CHRIST IS BORN! ХРИСТОС НАРОДИВСЯ!

THEHEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association, Inc., celebrating W its 125th anniversaryEEKLY Vol. LXXXVII No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 $2.00 Bethlehem Peace Light arrives in Ukraine Leaders of Ukrainian Catholic Church hold working session in Washington

Artem Zhukov Plast members during the Bethlehem Peace Light ceremony at St. Michael’s Golden- At the State Department on December 9 (from left) are: Bishop Bohdan Dziurakh, Domed Monastery in Kyiv. Metropolitan Eugene Popowicz of Przemyśl-Warsaw, Bishop Bohdan Danylo of Parma, Patriarch Sviatoslav, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak of Philadelphia and by Roman Tymotsko derful tradition of sharing the Peace Light.” Auxiliary Bishop Teodor Martyniuk of Ternopil. Right after the ceremony in Austria con- KYIV – Every year in December, mem- cluded, Mr. Fietisov hurried onto a plane by Mariana Karapinka In addition to their working sessions, bers of Plast National Scout Organization of and flew to Kyiv to bring the symbolic light the bishops met with the Apostolic Nuncio Ukraine come to Vienna to join dozens of to the capital’s city center. The starting point WASHINGTON – On December 9-12 the to the U.S.A. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Europe’s scout organizations in one of of the Bethlehem Peace Light’s journey head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, representatives of the State Department, Austria’s massive cathedrals. The interna- throughout Ukraine was a ceremony at the Patriarch Sviatoslav, together with the bish- the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the tional community gathers there to be St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery. ops of the Permanent Synod – an executive Catholic University of America, and others. among first in Europe who receive the committee that helps the patriarch in lead- The Permanent Synod, which is elected Bethlehem Peace Light, a symbolic fire lit at (Continued on page 15) ing the Church – visited Washington. for five years, now includes two Ukrainian Jesus’s birthplace at the Grotto of the American Catholic bishops, Metropolitan Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Borys Gudziak of Philadelphia and Bishop From that Viennese church, this light of Bohdan Danylo of Parma, as well as good will and peace spreads all around Crew member shares his thoughts Europe and beyond. A few hours after Popowicz (Poland), Auxiliary Bishop of Plast’s representative had received the about return of seized Ukrainian ships TernopilMetropolitan Teodor of Przemyśl-WarsawMartyniuk (Ukraine) Eugene and symbolic light on December 14, the candle the secretary of the Synod of Bishops, with the Bethlehem Peace Light was flown by Roman Tymotsko Nikopol, and the tugboat Yany Kapu. Bishop Bohdan Dziurakh (Ukraine). into Kyiv. It was presented to the public in When Russia blocked the entrance to the “The Permanent Synod’s goals are mani- St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, On November 25, 2018, Russian forces Sea of Azov, the vessels turned around fold,” noted Patriarch Sviatoslav in a com- one of the central churches in Ukraine’s attacked Ukrainian Navy ships in the for the journey back to Odesa. But they ment to The Ukrainian Weekly. “We usually capital, on December 15. Kerch Strait and captured 24 crew mem- were followed and attacked in interna- have our internal agenda. We discuss and The person who is the primary bers. The youngest among them was tional waters. decide how to resolve particular Church Ukrainian carrier of the Peace Light this Andriy Eyder, 19, who was wounded in the According to news reports, the issues. We as a Synod meet a few times a year is Viacheslav Fietisov, Plast’s interna- attack. He and his fellow service members Berdyansk was hit multiple times as the year, but once a year, bishops of the Synod tional secretary. “In Vienna, the ceremony spent the next 286 days in Russian custo- ships attempted to retreat. As a result of visit local Church communities to listen to occurred this year in St. Leopold’s dy. On September 7, all the captured sail- the attack by the Russian Coast Guard, the people in order to understand the Cathedral. It traditionally starts with a ors returned to Ukraine in an exchange of Mr. Eyder suffered shrapnel wounds to authentic reality of our global Church. We prayer, opening remarks and the official prisoners. This writer met Mr. Eyder in his his right hand, right thigh and left knee. always meet with representatives of the His injury was complicated because of song of the Peace Light of Bethlehem,” Mr. hometown of Odesa. Just two days before state authorities and leaders of Roman the absence of medical support while he Fietisov explained. “Every national scout our conversation, he had returned from Catholic communities as the heart of local the port of Ochakiv, where he witnessed was in custody. He related that, at one delegation should prepare three represen- life.” He pointed out that for the first time in the arrival on November 21 of the three point while in prison, he was really wor- tatives who will be involved in the ceremo- history they met in Washington. Ukrainian ships returned by Russia. ried about whether he would ever be ny. Each of them has a specific role: the first Among many matters the bishops dis- able to walk normally. Fortunately for the representative holds a national flag, the sec- cussed, was a 10-year pastoral plan (strate- ODESA – A year after Russia’s attack 19-year-old crewman, it went well. ond one gives a speech and the last repre- gy) for the UGCC. Metropolitan Borys heads on three Ukrainian naval vessels, seaman If you don’t know about his injury, you sentative carries a special candle with the Andriy Eyder is still in recovery and will don’t notice anything unusual in Mr. the committee that will work on the strate- Peace Light. So, the representatives of all soon undergo more surgery. Eyder’s walk. We walked a lot, as he gy. scout delegations present follow this proce- He was a crew member of the showed me his favorite places in Odesa, The pastoral plan was among the topics dure one by one. According to the scout tra- Ukrainian gunboat Berdyansk, which while sharing his thoughts about the discussed during the meeting with the dition, people from different countries was heading from the Black Sea port of return of Ukraine’s ships. apostolic nuncio. “We ask ourselves: How exchange scout scarves with each other. Odesa to the Azov Sea port of Mariupol, do we dream about our future? What kind This event is a great opportunity to estab- accompanied by another gunboat, (Continued on page 34) lish new contacts and to continue the won- (Continued on page 34) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52

ANALYSIS

Exiled Crimean Tatar leaders U.S. envoy to Ukraine set to leave post of Russian natural gas to Germany. The pipeline, which will have the capacity to The top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, carry up to 55 billion cubic meters of natu- announce march on occupied Crimea William Taylor, will be leaving his post next ral gas annually, is more than 80 percent month, following a short term marked by by Halya Coynash march is aimed at returning Russia to the built and is expected to be completed early path of law and ensuring that Western the impeachment inquiry into President next year. U.S. lawmakers have warned that Kharkiv Human Rights Donald Trump. In an e-mail to The New Protection Group structures do not relinquish the position the pipeline would send billions of dollars expressed in international documents. York Times on December 17, Ambassador to Moscow and help President Vladimir The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people In preparing for this March of Dignity, the Taylor said he would step down in early Putin widen his influence in Europe. After has announced plans for a March of Dignity Mejlis will turn to all permanent members of January because his temporary appoint- the bill was passed in the House on against Violence and Occupation from the U.N. Security Council, member states of ment to Ukraine in June is set to expire. The December 12, the office of Ukrainian mainland Ukraine to Russian-occupied the U.N. Human Rights Committee, the U.N.’s Trump administration “will nominate a President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted Crimea. According to Refat Chubarov, head International Court of Justice, the permanent ambassador soon,” he wrote, that Kyiv was “grateful” to the United of the Mejlis, or self-governing body of the International Criminal Court, deputies of var- without elaborating. Earlier media reports States. Ukraine has long protested the proj- main indigenous people of Crimea, they ious international or European structures, quoted unidentified U.S. officials as saying ect and has lobbied Washington to pass the hope that this will help the United Nations, Ukrainian national deputies and others. that Ambassador Taylor, the chargé bill as the pipeline would deprive the coun- the Organization for Security and Preparations for the march will take sev- d’affaires at the Kyiv Embassy, would leave try of more than $2 billion in transit fees. Cooperation in Europe, the European Union eral months, so the exact date will be pro- his post by the end of the month or in early Ukraine also sees the pipeline as under- and other international structures in imple- vided later. January. He will be replaced on an interim mining existing economic sanctions menting the decisions taken with respect to The Crimean Tatars gained international basis by his current deputy, Kristina Kvien, Russia’s illegal occupation of the peninsula. respect during Soviet times for their unwav- imposed by the West to compel Russia to according to the Associated Press. resolve a conflict in eastern Ukraine and “We are going home,” Mr. Chubarov ering commitment to non-violent protest, Ambassador Taylor’s testimony before the stresses, after almost six years in which and this march is titled “The World Against end its occupation of Ukraine’s Crimea Democratic-led House Intelligence region. Germany, however, reacted with Russia has exiled virtually all leaders of the Violence and Occupation. March of Dignity.” Committee last month helped build the Mejlis from their homeland, as well as ban- It is, however, vital that the international irritation last week, with Foreign Affairs case for impeaching President Trump, who Minister Heiko Maas calling the U.S. move ning the Mejlis itself. community provides support as Russia has is accused of pressuring Ukrainian It is probably deliberate that the already demonstrated its willingness to use “foreign interference.” He tweeted on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investi- announcement came on the eve of the violent methods against peaceful citizens, December 12: “Decisions on European gate the U.S. president’s political opponent Normandy format summit involving the lead- including those legitimately seeking to Energy Policy are taken in Europe.” The Joe Biden by withholding military aid. The ers of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany return to their homeland. Less than two German-Russian Chamber of Commerce (December 9). Mr. Chubarov has said that months after invading and annexing Crimea, diplomat said he thought it was “crazy” to said last week that Nord Stream 2 was silence about Crimea at the summit is a “gift” it banned world-renowned Crimean Tatar withhold military aid that Ukraine needed important for the energy security of Europe to Russian President Vladimir Putin. leader Mustafa Dzhemilev from Crimea and to fight Russia-backed forces in its eastern and called for retaliatory sanctions on the Nor is the Mejlis alone in feeling frustra- brought out armed riot police and soldiers provinces. Ambassador Taylor was sent to U.S. if the bill passes. The sanctions target tion that Ukraine’s leaders have agreed to a against the 5,000 Crimean Tatars who came Ukraine after the State Department unex- pipe-laying vessels and include asset freez- meeting without occupied Crimea being on to meet him at the administrative border pectedly recalled Ambassador Marie es and the revocation of U.S. visas for the the agenda. Russia’s implacability does not into Crimea on May 3, 2014. Yovanovitch in May. He had previously contractors. One major contractor that change the fact that its occupation of Criminal charges over the peaceful gath- served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine in could be hit is the Swiss-based Allseas, Crimea has been condemned by the U.N. ering that day were the first warning of the 2006-2009. (RFE/RL, based on reporting which has been hired by Russian state-con- General Assembly, all international struc- machine of repression that Russia was by The New York Times and AP) trolled energy giant Gazprom to build the tures and democratic states, and that it was launching on the occupied territory. Since Senate approves Nord Stream 2 sanctions offshore section. (RFE/RL, with reporting recognized by the International Criminal then, Mr. Chubarov also has been exiled, by AFP and DPA) Court as an international armed conflict and grotesque criminal proceedings have The U.S. Senate on December 17 voted falling under its jurisdiction. been initiated against most Mejlis leaders, overwhelmingly to impose sanctions on Yelchenko named ambassador to U.S. Any Western country or international including the deputy head of the Mejlis, companies working on a Russian pipeline structure seeking to improve relations with Akhtem Chiygoz, who spent almost three Ukraine’s permanent representative to in a move likely to be criticized by the United Nations, Volodymyr Yelchenko, Russia by quietly accepting its invasion and years in prison before being released, but European nations counting on receiving the annexation of Crimea should be reminded has been named Kyiv’s new ambassador to into exile. project’s natural gas. The Senate passed the that it is acting in breach of the commitments Russia’s ban of the Mejlis as “extremist” the United States. President Volodymyr bill with an overwhelming majority of 86-8. it endorsed, and the principles it espouses. in 2016 was internationally condemned, Zelenskyy issued the relevant decree late The measure, which is part of a defense Mr. Chubarov points out that Russia has with all commentators noting that Russia on December 18. Mr. Yelchenko, 60, is a spending bill, easily cleared the House of not complied with even one of the interna- was exacting revenge against the Crimean seasoned diplomat with nearly four tional resolutions or orders, and that the Representatives last week. It aims to halt decades of experience. He was Ukraine’s further construction of the $10.6-billion Crimean Tatars’ international peaceful (Continued on page 17) ambassador to the U.N. in 1997-2000 and Nord Stream 2 pipeline being built under the Baltic Sea and set to double shipments (Continued on page 15) Bulgarian hierarch prays for Metropolitan Epifaniy THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY FOUNDED 1933 An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., Metropolitan Nikolai of Plovdiv of the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria’s prime hier- a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. 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OCU after the signing of the Tomos of The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz During the liturgy, the deacon read the Autocephaly of the OCU by Ecumenical 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas commemorations of the leaders of the vari- P.O. Box 280 Patriarch Bartholomew in January. Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] ous Orthodox Churches (diptych) that are On December 9 of this year, recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Metropolitan Onufriy of the Ukrainian Earlier in November, Metropolitan The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com Orthodox Church – Moscow Patriarchate Epifaniy led a pilgrimage of OCU clergy and (also known as the Russian Orthodox laity to Langadas and Mt. Athos, where The Ukrainian Weekly, December 22-December 29, 2019, No. 51-52, Vol. LXXXVII Church in Ukraine) sent a delegation to divine liturgies were celebrated in Greek Copyright © 2019 The Ukrainian Weekly and Ukrainian. Bulgaria to meet with Patriarch Neofit, as Metropolitan Ioannis, who was a visiting reported by the Moscow Patriarchate’s professor at the Uzhhorod Theological Department for External Church Relations. ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA Academy, served with Metropolitan Russian websites have labeled Patriarch Epifaniy in Kyiv during the July celebration Neofit’s meetings with Greek officials as Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 being complicit in the “international con- and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 of the 1,031st anniversary of the Baptism e-mail: [email protected] of Kyivan-Rus’ during the feast of St. spiracy” against Russia and its Church. Volodymyr the Great. Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 Sources: Interfax, Romalefronimati. e-mail: [email protected] The Patriarchate of Bulgaria and the blogspot.com/2019/11, Orthodoxworld.com No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 3

NEWS ANALYSIS Normandy summit: Limited success for Zelenskyy, temporary setback for Ukraine

