-Stelmach’s dessert recipe was an European walnut, almond-choco- late torte with an almond-coffee frosting and a chocolate-Frangelico-frosting, a French chocolate buttercream frosting, a butter-almond frosting, with an almond toffee crunch bottom and espresso choco- late beans. Donna Pochoday-Stelmach (right) with Her inspiration was her Ukrainian heri- the Ukrainian torte that earned her the tage and years of baking and cooking title of Jersey’s 2012 Top Home Chef in alongside her mother, Ahafia Pochoday. the dessert category. With her is contest When her mother became incapacitated judge Cynthia DePersio. with, and eventually died of, Alzheimer’s disease, Ms. Pochoday-Stelmach took over cream cheese ice cream with red velvet the cooking and baking for many family cake, and a coconut macadamia nut bread occasions. pudding, respectively. PALATINE, Ill. – The Very Rev. Archpriest Mykhailo Kuzma, pastor of Immaculate In October Ms. Pochoday-Stelmach Judge Cynthia DePersio, a pastry chef Conception Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church in Palatine, Ill., celebrated the received an e-mail from the editor of Inside and co-owner of Fascino Restaurant in 30th anniversary of his ordination into the priesthood on Sunday, November 20. Jersey informing her that she was chosen Montclair, N.J., noted that Ms. Pochoday- Joining the Rev. Kuzma (pictured in white) to celebrate the divine liturgy was as one of the three finalists in the dessert Stelmach’s dessert and presentation of it Archimandrite/Mitred Archpriest Ivan Krotec (to his left), the Rev. Andriy Plishka category as judged by a professional New hit every adjudged criteria in originality, (to his immediate right), and the Very Rev. Bohdan Nalysnyk (far right). About 200 Jersey chef. She was asked to prepare and use of numerous techniques, making clergy, parishioners and guests attended the anniversary celebration banquet. present her recipe in the kitchen of The everything from scratch, and tasted good. Star-Ledger in a bake-off contest among She even said the buttercream frosting the finalists on November 9. was “as good as her own.” Ms. Pochoday-Stelmach showed up for Photos and interviews with Ms. the showdown well-prepared with four Pochoday-Stelmach and the other finalists To perform with large boxes of baking materials, mixers, will be in the February 2012 issue of plates, and husband in tow. The other Inside Jersey. Online videos, photos and Opera Colorado finalists showed up with just a small bag recipes from the 2012 Top Home Chef containing their desserts. They had 15 Contest will be available through Inside by Ala Mosijczuk Salter minutes to set up their dessert. Jersey.com and The Star-Ledger. CENTRAL CITY, Colo. – Katherine Ms. Pochoday-Stelmach presented the Ms. Pochoday-Stelmach is a former Kozak is a gifted pianist who has been torte on an eye-catching Ukrainian wood- president of the Ukrainian American Bar performing with the Central City Opera en decorative plate. A second plate held a Association. She was born in Poland, in Central City, Colo., for five years. She torte slice with home-made bittersweet attended St. George Ukrainian Catholic will also begin performing with Opera chocolate mousse in a chocolate mini cup School and High School, New York Colorado in Denver during the January- and a fan of almond brittle. A third plate University and Brooklyn Law School in April 2012 season. held a torte slice with a scoop of hazelnut New York City. She was an active member ice cream and bittersweet chocolate shav- of the Ukrainian American Youth At Central City Opera, she put in hours ings, along with an espresso-Frangelico Association while residing in New York. of practice coaching opera singers and cream drink. She currently lives with her son, Andriy, working summer interns and apprentic- The judges were asked to score the and husband, Roman C. Stelmach, in es – the “stars of tomorrow” who are three finalists on creativity, authenticity, Morris Township, N.J. They are members chosen via a highly competitive program. cooking from scratch and fusion of cul- of the St. John the Baptist Ukrainian For the 2011 season, only 30 young art- tures or techniques. The two runners-up Catholic Church and the Ukrainian ists between the ages of 19 and 29 were in the dessert category made homemade American Cultural Center in Whippany, N.J. chosen out of 970 applicants. Ms. Kozak’s behind-the-scenes contri- butions typically include coaching Katherine Kozak apprentices in diction and providing career guidance. She also performs dur- professor. She earned her master’s A friend to Ukraine’s orphans ing the Fringe Festival short works series degree in music at the University of in the summertime. Illinois. Ms. Kozak is an accomplished pianist A native of Cleveland, Ms. Kozak cur- who has worked also with the Berkshire rently resides in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Santa Fe Her parents, Joseph and Susan Opera and Tulsa Opera. She has held (Yaroslava), were young children when teaching positions at the Juilliard School, they emigrated to the U.S. in the years where she worked with singers enrolled after the second world war. in the Juilliard Pre-College Program, and Ms. Kozak cites her maternal grand- the University of Miami, where she was mother, Stefania Monastryrskyj, as her the music director of the opera theater, greatest influence when it came to cher- principal coach for the department of ishing her Ukrainian heritage, which she vocal performance and visiting assistant says is “steeped in rich tradition.”