by Vladimir Socor mit through earlier concessions to Moscow, notably his formula’s endorsement at the highest level in the Eurasia Daily Monitor acceptance of the “Steinmeier formula” as a price for bring- Normandy summit.) ing Mr. Putin to this conclave (see EDM, October 3, 17, PART I December 5). in April in Berlin to discuss “the political and security con- ditions for, inter alia, the organization of local elections” in On the personal level, Ukrainian President Volodymyr The summit included a two-hour plenary meeting and • The next Normandy summit shall be held tentatively the Donetsk-Luhansk territory (political and security, in Zelenskyy made a great impression at the Normandy round-robin bilaterals between the top leaders, including a that order, reverses Kyiv’s “security first” imperative, which group’s summit in Paris, on December 9. Mr. Zelenskyy one-hour Putin-Zelenskyy bilateral. The final document, Mr. Zelenskyy had publicized ahead of the summit). outshone Russian President Vladimir Putin, German “Common Agreed Conclusions,” looks potentially satisfac- Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel tory to Ukraine regarding prisoner exchanges and ceasefire In line with previous Normandy summit communiqués, Macron at this highly publicized heads-of-state/govern- observance (Kyiv is the asking side on both these counts), this one has no legally binding value and does not carry the ment gathering – the first after a three-year pause at that but heavily favoring Russia on all the other points on the leaders’ signatures. However, it purports to predetermine level – to restart peace negotiations between Russia and basis of the same Minsk “agreements” (Common Agreed Ukraine’s course, potentially amounting (if implemented Ukraine with German and French assistance. Conclusions, Elysee.fr and Kremlin.ru, December 10). The as envisaged) to a situation of limited sovereignty for Mr. Zelenskyy, a first-time participant in the Normandy salient provisions are (quotes when so indicated; other- Ukraine. The document does not include references to group, played his own persona, conveying friendly infor- wise paraphrases/summaries): Ukraine’s internationally recognized sovereignty and bor- mality and street-smart manner but also, on this occasion, ders. This cannot be surprising, given that Russia occupies presidential and national dignity. He bristled that he spoke work of the Normandy format, whose member states are the Ukrainian side of a 400-kilometer-long border in the for the entire people of Ukraine, “including Russian- committed• “The Minsk to their agreements full implementation.” continue to be the basis of the Donetsk-Luhansk territory, while the Minsk agreements speaking people” (as “we are all Ukrainian”), when pro- - would result de facto in sovereignizing and legitimizing the voked by Mr. Putin on that score. duced before the end of this year (2019). The Organization Donetsk-Luhansk “people’s republics,” including through Furthermore, Mr. Zelenskyy tried hard to defend certain for• SecurityA full ceasefire and Cooperationall along the frontline in Europe’s is to beSpecial intro the Minsk-mandated local elections. Ukrainian “red lines” in discussing the terms of a peace set- Monitoring Mission (OSCE SMM) shall monitor the cease- The Paris summit has shown that Ukraine remains basi- tlement at this summit. Even Mr. Zelenskyy’s most serious fire, “using its mandate to the full extent and receiving safe cally isolated in the Normandy format today, as it was in critics felt reassured (as Ukrainian media coverage attests) access throughout the territory” (diplomatic allusions to this conclave’s previous iterations. This time, however, the in the wake of the president’s performance at the Russia and its proxies restricting the SMM’s operations sys- isolation was less visible due to some festive atmospherics Normandy summit. tematically for the last five years). (marking the re-launch of the process after a three-year International attention riveted on the Normandy quar- pause) and Mr. Zelenskyy’s spirited performance, justifi- tet talks served to obscure a development of potentially detainees, including a first batch by this year’s end (there ably hailed in Ukraine. Concerns about a possible “capitu- greater significance that took place in Kyiv. There, on the are• severalThe Minsk categories Contact Groupof identified shall facilitate detainees, exchanges and Mr. of lation,” while also justified ahead of the summit, were laid eve of the Paris summit, Ukraine’s presidency and govern- Zelenskyy has made the release of Ukrainian detainees into to rest by Mr. Zelenskyy’s defense of some Ukrainian “red ment unexpectedly called (see Eurasia Daily Monitor, his declared top priority, which Moscow leverages against lines.” The summit’s decisions, however, fully contradict December 9) for major revisions to the Minsk “agree- Kyiv – see EDM, September 10, 12). the positions that Mr. Zelenskyy recently embraced in line ments,” which Russia had imposed on Ukraine in 2014 and with Ukraine’s interests and tried to defend at the Paris 2015 with German and French assistance. the Normandy format and the Minsk Contact Group, all the summit. He seems determined to fight another day. Those agreements form the basis of negotiations in the legal• The aspects four leaders of the “expresspermanent interest” “special in agreeing, status” withinof the Post-summit press conference Normandy format and the Minsk Group to Ukraine’s detri- Donetsk-Luhansk territories, in accordance with the Minsk ment; and the Paris summit itself was meant to refloat the agreement. And the four leaders “consider it necessary to The Normandy four leaders’ post-summit press confer- Minsk agreements in their existing form. Kyiv’s last-minute incorporate the ‘Steinmeier formula’ into the Ukrainian ence, unusually lengthy and detailed, allowed some demands for revisions did not strengthen Mr. Zelenskyy’s legislation.” (Trapped by his own acceptance of the instructive glimpses into their discussions behind closed hand at this summit. But he seems determined to fight Steinmeier formula, alongside Donetsk-Luhansk, in the doors in Paris. There they seemed to have reviewed all the another day. Conversely, he weakened his hand at this sum- Minsk Contact Group, Mr. Zelenskyy could not oppose the major aspects of implementing the Minsk agreements. And they intend to proceed with this implementation on an accelerated timetable, as the press conference revealed FOR THE RECORD (Elysee.fr, Kremlin.ru, Bundeskanzlerin.de, December 10). (Continued on page 12) Common agreed conclusions of the Normandy format summit Below is the text of the communiqué of the Normandy for- starting with “all identified for all identified,” with the Quotable notes mat summit held in Paris on December 9. Source: Official understanding that international organizations including website of the presidency of France. the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) be “Following the Paris Summit of the Normandy four, granted full and unconditional access to all detained per- Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that The President of the French Republic, the Chancellor of sons. the protests [that took place in Ukraine leading up to the Federal Republic of Germany, the President of the They will support an agreement within the Trilateral the summit] strengthened the position of the Russian, Russian Federation and the President of Ukraine met in Contact Group, within 30 days, on new crossing points and not Ukrainian, delegation. Of course, this is mis- Paris today. along the line of contact, based primarily on humanitarian taken. The Minsk agreements (Minsk Protocol of 5 September criteria. “Mistaken if only because the positions held by the 2014, Minsk Memoran­dum of 19 September 2014 and the They recall that the Organization for Security and Ukrainian delegation in Paris and the positions Minsk Package of Measures of 12 February 2015) continue Cooperation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission to defended by the participants at the protests both at to be the basis of the work of the Normandy format whose Ukraine (SMM) should be able to use all possibilities of the the Maidan and the Office of the President, were member states are committed to their full implementation. 21 March 2014 mandate, and have safe and secure access essentially the same. It was Putin who tried to per- They underline their shared aspiration to a sustainable throughout Ukraine in order to fully implement its man- suade the Ukrainian president to capitulate. And it and comprehensive architecture of trust and security in date. was the protesters who warned Zelenskyy about Europe, based on the OSCE principles, for which the settle- capitulation. 2. Measures to implement the political provisions ment of the conflict in Ukraine is one of several important “Volodymyr Zelenskyy needs to understand that in of the Minsk agreements steps. order to defend Ukrainian interests, national unity is On this basis, they decide on the following: The sides express interest in agreeing within the needed. Unity of the authorities and the opposition, Normandy format (N4) and the Trilateral Contact Group on unity of those who are in the offices and those who 1. Immediate measures to stabilize the situation all the legal aspects of the Special Order of Local Self- are on the streets – even more so, because in our con- in the conflict area Government – special status – of Certain Areas of the ditions, these people often trade places. The sides commit to a full and comprehensive imple- Donetsk and Luhansk Regions, as outlined in the Package “National unity with those who don’t care about mentation of the ceasefire, strengthened by the implemen- of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Ukraine’s state interests will simply not work – even tation of all necessary ceasefire support measures, before Agreements from 2015, in order to ensure its functioning if many of these people voted for Volodymyr the end of the year 2019. on a permanent basis. Zelenskyy in the second round of the election. There They will support the development and implementation They consider it necessary to incorporate the can’t be unity with people for whom it doesn’t matter of an updated demining plan, on the basis of the decision of “Steinmeier formula” into the Ukrainian legislation, in what God they pray to, what country they live in, who the Trilateral Contact Group on demining activities, dated accordance with the version agreed upon within the N4 they consider themselves to be – as long as there’s a March 3, 2016. and the Trilateral Contact Group. trough. This is proven by history. …” They will support an agreement within the Trilateral 3. Follow up – Ukrainian political analyst Vitaliy Portnikov, writ- Contact Group on three additional disengagement areas, ing on the espresso.tv website, as translated by the with the aim of disengaging forces and equipment by the They ask their Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Political Ukrainian Canadian Congress Daily Briefing. (The arti- end of March 2020. Advisors to ensure the implementation of the agreements cle is available in the original Ukrainian here: https:// They encourage the Trilateral Contact Group to facilitate reached and they agree to have another meeting in this for- espreso.tv/article/2019/12/10/vitaliy_portnykov_pro- the release and exchange of conflict-related detainees by mat within four months on the political and security condi- test_dopomig_zelenskomu_a_ne_zavadyv_yomu). the end of the year, based on the principle of “all for all,” tions, inter alia for the organization of the local elections. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52

OBITUARY Morris Diakowsky, Ukrainian community leader and bandura expert, 92 TORONTO – With the death of Morris Diakowsky was responsible for setting up announcer and producer with the John (Myroslav Ivan) Diakowsky on many if not most of the program funds we Canadian Broad­casting Service’s November 8 at the age of 92, the Ukrainian have today,” said Olga Kuplowska, the International Radio Service. global community lost a distinguished fig- CFUS’s current president. “His knowledge In 1954, he relocated to New York City ure, widely respected for his effective lead- and expertise in governance matters, as to work for Radio Liberation, later ership, professionalism and wise counsel. well as his attention to detail, ensured that renamed Radio Liberty – an initiative of the Throughout his long life, Mr. Diakowsky all agreements with universities were solid, American Committee for the Liberation was dedicated to public service. He valued robust and would withstand the test of from Bolshevism – which broadcast news faith and family, culture and education, and time.” and cultural programming on shortwave left a lasting legacy in these areas through Mr. Diakowsky was born in Montreal on into the Soviet Union. Mr. Diakowsky, who his career with Radio Liberty, his involve- January 20, 1927, to Franko and Theophilia was known as Moe in his broadcasting and ment in numerous Ukrainian organiza- Diakowsky. After he graduated from high civil service career, became Radio Liberty’s tions, notably the Ukrainian Orthodox school in Montreal, his family, which by chief translator and then moved to its Church and the Canadian Foundation for then included his younger brother Gene, headquarters in Munich, West Germany, Ukrainian Studies (CFUS), as well as moved to Winona, a small community in where, over 15 years, he held various posi- through his activities as one of the world’s Ontario. Mr. Diakowsky attended McMaster tions, ultimately heading a 200-person foremost bandura experts. University in nearby Hamilton, where he department producing programming in 17 Mr. Diakowsky served as the CFUS presi- completed a master’s degree in English lit- non-Russian languages. dent in 1991-1997 and as its director until erature and philosophy. In Munich, he was active in local 2002. CFUS supports Ukrainian studies While in university and in the Canadian Ukrainian community life and pursued one publications, such as the Encyclopedia of Officers’ Training Corps, he served as a Morris John Diakowsky of his life’s main interests the bandura, Ukraine, the Hrushevsky Translation tank commander and artillery instructor in Ukraine’s national instrument. At that time, Project and other Canadian Institute of the Princess Louise Dragoon Guards, Ottawa with Canada’s Department of the future of the bandura, which had been Ukrainian Studies initiatives. attaining the rank of lieutenant. Citizenship­ and Immigration, then moved “During his term as president, Mr. Mr. Diakowsky started his career in back to Montreal, where he was an (Continued on page 13)

The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund: August 2019 Amount Name City State $30.00 Hruszkewycz Christine Derwood MD Saluk Adrian Phoenix AZ $100.00 Chelak Yaroslaw & Karen Morristown NJ $25.00 Baranowskyj George Osprey FL Tarnawsky Phyllis Cleveland OH Szmagala Taras Bentleyville OH Kozak Natalia & Stefan Springfield IL Walchuk Orest & Chris Pittstown NJ Newmerzhycky Natalie Englewood FL $15.00 Bemko Ihor Edinboro PA $55.00 Harasymiak Andrei New York NY Wasyluk Maksym Montreal QC Bohdanska Taissa San Diego CA $50.00 Bodnar-Cloherty Lidia South Boston MA Zaluckyj Kristina Hugo MN Horbaty Gloria Wallingford CT Kihiczak Ihor & Maria Sherman Oaks CA $20.00 Chernego Helena Toms River NJ Koropeckyj Oksana Catonsville MD Krywolap George Elicott City MD Stasiw-Lazarchuk Christine Birmingham MI Kuzmowycz Marta North Scituate RI Moroz Eugene Concord MA Danysh Orest Seattle WA Maziak Roman & Julianna Bloomfield Hills MI Prokopetz Sonia Toronto ON Hodowanec Yaroslaw Pittsburgh PA Popel Larissa Flanders NJ Wolosenko Jerema Brookline MA Kulchytsky George Parma OH $12.00 Buzan Jerry Pittsford NY Yewshenko Peter Sarasota FL Kuropas Tamara Westchester IL 10.00 Decyk Victor Culver City CA $40.00 Kytasty John Livonia MI Marenin Lidia Centennial CO Kropelnyckyj Nestor Warren MI Mazuryk Mociuk C Palos Park IL Lovell Adrianna Munroe Falls OH Joseph B & Martha T Danville CA Nahnybida Symon Basking Ridge NJ Petrasz George Chicago IL $35.00 Boyko Olena Urbanna VA Nebesny Michael & Stefana Clinton IN Forrester Marijka Stockton NJ Pankiw Andrew Upper Arlington OH TOTAL: $1,347.00

September 2019 Amount Name City State $20.00 Gojewycz Vera Hoffman Estates IL $10.00 Gajdalo Roy Philadelphia PA $200.00 Boreiko Nadia Dearborn MI Hotz Michael Watertown MA Gebet Gary El Cajon CA $65.00 Barniak Roman Basking Ridge NJ Kulchytsky George Parma OH Heretz Alla Rutherford NJ Kuncio Z Whitestone NY Niepritzky Tamara St Paul MN $50.00 Riszko John Orchard Park NY Motyl Maria Sunnyside NY Saldyt Johanna Denver CO $40.00 Deychakiwsky Nicholas Brighton MI Myers Mary Rochester NY Wenglowskyj Roman & Lucia Miami FL $35.00 Dobransky Michael Johnson City NY Nebesny Michael & Stefana Clinton IN Wowk Steven Farmington CT $30.00 Obuch Nina Simi Valley CA Nebesny Michael & Stefana Clinton IN Yurkiw Lesia Park Ridge IL $25.00 Kuczwarskyj Bohdan Minneapolis MN Shepelavey Anya Columbia MD Oliarnyk George Mahwah NJ $15.00 Harhaj Bohdan & Maria Howell NJ TOTAL: $745.00

October 2019 Amount Name City State $20.00 Baltarowich Oksana Huntingdon Vy PA Lobachevsky Oksana Somerset NJ $250.00 Plast-Tabir-Ptashat-Soyuzivka Kerhonkson NY Futey Bohdan Annapolis MD Luzniak Lubomir Rotonda West FL $150.00 Puhacz Ihor Macungie PA Ihnat Peter M & Andrea Princeton NJ Maksymonko G Springfield VA Klem Walter Troy NY Myr Patricia Philadelphia PA $100.00 Pankiw Andrew Upper Arlington OH Pankiw Andrew Upper Arlington OH Prokopovych Irynej Calabasas CA Sereda Bohdan New York NY Pidhirny Bill Stamford CT Steck Ulana Mississauga ON Sochan Ihor Woodcliff Lake NJ Rasiak Ruslan Leesburg VA Truchly Lida Chicago IL $90.00 Mcgrath Michael Franklin Square NY Santarsiero Natalie Naples FL Yurkowski Peter Manchester NJ $70.00 Wronskyj Wolodymyr Greenlawn NY Sokolyk Stephen Richardson TX $5.00 Movchan-Novak Ola Warren MI $60.00 Kashuba Ostap Chicago IL Swyrydenko Walter Bradview Hts OH Rabarsky Matejko Johnson City NY Klufas Oksana San Antonio TX Swystun Orysia North Port FL $55.00 Breslawec Halyna Potomac MD Tymkiw Stephan Millersville MD TOTAL: $1,775.00 $50.00 Kondratiuk Leonid Belmont MA Urban Peter Cary NC Mostowycz Oksana Ponte Vedra Bch FL $15.00 Bejger Bohdan Buffalo NY Vena Tanya West Orange NJ Puzyk Bohdan Osprey FL Sincere thanks to all contributors $40.00 Horobchenko Stanko G Basking Ridge NJ to The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund. Ksenia R & Volodya Warren MI $10.00 Bekersky Lesia Whitesboro NY $30.00 Polishchuk Serge Jersey City NJ Diduch Gene Hephzibah GA The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund is the only $25.00 Omecinsky Alex Troy NY Humnicky Michael Murfreesboro TN fund dedicated exclusively to supporting Iwankiw Yaroslav Pasadena CA Szafranski Joseph West Bloomfield MI the work of this publication. Zaplitny Sophie Battle Creek MI Kugler Helen Arlington Hts IL No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 5

UNA CELEBRATES 125 YEARS: A snapshot from history, 1966

Seen in this photo from the archives of the Ukrainian National Association are members of the executive A photo archive of UNA history has been board of the New York District Committee at a meeting held on May 9, 1966, in New York City. Seated launched on the UNA website. It is a work in (from left) are: Walter Klawsnik, Maria Demydchuk, John O. Flis (chairman), Mary Dushnyck and Dr. Wasyl progress that will be expanded and refined. Wyshywany. Standing are: Prof. Ivan Wasylyshyn, Dr. Roman S. Holiat, Petro Kuchma, Stephen Kowalchuk, To take a look, go to unainc.org/una/the- Dr. Alexander Sokolyszyn, William Chupa and Dr. Ivan Sierant. una-is-125-years-old/. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52

CHRISTMAS PASTORAL LETTER THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY Our charitable works Th e Son of God dwells among us We write these words on the feast day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, one of Christmas Pastoral of the Ukrainian There is much to mull over. Often our the most revered saints of our Ukrainian Churches. The life of St. Nicholas was the Catholic Hierarchy of the U.S.A. to our Clergy, minds are overwhelmed by the flood of tech- subject of a Facebook post on December 19 – the saint’s feast day according to the Religious, Seminarians and Beloved Faithful. nologically generated and disseminated Julian calendar – by the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which exhorted us to follow information, by sensationalized and polar- this saint’s example of love, kindness, compassion and charitable works. And then Christ is born! ized news. It is increasingly difficult to foster we thought about those in our midst whose good works are worthy of, not only These days we have a lot on our minds. profound relations when communication praise, but support and emulation. Schoolchildren are being graded, high and interaction are increasingly virtual, more Our December 8 issue carried a story headlined “Whippany youths support chil- schoolers have college applications, college “screen to screen” than “heart to heart.” dren in Ukraine” about the wonderful work of the local chapter of the Ukrainian students just completed their exams and Even the good news of Christmas is fil- American Youth Association in brightening the lives of youngsters in faraway papers. All await the results. Adults are tered through the media and colored by Ukraine. It was all part of a global endeavor by the Ukrainian Youth Association considering year-end family or professional conflicts and controversies. (SUM) dubbed “Warm the Heart of a Child,” whereby members fill backpacks with budgets and December expenses – hoping In the midst of all this, it is essential to winter clothing, school supplies, toys and handwritten greetings. As reported in the to somehow come out ahead. And we all remind ourselves what Christmas is really story by Chrystina A. Dolyniuk, the UAYA chapter’s members, assisted by their fami- wonder: What was really accomplished about. lies and others in the Whippany community, succeeded in preparing 102 such back- during the past year? Gleeful on the outside The Nativity of the Lord begs to inter- packs to be sent to children in the Kalush, Ternopil, Kyiv and Khmelnytsky areas. In but exhausted on the inside. The “Holiday rupt and distract us from our anxiety and fact, the idea was to send these backpacks to the children in time for the feast day of Season” is upon us. alienation in the most gentle and vulnera- the beloved St. Nicholas. In the past five years, this chapter of the UAYA has shipped The global political atmosphere is super- ble way. It could not be more humble, hid- den, or human. more than 600 such backpacks to Ukraine. charged: famine and mass killings in The Son of God came into a world that In this week’s issue, we read about another praiseworthy initiative undertaken in Yemen, wars on different continents, with was far from neat, peaceful, or welcoming. our neighborhood. The Charitable Program at St. John’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in the persecution of Christians, other reli- Jesus was not born in a royal palace, as we Newark, N.J., has focused for the past 10 years on the needy in Ukraine. Its latest gions and minorities in many countries. sing in one of our beloved Christmas carols. project, called “Feed the Hungry,” collected $38,850 in donations, which provided for Trade wars, the ongoing invasion of He immediately met cold misery in a foul, the purchase of some 2,500 large bags of food that were distributed throughout Ukraine, the apparent unraveling of the infested cave. Herod’s bloody violence Ukraine. The St. John’s volunteers were able to do this because of a network of trust- European Union, and Western culture, in against children led Joseph and Mary to flee ed volunteers in our ancestral homeland. Ksenia Hapij, director of the Charitable general, coming apart. The world seems with the newborn Babe as refugees to a for- Program, noted: “The longer the list of recipients, the greater the need for volunteers bereft of global leaders with political vision eign land. The homeless Christ, Jesus the who would prepare the bags of food. Someone had to purchase the products. and moral authority. And to all this, we refugee, the helpless Infant pursued by a Someone had to deliver them to a place where someone would sort everything and might add conflicts in families and among tyrant is in full solidarity with our human pack it into bags, and only then was someone able to deliver this. It was both heart- friends that become particularly visible suffering and loneliness – from day one! warming and encouraging to see how many people volunteered their time to help.” during the season when we are supposed God is with us – you and me. He will never The Charitable Program continues its big-hearted work, and is always in need of to be together and happy. abandon us as we seek to live in holiness, assistance. There are indicators that depression, dignity and mutual love. “For the moun- Also in our neck of the woods, the Bethlehem Peace Light was shared with the addictions and suicides are on the rise in tains may be removed and the hills may community by Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, which participates in this the American population. Objective and shake, But My loving-kindness will not be unique program of scouts worldwide that aims to spread a message of love, good will subjective causes of anxiety abound: the removed from you, And My covenant of and hope. The Peace Light is brought to the U.S. by Austrian Airlines, arriving at JFK absence of a moral compass, aggression in peace will not be shaken,” says the Lord International Airport; from there, it travels across the country. In Ukraine, the Peace music and movies, immigration and refu- who has compassion on you (Isaiah 54:10). Light arrives from Vienna, where a special ceremony is held with the participation of gee crises, poverty, the climate. Many The appeal and proposal that comes to scout organizations from across Europe. As reported on this week’s front page, the among us are dislocated, bewildered and us in an Innocent Child could not be gentler. representative of Plast brought the Peace Light to Kyiv, whence it journeys to all parts sad. Much in society is coming unglued. God’s Word becomes a man. The Son of of Ukraine, including the war-torn east. Since 2014, Plast scouts have made the trip to Things are not going that well in the the frontlines to share the symbolic light of Bethlehem with Ukraine’s soldiers in an Church… (Continued on page 12) effort to lift their spirits and reinforce the hope for peace. “We are duty-bound to con- tinue this tradition every year, and each time we hope it will be our last trip... But the war is on, so we have to go,” Oleh Vdoviak told our correspondent. All of the above – along with countless charitable endeavors in your local commu- nities – are especially deserving of our attention at this time of the year as we cele- brate the birth of the Christ Child.