“Notes on people” is a feature geared toward reporting on the achieve- ments of members of the Ukrainian community and the Ukrainian National NEW YORK – Olga Szonk Alvino is a generous philanthropist and friend of Association. All submissions should be concise due to space limitations and orphans who shares her wealth and talents by hand-making quilts for orphans in must include the person’s UNA branch number (if applicable). Items will be Ukraine. She has personally made over 150 quilts (some of which are seen above) published as soon as possible after their receipt. that have been delivered to orphanages in Donetsk, Poltava and Ternopil and other locations ministered by Sister Mary Bernarda. No. 52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 19 Ukrainian credit union partners with Holodomor committee in U.S.

At the launch of the new VISA card that supports the work of the U.S. Committee for Ukrainian Holodomor-Genocide Awareness 1932-1933 (from left) are: Walter Drobenko and Christine Balko of Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union, and Daria Pishko-Komichak and Michael Sawkiw Jr. of the U.S. Committee for Ukrainian Holodomor-Genocide Awareness 1932-1933.

WASHINGTON – As the U.S. Committee National Federal Credit Union. for Ukrainian Holodomor-Genocide Participating in the event was the chairman Awareness 1932-1933 (U.S. Holodomor of credit union’s board of directors, Walter Committee) prepares its projects and activ- Drobenko; the credit union’s CEO, Christine ities to commemorate the upcoming 80th Balko; U.S. Committee for Ukrainian anniversary of the Ukrainian Genocide of Holodomor-Genocide Awareness 1932- 1932-1933, the board of directors of 1933 Chairman Michael Sawkiw Jr., along Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union with Executive Secretary Daria Pishko- has initiated a timely program to support Komichak; as well as representatives from those endeavors. various national organizations comprising On November 18, Ukrainian National FCU the U.S. Holodomor Committee. released a VISA credit card, whereby 1 per- Mr. Drobenko who spoke of the impor- cent of monthly proceeds (based upon indi- tance of remembering the Holodomor and viduals’ transactions) will be donated to the in this gesture, contributing to the advoca- U.S. Holodomor Committee’s many pro- cy of memorializing its victims. Ms. Balko grams, in particular the building of the reiterated the financial institution’s contri- Holodomor memorial in the nation’s capital. bution to the work of the U.S. Holodomor A ceremony launching the new credit card was held at the offices of Ukrainian (Continued on page 20)

World Affairs website, December 9: Havel, Putin... “…Does the otherwise bankrupt Yanukovych regime have the coercive (Continued from page 7) wherewithal to force Ukrainians to love the regnant view of Russians as having a it? The thousands of militiamen and culturally coded predisposition to quies- special-forces agents that invariably cence and a strong hand. … If colored revo- appear, clad like Star Wars extras, at lutions were possible in Georgia, Ukraine, demonstrations would appear to sug- and Kyrgyzstan, then why not in Russia? gest that the answer is yes. … “… the Putin mystique has been shat- “The Yanukovych regime is now in the tered, once and for all. There’s just no unenviable, but richly deserved, position denying that a dictator with a black eye of having nothing but coercion and vio- looks ridiculous. lence to keep it in power. But resorting to “…the Russian demonstrators have also violence is a very risky bet. The forces of struck a big blow for democracy in the coercion may carry out your orders — or non-Russian states. Putin’s Russia was they may not, especially if the protesters always the model for would-be dictators in are senior citizens and coal miners in the the ‘near abroad.’ Donbas. And even if they do carry them “…And what about Viktor Yanukovych? out, they’re likely to provoke a mass out- No more beauty sleep for Ukraine’s first, burst of people power that will only has- and last, sultan. Putin’s current travails are ten the regime’s collapse. Knowing that a a nightmare for Viktor and the large-scale use of coercion will probably Regionnaires. After all, Putin’s Russia fail, the Regionnaire thugs are likely to wasn’t just their theoretical model. It was use violence selectively. But that strategy, the regime that provided the rationale for too, is a dead end, as it won’t eliminate their anti-Ukrainian policies internally and the opposition while continuing to their pro-Russian policies externally. … enrage the population. Worse, “Putin’s Russia also provided Yanukovych’s role model — Vladimir Yanukovych and the Regionnaires with Putin’s repressive regime — is showing hope. If the ‘thieves and crooks’ to the east some big cracks. … And, unlike could get away with murder, then why Yanukovych, Putin is charismatic — and shouldn’t their counterparts in Ukraine?… has ideological appeal, economic “So, a very big spasibo to Russia’s anti- resources, and effective forces of coer- Putin demonstrators, who have banged cion. So what’s a powerless autocrat to another — very big — nail into Yanukovych do? …Now that he’s backed himself into a and the Regionnaires’ political coffin. …” corner, you can be sure of one thing: if Yanukovych does decide to spill the “Will Yanukovych Start Cracking blood of his citizens, that won’t be a sign Heads?,” by Alexander J. Motyl on his of strength, but of weakness, decrepitude blog, “Ukraine’s Orange Blues,” on the and despair. …” 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 No. 52