Dec. Turning the pages back...

Five years ago, on December 23, 2014, Ukraine’s Parliament – 23 the Verkhona Rada – voted to abandon the country’s neutral “non-bloc” status and set a course for NATO membership. The 2014 legislation was submitted by President Petro Poroshenko and passed by a vote of 303 “yes” votes in the 450-seat chamber. The change in the law on domestic and foreign policy was explained that Ukraine’s non-bloc status that was codified under then-President Viktor Yanukovych in 2010 had left Ukraine vulnerable to “external aggression and pressure,” noting that “the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, its illegal annexation of Crimea…, its military intervention in eastern regions” and other forms of pressure created the need for “more effective guarantees of independence, sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.” The legislation states that Ukraine will tighten cooperation with NATO with the aim of “achieving the criteria required to attain membership” in the Western military alliance. Any accession to NATO for Ukraine is likely to take years, but a NATO spokesman in Brussels said, “Our door is open and Ukraine will become a member of NATO if it so requests and fulfills the standards and adheres to the necessary principles.” Russia immediately denounced the move as “unfriendly” and Russia’s envoy to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Andrei Kelin, said it would “add trouble and tension to our relationship.” Russia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov said the move was “counterproductive” that “escalated confrontation and creates the illu- sion that the profound internal crisis in Ukraine can be resolved through the adoption of such laws.” Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev echoed those statements, and in a Facebook post before the vote said the move by Ukraine was “in essence, an application to enter NATO, turning Ukraine into a potential military opponent of Russia.” President Vladimir Putin had suggested that the main reason Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014 was the prospect of NATO forces being deployed on the peninsula. “It’s Christmas!” by Iryna Korchuk and Volodymyr Petryshyn, from a Christmas (Continued on page 7) card published by the Ukrainian National Association in 2019. No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FROM FAR social media and through personal commu- AND WIDE Reflections on the first nications about innovative and successful Holodomor awareness events presented in by Marco Levytsky U.S. Holodomor Forum the Rochester, N.Y., area, Naples, Fla., and elsewhere in recent weeks. It is so impor- Dear Editor: tant to share and learn from these experi- Like any other attendee who was not ences. involved in the planning of the Forum, I I put out, on an irregular basis, a A prime minister-in-waiting arrived not knowing what to expect. The Holodomor Educators Newsletter, where informal “Meet and Greet” on Friday night we can share news and events to inform, Having seen his parliamentary majority gave me an inkling. As I re-connected with discuss, and inspire. Please contact me at reduced to a minority and not managing to cherished colleagues from Canada and [email protected] if you would like to be on get a single member of Parliament elected elsewhere, and met the remarkable and the mailing list. And, of course, stay tuned in two Prairie Provinces – Alberta and dynamic group from Michigan among to The Ukrainian Weekly. Saskatchewan – Canadian Prime Minister other new faces from throughout North Justin Trudeau has turned to his most capa- Lana Babij ble minister to help heal the regional divi- America, I could see energy and the desire Manchester, Conn. for action flowing as freely as the wine. sion created in the most recent election. Saturday’s workshops (please see Forum And that is none other than Ukrainian write-up in the November 17 issue of The Canadian Chrystia Freeland, whom he has Ukrainian Weekly); the screening of the appointed his deputy prime minister. She short documentary, “When we Starve” by Time for Ukrainians also assumes the portfolio of minister of Dr. Borys Buniak; the remarks of the eve- to stop being silent intergovernmental affairs and will also con- ning’s honoree, retired U.S. Congressman tinue to oversee some ongoing files from Sander Levin; and Sunday’s speaker Brian Dear Editor: her previous position as minister of foreign affairs – in particular overseeing the imple- Whitmore, all exceeded expectations. With the impeachment hearings under mentation of the revised North American Every panelist, moderator and speaker way, President Donald Trump is being Free Trade Agreement. was well-prepared with substantive pre- accused of withholding weapons from Even though she currently lives in sentations. Every segment had more peo- Ukraine for his own political gain. That’s Toronto and represents a central Toronto ple eager to discuss with practical ques- bad enough, but it’s now open season on constituency, Ms. Freeland was born in tions or related experiences and insights Ukrainians in the right-wing media. Fox Peace River, Alberta, and grew up in than there was time allotted. News is attacking Ukraine and Ukrainians, Edmonton’s Ukrainian community. As such, As I realized by the end of the event, the and Mr. Trump is tweeting up a storm of Chrystia Freeland she is the closest thing Prime Minister unstated but underlying theme of the pre- hatred towards friends of Ukraine such as Trudeau has to an Alberta representative. Washington Post and The Economist. She sentations was about “telling our story.” Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, The position of deputy prime minister is went on to wear many hats at the Financial The concluding speaker, Brian Whitmore Ambassador William Taylor and, most not a Cabinet portfolio that is a regular fix- Times and served as deputy editor of The aptly if unknowingly summarized that despicably of all, towards Lt. Col. Alexander ture. It was first created by Mr. Trudeau’s Globe and Mail between 1999 and 2001, theme in his opening quotation, to the Vindman, a decorated war hero. effect that civilization would not exist with- father, Pierre, in 1977 to recognize the before returning to the Financial Times as But why listen to me? deputy editor and then as U.S. managing out our telling stories. According to the Daily Beast, here’s political clout of Allan MacEachen, a key Think about it: the emphasis was on sto- Liberal minister who also a principal politi- editor. what RIA Novosti columnist Ivan Danilov In 2010, she joined Canadian-owned ries, not information. wrote: “Some witnesses and sources of cal strategist. The last person to occupy The point, of course, was not to down- that position was Edmonton’s Anne Thomson Reuters. She was a managing information, on which the charges against director of the company and editor of con- play the significance of verifiable knowl- Donald Trump are based (and for which he, MacLellan, whose term ended in 2006. The edge, but to emphasize the unique ability of position can be symbolic, or it can carry sumer news when she decided to return in fact, faces impeachment) are ‘Americans home and enter politics in 2013. connecting with people at both the intellec- considerable clout – best example being of Ukrainian descent’... At the same time, She has written two books: “Sale of the tual and the emotional level through the Don Mazankowski (who is of Polish origin, supporters of the current president are Century: The Inside Story of the Second stories we share. Interesting stories deal but is married to a Canadian of Ukrainian already demonstrating a clear willingness Russian Revolution” (2000) and with our humanity, our common needs and origin) in former Prime Minister Brian to use their background as the proof that “Plutocrats: The Rise of the New Global experiences – or attempt to present our Mulroney’s Cabinet. they are ‘traitors to America.’ It isn’t as evi- Super-Rich and the Fall of Everyone Else” uncommon experiences by means of feel- There is no question that Ms. Freeland dent now, but after several months of (2012). “Plutocrats” is an international ings most of us share: like love and fear, will belong to that category of DPMs who actively promoting the thesis ‘Ukrainians best-seller and won the Lionel Gelber Prize hope and desires. As another panelist men- are Clinton’s agents and the enemies of the carry considerable clout. Just days after and National Business Book Award. tioned, so often our stories have tended to United States, who are trying to overthrow being sworn in, Ms. Freeland flew to In 2018, Ms. Freeland was recognised as begin in the midst of a person’s worst suf- Trump,’ a significant part of American soci- Alberta to talk with that province’s premier, Foreign Policy’s Diplomat of the Year and fering. We haven’t had the opportunity to ety and the political elite will want nothing Jason Kenney, one of Mr. Trudeau’s most was awarded the Eric M. Warburg Award connect emotionally with that person and to do with Ukraine or the Ukrainian leader- vocal critics. Then was off to Saskatchewan by Atlantik-Brücke for her achievements in his or her life and dreams before they were ship, nor will they harbor any warm feel- to meet with his second most vocal critic, strengthening trans-Atlantic ties. shattered. ings toward the Ukrainian diaspora.” Premier Doug Moe. (In between those And what the future brings is the critical We heard numerous other suggestions Now is the time for all Ukrainian meetings, she and Mr. Kenney attended a question insofar as Ms. Freeland is con- on telling our stories and getting them out Americans, regardless of party affiliation, banquet in Edmonton honoring former cerned. It is no secret that the Liberals held there effectively. Also, particularly during to stand up to the attacks against us. As a Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, at on to power not because of Mr. Trudeau, the Education Workshop, detailed strate- boy, I remember my father taking me to a which she received by far the biggest ova- but despite Mr. Trudeau. That, and the fact gies (and stories) of getting the Holodomor large gathering of Ukrainians in tion of all the dignitaries present.) Both that, aside from the Conservatives, the into the curriculum of individual states Washington (I think it was around 1962). premiers praised her diplomatic skills. The other three opposition parties all stand to were shared. Maybe it’s time we all converged on D.C. day after meeting Mr. Moe, she was off to the left of the Liberals on social and eco- Congratulations and a big thank you to again and made our voices heard. Washington to resolve issues related to the nomic issues, means that most Canadians the U.S. National Holodomor Committee free trade agreement. prefer progressive economic policies as Alexander J. Stepanyk and to all those who presented at the event. She has become what some pundits opposed to conservative ones. With a more Hollywood, Fla. Since the forum, I have seen accounts on have termed Mr. Trudeau’s most indispens- competent leader they could easily win able minister, and the fact that she has been another majority, tasked with the most difficult challenges Ms. Freeland is a staunch Trudeau loyal- and French President Francois Hollande. facing the administration is a testament to ist, so don’t expect her to do any overt or Turning... In the five years since Russia annexed her ability. covert campaigning for the job. The (Continued from page 6) Crimea, the peninsula has been militarized Ms. Freeland is also very proud of her Liberals, however, consider themselves to by Russia, and there are reports that Russia Ukrainian heritage. As minister of foreign be Canada’s “Natural Governing Party” and, The vote in Ukraine added tensions has based nuclear weapons on Ukrainian affairs, she has been very effective in pro- as such, are determined to cling to power. ahead of a planned new round of talks – territory, in violation of the 1994 Budapest moting Canada’s support for Ukraine and Should Mr. Trudeau drop dramatically in involving representatives of Ukraine, Memorandum. equally effective on the world stage. She the polls, or should he lose the next elec- Russia, the Russia-backed militants and the has punched way above her weight in such tion, the pressure from inside the party on OSCE. A four-way telephone call was held Source: “Verkhovna Rada votes to aban- international forums like the G-7 and NATO. him to resign would be quite strong. Were in Minsk, Belarus, on December 24-26, don neutrality, as Ukraine sets sights on After obtaining a USSR press pass on the that to happen, Ms. Freeland would auto- 2014, between Presidents Poroshenko and NATO membership,” RFE/RL, The Ukrainian basis of a letter of accreditation from matically become the front-runner in any Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel Weekly, December 28, 2014-January 4, 2015. Ukrainian News in 1989, Ms. Freeland cut leadership race. Even if Mr. Trudeau won a her journalistic teeth as a Ukraine-based third term and decided to retire at his own OUR NEXT ISSUE stringer for the Financial Times, The pace, Ms. Freeland would still be a front- runner. The next edition of The Ukrainian Weekly will be dated January 5, 2020. Marco Levytsky may be contacted at Either way you look at it, Chrystia [email protected]. Freeland is a prime minister-in-waiting. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52

NEWS AND VIEWS Continuing to feed the hungry in Ukraine

by Ksenia Hapij It is difficult to initially estimate how much money we should allot for each needy family. We consulted with our vol- People all over the world are forced to endure many unteers in Ukrainian cities, towns and villages, and discov- types of hunger. Of these, two types are most prevalent – a ered that $15 would pay for a large bag of non-perishable hunger for food, and a hunger for love and affection. Very goods such as flour, sugar, oil, buckwheat and other basic often, these two hungers are closely connected – if there food staples. Some of our volunteers promised to visit 10 were more love in the world, fewer people would suffer. homes, while others offered to bring food to over 100 people. Unfortunately, there are so many people starving for both The longer the list of recipients, the greater the need for food and love, that those of us who would like to alleviate volunteers who would prepare the bags of food. Someone their pain must decide exactly whom we can help. The had to purchase the products. Someone had to deliver Charitable Program at St. John’s Ukrainian Catholic Church them to a place where someone would sort everything and in Newark, N.J., has chosen to focus its attention on the pack it into bags, and only then was someone able to deliv- needy in Ukraine, and for the past 10 years, we have pro- er this. It was both heart-warming and encouraging to see vided them with a considerable amount of aid. how many people volunteered their time to help. Over the years, we have organized numerous fund-rais- Father Mykhaylo from the western region of Volyn ers and coordinated various collections. Last fall, we initiat- assembled a group of young people and taught them about ed a project that we called “Feed the Hungry.” Thanks to the sharing one’s efforts for the benefit of the needy. A group of Oleksandr Chekmenev generosity of our donors, we collected $38,850, which volunteers in the village of Kamyana near Chernivtsi A woman in the rubble of the Donetsk bombings. allowed us to purchase approximately 2,500 large bags of reached out to the village council and was able to coordi- food. These bags were distributed to the needy throughout nate 10 people who helped prepare bags for 120 homes fresh fruit and other symbolic food items, and we paid for various regions of Ukraine by our many trusted volunteers. (many of which housed very sick children). Father Roman these packets. We later received a thank you note from the from Kyiv asked his fellow priests to help with deliveries. director of the jail, who told us that in all of the years that he One of them went so far as to deliver bags of food to the has worked there, he has never witnessed such joy. people who still live in the Chornobyl area. Each village and Our “Feed the Hungry” project was so successful, that city has its share of heartwarming stories. we decided to repeat it this year. Our volunteers promise to In the Odesa region, Father Yuriy’s wife, Orysia, asked us continue to work with us, and we hope and pray that we to deviate from our norm and help feed hungry children will be able to bring a little bit of joy and comfort to even whose parents are alcoholics and who hopelessly neglect more people than before. their children. Orysia suggested that instead of delivering Please join us in this “charitable adventure.” Help us to bags of food, we pay for school lunches for 12 children. We bring a smile and a little bit of hope to as many people as agreed to fund their lunches for the entire school year. possible. Let us show the needy that they are in someone’s We work with many volunteers from various back- thoughts, and that someone cares. Please make your tax- grounds in many geographic locations and are often sur- exempt checks payable to St. John’s Church (with the nota- prised by their suggestions. Maria from Chernivtsi visits tion Charitable Program) and mail them to St. John’s inmates in her city jail. Of the 300 inmates, 16 have absolute- Ukrainian Catholic Church, 719 Sanford Ave., Newark, NJ ly no one to visit them. It does not matter how long these 07106. For more information, readers may call Ksenia people have been incarcerated or what the reasons are for Hapij at 201-207-4555. their imprisonment. The simple fact remains that they are The Rev. Roman Syrotych human beings and they deserve compassion. Maria prom- Ksenia Hapij is the director of the Charitable Program at Yuriy, a boy who lives on the streets of Kyiv. ised to prepare small food packets of canned fish, coffee, St. John’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Newark.

Ukrainian Canadians recognized by Alma Mater

by Tanya Dzulynsky ample to observe and to learn from. [Early U.S. and Canada. She works with a variety of on] I learned to lead meetings, influence talented directors and creators producing The Ukrainian Canadian community has decisions, value discipline, execution and scripted and non-scripted series and docu- many successful individuals. Most are not the meaning of hard work. I believe that I mentaries. For example: the Netflix docu- noticed outside of their close circle, but was blessed with this opportunity and I mentary series “Bobby Kennedy for some become recognized as outstanding. perceive it as core to my career destiny.” President,” the comedy series “Crawford” Back on March 20, two members of the Mr. Dubczak has also given back to the (CBC), the CNN series “Death Row Stories.” Ukrainian Canadian community were hon- Ukrainian community. Early on he was a For 17 years she led Cable channels, ored at the Schulich Alumni Recognition counsellor at Plast, later he headed the including Sundance channel, Discovery’s Awards 2019. SUSK (the Ukrainian Students’ Union), then Planet Green and Alliance Atlantis Broad­ Roman Dubczak (MBA ’87) received the the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and casting channels, Showcase and IFC Canada. Outstanding Progress and Achievement Business Association, and in time has In 2012, Ms. Michalchyshyn co-founded Award presented by the Schulich School of become a mentor for many younger Sundance Productions with Robert Redford Business. He has had a stellar business Ukrainian Canadians. and together they executive-produced career since joining the CIBC in 1992. He is The outstanding Public Contribution AMC’s “The American West,” Discovery’s “All currently the managing director and head Award went to Laura Michalchyshyn (MBA The President’s Men,” Animal Planet’s of Global Investment Banking at CIBC. ’93). An accomplished media executive and “Ocean Warrior” and “Chicagoland” for CNN. But Mr. Dubczak has also found time to producer, Ms. Michalchyshyn has pro- Her awards include two Emmys, a GLADD, give back to the community. He was recently grammed and managed TV channels in the Real Screen, Banff TV Award and a Peabody. Roman Dubczak the chair of the St. Joseph’s Health Center Ms. Michalchyshyn also has given back to Foundation and CIBC Children’s Foundation. her community and championed opportuni- What I personally find gratifying, is the He is also a director of the Fraser Institute, ties for women and other underrepresented fact that both recipients acknowledged that past chair of the Investment Industry talent in the film industry. She supports film- they attribute their success in part to the Association of Canada and a member of the makers, artists and storytellers who pro- support and opportunities presented by Dean’s International Advisory Council at the duce powerful stories which inspire in areas their families and the Ukrainian communi- Schulich School of Business. of social justice, women’s rights, politics, art- ty they grew up in. It is this community that In his acceptance speech, Mr. Dubczak istry and the environment. provided a different ladder that they could acknowledged the community that provid- In her acceptance speech, Ms. Michal­ climb and thus develop. As Mr. Dubczak ed him with the opportunity to develop as chyshyn expressed her gratitude to her said in his remarks, there is no one way to an individual and as a leader. “The close extended family and the Ukrainian success. The Ukrainian community with its Ukrainian Canadian community I grew up community in Winnipeg, in which she grew variety of programs and events provides within was a classic post-war émigré com- up, for providing an amazing environment one opportunity for young members to munity which was highly organized out of for her development and instilled her with grow and flourish. We are privileged to be a necessity, politically conscious, relatively values she has cherished all her life. part of it and should be proud of it. economically successful due to hard work Apart from the time and effort that both Congratulation to our award recipients! and quite large. Leaders of the community have given to various causes, they have also were largely ‘survivors’ and that undercur- been generous donors to organizations Tanya Dzulynsky is a member of the rent drove the ambitions of those who such as the Royal Ontario Museum and to board of directors of both the Shevchenko grew up within it. One became savvy early various Ukrainian causes such as the Scientific Society of Canada and the on and organizational street smarts were Laura Michalchyshyn Ukrainian Canadian Congress. Ukrainian Canadian Congress. No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 9

IN THE PRESS WINDOW ON EURASIA Ukraine in the headlines Belarus isn’t another Crimea, “The Shoals of Ukraine,” by Serhii After years of denying that Russia’s regu- Plokhy and M. E. Sarotte Foreign Affairs, lar forces are involved in the war at all, it no matter what Putin thinks January/February 2020 (https://www.for- was unlikely going into Monday’s meeting by Paul Goble If he takes any actions to destroy the eignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/ that Putin would reverse course and pledge political independence of Belarus, Popkov 2019-11-22/shoals-ukraine): to cut off Moscow’s support for its forces in Alyaksandr Lukashenka doesn’t want to says, that will “inevitably transform the rel- At first, it might seem surprising that the Donbas. Such a move would mark a de have his country absorbed by Russia atively small march of opposition figures Ukraine, a country on the fringes of Europe, facto admission of Russia’s culpability in because that would cost him and no family into a much broader popular movement of is suddenly at the turbulent center of fanning the conflict. … their power and perhaps even more, says protest and attitudes toward Russians as American politics and foreign policy. ... commentator Roman Popkov. But a far ‘our own’ and ‘brothers’ will in an instant In fact, that Ukraine is at the center of The damage done to Ukraine,” editori­ greater obstacle to an Anschluss like disappear.” this storm should not be surprising at all. al, The Washington Post, November 30 Crimea is “the lack of desire of the broad The proximate cause of the protests in Over the past quarter century, nearly all (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opin- masses of the Belarusian people” to give up Minsk over the weekend of December 7-8 major efforts at establishing a durable ions/global-opinions/the-damage-done-to- the independent state they have lived in. was Mr. Lukashenka’s meeting with post–Cold War order on the Eurasian conti- ukraine/2019/11/29/81c43156-1121- “Not all of these supporters of a sover- Vladimir Putin in Sochi, a meeting that nent have foundered on the shoals of 11ea- 9cd7-a1becbc82f5e_story.html): eign Belarus are convinced members of the many in Belarus fear will lead to an agree- Ukraine. For it is in Ukraine that the discon- One easily overlooked aspect of the opposition,” the Russian opposition com- ment on the real creation of a union state, nect between triumphalist end-of-history Ukraine affair is the ongoing damage it is mentator says. “Not all of them consider something that would solve Mr. Putin’s delusions and the ongoing realities of doing to the young government of the white-red-white flag as their own. But 2024 problem – but only at the cost of great-power competition can be seen in its President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who won a the overwhelming majority of Belarusians, destroying the hopes and expectations of starkest form. free and fair election in the spring by prom- while viewing the Russians as ‘our own’ many Belarusians. To most American policymakers, Ukraine ising to tackle endemic corruption and end and as ‘brothers,’ do not want to become Despite Mr. Lukashenka’s repressions has represented a brave young country – a grinding low-grade war with Russia and Russians.” and the absence of an independent media one that, despite the burden of history, suc- its proxies. Mr. Zelenskyy has made prog- And in this respect, Belarus is not in Belarus, the Belarusian opposition has cessfully launched itself on a path of demo- ress on both fronts, pushing anti-corrup- Crimea, something that those who have more in common with the Ukrainians of the cratic development as part of a new world tion measures through Parliament and taken to the streets in Minsk this weekend Maidan than with the Russian opposition. It order after the fall of the Berlin Wall. To the negotiating several confidence-building have been trying to ensure that Vladimir is proud of its country and does not want to Kremlin, meanwhile, it has remained an deals with the Russians, including prisoner Putin and his regime finally understand see anyone else dictate terms to it, Mr. indispensable part of a long-standing exchanges and troop pullbacks. … (mbk-news.appspot.com/sences/neskolko- Popkov notes. sphere of influence, one that operates large- For years it has been the policy of the raz-po-trista/). It is a message the Kremlin At the same time, however, there is one ly according to old rules of power. The dif- United States to stand strongly behind leader must finally accept. major difference between the opposition in ference between these two views goes a Ukraine …not just to support a struggling Belarus and that in Russia and Ukraine: it long way toward explaining why post-Cold democracy but also to advance U.S. strate- Paul Goble is a long-time specialist on consists mostly of those who are middle War hopes have given way to the strife and gic interests, such as containing Russian ethnic and religious questions in Eurasia aged or older, rather than the young who uncertainty of the world today. aggression in Europe. Yet the chaos quite obviously have a greater interest in U.S. and other Western policymakers who has served in various capacities in the President Trump introduced into U.S.- making a European choice than anyone else. have long skirted hard questions about U.S. State Department, the Central Ukraine relations has created a de facto Because that is so, Mr. Popkov concludes, both Ukraine’s place in the Eurasian order Intelligence Agency and the International diplomatic vacuum. Virtually every senior for the moment, the chief guarantor of and its role in the fraught relationship Broadcasting Bureau, as well as at the Voice official who worked on the relationship in Belarusian sovereignty is not the passion of between Washington and Moscow. of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio the past two years has resigned or testified the opposition but the fears of Mr. Although the end of the Cold War may have in the impeachment inquiry and been Liberty and the Carnegie Endowment for marked the end of one geopolitical compe- International Peace. The article above is Lukashenka – although that too could denounced by the president. change instantly if Moscow were to try to tition, it did not mark the end of geopolitics. …There remains strong support for reprinted with permission from his blog conduct a Crimea-style Anschluss in its Nor did the dissolution of the Soviet Union Ukraine in Congress, including among called “Window on Eurasia” (http://windo- Western neighbor. mean the disappearance of Russian anxiet- Republicans who have been defending Mr. woneurasia2.blogspot.com/). ies, ambitions and abilities. … Trump. They should be pressing the presi- dent and Mr. Pompeo to revive U.S. support “In Round 1 of Ukraine Peace Talks, for Ukraine. The State Department ought to Zelenskyy Holds His Own With Putin,” by designate a new senior official to represent Nolan Peterson, The Daily Signal, December the United States on peace negotiations. Mr. A quarter of Belarusians rely 13 (https://www.dailysignal.com/2019/ Pompeo himself should get engaged. It’s 12/13/in-round-one-of-ukraine-peace-talks- vital that the United States shows it is still on Russian media for news zelenskyy-holds-his-own-with-putin/): committed to Ukraine’s independence. tors of major Internet corporations like the … “Ukraine is an independent, demo- Otherwise the damage done by Mr. Trump by Paul Goble American Google and Microsoft, and the cratic state, whose development vector will will be compounded. always be chosen exclusively by the people One Belarusian in four has not read the Russian Yandex and Mail.ru. These portals Belarusian media during the last month do not localize for Belarusians; that is, they of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said while in Paris “Don’t Believe the Trump Administra­ but instead relies on Russian media, often collect news from various sources… and [at the Normandy format summit]. tion’s Lies About Ukrainian Corruption,” delivered via the Internet, according to then show them to Belarusians.” …The general consensus among by Adrian Karatnycky, and Alexander J. Mikhail Doroshevich, the director of the Fyodor Pavlyuchenko, the media coor- Ukrainians is that Zelenskyy acquitted him- Motyl, Foreign Policy, November 14 Baltic Internet Policy Initiative, on the dinator for iSANS and chief editor of the self just fine. True, he didn’t achieve a (https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/14/ basis of a new survey. opposition portal Reform.by, says that breakthrough, but he also didn’t fold to any with-impeachment-hearings-underway- This group watches NTV on the most of these aggregators draw from of Putin’s demands. “Contrary to the expec- dont-believe-the-lies-about-ukrainian-corru Internet, goes to Russian portals like Russian sources, and thus Belarusians tations of those who blamed Zelenskyy for ption/?fbclid=IwAR3FvcJ6Qt9LGnoznXABB2 Lenta.ru and communicates with each who use them are overwhelmingly being a ‘peace at all costs’ attitude, he came back fAk9cvnGt6CU0NofFuK3utBhWXyJIvk- from the Normandy Format meeting with d7uTzg): other via Russian social media, the media drawn into the Russian Internet rather no apparent loss to Ukraine’s national secu- …A 2018 anti-corruption poll from the expert says (svaboda.org/a/30309171. than to a broader one as many had rity interests,” said Julia Kazdobina, head of U.S. Agency for International Development html and thinktanks.by/publica- hoped. the Ukrainian Foundation for Security and the Enhance Non-Governmental tion/2019/12/06/tret-belorusov-chita- Mr. Doroshevich gives as an example of Studies. “Russia did not get its way,” Actors and Grassroots Engagement pro- yut-novosti-v-rossiyskih-smi.html). Belarusian interest in a Russian site the Kazdobina told The Daily Signal. gram [found that] …92.5 percent of This means, he suggests, that this part fact that 60,000 Belarusians visited …Kyiv and Moscow remain at logger- respondents thought corruption was a of the Belarusian population already effec- Russia’s “propaganda site, The Third heads over a spectrum of other disputes. very serious or rather serious issue, while tively lives in the Russian information World War,” in October. Most of those who Following an hourlong, one-on-one meet- 86.7 percent thought it was very common space, even though their country remains did are men, with nearly half over age 55. ing with Putin, Zelenskyy told Ukrainian or rather common. On the other hand, independent. They simply do not follow There are no young among the visitors, journalists: “Look, it’s very difficult to nego- only 41.5 percent of households encoun- what is going on in Belarus, except through and fewer than a third have higher educa- tiate [with Putin], but today there were tered corruption in the past 12 months: Of the very distorted reporting of Russian tion; and they come from cities, but not moments when we agreed on something, that number, 30.6 percent of respondents media outlets. from Minsk. on certain things.” said they had personal experiences with Part of this subset of the Belarusian Such people are already living in Russia Zelenskyy rejected Russian demands for corruption, while 10.9 percent had family audience “does not go directly to news – at least in terms of what they take from the federalization of Ukraine, as well as a members who experienced corruption. sites but gains access to them via aggrega- the Internet, he comments. permanent status of autonomy for the two Significantly, 53.1 percent encountered no Russian-controlled breakaway territories corruption. in the Donbas. The Ukrainian leader also Ukrainians, in other words, tended to refused to negotiate directly with separatist Visit our archive online: www.ukrweekly.com leaders. … (Continued on page 16) 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52

Program celebrates 100 years of literary publications by Michigan Ukrainians

by Ksenia Rychtycka “With the written word,” said Ms. Stefaniuk, “we preserve our historic mem- WARREN, Mich. – Sometimes, the great- ory for future generations. Thus, the histo- est treasures are those that lie before you – ry of our published works cannot be sepa- unnoticed, tucked away on bookshelves or rated from the development of our com- in rarely opened drawers. All it takes is a munity.” sudden realization for inspiration to take The “Word by Word” bilingual presenta- hold. Such was the case when members of tion focused on three distinct periods of Ukrainian National Women’s League of publication – the late 1880s to World War America Branch 96 perused their vast II, post-World War II to the 1990s, and the library of books at their local headquar- 1990s to present – brought to life by select ters. This spurred the question: How many literary readings representing each era. of these books were penned by Michigan And there was a unique twist to the pro- authors? gram. All of the works were read by the As it turns out, over 200 books – in actual authors or those related to the origi- genres ranging from prose, poetry, non-fic- nal authors. Four readers had the pleasure tion, memoir and drama to history, politics, of reading works that their parents journalism and more – were discovered. penned. And this didn’t include commemorative A musical interlude by pianist Victoria publications, almanacs, bulletins or book- Lukach-Kravchuk playing “Hutsul lets of individual organizations. The publi- Pysanka” by Oleksandr Bilash broke up the cations span from the 1800s to the pres- readings, providing a magical escape to ent, providing an interesting look back at Ukraine’s Carpathian Mountains. the community activities of the earliest Participants in the readings included Anna Macielinski Ukrainian immigrants to the area. Vera Andrushkiw, Lada Prokop, Bohdan At the “Word by Word” program (from left) are: Marta Kwitkowsky, Branch 96 co- The next step involved organizing the Korduba, Ms. Stefaniuk, Chrystyna Juzych, president, Myrosia Stefaniuk, program narrator and author, and Catherine Kizyma, books by subject matter, compiling an elec- Irena Smyk, Assya Humesky, Ksenia Branch 96 co-president. tronic bibliography and displaying the Rychtycka, Alex Tarnavsky and Nina wave of new immigrants. sides of the ocean. Economic hardships publications in three large exhibit cases at Wasylkewych. According to records, over 30,000 new and the disparity between oligarchs and the UNWLA headquarters. The final step Honored authors from the past whose Ukrainian immigrants arrived in Detroit in the general population led to millions of works were read included Mary Beck, Iryna was to introduce this treasure trove of his- 1949-1950. Many of these were refugees young Ukrainians leaving their families Wynnycka Pelenska, Oleksa Veretenchenko, tory and literature to the local community, from displaced persons camps in Western behind to work at menial jobs outside Edward Kozak, Bohdan Nyzhankiwskyj, especially younger members who were Europe and included an extremely large Ukraine. Maria Harasewych, Mykhaylo Smyk, Daria likely not familiar with this rich past. The number of writers, journalists, professors, Many settled in the Detroit area and, Rychtycka and Zenon Tarnavsky. vision for an event was spearheaded by artists, various professionals, social and although their outlook differed consider- Ms. Stefaniuk noted how even the earli- local author and longtime UNWLA Branch political figures, and freedom fighters. ably from the preceding wave as they did 96 member Myrosia Stefaniuk, who est immigrants, who were mainly farmers Social, cultural and political activities not have the same idealized vision of chaired the Word By Word Committee, and workers, understood the importance flourished with the new influx. New insti- Ukraine nor similar identity issues, the lending her distinct creative touch to the of the printed word and overcame various tutions, art ensembles, schools, publishing now-blended community took on a new program. challenges by bonding with other houses, bookstores and radio broadcasts format. Additionally, the Internet, Skype At last, on September 15, UNWLA Ukrainians, laying the foundations for sprang up. Every group and organization and social media allowed for a free flow of Branch 96 presented “Word By Word – 100 church parishes, schools, community cen- printed bulletins, newsletters, almanacs information and completely changed the Years of Literary Publications by Michigan ters, and cultural and political associations, and commemorative yearbooks. Book col- publishing world. Ukrainians.” Catherine Kizyma, Branch 96 upon which later immigrants built and lections and archives were updated and “Currently, the number of new publica- co-president, welcomed the packed hall of expanded. maintained. The main unifying factor for tions here is limited,” said Ms. Stefaniuk. attendees. Women played a vital role in this by these political immigrants was the longing “We do have valuable archives and librar- “It is amazing, given our Ukrainian his- establishing reading rooms, children’s and for their homeland and concern for ies. And in our display are books by new, tory of suppression, oppression, deporta- women’s educational groups, as well as Ukraine’s fate. younger-generation writers such as Alex tion and confiscation that the Ukrainian lessons and lectures to acquaint them- Like the immigrants who came earlier, Tarnavsky and Ksenia Rychtycka, who are word has somehow survived,” said Ms. selves and others about life in the United the new arrivals found that adjusting to life participating in our program today. And Kizyma. “Not only has it survived, but it States and Ukraine. Dr. Mary Beck, the first in America was difficult and traumatic. there are at least a dozen other thrives from Shevchenko’s days of serfdom female president of the Detroit City Council Struggling against rapid assimilation, they Michiganders who have published books in to the present, where a new generation of and a UNWLA member, was the publisher strived to instill a sense of commitment to recent years. Most of these authors write writers, poets and historians continue to and editor of Woman’s World magazine. Ukraine in their children. in English, and the subject matter of their promote information about our true During the 1930s and 1940s, central Ukrainian heritage.” themes in various publications focused on “Instrumental in this regard was works is diverse, but interest in their heri- Ms. Kizyma then introduced Ms. local community events and concerns, as Detroit’s Ukrainian Community Cultural tage does not diminish. We also have many Stefaniuk, who served as program narrator well as news of Soviet repression, the Club, headed by literary and arts giants translations of Ukrainian literature into and expertly provided a concise yet com- Holodomor, and terror and persecution in such as Edward Kozak, Zenon Tarnavsky, English and other languages – a vital pro- prehensive historical overview of Ukraine. When World War II broke out, Bohdan Nyzhankiwskyj, Bohdan Lonchyna cess for Ukrainian works to be integrated Michigan’s Ukrainian community and its however, community activism and publica- and many others,” said Ms. Stefaniuk. into world literature.” publication output. tions ceased altogether until the post-war “Every weekend there were literary eve- The afternoon ended with closing nings, art exhibits, musical and theatrical remarks by Marta Kwitkowsky, Branch 96 performances, educational lectures as well co-president, who thanked all those as political forums and manifestations, and involved in helping to make the event a publication upon publication.” success, including all committee members Through the years, the reach of the writ- and participants, archivists Daria Koniuch ten word expanded beyond the confines of and Irene Petrina, Olha Liskiwsky, director the Ukrainian community, informing the of the Ukrainian American Archives and American public and government about Museum, and Maria Vintoniv, Ukrainian Ukraine’s rightful place among the nations Cultural Center librarian. She also singled of the world. During the 1960s and 1970s, out Ms. Stefaniuk for her vision in bringing when the Soviet regime savagely repressed the event to fruition. artists and writers in Ukraine, Detroit’s Ms. Kwitkowsky then concluded with a Committee for the Defense of Ukrainian poignant question to the audience: “What Political Prisoners wrote thousands of let- sort of literary legacy will we leave our ters, petitions, press releases and informa- future generations and will they willingly tive publications beseeching the U.S. gov- preserve it?” ernment and the world to pay attention If the varied literary readings from the and act. day’s event were any indication, the writ- By the 1980s, organizational member- ten word is alive and thriving, and will con- ship dwindled as younger generations tinue to inspire future writers, poets, histo- Nina Wasylkewych moved into distant suburbs and became rians and journalists. Nina Wasylkewych Alex Tarnavsky reads his father’s essay more assimilated into American life. But Those interested in obtaining electronic from “Road to Vysokyi Zamok” by Lada Prokop, Branch 96 member, reads Zenon Tarnavsky (1964). He also read an her mother’s short story from “The everything changed in 1991 when Ukraine copies of the Michigan authors bibliogra- excerpt from his own work “Masters of Walnut Shell,” by Iryna Wynnycka declared independence. It was the begin- phy may contact Marta Kwitkowsky at Deceit” (2013). Pelenska (1947). ning of a new transitional period on both [email protected]. No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 11 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52