verdict wasn’t final, hinting at new legisla- Association Agreement until Ms. initialed at a low-key event that won’t have European Union... tion that would clear Ms. Tymoshenko on Tymoshenko was freed. Yet, as it turned any political meaning, merely indicating appeal. out, the EU didn’t think the Yanukovych that the two sides approve of the agree- (Continued from page 1) Yet these gestures turned out to be administration was worth the token. ment’s text. bad taste in their mouths after dealing and bluffs, which offended EU leaders. Its leaders were concerned that Mr. The signing the Association Agreement trying to negotiate with Mr. Yanukovych, Nico Lange, a top German political Yanukovych would abuse the initialing had been planned for the summer of 2012, observers said. observer and chair of the Konrad Adenauer ceremony as a public relations ploy to por- however the EU has made clear that won’t happen until Ms. Tymoshenko and Mr. “They are certainly disappointed with Stiftung Fund in Kyiv, told The Ukrainian tray to the Ukrainian public that it indeed Weekly that top EU leaders left the Yalta has EU support, experts said. Lutsenko are released from prison and Ukraine,” said Oleksandr Paliy, a veteran European Strategy (YES) summit in mid- “The EU leadership didn’t want a bom- allowed to compete in the October 28 par- political observer in Ukraine. “They September confident they reached an bastic ceremony that would have made it liamentary elections. The EU also wants an applauded Yanukovych at his inauguration understanding with Mr. Yanukovych, only look like they were signing something,” overhaul of Ukraine’s corrupt judiciary. with expectations that his government to be stunned later when learning of the said Volodymyr Fesenko, board chairman The former prime minister has been would be stable and democratic.” seven-year prison sentence. of the Penta Center for Applied Political imprisoned for five months. Mr. Lutsenko, Besides violating basic standards of rule The EU’s decision to abstain from initial- Research. “The disinterest in pompously who celebrated his 47th birthday in prison of law, President Yanukovych misled EU ing the agreement has serious implications initialing the agreement is a consequence after serving as police chief of Ukraine’s leaders when offering signals to them in for Ukrainian foreign policy, observers said. of the Tymoshenko and Lutsenko cases and 300,000-plus national police force, has September that he would help provide for Initialing is merely a technical step in the EU’s position on them.” been in prison for a year and on an illegal Ms. Tymoshenko’s release, only to allow which diplomats place their initials on By sidestepping even the technical step basis, according to human rights officials. the courts to convict and sentence his top pages and formally express their agree- of initialing, EU leaders wanted to send a Additionally, EU officials have recently political rival to a seven-year prison sen- ment with the text in order to prepare for strong signal to Ukraine that it won’t com- indicated that any signing of the tence on October 11. what’s truly important – putting their sig- promise on its core values of rule of law Association Agreement will be postponed President Yanukovych then submitted natures on it. and independent democratic institutions, until after the October 2012 elections to legislation to Parliament in early October to Political observers expected the EU Mr. Paliy said. ensure they’re held without significant vio- decriminalize certain statutes. The day of would agree to initialing as a token gesture, Mr. Fesenko said he’s confident the lations. the verdict, he assured the public that the but hold out on actually signing the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement will be “If it occurs with the approval of interna- tional observers, there’s a chance that the Association Agreement could return,” Marek Siwiec, a Polish member of the European Parliament and member of the YES board, wrote on his blog. Even if the Ukrainian government was to clear the hurdle of signing the agreement, it would then need ratification by the European Parliament and the parliaments of all 27 member-states, which would be even more challenging given the reluctance of the governments of France and Germany to expand relations with Ukraine.

Ukrainian credit union... (Continued from page 19) Committee and how the transactional pur- chases of its members will benefit Holodomor-related projects. “This is an opportunity for Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union to give back to the community and by leveraging our resources we will help to build a lasting legacy. Of no cost to our members other than your transactions, the Ukrainian National FCU will guarantee its contribu- tions to the U.S. Holodomor Committee on a monthly basis,” she explained. Mr. Sawkiw, chair of the U.S. Holodomor Committee, thanked Ukrainian National FCU for partnering with the committee. “In looking at the credit card, it depicts stalks of wheat, which are the building blocks of our daily bread,” remarked Mr. Sawkiw. “That wheat, which was taken from the Ukrainians nearly 80 years ago, is now transcended into opportunities for further- ing knowledge of the Ukrainian Genocide of 1932-1933 to the world.” He added that the U.S. Committee for Ukrainian Holodomor-Genocide Awareness 1932-1933 will be appealing to the Ukrainian community and its many organizations to apply and use the Holodomor credit card and indirectly con- tribute to Holodomor awareness. To learn more information about the VISA Holodomor card, readers may visit Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union’s website at http://www.UkrNatFCU.org/ Furthermore, readers may view the U.S. Holodomor Committee’s Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/sbPrke (shortened form of https://www.facebook.com/pages/US- Committee-for-Ukrainian- HolodomorGenocide-Awareness-1932-33/ 115928911852192) to learn more about its activities and programs. Donations may be sent to: U.S. Committee for Ukrainian Holodomor- Genocide Awareness 1932-1933, 203 Second Ave., New York, NY 10003. No. 52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 21