The Son of God... “Mr. Jones” screened in Washington area (Continued from page 6) God dwells among us, in this world with all of its beauty and challenge (John 1:14). The Lord could not be any closer to our human experience. He comes to us in a shepherd’s cave, inconspicuously, far from home… for all of us, for our salvation. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). The first to see Him were simple folks – the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20). Those called by Biblical prophecy to pay homage – came from afar (Mattew 2:1-12). Others – out of jealousy, fear and ambition – sought to kill Him (Matthew 2:16-18). But most of humanity noticed nothing at all. How blessed we are to know, to see, to hear (Matthew 13:16), to celebrate the Emmanuel – God is with us (Matthew 1:23). “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32). SILVER SPRINGS, Md. – Following the first of two showings in the Washington area of the new film “Mr. Jones,” describing the This Christmas we wish all of you a deep- work of the Welsh journalist Gareth Jones in Joseph Stalin’s 1930s Soviet Union, the film’s screenwriter Andrea Chalupa discussed ly personal experience of God’s presence in the story of what is now known as the Holodomor, and the hard work it took for Jones to gather the information and share that your life, in your families and communities. tragic history with the world. Jones secretly managed to visit Ukraine to witness and report to the Western world about the millions We wish you the abiding tranquility that of Ukrainians starving to death as Stalin’s regime confiscated their wheat harvest and sold it to the West to finance his communist comes from a sense that God is near. A regime. In her hourlong discussion with the large audience on December 15 at the AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center in Silver peace experienced by the shepherds who Spring, Md., Ms. Chalupa (in front of the screen) also noted that she expects it to be very difficult to spread the two-hour-long histor- heard angels singing “Glory to God in the ic film in theaters throughout the country. But the producers will try. The film has already been honored as the best film at the 2019 highest heaven, and on earth peace to those Polish Film Festival, and was selected for presentation at the 2019 film festivals in Berlin, Zurich and London. on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14). – Yaro Bihun However, we would like to wish you much more. We hope that you can carry the news of the Birth of Jesus to others. Through Most recently, however, Mr. Zelenskyy will propose that a new subgroup dedicat- your hospitality, generosity, mercy, through Normandy summit... has turned Minsk-revisionist (see EDM, ed to border control be created in the your carols and good word. For “This is good December 9), and he seems hopeful of Minsk Contact Group. But considering the (Continued from page 3) and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, reopening this issue by raising it to the Minsk Group’s composition, this is a dead- who desires all men to be saved and to come Regarding the special status of the occu- level of the Normandy format. French lock – hence Mr. Zelenskyy’s intention to to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy pied Donetsk-Luhansk territory, Ukraine’s President Macron hinted at that in his con- raise the matter to the Normandy group’s 2:3-4). And yet the Scripture says: “How cluding remarks. level in this case also. president told the assembled journalists beautiful are the feet of those who preach German Chancellor Merkel, however, Turning to the matter of Russian and that he agreed to: 1) prolong Ukraine’s good news!” (Romans 10:15). praised Mr. Zelenskyy for accepting the local troops in Donetsk-Luhansk, Mr. existing law on the region’s special status We propose that this Christmas we all sit Steinmeier formula, “a great breakthrough Zelenskyy announced, “I have underlined before its December 31 expiry and 2) enact down and attentively read the Nativity nar- due to Ukraine’s courage, which made it that all foreign troops must withdraw and in 2020 a new law on the special status that rative (Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:18-2:18). possible for us to hold our meeting today” local military formations be disbanded” as would incorporate the so-called Steinmeier Let us do so quietly, in our homes, with an formula. The formula is about bringing (Bundeskanzlerin.de, December 9). This part of pre-conditions for elections to be icon and candle, with the starlit sky shining Donetsk-Luhansk’s special status into effect had, indeed, been the Kremlin’s key precon- held there. The other Normandy leaders through the window, reading alone or with on a permanent basis when elections are dition to holding this summit. The are not on record with comments on this those dear to our heart. held in that Russian-controlled territory. Steinmeier formula could well allow the matter at this summit. Let us reflect on the mystery of a God As Mr. Zelenskyy confirmed at the press special status to take permanent effect Mr. Zelenskyy also evidently called for who becomes one of us, and share with conference, the terms of the new law on regardless of the quality of those elections revising the Minsk agreements during the others what we see and hear. When we special status “must be agreed upon in the in Donetsk-Luhansk. leaders’ closed-door meetings. Mr. Putin Normandy format and with all the sides In line with the Minsk agreements, Mr. refused, however: “The Minsk agreements share, our joy doubles. When we bring [sic] in the Minsk Contact Group.” That Putin reminded the press conference that are clear, there is no need to re-negotiate encouragement to those who might be sad, Contact Group includes Ukraine, Russia, the elections due in Donetsk-Luhansk are a them… If we reopen one point, we will tor- their sadness is cut in half. Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics,” matter for the Minsk Contact Group to dis- pedo all the other points.” (The documents The Mother of God was called to carry and the Organization for Security and cuss. This means Kyiv would be negotiating are so crafted that each point leads to the the Word of God in her womb and to give Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), meaning with Russia and the two “people’s repub- next in a tight, pre-determined sequence.) birth to the Messiah in Bethlehem. Joseph that an isolated Kyiv negotiates with three lics” about a special electoral law and all Only Ms. Merkel hinted at some possible carried the Infant to safety in Egypt. We are Russian parties, while Russia holds statuto- organizational aspects of such “elections” reconsideration: “The question arises, called to carry His Salvation to our sisters ry veto power inside the OSCE. Under the (Kremlin.ru, December 9). Ms. Merkel whether the Minsk agreements are to and brothers – by our peace, by our love, by Minsk agreements, all decisions related to wants the Normandy group’s diplomats to become fossilized [to turn into fossils], or the way we relate to those with whom we the political settlement are to be negotiated help create the “political and security con- whether they may be revived. Mr. live and work. between Kyiv and Donetsk-Luhansk on a ditions” (in that order, rather than “security Zelenskyy’s actions make it possible for us This Christmas we wish for you that your co-equal basis. The December 9 Paris sum- first”) for holding those “elections.” While to lend some elasticity to these documents family, your profession, your efforts, your mit communiqué would allow the special Ms. Merkel apparently seeks a serious dis- and bring them back to life,” she contended. rest and relaxation may be permeated with status to be negotiated in the Normandy cussion, Mr. Macron would like to see con- In the context of “elasticity,” Ms. Merkel the joy of the Nativity, no matter what your format, instead of or in addition to the ditions created already by the time of the conceded that the Steinmeier formula itself situation might be – material or spiritual. Minsk Contact Group format. next Normandy meeting in April 2020. was not in line with the Minsk documents We have been given much. We have The Russian president told the press Mr. Zelenskyy responded by making the but went beyond their framework; it is an received God Himself in our lives! Having conference that the special status must be case for enlarging the composition of the addition to them (Bundeskanzlerin.de, received, let us give to others so that peace enshrined in Ukraine’s Constitution, again Minsk Contact Group by adding representa- December 9). and joy may reign on this earth. by agreement with Donetsk and Luhansk. tives of the millions of internally displaced Finally, on Crimea, bringing up Russia’s We remain your humble servants in the This, too, is in line with the Minsk agree- persons who left the Russian-controlled seizure of the peninsula from Ukraine had newborn Messiah, ments. Mr. Putin called for direct dialogue territory. He had first aired that proposal been one of Mr. Zelenskyy’s early justifica- +Borys Gudziak between Kyiv and Donetsk-Luhansk, being shortly before the summit (see EDM, tions for seeking a Normandy summit and a Metropolitan of Philadelphia “the parties to this conflict.” December 9). bilateral meeting with Mr. Putin (well before At the press conference, Mr. Zelenskyy Mr. Zelenskyy came to the summit hop- calling for the Minsk agreements to be +Paul Chomnycky, OSBM confirmed his acceptance of the Steinmeier ing to regain Ukrainian control of the revised). In Paris, however, the Ukrainian Eparch of Stamford formula to be introduced into the law on 400-kilometer border between Russia and president told the press that he (and the the special status. In this case as well, the Ukraine in Russian-backed Donetsk- summit) ran out of time before he could raise +Вenedict Aleksiychuk Paris summiteers agreed to allow the mat- Luhansk, ahead of any elections in that ter- this issue. He would raise it the next time. Eparch of St. Nicholas in Chicago ter to be discussed again in the Normandy ritory. He announced at the summit’s end +Bohdan J. Danylo format. Mr. Zelenskyy had accepted the that he would raise the matter again at the The article above is reprinted from Eparch of St. Josaphat in Parma Steinmeier formula in the Minsk Contact next Normandy summit, with downscaled Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from Group (acting co-equally with Donetsk- hopes for a step-by-step solution, correlat- its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, +Andriy Rabiy Luhansk) on October 1. ed in some way to those elections. Ukraine www.jamestown.org. Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 13

Ekblad’s +1, a reflection of Pysyk’s safe contract for 2019-2020. He’s right behind puck handling versus the Panthers’ high- fellow-Uke Oleksiak on the depth chart, Top 20 NHL Ukrainians risk, high-reward defensive style. The which means he may spend time in the 27-year-old is the ultimate defensive press box or in Texas (AHL). As a longtime subscriber to The Hockey reputation as a solid two-way defender. defenseman who complements the corps’ 16. Brett Kulak, D, Montreal – Kulak News and an admitted sports nut whose 5. Travis Zajac, C, New Jersey – He’s one more daring rearguards. has teamed with Jeff Petry on the second first love is ice hockey, this writer is well of several Devils players outside the top-six 11. Jakob Chychrun, D, Arizona – The defense pairing due to his mobility, making aware that one of its yearbook’s traditions capable of producing on offense, coming off blue line is referred to as the team’s heart is a ranking of the NHL’s top-50 players, him a better fit over newcomer Ben a 46-point season. Described as a superb and soul with captain Oliver Ekman- compiled by the periodical’s writers, Chiarot. His numbers revealed his true penalty-killer, Zajac is counted on as No. 3 Larsson leading one of the league’s deepest league GMs and scouts. Having digested worth: on ice for least shots by opposition/ centerman and will be asked to mentor No. and most balanced defense corps. The still another of these annual features, your on ice for most shots by his team. Who 1 overall draft pick, Jack Hughes. club’s top seven defenders return in 2019- loyal hockey pundit decided to compile a knew he was so good? And he’s only 25. 2020, including 2016 first-rounder ranking of the top 20 Ukrainian NHL-ers as 6. Adam Pelech, D, N.Y. Islanders – 17. Cale Makar, D, Colorado – A sublime Chychrun, who’s already a three-year vet- the puck drops for 2019-2020. Pelech has climbed up the depth chart to skater and playmaker already super poised No. 3 on the blue-line brigade and is a big eran at age 21. Health is the only obstacle at both ends, Makar is front-runner for the 1. Matthew Tkachuk, LW, Calgary – he needs to overcome on his way to star- part of the reason the Isles were the first top rookie award (Calder Trophy) in 2019- Tkachuk is ranked No. 45 in the NHL by dom. team in a century to finish with the fewest 2020. The Avalanche have sky-high hopes The Hockey News, he plays the game goals against one season after allowing the tough, and he plays the game to win. He is a 12. Nolan Patrick, C, Philadelphia – The for this young man who had not yet played most goals in the league. Only 25, he has a second overall pick in 2017, he’s been an NHL regular season game heading into supreme agitator with a 34-goal campaign great future. already on his resume. His continued supe- slowed by injuries since his draft year. One this season, but starred in 10 playoff games rior performance will be paramount for 7. Brady Tkachuk, LW, Ottawa – The must appreciate that Patrick just turned after losing Frozen Four Finals. 20-year-old will be asked to play a pivotal 21, and although his first two NHL seasons any deep playoff run by his Flames. One 18. Jayce Hawryluk, RW, Florida – role as the Senators rebuild with the focus were full of challenges, he will be that week before the 2019-2020 season faced Hawryluk was penciled in as fourth-line on youth. Coming off an incredible rookie much better down the road. Stability in the off, Calgary signed Tkachuk to a three-year, right wing after sticking with the Panthers campaign when he tallied 22 goals and 45 coaching department would hasten $21 million bridge contract making him following early recall from Springfield points (top scoring forward on club), he Patrick’s developing his vast potential. the highest paid Flames player. (AHL). He could produce more offense if will be relied on to carry even more of the 2. Devan Dubnyk, GT, Minnesota – 13. Jamie Oleksiak, D, Dallas – Due to supported with higher quality line-mates. offensive load by new coach D.J. Smith. Dubnyk enters his sixth season with the an onslaught of injuries, the Stars deployed He likes to hit opposing forwards in open Already ranked No. 7 among Ukrainians, Wild following an up-and-down 2018- 12 different defensemen last season, reac- ice and has been a solid scorer in the one can only imagine his potential. 2019, which ended with a .913 save per- quiring Oleksiak from Pittsburgh to aid minors. centage and 2.54 goals-against-average. He 8. Johnny Boychuk, D, N.Y. Islanders – their depleted blue line. He’s 6-foot-7, Injuries and advancing years have robbed 255-pounds, an intimidating presence to 19. Curtis Lazar, RW, Buffalo – Lazar enjoyed a great start until toppled by did not appear on parent club’s depth Washington’s Tom Wilson in a November him of his offensive acumen, yet he’s still protect offensive D-men John Klingberg, chart, meaning he was destined for game, causing his game to falter. At 33, considered No. 4 on the defensive depth Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell. He’s slot- Rochester (AHL) despite strong training Dubnyk could benefit from more rest. chart, possibly pairing with fellow Uke ted for third pair duty. Pelech. His +10 in 74 games was good for camp/exhibition game performance. He 3. Tyler Bozak, C, St. Louis – This veter- 14. Kyle Brodziak, C, Edmonton – As scored 20 goals with Stockton (AHL) and fourth among the team’s blue-liners. At 35 the fourth-line center, Brodziak led the an player was brought in to add leadership the Sabres took a flyer on this still young he can produce more offense. squad in faceoff percentage (52 percent) and win face-offs as a third-line center. He high draft pick who was not developed in 9. Greg Pateryn, D, Minnesota – The and was a primary penalty-killer while more than met expectations as his two- Ottawa. way skills helped the Blues win their first- blue line is still the Wild’s bread and butter. averaging 12 minutes of ice time per game. ever Stanley Cup (13 playoff points) and They boast one of the NHL’s best top-fours On a young Oilers team, Brodziak is the 20. Zach Senyshyn, RW, Boston – A fast 54.3 faceoff percent won prove he’s crafty with Matt Dumba, Ryan Suter, Jared elder statesman and a role model for and intense winger, Senyshyn has been and clutch. Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin. Right behind young centers Connor McDavid and Leon unable to replicate his junior production at them is the under-rated Pateryn, who Draisaitl. the pro level. He was rated the Bruins’ 4. Colton Parayko, D, St. Louis – ninth top prospect despite being drafted proved worthy of his free-agent deal by 15. Taylor Fedun, D, Dallas – Fedun Parayko is part of an incredible shut-down four years ago. His first NHL goal was pair so evident in the playoffs against the earning an average of 17 minutes time-on- graduated from minor leaguer to depth scored in a late season call-up after so-so top lines of Winnipeg, Dallas, San Jose and ice in 80 games. At 29 he seems to have defender when the Stars acquired him production at Providence (AHL) in 2018- Boston. He’s come a long way since being finally found a permanent home. from Buffalo to help their injury-plagued 2019. touted mainly for his blistering shot from 10. Mark Pysyk, D, Florida – Among the blue line, then dressed him in 54 games the point. Parayko is valued as the No. 2 regular defensemen, his -1 plus/minus plus playoffs. His surprising contributions Ihor Stelmach may be reached at iman@ defenseman on the Blues with a growing ratio was second best after captain Aaron earned him a $700,000 one-year, two-way sfgsports.com.

the same dedication he had hitherto pledge to act as missionaries, defend the He delighted in family life and was Morris Diakowsky... applied in all other spheres. He and his wife faith and serve Canada, as a homeland of thrilled with the arrival of grandchildren moved back to Canada so the children religious freedom and democracy. Katya, Danylko, Sabina and Keaton. It was a (Continued from page 4) could grow up nearer to their grandparents Mr. Diakowsky made a significant contri- blessing that in his few final days, spent in historically played by Ukraine’s wandering and other relatives and friends. bution to the Church’s intellectual heritage hospital after a very brief illness, his bards, was in peril. Bandurists, accused of In Toronto, Mr. Diakowsky built a career by translating and editing key documents beloved wife, Daria, and their four children fostering nationalism, had been murdered in the provincial civil service, while his wife and publications, an activity he continued kept vigil, even singing at his bedside. by the Soviet regime. Few banduras worked as a teacher. A power couple with into his 90s. He translated into English a The funeral, held on November 13 at the remained, and only a handful of people many shared interests, they complemented volume of the history of the Orthodox Ukrainian Orthodox Chapel of All Saints of worldwide knew how to construct them. and supported each other in their endeav- Church and was assistant editor of “The Ukraine, in Oakville, Ontario, was befitting Mr. Diakowsky set out to learn. He stud- ors. Over the years, the Diakowskys took Good Shepherd Prayer Book” (2013) and a life of long service and dedication to his ied under bandura master Zinoviy leadership roles in numerous organiza- “The Liturgy Pew Book and the Faith” Church and community. The community Shtokalko and wrote letters to Simon tions, including the St. Demetrius (2018). came out in great numbers to pray for his Lastovych, a bandura-building expert. Mr. Development Corp., which spearheaded the With his resonant voice, Mr. Diakowsky soul and pay their final respects. Officiating Diakowsky constructed his first bandura in construction of a long-term health care and was a natural chorister. He helped organize clergy included Metropolitan Yurij and 1955 and led workshops with young peo- seniors’ centers, and St. Vladimir Institute, a course for cantors and sang in the St. Bishop Andriy, as well as numerous priests: ple in Germany to teach them. He contin- a cultural center and student residence. Demetrius Church Choir as well as with the Fathers Walter Makarenko, Bohdan Sencio, ued teaching the art of bandura-building The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Prut River Boys, who came together at Mykolaj Sidorski, Bohdan Hladio, Gregory for decades. Canada also greatly benefited from Mr. Christmas to carol in support of worthy Mielnik, Jaroslaw Buciora and Myroslaw While in Munich, Mr. Diakowsky met Diakowsky’s volunteerism. In his youth, he causes. Many of the “boys” were decades Shmyhelskyy. Daria Wyshniowsky, a young Ukrainian read the Apostle in Church, arranged music younger, but with his quick wit and joie de The interment took place immediately Canadian from Ontario. They married in for the choir, and was active in the vivre, Mr. Diakowsky had no trouble keep- afterwards at St. Volodomyr Ukrainian September 1967 in Grimsby, Ontario, Ukrainian Orthodox Youth Association. ing up. Cemetery. where their parents (both the Diakowskys Later, he was a parishioner of St. Demetrius Mr. Diakowsky mentored those younger Donations in Mr. Diakowsky’s memory and Wyshniowskys) had resettled, and they Ukrainian Orthodox Church. He served on than him and buoyed up those senior. For were requested to the Canadian Founda­ went on to have four children: Larissa, the board of St. Andrew’s College, the theo- years he volunteered biweekly at the Ivan tion for Ukrainian Studies; St. Vladimir Franko, Roxolana and Michael. logical school at the University of Manitoba. Franko Home for the Aged, reading to the Institute (Redevelopment Fund); or the St. Having been a bachelor for four decades, He was a member of the Order of St. residents and leading them in song while Joseph’s Health Center Founda­tion in Mr. Diakowsky approached family life with Andrew, a group of distinguished laity who playing the bandura. Toronto. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52 No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 15