Soccer Ukraine’s Uragan Ivano-Frakivsk is in Vitaliy Klitschko (43-2, 40 KO), the Committee’s 2011 Paralympic Sports third place in Group D in the UEFA Futsal WBO heavyweight champion, will fight Awards on December 10 at the Shakhtar Donetsk has been eliminated competition Elite round. After three British boxer Dereck Chisora (15-2, 10 KO) Intercontinental Hotel in Beijing, China. from the group stage following its last-place games• played, Uragan won one, drew one on •February 18 at Olympiahalle in Munich, Konnonova could not attend the awards finish in Group G of the UEFA Champions and lost one, with seven goals for ad eight as announced by Klitschko on December gala, as she is awating the arrival of her new League• with one win, two draws and three against, for 4 points on aggregate. Uragan 13. The 40-year-old Klitschko is looking for- daughter. Konnonova beat three other final- losses, with six goals for and eight against, tied 1-1 against Montesilvano (Italy) on ward to his fight with the 27-year-old ists for the award; Russian biathlete and for a final of -2 points on aggregate. Group G November 17, Uragan lost 2-4 against Chisora. Klitschko won his previous fight on cross-country skier Maria Iovela; American is led by APOEL FC (Cyprus), followed by FC Marca Futsal (Italy) on November 18, and ice sledge hockey player Nikko Landeros; Zenit St. Petersburg (Russia) and FC Porto December 10 against Poland’s Tomasz won 4-3 against Slov-Matic Bratislava Adamek, won by TKO in the 10th round. and Swedish visually impaired cross-coun- (Portugal). Shakhtar lost to Porto 0-2 on (Slovakia) on November 20. try skier Zebastian Modin. At the Winter November 23 and Shakhtar lost to APOEL Chisora lost on December 3 against European title challenger Robert Helenius. Games in Vancouver, Konnonova won gold 0-2 on December 6. The knockout phase of Groups have been announced for the medals in the 5-kilometer and 12.5-kilome- the tournament begins on February 14, Euro-2012 soccer championship. Ukraine, Wladimir Klitschko’s December 10 ter standing biathlon races and Sprint with APOEL to play against Olympique Lyon in Group D, will square off against bout against Jean-Marc Mormeck of France Classic Cross-Country Skiing events. She (France) in Lyon, France. Zenit plays against Sweden,• France and England, while co- was cancelled on December 5 due to com- also won a silver medal in the 3x2.5-kilome- Russia’s Benefica on February 15 in St. host Poland, in Group A, will play against • plications resulting from Klitschko’s hospi- ter Cross-County Skiing race. Petersburg, Russia. FC Porto, for its third- Greece, Russia and the Czech Republic. tal stay to remove a kidney stone. The fight place finish in the group will playing the Ukraine will have its first match against Kickboxing Sweden on June 11 in Kyiv, and Poland has been rescheduled for March 3, and was knockout stage of the UEFA Europa League. Ukraine’s athletes won eight medals at will play against Greece on June 8 in approved by the IBF on December 15. the 2011 WAKO World Kickboxing In the UEFA Europa League, Metalist Warsaw, Poland. Wladimir Klitschko was named Championship in Skopje, Macedonia, on Kharkiv is in first place of Group G, with four “Fighter of the Year” by the World Boxing October 26-29. Dmytro Bezverkhy (57 kg), wins, two draws and no losses, with 15 goals UEFA named the Euro-2012 referees Organization on November 2. Klitschko Dmytro Kirpan (81 kg) and Kateryna for• and six against, for 14 points on aggre- in a statement on December 20, and they • include: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey), Jonas won the WBO belt in 2008 when he defeat- Solovey (55 kg) won gold medals. Silver gate. Metalist defeated Austria Wien 4-1 in Eriksson• (Sweden), Viktor Kassai ed Sultan Ibragimov at Madison Square medal winners were: Kostiantyn Kharkiv on November 30. Metalist drew 1-1 (Hungary), Bjorn Kuipers (the Garden by unanimous decision. Demoretsky (63 kg) and Yuriy Zubchyk (86 against AZ Alkmaar in Alkmaar, the Netherlands), Stephane Lannoy (France), Netherlands. Swedish club Malmo FF fin- kg). Bronze medal winners were: Ihor Pedro Proenca (Portugal), Nicola Rissoli Chess ished in last place in Group G. Metalist will Pryhotko (84 kg), Vira Makresova (48 kg) (Italy), Damir Skomina (Slovenia), play against Salzburg on February 16 as part Vasyl Ivanchuk (sixth place, men’s divi- and Nadia Khayenok (56 kg). The competi- Wolfgang Stark (Germany), Craig sion) and Kateryna Lahno (fifth place, wom- tion attracted hundreds of competitors of the knockout phase, and again on Thomson (Scotland), Carlos Velasco February 23, one home and one away match. en’s division) were named among the top from 61 countries. Carballo (Spain) and Howard Webb 10 grandmasters by the World Chess Dynamo Kyiv finished Group E in third place, (England). Additional officials, should the Wrestling ending its run in the tournament. Dynamo Federation (FIDE), as announced on need arise, are Marcin Borski (Poland), Novemer 1. Ivanchuk has 2,775 points and The U.K.’s Telegraph newspaper reported Kyiv tied 1-1 against Stoke City (England) on Tom Harald Hagan (Norway), Pavel December 1 in Stoke-on-Trent, England. Lahno has 2,549 points. on December 10 that five Ukrainian wres- Kralovec (the Czech Republic) and Viktor tlers have married their English competi- Dynamo tied again on December 14, this Shvestov (Ukraine). Basketball time against Maccabi Tel-Aviv 3-3 in Kyiv. tors. The Ukrainians were invited to train After six games played, Dynamo had one Boxing Ukraine is set to host the 2015 European the English wrestlers ahead of the 2012 basketball championship, as announced by Olympics, and it is understood that as many win, four draws and one loss, with seven The Klitschko brothers’ promotion Olaf Rafnsson, FIBA Europe president, on as four Ukrainian men have married young goals for and seven against, with 7 points on company K2 Promotions Ukraine, hosted female wrestlers whom they met at the aggregate. Stoke City and Besiktas (Turkey) an exhibition at the Kyiv Sports Palace on December 18. The decision was made by academy, where the women had been sent advanced to the knock-out phase. Vorskla December• 17. WBO middleweight Maxim the FIBA Europe Board in Munich, Germany. to improve their skills. In the most recent Poltava was eliminated from Group B, after Bursak (24-0-1, 10 KO) retained his title On December 14, France, Croatia, Germany marriage, Yana Stadnik married British finishing on aggregate with 2 points. Poltava with a third-round stoppage against and Italy withdrew their joint bid to hose wrestler Leon Rattigan. Some of the had no wins, two draws and four losses, with Laatekwei Hammond (18-6, 11 KO) of EuroBasket 2015, citing “doubts regarding Ukrainians have since stayed in Britain, four goals for and 10 against. Vorskla tied Ghana. Referee Yuri Koptsev stopped the the professionalism and the lack of trust in obtaining British passports in the process – 1-1 against Kobenhaven (Denmark) on fight at 1:22 of the third round, after seeing the bidding process conducted by the allowing them to compete for Great Britain November 30 in Poltava, and lost 3-1 against the Ghanain hit the canvas twice before. European Basketball Federation, FIBA in the London Olympics. Other Ukrainian Hannover 96 (Germany) on December 15 in Welterweight Victor Plotnikov (27-1, 13 Europe.” wrestlers include Myroslav Dykun, whose Hannover, Germany. KO) defeated Mikheil Khutsushvili (19-16- Paralympics marriage to his British wife ended in 3, 5 KO) with the referee stopping the fight divorce, and Oleksandr Madyarchyk, who Ukraine’s Under-21 team is in fourth in the eighth round with 15 seconds Oleksandra Konnonova, a paralympian remains happily married. Two other place in Group 2 after four games played. remaining. Kostiantyn Rovenskiy (17-0-2, 4 who won several medals at the Vancouver Eastern Europeans, both believed to be The team has one win, two draws and one KO) drew a tie against Fayzullo Akhmedov 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, was • Ukrainian, also married British women who loss, with five goals for and five against, (10-10-1, 5 KO) of Uzbekistan, with the awarded the title of Best Paralympic Games had been training at the national academy. with 5 points on aggregate. Ukraine tied fight scored 77-76, 76-76 and 76-76. Vitaliy Debut for the International Paralympics with Finland 1-1 on November 11 in Nevesioloiy (12-0, 7 KO) defeated Paata Sevastopol, and defeated Lithuania 2-0 on Berikashvili (11-13-1, 5 KO) of Georgia, November 15 in Sevastopol. Ukraine’s next with the fight stopped at 2:45 of the sixth match will be on May 31, 2012, against round. Berikashvili took multiple head Sweden. Other teams in Group 2 include shots and signaled that he was not okay. A Slovenia and Malta. ringside physician halted the contest after evaluating the Georgian. Light heavyweight Ukraine’s women’s team is in fourth Olexander Cherviak (9-2-1, 2 KO) drew to a place in Group 5 of the UEFA Euro tourna- tie against George Tevdorashvili (9-6-3) of ment.• Ukraie lost 0-1 to Belarus on Georgia, with the judges scoring 77-74 November 24 in Sevastopol. The team’s (Cherviak), 74-79 (Tedorashvili) and next matches will be on April 5 against 77-77. Mamed Yagarov (16-6-1, 10 KO) of Estonia, June 16 against Finland, Slovakia Ukraine defated Olim Nazarov (5-1, 3 KO), on June 20, Belarus again on September 15, handing him his first defeat by unanimous and Finland again on September 19. After decision. No scores were announced. Light three games played, Ukraine has one win, middleweight Dmitry Nikulin (23-1, 8 KO) one draw and one loss, with four goals for defeated Mykola Korenov (2-12) by unani- and two against, for 4 points on aggregate. mous decision in the sixth round. No scores were announced. In the FIFA Futsal World Cup, hosted by Azerbaijan, Ukraine leads Group 5 after The documentary “Klitschko,” about three• matches played, with two wins, zero the heavyweight boxing brothers, Vitali draws and one loss, with eight goals for and and Wladimir Klitschko, won the “Video six against, for 6 points on aggregate. Champion• World Award” on November 16. Ukraine defeated FYROM (Macedonia) 2-1 The jury highlighted the brothers for their on December 15, and won against Croatia exceptional sports achievements and their 4-1 on December 16, and lost to Azerbaijan entertainment talent in the film. The film is 2-4 on December 18. on sale at Amazon.de.