Kuleba: Relations with U.S. ‘unshattered’ thousand people had assembled into four certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk NEWSBRIEFS groups of protesters, one of which opposed regions, generally known as the Donbas, was The first Ukrainian administration official the government’s plans to lift the moratori- first adopted in September 2014 for a peri- (Continued from page 2) to visit Washington in months says bilateral um on the sale of agricultural land. Police od of three years after Russia-backed mili- again since December 2015. He also was relations remain strong despite the central detained 26 people during the clashes and tants incited an insurgency in the Donbas, the ambassador to Austria in 2005-2006, role Ukraine has played in the impeachment removed tents that had been erected near where more than 13,000 people have been and to Russia in 2010-2015. He will replace inquiry into U.S. President Donald Trump. the national legislature. “I’m for the right to killed in the ongoing conflict since. The law Ambassador Valeriy Chaly, whose tenure in The deputy prime minister for Europe and peacefully assemble. Every person has the has been prolonged twice since then and Washington had expired. Mr. Yelchenko Euro-Atlantic integration, Dmytro Kuleba, right to express their opinion,” Mr. was set to expire on December 31, 2019. gave his last speech at the U.N. on told a press conference on December 13 that Zelenskyy said on Facebook. “And every (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service) December 18, when the General Assembly the strategic relationship remained “unshat- person should be held accountable if some- adopted an updated resolution on Russian- tered.” Mr. Kuleba, who met with members one suffers as a result of that person’s EU extends sanctions against Russia of Congress, and officials at the State occupied Crimea that seeks to protect actions.” He added that “discussions about European Union leaders on December 12 Department and the White House, said his human rights on the Ukrainian peninsula. legislative initiatives shouldn’t break the decided to prolong economic sanctions top priorities in the U.S. capital were to “Crimea is an integral part of Ukraine,” Mr. law.” Mr. Zelenskyy promised that the law to against Russia over the ongoing conflict in lobby the United States to impose sanctions Yelchenko underscored. (RFE/RL) create an agricultural land market will be Ukraine by another six months. The deci- on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 natural-gas pipe- discussed with the wider public, and as sion comes days after the first face-to-face Prosecutor is new anti-corruption chief line and enhance relations with NATO. “We such, “Ukraine will move towards a better meeting between Russian President want NATO to be more ambitious toward A selection commission has named a life, despite the resistance of the old ‘elites.’ ” Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counter- new chief for Ukraine’s National Agency for Ukraine. We don’t only want to receive sup- The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv also denounced part, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Paris in Prevention of Corruption (NAPZK), an port, we want to contribute [to missions],” the violence. “The United States supports which the pair committed to a ceasefire in independent body that outlines and imple- he said. As signs of the strength of the bilat- the right to peaceful protests. We condemn eastern Ukraine by the end of the year, a ments policies to prevent fraud. The six- eral relationship, Mr. Kuleba pointed to the violence against police and journalists, such prisoner exchange, and a withdrawal of member commission unanimously sup- decision by Congress to increase annual mil- as transpired outside the Rada today,” the forces from three additional “disengage- ported Oleksandr Novikov on December 16 itary support to $300 million and include U.S. Embassy said in a tweet. Kyiv police ment areas” along the frontline. French as the NAZPK’s new head. Mr. Novikov is a sanctions related to the Nord Stream 2 proj- chief Andriy Khryshchenko said video foot- President Emmanuel Macron and German prosecutor who led a department in ect in the National Defense Authorization age of the clashes is being evaluated and a Chancellor Angela Merkel, who mediated Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office. The Act. The Ukrainian official said he discussed criminal investigation is open on resisting the talks on December 9, briefed the other final confirmation of the nomination must with Trump administration officials a possi- police. (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service) European leaders in Brussels about the ble visit by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy be made by the government before January Donbas special status law extended summit and then recommended a rollover 1, the day the new chief is expected to start to Washington – not the contents of the of the restrictive measures against work at the post. The selection committee’s impeachment process. Mr. Kuleba also Ukrainian lawmakers have approved a Moscow. The sanctions, which mainly tar- staff was approved by the government in defended President Zelenskyy’s decision to bill extending the law on the special status of get Russia’s financial, energy and defense late October. The body is co-chaired by meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin local self-governance in areas of the eastern industries, were first imposed in July 2014 Tilman Hoppe, a former anti-corruption to discuss peace in eastern Ukraine, saying it regions of Donetsk and Luhansk regions as a response to Russia’s annexation of expert with the European Council, and is the only way to make progress. (Todd until December 31, 2020. The bill was Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and its sup- Kateryna Ryzhenko of Transparency Prince of RFE/RL) approved by 320 lawmakers at the port for the separatists holding parts of the International Ukraine. The NAPZK has been Violence against police near Rada condemned Parliament’s session on December 12. The easternmost Ukrainian regions of Donetsk functioning since 2016. It was established document was offered to the Verkhovna and Luhansk in a war that has killed more to eradicate deep-rooted corruption in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Rada by Davyd Arakhamia, the head of the than 13,000 people. The sanctions have Ukraine along with the National Anti- Zelenskyy condemned the violence on ruling Servant of the People party’s repre- been extended every six months ever since. Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the December 16 near the Verkhovna Rada, sentation, and his first deputy, Oleksandr The current measures expire on January 31 Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s where protesters clashed with police, injur- Korniyenko, on December 10. The law on and were extended to the end of July 2020. Office. (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service) ing 17 officers and two journalists. Several the special order of local self-governance in (Rikard Jozwiak of RFE/RL)

nator of this year’s Peace Light ceremonies. need it. This tradition creates the [appro- for the Plast group in Bakhmut [Donetsk Bethlehem... This Plast campaign not only spreads priate] atmosphere before Christmastime region],” Mr. Vdoviak recalled. “When we the symbolic Peace Light among scouts, and makes this period the warmest and the arrived there in 2016, there was an initia- (Continued from page 1) their families and the public, but it also has most festive of the year,” Mr. Fietisov com- tive group of residents who shared our val- “Ukrainian scouts formed the corridor in meaning for society at large. “We bring the mented. ues, including people from the volunteer the cathedral, holding burning candles lit Peace Light to hospitals, government bod- One of the essential parts of the environment who helped the army. They from the Peace Light. Plast scouts from ies, churches, schools, universities, compa- Bethlehem Peace Light campaign is to realized that Donbas towns lacked the other regions passed through this corridor nies, etc. There are two missions: to bring this symbol of peace and good will to patriotic upbringing of young people, and to obtain the light. After a speech by the encourage people to think about peace and the place where it is needed the most – to particularly Plast. Since then, the environ- scouts’ branch coordinator about the unity once again and to do a good deed. For Ukrainian soldiers at the eastern frontline. ment has been evolving quickly – last sum- meaning of this symbolical fire, it was example, when scouts bring this fire to hos- Plast members have now shared this light mer they held a presentation about Plast in shared with all the people in the cathedral,” pitals and orphanages, they also bring a gift for 23 years in a row, but the meaning of the city, and the room was completely filled related Mr. Fietisov, who is the chief coordi- of some clothing or food for those who the Peace Light was dramatically trans- with people who wanted to learn more formed in 2014, when Russia occupied about the Ukrainian scouts.” Crimea and parts of the Donetsk and “Each trip is unique. In the first years Luhansk regions. From that time on, Plast (2014-2016), the frontline was changing so scouts have visited Ukrainian soldiers in fast that, during the day, flags at the check- the east to try to raise their spirits. points and territory control could change. “It all started with the war. My Plast It was a bit dangerous to travel like this, but TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL Walter Honcharyk (973) 292-9800 x3040 friend Roman Oryshchenko now says that it the Peace Light was illuminating our way,” or e-mail [email protected] was I who suggested in 2014 to go to the Mr. Vdoviak said. Donbas and bring the Peace Light of Once Ukrainian soldiers found out that SERVICES PROFESSIONALS Bethlehem to Ukrainian soldiers, although I Mr. Vdoviak and his volunteer group were do not recall this particular moment. But it coming with the Peace Light to their area, definitely was from that time that we started they called and asked to visit. The place to carry this symbolic light to the frontline,” where these soldiers were serving was just said Oleh Vdoviak, coordinator of the proj- a few hundred meters from the positions of ect, as he shared his memories about the anti-Ukrainian militants. “It was getting beginning of this tradition. “We are duty- dark outside when we were in the center of bound to continue this tradition every year, a village. We went into a shop to drink tea and each time we hope it will be our last trip and, at that moment, terrorists started to the borderline of the occupied territories. artillery fire on our positions – the exact But the war is on, so we have to go.” ones where the guys were waiting for us In addition to the symbolic Bethlehem and the light. We waited until it was rela- Peace Light, volunteers always bring with tively safe and drove to them. We met, talk- them Christmas gifts and other relevant ed, presented some food to them, drank tea. OPPORTUNITIES МАРІЯ ДРИЧ items. Five years ago, these were armor, I still keep in touch with one of those guys,” Ліцензований Продавець shoes, first aid kits, military uniforms, and Mr. Vdoviak related. Страхування Життя other necessities. Fortunately, this is no lon- “We always come to the ‘Plast battalion,’ МАRІA DRICH ger needed, so now they buy sweets, and where most of the Plast members served,” Earn extra income! Licensed Life Insurance Agent collect letters of support for the soldiers on he continued. “It’s always a warm evening The Ukrainian Weekly is looking Ukrainian National Assn., Inc. the frontline. with guitar music, UPA [Ukrainian for advertising sales agents. “There are also inspirational things to Insurgent Army] songs, hot tea or coffee, For additional information contact 2200 Route 10, Parsippany, NJ 07054 Tel.: 973-292-9800 ext. 3035 which the Peace Light of Bethlehem is homemade gingerbread made by volun- Walter Honcharyk, Advertising Manager, directly related. For example, the ceremony teers and, of course, with the Peace Light of The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. e-mail: [email protected] of receiving the light became the first event Bethlehem.” 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52

On the First Anniversary of the Passing of Zoriana (Zirka) Smorodsky née Horodylowsky born on March 4, 1948, in Regensburg, Germany, died on January 9, 2019, in Lakewood, New Jersey. It is with great sorrow and grief that we commemorate the death of our beloved wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and aunt, Zoriana (Zirka) Smorodsky, and we re ect on her nearly half century long battle with cancer. During her time on this earth, she never permitted her disease to hamper her spirit, her faith, her love of life, nor dampen her love for family and friends. Zirka always lived life to its fullest. She fathomed that life is like the mythical owering forest fern (цвіт папороті)... No one knows when it will ower... nor when it will wither. We will continue to honor her by living according to the rules she always set for herself: Make the most of every moment. Cherish your family and friends. Let love conquer hate. And be sure to take lots of pictures. She left behind in grief and sorrow: husband: Myroslaw daughters: Tanya Rakowsky (with husband Kornylo) and Olya Matkiwsky (with husband Erik) grandchildren: Emma, Megan, Nina, Luka and Erik sister: Marta Kozyckyj nieces: Roxolana and Tamara Kozyckyj and extended family and countless friends in the United States and in Ukraine. Zirka was preceded into heaven by her father, Jurij (1982) and mother, Orysya (1991) A commemorative Mass and Panachyda will be celebrated at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church 719 Sanford Ave, Newark, NJ 07106 on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 6:30 PM ВІЧНАЯ ПАМ’ЯТЬ! ETERNAL MEMORY!

With deep sorrow we announce that With deep sorrow we announce, that Mykola Stawnychy Maria Rejnarowycz passed away on Thursday, October 17, 2019 at the age of 91. née Lewycka Born November 19, 1927 in Kolomyia, Ukraine, passed away on November 18, 2019 he was the second son of the late Roman and at the age of 99. She was born on April 4, Maria (née Chaikovska) Stawnychy, widower of 1920 in Kalush, Ukraine. the late Irena R. (Petryk) Stawnychy, brother of the Maria Rejnarowycz was a community activist. She was a member late Andryi Stawnychyi. of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, Ukrainian National Women’s Beloved father of: Yaroslaw Stawnychy (Marta), Petro Stawnychy League and the Ukrainian Opera Ensemble, which was established by (Christia), Tamara Bilynsky (Roman), Tetiana Stawnychy; grandfather her husband Lev Rejnarowycz. of Stefan Stawnychy (Erin Mumford), Yuri Stawnychy (Emma), Interment took place at Holy Spirit Cemetery in Campbell Hall, NY, Deanna Stawnychy (Alex Oryshkevych), Larissa S. Chadwick (Josh), next to husband Lev and son George. Maria Bilynsky, and Lesia Bilynsky; great grandfather of Maksym Remaining in profound sorrow: Oryshkevych, Kalyna Chadwick, Lev Oryshkevych, Mila Chadwick. daughter - Anya Rejnarowycz-Borysenko Funeral Service was held on Saturday, October 26 at 9:00am at Holy granddaughter - Natalia Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church. great grandchildren - Alexander and Grace extended family - Nazar, Zinych, Zarsky In lieu of owers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church (16631 New Hampshire Вічна Їй пам’ять! Ave., Silver Spring, Maryland 20905) or PLAST, Ukrainian Scouting Donations in memory of Maria Rejnarowycz can be sent to the UNWLA Organization KPS-USA (700 N. Cedar Rd., Jenkintown, PA 19046) Scholarcship Fund: UMWLA Scholarship Fund, Attn: Mrs Krawchuk Вічна Йому пам’ять! PO Box 24, Matawan, NJ 07747

transparent annual income declaration sys- Ukraine in headlines... tems, in which nearly 2 million government officials are required to disclose all their (Continued from page 9) holdings in an online database open to the overstate the amount of corruption in their public… country. … … the popular impression of a nation Reforms now in place have reduced grand drowning in graft is more a reflection of corruption – that is, large systemic schemes Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani’s associa- that cost the economy hundreds of millions tions with dodgy oligarchs and expat inter- of dollars or more – by $6 billion per year, or mediaries – as well as the well-compensat- about 5 percent of Ukraine’s GDP. … ed dalliance of Biden’s son Hunter with a The country now has an active National company owned by a powerful former gov- Anti-Corruption Bureau, a new anti-cor- ernment official – than of Ukrainians’ lived ruption court, and one of the world’s most reality. … No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 17

that caused the death of 83-year-old world- Exiled... renowned veteran of the Crimean Tatar national movement, Vedzhie Kashka, have (Continued from page 2) seemed to be aimed at trying to discredit Tatars and their representative assembly the Mejlis and Crimean Tatar leaders. Пластова Фундація for their opposition to Russian occupation The appalling human rights violations ділиться сумною вісткою of their homeland. The U.N.’s International that Russia has committed on the occupied що 3-го листопада 2019 року Court of Justice ordered Russia to with- territory of Crimea made the willingness of відійшов у вічність leading countries in the Parliamentary draw that ban on April 19, 2017, yet it has наш довголітній член still not done so. Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Russia has essentially flouted every sin- to forget its own sanctions and allow і Голова Товариського Суду Пластової Фундації gle international court ruling and ignored Russia’s reinstatement in June of this year all calls from U.N. and other bodies. It has deeply shocking. св. п. instead carried out unrelenting repression The Mejlis initiative of this March of against Crimean Tatars and other Dignity against Violence and Occupation пл. сен. кер. Ukrainians who do not conceal their pro- should highlight just how unacceptable any Ukrainian position. In at least two cases, capitulation is, and it deserves widespread Володимир Корнага, Л.Ч. the political prosecutions, including one support. Пращаємо нашого Друга на Вічну Ватру з вдячністю за Його жертвенну працю на користь Пластової Фундації Please join us as we celebrate the Holy Liturgy, followed by і для добра Пластової Молоді. a Panakhyda, in remembrance of В імені Пластової Фундації складаємо родині Покійного Jaroslaw (“Jerry”) Kurowyckyj, та світовій Пластовій Громаді beloved husband of Iryna Kurowyckyj, father of Jaroslaw (Ezya) найглибші співчуття. Kurowyckyj’ and Oksana Komarnyckyj (Orest), grandfather of George, Dianna, Ksenia and Katya. Вічна Йому Пам’ять! Liturgy will be celebrated at St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church, 30 East 7th Street, New York City, on Wednesday, January 1st, 2020 at 7 pm. All are welcome. A great honor was bestowed upon our beloved Jaroslaw By the Honorable Carolyn B. Maloney, Rep. NY. shortly after the first anniversary of his passing and we share it today to encourage and inspire all to follow in his footsteps to the benefit of our community.