545 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 No. 52

reputation from this vote, but not everything Tymoshenko urges... should be done for ratings,” Ms. Tymoshenko wrote. Eastern Catholic Vocations Fair (Continued from page 1) “At that moment, they didn’t think of rat- ings but about preventing trouble at the Batkivschyna and Our Ukraine-People’s election. It’s understood to everyone that the to be held in Washington WASHINGTON – On Sunday, January Catholic Churches in the United States, Self-Defense factions – has lost much of its election law would have been passed with a 22, 2012, the Eastern Catholic Bishops of which serve communities of immigrants credibility since Mr. Yanukovych became mixed system and with its unfair threshold the United States of America will host the from countries like Iraq, Lebanon, president. and without the opposition, but in a signifi- first ever Eastern Catholic Vocations Fair Romania, Syria, Ukraine and others, as “Why was it necessary to take part in cantly more horrible form with absolute this at all – smearing and shaming them- at the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine well as generations of Americans. opportunities for falsification,” she noted. of the Holy Family in Washington at 1-4 For more information, readers may selves?” wrote Yurii Makarov, a political col- In concluding the statement, she called umnist for the Ukrainian Week magazine. p.m. check out the Facebook page www.face- upon Ukraine’s opposition parties to forge a “The fatal number of 366 votes (in favor) is a The Eastern Catholic Bishops of the book.com/EasternCatholicVocations “single party list on the basis of a neutral new, sad record and a new, dirty page in United States invite all students in the FairUSA, or they may contact Msgr. Peter party” for the 2012 parliamentary election domestic politics.” area as well as interested people to come Waslo at [email protected] or the and a “single list to nominate candidates in In the November 17 vote, 62 out of 103 and learn about the importance of Rev. Paul Makar at ukrvocations@catho- single-mandate districts.” national deputies from the Tymoshenko Christ’s call to the priesthood, diaconate lic.org. Both may also be contacted at: “Only in this case will the chance emerge Bloc lent their support, as did 36 out of 66 and religious life. This is also a great 1-215-627-0143 (phone) or 1-215-627- to prevent the mutual conquering among deputies of the Our Ukraine-People’s Self- chance to learn about the various Eastern 1236 (fax). Defense Bloc. the opposition parties and win the just fight That enraged certain leaders of the oppo- for a ‘Ukraine Without a Mafia’ with a big sition, particularly former Defense Minister advantage,” Ms. Tymoshenko stated. served in this capacity, all of them behind Anatoliy Grytsenko, who abandoned the “I believe that the opposition forces can Winnipeg hosts... the lines and toward the end of the war. find such a consensus, without a petty strug- They were especially active during demo- Dictatorship Opposition Committee that was (Continued from page 11) formed in August to unite the leading oppo- gle for shares and privileges in the lists, and bilization. sition parties. The Svoboda Party criticized demonstrate at least once their love for The final presentation was delivered Ukraine and not themselves,” she said. He was followed by Jody Perrun (Royal by Thomas Prymak (Chair of Ukrainian the vote, but decided to remain a committee Military College), who looked at “The War member. The former prime minister asked the Studies, University of Toronto), who opposition to invite “a highly moral and patri- within the War” between Ukrainian spoke about Gabrielle Roy’s “Steven,” a The vote also fueled speculation on the Canadian nationalists and Communists in waning influence that former Prime Minister otic person on the level of Lina Kostenko to prominent figure in her posthumously lead this list.” Ms. Kostenko, 81, is a legendary Winnipeg from 1939 and 1945, basing published memoir, “Enchantment and Tymoshenko has on the political party that his observations on research for his doc- she founded. Concerns surfaced that poet and writer and member of the Sorrow.” Dr. Prymak sensitively docu- “Shestydesiatnyky” movement of the 1960s. toral dissertation. mented the love affair between the Batkivschyna’s leadership reached its deci- Participants reconvened after dinner sion without Ms. Tymoshenko’s approval. Political observers dismissed the notion Manitoba-born Roy and the Alberta-born of opposition leaders uniting into a single for a screening of the 1943 Hollywood Ukrainian Canadian Stephen Davidovich, She confirmed as much in an anticipated curiosity “The North Star.” Boasting an statement released on December 20, admit- party. Mr. Fesenko called it a utopia, while who met in England on the eve of World Kyiv political veteran Ivan Lozowy, a gradu- impressive array of talent in front of and War II. The intense romance was shat- ting that “I didn’t have the timely opportuni- behind the camera, the film ostensibly ty to consult with the [parliamentary] fac- ate of New York University Law School, said tered by the sudden and unexplained dis- it’s not serious. dealt with the impact of the Nazi invasion appearance of Davidovich, an operative tion on this subject.” of 1941 on the inhabitants of a collective Yet, she reaffirmed that she and the “Certainly there’s a measure of despera- for the Organization of Ukrainian tion,” Mr. Lozowy said of the letter. “She’s farm in Soviet Ukraine. In retrospect, the Nationalists who was given a secret Batkivschyna party are “a single whole, with film was an obvious showcase for the all of our mistakes, victories, disappoint- almost admitting that she’s not the right per- assignment in Europe. Things would views of Hollywood’s leftist sympathizers never be the same once he returned to ments and successes.” Also she voiced her son to rally around. Tymoshenko isn’t seen (among those involved in the production England. Dr. Prymak had been tracing the approval for her party’s decision. as a big moral alternative to the Party of were the writer Lillian Hellman and the contours of this story since the 1980s, “Yes, my team endured a certain loss of Regions.” composers Aaron Copland and Ira when he was working on his book “Maple Gershwin), and it comes across as a Leaf and Trident,” and his thoroughly wooden, somewhat Soviet-style propa- Prof. Lev Dobriansky, chairman of the researched and moving tale was very well ganda piece. Other highlights of the eve- received by the audience. Turning the pages... UCCA, noted the uprisings in Hungary and in ning’s theme-related program were a con- Final comments were offered by Ukraine: “The Hungarian revolution for temporary newsreel and a Donald Duck Sophia Kachor (Oseredok), who noted (Continued from page 6) national independence rudely awakened the cartoon ridiculing Hitler and the Nazis. that competing “nationalist” and free world from a steeping stupor generated constituted the Achilles’ heel of the Soviet The sessions on the second day of con- “Canadian” threads often appeared in the by the false hopes of ‘peaceful coexistence,’ empire. ference consisted of longer presentations. presentations. As for the question of the deceitful smiles of Moscow and the fool- Mr. Halychyn noted that Ukrainian Roman Yereniuk (Center for Ukrainian whether the conference had attained its ish but dangerous theories of those who held national resistance to Russian rule manifest- Canadian Studies, University of objective of stimulating new research on that the captivity of the Moscow-enslaved ed itself when Ukrainian soldiers in the Manitoba) started off with a detailed Ukrainian Canadians and the second nations is final.” Soviet army deserted and went over to the description of the Ukrainian chaplaincies world war, she suggested that “time will side of the Hungarian freedom fighters with Source: “Pro-Free Ukraine and anti-Soviet in the Canadian forces during the second tell,” but that this event had demonstrated arms and tanks, and fought together with Russian rally in New York an inspiring event,” world war. A total of seven Ukrainian cler- considerable interest and a remarkable the Hungarians against the Soviet army. The Ukrainian Weekly, January 4, 1957. gymen, four Orthodox and three Catholic, level of knowledge about the field.

St. John’s Church in Hunter, NY is publishing a book of memories on the occasion of our 50th Anniversary. The book will consist of family photographs and stories submitted by you — the members of our community. Cost of book: $50.00 prior to December 31, 2011* $60.00 after December 31, 2011** * Those who order before Dec. 31 will also be allotted two pages for their family stories & photographs at no extra charge. Submissions are due Dec. 31. (See website for details. www. ukrainianmountaintop.org. Click on “Jubilee”) ** We advise pre-ordering the book as a limited number of extra copies will be printed. To order your book, send a check (made out to St. John’s UCC) to: St. John’s Jubilee Book, 31 Rosedale Ave., Millburn, NJ 07041 For more information contact: [email protected] 572 582 No. 52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 23

December 27-30 Multicultural Hockey Tournament, featuring the Ukrainian January 13-15 Malanka in the Mountains, Vohon Ukrainian Dance Downsview, ON Kozaks (Toronto), Chesswood Arena, 780-988-2448 or Jasper, AB Ensemble, Jasper Park Lodge, 888-442-2200 or www.cmhl.ca www.fairmont.com/jasper December 31 New Year’s Eve Vechornytsi (potluck party) with January 13 Malanka dance, St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church, Buena, NJ Cossacks, koliadky and Kozak saber art workshops, New Scranton, PA 570-563-2275 or [email protected] Kuban Free Cossack Community and Cultural Center, 856-697-2255 or www.cossacks.us.com January 13 Malanka dance, Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, Winnipeg Fort Garry Hotel, 204-338-4898 or 204-338-2565 December 31 New Year’s Eve Gala, Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation Toronto Gallery, www.kumfgallery.com or 416-766-6802 January 14 Malanka dance, St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Church San Francisco hall, 707-935-9142 or 650-968-6425 or December 31 New Year’s Eve dance, with music by Svitanok, Ukrainian www.stmichaeluocsf.org/malanka.aspx Passaic, NJ Cultural Center, 973-473-3379 January 14 Malanka dance, with music by Svitanok, Ukrainian December 31 New Year’s Eve Dinner and Dance, featuring music by Los Angeles Cultural Center, 626-388-3948 or 626-428-6010 Whippany, NJ Chetverta Khvylia, Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey, 973-449-3398 or 732-560-5055 January 14 Malanka dance, St. Luke Ukrainian Orthodox Church hall, Warners, NY www.stlukeukrainianorthodox.org or 315-468-1981 December 31 New Year’s Eve dance, with music by Udech, St. Josaphat Trenton, NJ Ukrainian Catholic Church hall, 609-695-3771 January 14 Malanka dinner and dance, St. Demetrius Ukrainian Carteret, NJ Orthodox Cathedral and St. Mary Ukrainian Catholic December 31 New Year’s Eve dance, with music by Halychany, Church, with music by Luna, St. Demetrius Community Perth Amboy, NJ Assumption Ukrainian Catholic Church, 732-826-0767 or Center, 609-655-4468 or www.stdemetriusuoc.org www.assumptioncatholichurch.net January 14 Malanka dance, featuring music by Zolota Bulava and December 31 New Year’s Eve Party, Ukrainian Homestead, Toronto Vorony, Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, Liberty Lehighton, PA 215-769-5059 or www.ukrhomestead.com Grand Hall, 416-769-9998 December 31 New Year’s Eve Party, Ukrainian League of Philadelphia, January 14 Malanka dance, with music by Chervona Ruta, Ukrainian Philadelphia www.ukiebar.com Mississauga, ON Sports Club Karpaty, Crystal Grand Banquet Hall and Conference Center, 416-574-1811 or 416-357-6535 January 6 Map exhibit, featuring historical maps of Ukraine, Cleveland Ukrainian Museum-Archives, 216-781-4329 or January 14 Malanka, with music by Hudi a Mocni, Ukrainian Youth www.umacleveland.org Edmonton Association in Canada, Ukrainian Youth Unity Complex, 780-983-3134 or [email protected] January 7 Christmas Party, Ukrainian American Youth Association, Yonkers, NY Ukrainian Youth Center, 914-374-1978 or 914-844-3606 Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events January 11- Art exhibit, featuring works by Kateryna Svirgunenko, advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions February 5 Ukrainian Institute of America, 212-288-8660 or from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors New York www.ukrainianinstitute.org and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected].