IN HONOR OF JERRY in 2007, a victim of changing times and tastes. Remembered В глибокому смутку повідомляємо приятелів і знайомих, KUROWYCKYJ, SR. for his continuous generosity, Mr. що 13-го грудня, 2019 року, HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY Kurowyckyj made immeasurable після короткої недуги, contributions to the civic life OF NEW YORK проживши 88 років, of his community. For much of відійшов у вічність в Філядельфії, ПА IN THE HOUSE OF his life, Mr. Kurowyckyj was a наш найдорожчий REPRESENTATIVES dedicated and energetic member Муж, Брат, Стрийко, Шваґер і Вуйко Thursday, January 6, 2011 of New York’s Community Board 3, applying his strong leadership Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, abilities and lifelong devotion to I rise to pay special tribute to Lower Manhattan to maintaining the late Jerry Kurowyckyj, Sr., and improving the quality of life a dedicated community leader, in the neighborhood he loved. activist, and local business owner Among his many volunteer efforts, in New York City, who passed Mr. Kurowyckyj dedicated his away last year. Known as the time and attention to several local ‘‘Mayor of Ukraine,’’ his extensive institutions in the community, commitment to serving others including the St. George Ukrainian was profoundly appreciated by the Church. His enterprising initiative Lower Manhattan community he and dogged perseverance were loved. Sadly, New York has lost a instrumental in enabling the church neighborhood leader and a food- to move into its current location on св. п. lovers icon. East 7th Street, and its site remains For nearly three decades, Mr. a testament to his efforts. Стефан Макух Kurowyckyj helped manage his As a distinguished leader of his народжений 18-го лютого, 1931 року family-owned business, Kurowyckyj community, Mr. Kurowyckyj в Зборові, Україна Meats, Inc., in Manhattan’s not only reached out to local Опечалені: East Village neighborhood, a residents, but to recent immigrants commercial and cultural hub for as well. Upon their arrival in the дружина: Анна з дому Панчак New Yorkers of Ukrainian and neighborhood, Mr. Kurowyckyj брат: Богдан з дружиною Мелісою Polish descent during the post- provided assistance and knowledge братанка: Ростислава Ласовська з мужем Зоряном World War II era. Founded in to help them establish themselves та дітьми Оксаною і Зоряном 1955 by Mr. Kurowyckyj’s father, in New York. His compassion братанок: Адріян the shop became an integral part and individual attention exerted шваґер: Василь Панчак з дружиною Марійкою of the neighborhood, and a mecca a strong positive impact on the Ксеня Панчак Захарчук з мужем Данилом for gourmands throughout the tri- lives of countless individuals. Mr. Софія Захарчук state area. Kurowyckyj Meats was Kurowyckyj’s proud devotion to Лука Захарчук acclaimed throughout New York his Ukrainian heritage is carried Наталка Панчак Фірко з мужем Стефаном not only for its delicious, fresh on today by his wife, Iryna Олександер Фірко pork products such as bologna, Kurowyckyj, President of the Захар Фірко frankfurters, rolled bacon, sweet National Board of the Ukrainian sausages, spicy salami, trays of National Women’s League of Похоронні відправи відбудуться в суботу, 21-го грудня 2019 року, smoked hams, and homemade America. Mr. Kurowyckyj is also з церкви св. Николая, 2400 Poplar Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130. kovbasa, but also for its personal survived by his son, Jerry, Jr., and Прощання о годині 9-ій ранку. customer service. It was praised daughter, Oksana. by the New York Times as an ‘‘East Похоронна Свята Літургія о годині 10-ій ранку, а відтак на Цвинтар Village haven’’ and written up Mr. Speaker, I salute the life and св. Марії на Факс Чейс, ПА. glowingly in respected periodicals work of Mr. Jerry Kurowyckyj and I Замість квітів просимо складати пожертви на: ask that my distinguished colleagues such as Gourmet and Food and St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church Wine magazines. The shop was in this House join me in recognizing his extraordinary service to others 871 North 24th Street one of the last in the city to operate Philadelphia, PA 19130 an original smokehouse, which and immeasurable contributions lent a unique flavor to the store’s to the civic and business life of our Вічна Йому пам’ять! delicacies. Sadly, the store closed nation’s greatest city. 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52 No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 19

The Executive Сommittee of the Ukrainian National Association and its newspapers, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly,

extend best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the leaders of Ukrainian Churches, Ukrainian organizations, the UNA General Assembly, District Committees, Branches and members, readers of the UNA’s publications, as well as Ukrainian communities in the diaspora and Ukraine.

Christ is Born! Glorify Him! 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52

Радісних Свят Різдва Христового і Wishing all Щасливого Нового Року a Merry Christmas родині, приятелям, знайомим, and a Happy New Year Головному Урядові УНСоюзу, працівникам та всім секретарям Відділів Slavko Tysiak щиро бажають UNA Vice President and the Principal at СТЕФАН і СВЯТОСЛАВА E³ FISCAL SOLUTIONS КАЧАРАЇ з родиною Troy, NY • (518) 852-4058

Wishing a Merry Christmas Merry Christmas and and a a Happy New Year

Happy New Year to family and friends, to our family and friends members of the UNA General Assembly, Branch Secretaries, and all UNA employees.

Peter and Eugene Serba Yuriy and Nataliya Symczyk with children Victoria and Diana

God’s Blessings to All Wishing a during this Joyous Christmas Season JOYOUS CHRISTMAS and and a wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR
e Horbaty Family to Family, Friends, Gloria (Paproski) Horbaty, UNA Advisor, the UNA General Assembly with husband Donald and all UNA Members and their Families children: Roman and Chrystyna grandchildren: Tristan and Justyna Luba and George Walchuk Христос Раждається!

Wishing everyone Радісних Свят a Joyous Christmas Різдва Христового and a та Happy New Year! Щасливого Нового Рову

Irene Jarosewich with husband Oleksandr бажаємо Вам і Вашій Родині

Богдана, Богдан і Александер Пужик No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 21

Христос раждається! Dear Sisters and Brothers! I thank you all for the warmth and welcome that you have extended to me in my first months of service to you. I am deeply moved and inspired by your kindness. Together with the Lord who comes to us through His Nativity we can overcome our personal and common challenges. Indeed, we live in unsettled times when much in society and the Church itself seems to be coming unglued. There is a devastating war in Ukraine. Our culture is increasingly superficial, vulgar, and violent. People and peoples are increasingly in conflict. Do not lose hope! The world that the Son of God came into was far from peaceful and welcoming. As we sing in the Ukrainian carols—Jesus was not born in a royal palace. He immediately encountered cold misery in a smelly, insect and rat infested stable. Bloody violence against children led his earthly guardians, Mary and Joseph, to flee with him as refugees to a distant foreign land. Christ the homeless, Jesus the refugee, the helpless Infant pursued by a tyrant is in full solidarity with our human suffering and loneliness—from day one!

З нами Бог! God is with us—you and me. He will never abandon us as we seek to live in holiness, dignity, and mutual love. May the peace and joy of this mystery fill your hearts and homes this Christmas. Thank you for welcoming me! You will be in my prayers this Nativity and throughout the New Year. May God bless you! Gratefully yours in the Newborn Savior,

+Borys (Gudziak) Archbishop-Metropolitan of Philadelphia for Ukrainian Catholics in the United States Head, Department of External Church Relations, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church President, Ukrainian Catholic University, Lviv

To all our family and friends, We greet all our dear friends Merry Christmas and colleagues and a with a joyful Happy and Prosperous Christmas carol New Year and best wishes for a wonderful new year! Oksana and George Stanko – Andriy, Roma, Markian and Paul Hadzewycz 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52

З ПРАЗНИКОМ РІЗДВА XРИСТОВОГО З Різдвом Христовим вiтаємо щиро вітаю Рідних, Приятелів і Знайомих,

родину, приятелів і членів Головного Уряду, а в Новому Році як також працівників Українського Народного Союзу бажаємо всього найкращого. та видавництва „Свобода“ і The Ukrainian Weekly та бажаю Христос Рождається! ЩАСЛИВОГО НОВОГО РОКУ УЛЯНА ДЯЧУК НЕОНІЛЯ СОХАН і син ТАРАС

З РІЗДВОМ ХРИСТОВИМ РАДІСНИХ СВЯТ І НОВИМ РОКОМ РІЗДВА ХРИСТОВОГО вітаємо І ЩАСЛИВОГО НОВОГО РОКУ родину, друзів і знайомих. Родині, Приятелям І Знайомим ІГОР і НАТАЛКА ҐАВДЯКИ б а ж а ю т ь з родиною ЛІДА І ОРЕСТ ЦЯПКА з родиною

З РІЗДВОМ ХРИСТОВИМ і A Merry Christmas НОВИМ РОКОМ and вітаємо родину, приятелів і знайомих. a Happy New Year д-р Юрій і Христя Демидовичі з Родиною with loving best wishes to family and friends.

Mary J. Kramarenko

Ukrainian National Association Plastovyi Branch 450 З Різдвом Христовим, Wishes its members, their families and friends, Святим Йорданом і Новим Роком the Executive committee of the UNA, вітають родину, приятелів і знайомих employees and all the UNA members a Blessed and Joyous Christmas ЗЕНОН, ДОЗЯ і ВІКА КРІСЛАТІ and a Happy, Healthy and Successful New Year. та засилають наищиріші святочні побажання всій родині на рідній Батьківщині та всім ближчим і дальшим друзям. Христос Рoждається! Christ is Born! ХРИСТОС РОЖДАЄТЬСЯ! СЛАВІТЕ ЙОГО! Adia Fedash, President Клівленд, Огайо Cleveland, Ohio Motria Milanytch, Secretary No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 23 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52

Головна Управа „Самопоміч“ Об’єднання Українців в Америці Eugenia Wasylkiwska Osgood and вітає Charles Freeman Osgood Відділи і все членство are sending з прийдешніми Святами their best wishes і бажає for the Christmas season Веселих Свят and for the New Year Різдва Xристового to their family and friends та and to all readers of The Ukrainian Weekly. щасливого і повного успіхів Нового Року Wishing a very ХРИСТОС РОЖДАЄТЬСЯ! Merry Christmas За дирекцію ОУА, and a Олег Лопатинський, голова Happy New Year Богдана Курчак, скарбник to all our family, friends and clients

Roman Tabatchouk and family

ROMAN TABATCHOUK, ESQ. Licensed in NJ & NY 2200 Route 10, Suite 104 P: 973-854-0917 Parsippany, NJ 07054 F: 888-392-5704 www.tabalaw.com e: [email protected]

Greetings and Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Христос Раждається!

Yaroslaw and Karen Chelak Moye Handling Systems, Inc 39 Rt 206 Box 785, Somerville, NJ 08876 908/526-5010 • f 908/707-1686 • www.hoistdepot.com No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 25

Щирі Вітання з нагоди свят Різдва Христового і Нового Року

родині, приятелям і пацієнтам Merry Christmas засилають and a Happy New Year Рута і Петро Ленчур з дітьми to all our family, friends and clients.

DUNWOODIE TRAVEL BUREAU 125 Corporate Blvd., Ste 300, Yonkers, NY 10701 800-550-4334 • 914-969-4200 FAX: (914) 969-2108 e-mail: [email protected]

To all our Families and Friends here at home and abroad,

we wish You a Iskra Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and Academy Merry Christmas wishes a and a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Happy New Year! to its students and their families, supporters and the Ukrainian community. Ukrainian American Bar Association www.uaba.org ХРИСТОС РОЖДАЄТЬСЯ!

СТАНИЧНА СТАРШИНА Wishing all our members and supporters ПЛАСТОВОЇ СТАНИЦІ В НЬЮ-ЙОРКУ Merry Christmas бажає and УКРАЇНСЬКІЙ ГРОМАДІ, ПЛАСТОВІЙ ФУНДАЦІЇ, a Happy New Year! СВОЇМ ЖЕРТВОДАВЦЯМ ТА УСІМ ПЛАСТУНАМ І ПРИЯТЕЛЯМ ПЛАСТУ Thank you for your continued support. ВЕСЕЛИХ СВЯТ The Ukrainian American ТА ЩАСЛИВОГО НОВОГО РОКУ Coordinating Council www.plastnyc.org 26 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52

MAIN OFFICE NEW YORK To Our Members, from the 215 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10003 Board of Directors and employees Tel. (212) 533-2980 Fax. (212) 995-5204 of the Ukrainian National BRANCH OFFICES: BROOKLYN 1678 East 17th St., Federal Credit Union... Brooklyn, N.Y. 11229 Tel. (718) 376-5057 Fax. (718) 376-5670 Merry Christmas SOUTH BOUND BROOK 35 Main St., and So. Bound Brook, N.J. 08880 Tel. (732) 469-9085 a Happy New Year! Fax. (732) 469-9165 PERTH AMBOY 615 Amboy Ave., Perth Amboy, N.J. 08861 Tel. (732) 802-0480 Fax. (732) 802-0484

www.ukrnatfcu.org • (866) 859-5848

Main Office Botany Village Office 851 Allwood Road 237 Dayton Ave Clifton, NJ 07012 Clifton, NJ 07011 973-471-0700 973-772-0620 No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 27

KРАЙОВА УПРАВА СПІЛКИ УКРАЇНСЬКОЇ МОЛОДІ В АМЕРИЦІ бажає Ієрархам Українських Церков, Світовій Управі СУМ, всім Управам Осередків та Булавам Відділів Юнацтва СУМ, членам і прихильникам та Українському Народові в Україні і в діяспорі мирних і радісних свят РІЗДВА ХРИСТОВОГО та ЩАСЛИВОГО НОВОГО РОКУ ХРИСТОС РОЖДАЄТЬСЯ! СЛАВІМ ЙОГО!

За Крайову Управу СУМ, Адріан Длябога - Голов а Оля Тимош - Секретар

Orphans’ Aid Society Т-во Допомоги Сиротам 27 years of Service в Україні 27 років допомоги

To our members, supporters Щиро вітаємо наших членів, and the Ukrainian community, we wish you прихильників та Українську громаду a joyous Christmas з Різдвом Христовим and a Blessed New Year та Новим Роком To donate, please go to: www.oasukraine.org 136 2nd Ave., Ste 504, New York, NY 10003 Tel.: 516-250-7805 • [email protected]

CHRIST IS BORN! ‹ e executive board of the Greetings from KLK, Ukrainian Athletic Educational Association the Carpathian Ski Club, Chornomorska Sitch to all our members, family and friends! wishes all its members and supporters May you have the spirit of Christmas which is Peace, a Merry Christmas the gladness of Christmas which is Hope, and a Happy New Year! and the Heart of Christmas which is Love. Merry Christmas Христос Рождається! and a Happy, Healthy New Year!

We invite all to KLK’s 2020 Ski Races Saturday, February 29, 2020 Hunter Mountain, NY 28 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52

Warmest Wishes for a Joyous Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year Ukrainian American to all our Members, their Families and our Friends Cultural Center of New Jersey from the Board of Directors of the Ukrainian Institute of America 60 North Je erson Road, Whippany, NJ 07981 2 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075 wishes 212-288-8660 ∙ [email protected] www.ukrainianinstitute.org MERRY CHRISTMAS and З нагоди Різдва Христового A HAPPY NEW YEAR та Нового 2020 Року to all its members, guests, patrons Екзекутива та Рада Директорів and the entire Ukrainian community. Злученого Українського Американського Допомогового Комітету шле щирий привіт і святочні побажання Ієрархам і духовенству Українських Церков, нашим добродіям і жертводавцям, членам ЗУАДК-у і всім нашим братам і сестрам по цілому світі. Christ is Born! Glorify Him! Нехай Всемогучий Господь обдарує всіх щедрими ласками. Христос Родився! Славім Його! Екзекутива ЗУАДК-у United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, Inc. 1206 Cottman Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19111 Tel. 215-728-1630 • Fax. 215-728-1631 e-mail: [email protected] • web site: www.uuarc.org

We wish you a Центральна Управа, Відділи i все членство Організації Merry Christmas Державного Відродження and a України (ОДВУ) Happy New Year! в і т а ю т ь More than ever, we ask God for His protection over Ukraine, where her children are З РІЗДВОМ ХРИСТОВИМ fighting for a better future. та We sincerely thank all our branch heads and our НОВИМ РОКОМ entire membership for their hard work and support. Український народ на рідних землях і всіх наших земляків, розкинених по різних країнах світу. Вітаємо Ієрархію The National Boards of Українських Церков в Україні і діяспорі, центральні The Organization for the Defense of проводи і членство політичних і громадських організацій Lemkivshchyna (OOL) в Україні і діяспорі, а в тому проводи і членство УНО – Канада, ІСНО, Фундацію ім. О. Ольжича, Жіноче and Т-во ім. О. Теліги та Редакцію „Смолоскип“. The Lemko Research Foundation (LRF) Бажаємо успіхів у всіх заходах для об’єднання національно-державницьких сил у справі відбудови і закріплення української соборної самостійної України. Слава Україні! - Героям Слава! ХРИСТОС РОЖДАЄТЬСЯ!

www.lemko-ool.com No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 29 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52

Наукове Toвариство ім. Шевченка в Америці

б а ж а є

всім членам нашої громади ДИРЕКЦІЯ ПЛАСТОВОЇ ФУНДАЦІЇ В НЮ-ЙОРКУ Радісних Свят бажає Різдва Христового, своїм членам, фундаторам, добродіям, жертводавцям, Начальному Пластунові, пластовим проводам, проводам доброго і успішного Пласт-Прияту, пластункам і пластунам та всій українській громаді Нового 2020 року

ВЕСЕЛИХ СВЯТ ХРИСТОС РОДИВСЯ! РІЗДВА ХРИСТОВОГО та Запрошуємо Вас на наші конференції й доповіді ЩАСЛИВОГО НОВОГО РОКУ!

З Новим Роком! З Новим щастям!

Із Різдвом Христовим. 21 SILAS DEANE HIGHWAY, WETHERSFIELD, CT 06109-1238 PHONES 860-296-4714 • 800-405-4714 FAX 860-296 3499 Хай задумане – удасться, Нехай Боже слово Оберегом для Вас буде Добрі, рідні, щирі люди! Ukrainian Selfreliance щиро здоровлять РОДИНУ, ДРУЗІВ і ВСЮ УКРАЇНСЬКУ New England Federal Credit Union ГРОМАДУ wishes you МИХАЙЛО СТАЩИШИН a Merry Christmas з родиною and a New Year “ lled власник фірми with peace and happiness!