582 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 No. 52

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Saturday, December 31 and elderly shut-in parishioners. The entire Christmas divine liturgy will be broadcast PERTH AMBOY, N.J.: The New Year’s live at 9-11 a.m. over radio station WJMO, Zabava sponsored by Assumption Ukrainian 1300 AM. It can also be heard online at Catholic Church, 380 Meredith St., Perth PraiseCleveland.com. (Go to the radio sta- Amboy, NJ 08861. will take place from 8 tion website for Praise 1300 AM, click on p.m. to 2 a.m. Music will be by Halychany. “listen live” on the right-hand side.) The lit- Advance tickets are $75 per person; after urgy will be celebrated by the cathedral’s December 25 –$85. There will be a fabulous clergy, with responses sung by the buffet dinner all evening, dancing, cham- Ukrainian and English choirs of the cathe- 216 Foordmore Road, pagne and desserts are included. For tickets dral. Also at St. Vladimir’s, Great Complines call 732-826-0767 or log on to www. Kerhonkson NY 12446 and Matins will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m. assumptioncatholicchurch.net. There are no on Christmas Eve, Friday, January 6. 845-626-5641 refunds on purchased tickets and no tickets www.Soyuzivka.com will be sold at the door. Saturday, January 14, 2012 Wednesday, January 4, 2012 CARTERET, N.J.: The St. Demetrius Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral and St. PALATINE, Ill.: Ukrainian American Veterans Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church are co- 1st Lt. Ivan Shandor Post 35 invites all mem- sponsoring a Malanka, which will be held at bers of the post and members of the com- the St. Demetrius Community Center, 681 munity for the 11th annual Christmas din- Roosevelt Ave., Carteret, NJ. Entertainment ner at Shaw’s Restaurant in Schaumburg, Ill., will be provided by Luna. Tickets are $60, at 7 p.m. The post encourages the participa- which include zabava, hot buffet dinner, tion of spouses and children. The post com- open bar and a midnight champagne toast. mander will provide a review of community The St. Demetrius Center is located just events sponsored by the post, and future blocks from Exit 12 off the New Jersey plans for 2012 will be presented. Please call Turnpike. There is a Holiday Inn right near the post commander for reservations no the exit. Doors open at 6 p.m.; dinner is later than January 2. For more information served at 7 p.m. For zabava only with open Soyuzivka’s Dazzling contact Col. Roman G. Golash (ret) at roman- bar, the price of tickets is $40 with admis- [email protected] or 847-910-3532. sion after 8:30 p.m. For tickets and table res- Saturday, January 7, 2012 ervations contact Peter Prociuk at 609-655- 4468 or [email protected]. Dinner tickets New Year’s Eve 2012 PARMA, Ohio: St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian will not be sold at the door. Deadline for din- Orthodox Cathedral will sponsor its 24th ner tickets is January 8. For more informa- annual Christmas radio program for sick tion visit www.stdemetriusuoc.org. Featuring the Music of Fata Morgana Friday December 31, 2011 to January 1, 2012 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. Items should be no more than 100 words long. Cocktail reception including: Italian Salumi Bar- with assorted Italian meats, peppers, olives and marinated vegetables Information should be sent to: [email protected] or Preview of Events, The Smoked Fruits of the Sea with mussels, salmon, shrimp and trout with traditional accompani- Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054; fax, 973- 644-9510. NB: If e-mailing, please do not send items as attachments; simply type ments such as capers, red onions, chopped egg, horseradish mustard and more the text into the body of the e-mail message. Cordial Station – Brandy, Cognac, Ports and Sherries and Much More Dinner menu: Appetizer: Turbot Ceviche wrapped in smoked salmon with a razor clam vinaigrette Soup: Hungarian Mushroom Bisque Salad: Belgian endive, baby arugula, spinach, frizze lettuce, fresh grapefruit and goat cheese fritter in a honey raspberry vinaigrette Entrée choice of: Broiled Barramundi with a Tropical Fruit Salsa Peppered Duck Breast in a Bell Pepper Veal Stock Reduction Stuffed Veal Scaloppini with Asparagus and Prosciutto in a Dried Cherry Zinfandel Sauce All include roasted pepper stuffed with couscous, wild mushrooms and pine nuts

Dessert, Coffee, Tea

Dinner, cocktail and zabava – only $110.00 per person Single, standard room – $185.00 Double, standard room – $ 145.00 per person (includes room, cocktail, dinner and breakfast) Special Young Adult Rate available All rates include tax and gratuities