INTERNATIONAL TRADE, LTD e-mail: [email protected] web: www.roxolana.com 1152 State Route 10, Suite K, Randolph, NJ 07869 Tel.: 973 538-3888 Будьмо ближче до України! WESTFIELD BRANCH •103 NORTH ELM STREET, WESTFIELD, MA 01085 • PHONE 413-568-4948 FAX 413-568-4747 NEW BRITAIN BRANCH • 270 BROAD STREET, NEW BRITAIN, CT 06053 • PHONE 860-801-6095 FAX 860-801-6120 VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT: WWW.USNEFCU.COM No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 31

Christ is Born! Glorify Him! One of the real joys of this Glorious season is the opportunity to say Thank You, to wish you a very Blessed and Merry Christmas, and a New Year of health, happiness and prosperity. UKRAINIAN NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ASSOCIATION ЦЕНТРАЛЯ УКРАЇНСЬКИХ КООПЕРАТИВ АМЕРИКИ (ЦУКА) 2315 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60622 • Tel. 773 489-0050 • www.uncua.com

Connecticut-Massachusetts Michigan New York – Connecticut New York – New Jersey Pennsylvania – New Jersey Ukrainian Selfreliance New England Ukrainian Selfreliance Michigan SUMA (Yonkers) Ukrainian National Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union Federal Credit Union Federal Credit Union Federal Credit Union Federal Credit Union 21 Silas Deane Highway 26791 Ryan Road 125 Corporate Blvd. 215 Second Avenue 221 W Street Rd, Wethers eld, CT 06109 Warren, MI 48091 Yonkers, NY 10701 New York, NY 10003 Feasterville, PA 19053 T: 800.405.4714 T: 877. POLTAVA T: 888.644.SUMA T: 866.859.5848 T: 888.POLTAVA Branch oœ ces: Branch oœ ces: Branch oœ ces: Branch oœ ces: Branch oœ ces: Spring Valley, NY; Stamford, CT; South Bound Brook, NJ Jenkintown, PA; West eld, MA; New Britain, CT Hamtramck, MI www.usnefcu.com New Haven, CT; Yonkers, NY Brooklyn, NY; Perth Amboy, NJ Philadelphia, PA; Trenton, NJ www.usmfcu.org www.sumafcu.org www.ukrnatfcu.org www.ukrfcu.com Illinois – New Jersey – Michigan Ohio Selfreliance Federal Credit Union New Jersey New York – North Carolina Pennsylvania Cleveland Selfreliance 2332 West Chicago Ave. – California – Massachusetts – Ukrainian Selfreliance Nova UA Federal Credit Union Federal Credit Union Chicago, IL 60622 Ohio – Oregon – Washington of Western Pennsylvania 851 Allwood Road 6108 State Road Ukrainian Federal Credit Union Federal Credit Unon T: 888.222.UKR1 Cliƒ on, NJ 07012 Parma, OH 44134 824 Ridge Road East 95 South Seventh Street Branch oœ ces: T: 1-844-7NOVAFCU T: 440.884.9111 Rochester, NY 14621 Pittsburgh, PA 15203 Newark, NJ; Jersey City, NJ; Branch o„ ce: Branch oœ ces: T: 877.968.7828 T: 412.481.1865 Whippany, NJ; Botany Village; Cliƒ on, NJ North Canton, OH; Lorain, OH Branch oœ ces: www.samopomich.com Warren, MI; Hamtramck, MI; www.novafcu.com Bu alo, NY; Amherst, NY; www.clevelandselfreliance.com West Bloom eld, MI Syracuse, NY; Webster, NY; Palatine, IL; Bloomingdale, IL; New York Matthews, NC ; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL Self Reliance (NY) Cleveland, OH; Portland, OR; www.selfreliance.com Federal Credit Union Sacramento, CA; Seattle, WA; 108 Second Avenue Vancouver, WA Maryland www.ukrainianfcu.org Selfreliance Baltimore New York, NY 10003 Federal Credit Union T: 888.SELFREL Branch oœ ces: 2345 Eastern Avenue Kerhonkson, NY; Uniondale, NY; Baltimore, MD 21224 Astoria, NY; Lindenhurst, NY T: 410.327.9841 www.selfrelianceny.org www.srbfcu.org

ФЕДЕРАЛЬНА КРЕДИТОВА Федеральна Кредитова Кооператива КООПЕРАТИВА „САМОПОМІЧ“ СУМА в Йонкерсі, Н. Й. у Клівленді, Огайо разом зі своїми філіями CSFCU з радістю вітає Український народ у вільній Україні, Ієрархію і Духовенство вітає Українських Церков, Проводи українських організацій в Україні та в діяспорі, Українську світову Кооперативну Раду та Всіх своїх шановних членів, приятелів та українську громаду Централю Українських Кооператив Америки, всіх своїх в Йонкерсі, Н. Й., Спрінґ Валі, Н. Й., Стемфорді, Кон., членів, їхні родини та все українське громадянство Ню-Гейвені, Кон. та околицях З РІЗДВОМ ХРИСТОВИМ І НОВИМ РОКОМ З Радісним Святом ХРИСТОС РОЖДАЄТЬСЯ! РІЗДВА ХРИСТОВОГО і Cleveland Selfrelianc FCU 6108 State Road, Parma, Ohio 44134 (440) 884-9111 з НОВИМ РОКОМ 3010 Charleston Ave., Loraion, Ohio 44055 (440) 277-1901 5553 Whipple Ave., # F, N. Canton, Ohio 44720 (330) 305-0989 Бажаємо усім доброго здоров’я, миру і спокою, успіхів у житті та праці на добро українського народу.

ХРИСТОС РОДИВСЯ! СЛАВІМ ЙОГО! Щиросердечні побажання РАДІСНИХ СВЯТ Члени Дирекції, комісії та працівники Федеральної Кредитової Кооперативи СУМА. РІЗДВА ХРИСТОВОГО та SUMA (YONKERS) FEDERAL CREDIT UNION ЩАСЛИВОГО НОВОГО РОКУ 125 Corporate Blvd. Yonkers, NY 10701 для української громади 914-220-4900 www.sumafcu.org з а с и л а є DNIPRO LLC. Tel.: (908) 241-2190 • (888) 336-4776 32 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52

Wishing my family, friends and clients a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. Христос Рождається!

Barbara Chupa Chupa Insurance 240 E 6th Street, New York, NY 10003 (212) 674-5340

Veselka Restaurant Wishes all its patrons Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

For 60 years we have treated our guests to the most delicious traditional Ukrainian cuisine. If you cannot visit Ukraine, visit us in New York’s East Village, sample our dishes, and enjoy the past and present of our neighborhood. We are awaiting you! Traditional Ukrainian dishes in the center of the East Village

Veselka Restaurant 144 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10003 twitter @veselkanyc 212-228-9682 F 212-505-6950 instagram #veselkanyc www.veselka.com facebook /veselkanyc No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 33

Радісних Свят Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Різдва Христового Ukrainian Dance Foundation та extends warmest wishes Щасливого Нового Року for a Merry Christmas Родині, Приятелям та Клієнтам and бажають a Happy and Healthy New Year Зеня Брожина з сином Олесем з дружиною Христею to all its members, і дітьми Матеєм і Христіяном their families and friends та сином Романом з дружиною Ренею

ВEСЕЛИХ СВЯТ РІЗДВА ХРИСТОВОГО ТА ЩАСЛИВОГО НОВОГО РОКУ нашим покупцям і приятелям бажає ЕAST VILLAGE MEAT MARKET M.Ю. БАЧИНСЬКИЙ 139 2nd Avenue (between 8th and 9th Streets) New York City • Tel.: (212) 228-5590

Найбільший у Ню-Йорку український м’ясний магазин пропонує широкий вибір вуджених домашніх ковбас та свіжовиготовлених гарячих і холодних виробів української та европейської кухні.
e Ÿ nest home-made American and European-style food.

ВЕСЕЛИХ СВЯТ РІЗДВА ХРИСТОВОГО та ЩАСЛИВОГО НОВОГО РОКУ Марійка і Микола Дробенки з дітьми КЛІЄНТАМ, ЗНАЙОМИМ і РОДИНІ бажають бажають родині, приятелям і клієнтам власники м’ясної крамниці Веселих Свят „OLYMPIC COMMUNITY MARKET“ Різдва Христового.

ОЛЕГ ЛАЗІРКО з дружиною ГАНУСЕЮ, донею ХРИСТИНОЮ і сином АНДРІЄМ Христос Рождається! НАТАЛКА ЛАЗІРКО ФАРРЕЛ з донею ІВАНКОЮ АRКА Urainian Gift Shop CLOISTER Cafe OLYMPIC COMMUNITY MARKET 89 E. 2nd Street, (near 1st Ave.) 238 E 9th St. (between 2 & 3 Ave.) 122 40th Street, Irvington, NJ New York, NY 10009 New York, NY 10003 Tel.: (973) 375-3181 • Fax: (973) 375-2027 Tel.: (212) 473-3550 (212) 777-9128

ХРИСТОС РОЖДАЄТЬСЯ! ВЕСЕЛИХ СВЯТ Веселих Свят та та Щасливого Нового Року ЩАСЛИВОГО НОВОГО РОКУ б а ж а є бажають УКРАЇНСЬКОМУ ГРОМАДЯНСТВУ ДАНИЛО БУЗЕТА – директор ЛИТВИН І ЛИТВИН та родина ДМИТРИК УКРАЇНСЬКЕ ПОХОРОННЕ ЗАВЕДЕННЯ Peter Jarema Funeral Home UNION FUNERAL HOME 129 East 7th St. (between 1st & Ave. “A“), New York, NY 10009 1600 Stuyvesant Ave. (corner Stanley Terr.), Union, NJ 07083 212 674-2568 (908) 964-4222 Модерні й охолоджувані каплиці 34 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52

the first weeks after the attack and his imprisonment. He Crew member... received first aid from his fellow crew members and then in the city of Kerch, where they were held before being (Continued from page 1) transferred to Moscow. When he ended up in Lefortovo “Their arrival was emotionally challenging, because we Prison in Moscow, his was still bleeding from his wounds experienced too much on those boats. To be honest, my and he needed bandaging several times a day, but no one gunboat saved my life, and I am grateful for that. It with- took care of this. His prison bed was wet from the blood. stood what it was not obliged to withstand. My emotions When he asked to change his linens, he was told that the when I saw it cannot be explained; [words on] paper will sheets are changed only on Thursdays. (He made the not be able to convey those emotions, because mere words request on a Sunday.) are not enough,” he said. “They will never be different, because they have it all in “The ships have been returned to us in poor condition. their blood. It is a country without meaning, based on lies, There are things that people from Mordor [a reference to the criminal world and the rigid control of people’s Russia; from J.R.R. Tolkien’s fictional realm that was home thoughts. There are exceptions, but not enough,” he contin- to the arch-villain Sauron] have stolen. …They took person- ued. al belongings, they have stolen just about everything, even Even among his friends and relatives there were a lot of underwear,” Mr. Eyder commented. people sympathetic to Russia, Mr. Eyder related. After the While in Ochakiv – located between Odesa and Crimea Kerch attack and his time in Russian custody, most of them at the mouth of the Dnipro River – he had a chance to not changed their minds: those who were positive or neutral only inspect the gunboats from the outside but also to about Russia are very critical now. enter them and see how significant the damage is inside. Furthermore, Mr. Eyder said it’s difficult for him to Taking out his smartphone, Mr. Eyder showed me photos of understand how people still can praise the aggressor after places inside the ship where there used to be toilet bowls, more than 13,000 people have been killed in the Donbas. sockets, dome lights, a cookstove, etc. “It doesn’t matter to “People need to know that any agreement with that them what exactly to steal. They do it for the sake of doing country is not worth the piece of paper on which it is writ- bad things to other people. It only causes me bad emotions, ten,” and the vivid example of this is the return of the cap- and it annoys me,” he said. tured ships. The Russian Federation was forced to hand them back by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Returning home, looking ahead Sea. Yes, Russia returned the vessels, but the ships were As a result of the Russia-Ukraine exchange of prisoners, pillaged, he underscored. which took place on September 7, Mr. Eyder returned Roman Tymotsko We finished our conversation near the seaport – one of Mr. Eyder’s favorite places in Odesa. After all, it’s easier to home to Odesa. He got engaged to his girlfriend, and now Andriy Eyder with the calendar on which he marked his they’re planning their wedding. days of imprisonment in Russian custody. explain complicated Navy details when you can point at a He sees his future in Odesa. “Right now, I continue to real ship. Half an hour of experiencing the cold wind from serve in the Navy. In the future, I will study to become an “I want to convey only one opinion to all Ukrainians and the sea chilled both of us. We returned to the main road, officer. I plan to fully dedicate my life to our military,” he the whole world. I felt it myself,” Mr. Eyder said. “Russia is a where Mr. Eyder waited for a bus to the hospital, and from said. He made that decision, he explained, while in prison, real Mordor, a place where people become zombies thanks there to a meeting with his fiancée. and he doesn’t want to consider career options not related to television. Those are people who have no respect for Before he left, he had one more message to convey: to the military. others, people who steal everything just to steal, people “People, if you see a Russian on your doorstep, never let His opinion on the current situation is very precise and who constantly lie.” him inside. Send him to hell. Because when you wake up, patriotic. As an example, Mr. Eyder shared how he was treated in that house will no longer be yours.”

Church can encounter its people – both spir- Leaders... itually and geographically,” he said. Speaking with the clergy and the faithful, the bishops (Continued from page 1) tried to understand if the existing parish of Church should we be? We must place the network correlates with the locations where wounded human being at the center of our Ukrainians live in the United States. pastoral mission. Our goal is spiritual heal- Patriarch Sviatoslav observed that most of ing,” Patriarch Sviatoslav emphasized. the UGCC’s parishes are on the East Coast, He said he believes that, because of the where Ukrainians settled over 100 years ago, abuse scandals, the Catholic Church in the but now they live throughout the U.S., and U.S.A. is experiencing tremendous pain and the Church needs to respond to this change. is now going through a purification process. “We need to encounter our people During their meeting with Msgr. Brian where they are, in what they need and in Bransfield, general secretary, and other what they are living through,” concluded representatives of the U.S. Conference of the 49-year-old head of the Church. “We Catholic Bishops, Ukrainian Catholic lead- also need to bring the Church back to the heart of Ukrainian community.” ers expressed their gratitude for the sup- port the USCCB gave the UGCC to strength- en and rebuild its structures. It is worth mentioning that it was precise- ly 30 years ago, after the historic meeting between Pope John Paul II and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, that the Ukrainian Greek- Catholic Church, which was persecuted by At a meeting at the Apostolic Nunciature on December 12 (from left) are: Auxiliary the Soviet regime, was given the right to Bishop Teodor Martyniuk of Ternopil, Bishop Bohdan Danylo of Parma, Ohio, develop and establish parishes. Patriarch Sviatoslav, Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S.A. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak of Philadelphia and Bishop Bohdan Dziurakh. At the State Department, Ukrainian Catholic bishops met George P. Kent, depu- ing days of political turmoil in the U.S.A. “The presence of the UGCC’s head and ty assistant secretary of state for European and at a time of important decisions to be the Permanent Synod members highlighted and Eurasian affairs, and Samuel D. made regarding Ukraine, particularly the weekend of sincere exchange of ideas, Brownback, ambassador at large for inter- regarding the war Ukraine that is ongoing powerful spiritual witness, joyful personal national religious freedom. as a result of outside aggression,” added encounter – all in the context of deep and “Today in Washington, Ukraine is associ- Metropolitan Borys. beautifully expressed prayer,” commented ated with corruption. It is important for Metropolitan Borys. He explained that Sobor in Philadelphia American officials and politicians to see many people representing parishes of the healthy initiatives in Ukraine. The Church The bishops of the Permanent Synod also Philadelphia Archeparchy had met for the community can be a partner even in the fight took part in the Sobor (assembly) of the first time. against corruption,” said Patriarch Sviatoslav, Philadelphia Archeparchy on December 7-8. While the first session of the Sobor in referring to the activity of the UGCC anti-cor- Focused on communion and unity in October was held at the cathedral, this time ruption office and the anti-corruption docu- Ukrainian Catholic communities and the glob- Sobor participants visited different places ment the Church issued in 2016. al Church, the Sobor gathered almost 200 where the faithful, especially the young, “The Permanent Synod took place dur- participants – clergy, religious and laypeople. gather on a typical Saturday. “The diversity of the encounter made the Sobor a festival of perspectives and mutual enrichment,” the metropolitan summed up. The Ukrainian Weekly Patriarch Sviatoslav called the Sobor a unique space for listening. “We need to LIKE on Facebook! understand where we are and how the No. 51-52 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 35

December 28 Yalynka Tree Trimming and Silent Auction, featuring January 23 Alexander Dallin Lecture by Steven Hall, “Putin the Somerset, NJ caroling by the Promin Vocal Ensemble, Ukrainian History Stanford, CA Chekist: Intelligence and Decision Making in Russia,” and Education Center, 732-356-0132 or [email protected] Stanford University, https://creees.stanford.edu or [email protected] December 31 New Year’s Eve celebration, with music by Brattia z Kerhonkson, NY Prykarpattia, Soyuzivka Heritage Center, January 25 Presentation of Debutantes, Plast Ukrainian Scouting www.soyuzivka.com or 845-626-5641 Whippany, NJ Organization (Newark Branch), Hanover Marriott Hotel, www.plastnewarkdeb.com or 908-448-6389 December 31 New Year’s Eve party, Ukrainian Homestead, Lehighton, PA www.ukrhomestead.com or 610-377-4621 January 25 Winter Ball and Presentation of Debutantes, Ukrainian Dearborn, MI Engineers’ Society of America, Dearborn Inn Marriott, [email protected] or 586-801-8905 December 31 New Year’s Eve party, Ukrainian National Home, Syracuse, NY [email protected] or 315-478-9272 February 7 Performance, National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Richmond, VA Carpenter Theater, 804-592-3330 January 7, 2020 Radio broadcast of Christmas divine liturgy, St. Vladimir Parma, OH Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, 440-885-1509, February 8 Chervona Kalyna Cotillion Ball, Plast Ukrainian Scouting https://praisecleveland.com or www.stvlaidmirs.org Pearl River, NY Organization, Hilton Pearl River, 845-735-9000 or www.kalynadeb.org January 9 Book discussion, “Stalin and the Fate of Europe: The Stanford, CA Postwar Struggle for Sovereignty,” by Norman Naimark, February 15 Plast Cleveland Debutante Ball, Plast Ukrainian Scouting Stanford University, Cleveland Organization, Embassy Suites Hotel Cleveland-Rockside, https://tec.fsi.stanford.edu/node/232675 [email protected]

January 11 Malanka Dine and Dance, Lloydminster Ukrainian February 15 Washington, D.C., Ukrainian Debutante Ball, Taras Llyodminster, SK Cultural Association Malanka Dancers, Stockade Washington Shevchenko School of Ukrainian Studies of Greater Convention Center, 306-821-1642 Washington, The Washington Group, Omni Shorham Hotel, www.ukrainianschooldc.org or [email protected] January 11 Ottawa Malanka, League of Ukrainian Catholics (Ottawa Ottawa Branch), Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary February 22 Presentation of Debutantes, Ukrainian American Youth Ukrainian Orthodox Church, www.ukrainianorthodox.info Rye Brook, NY Association, Hilton Westchester Hotel, www.cym.org/us/deb

January 16 Photo exhibit, “Frontline-Peace Life: Ukraine’s February 29 KLK Ski Races, Carpathian Ski Club, Hunter Mountain, through Revolutionaries of the Forgotten War,” by J.T. Blatty, Hunter, NY www.klkusa.com or [email protected] March 8 Ukrainian Institute of America, 212-288-8660 or www.ukrainianinstitute.org Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions January 18 Malanka celebration, Tavria Ukrainian Folk Dance from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors Regina, SK Ensemble, St. Athanasius Parish, www.tavria.org and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. 36 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29, 2019 No. 51-52

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