Official Publication of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia VOL. 77 - No. 22 NOVEMBER 20, 2016 ENGLISH VERSION Ukrainians of Washington, DC, commemorate the first anniversary of the Holodomor Memorial Photo: Michael Sawkiw speaks at the Holodomor Memorial in Washington, DC on November 6, 2016. Among those at the event included Bishop John Bura, Fr. Robert Hitchens, Fr. Wasyl Kharuk, and Fr. Raphael Strontsitskyy, MSU. 07 November, 2016 Holodomor Genocide Gerasymov and Igor Petro Poroshenko Awareness 1932-1933 Popov, architect and his wife Marina, The event started with Michael Sawkiw, Head Larysa Kurylas, other congratulated audience a common prayer for of the Central Election distinguished guests, on the anniversary Ukraine by priests of Commission Mykhailo laid symbolic bundles of of the Memorial and Ukrainian churches. Then Okhendovsky, deputy wheat to the Memorial. conveyed President's Ambassador of Ukraine head of the Central words of gratitude to to the US Valeriy Chaly, Election Commission Ambassador Valeriy the Ukrainian diaspora Chairman of the U.S. Andriy Magera, MPs Chaly, on behalf of the Committee for Ukrainian of Ukraine Arthur President of Ukraine (continued on next page) Highlights inside this issue: Pope Francis meets with the Head of the UGCC His Beatitude Sviatoslav - pg. 17 Ukrainians of Washington, DC, commemorate the first anniversary of the Holodomor Memorial (continued from previous page) of the USA and all Committee for Ukrainian those who made efforts Holodomor Genocide into its construction: " Awareness 1932-33 A year ago, due to the Michael Sawkiw and joint efforts of American Ambassador William partners, the Ukrainian Miller also delivered their community in America welcome remarks. and the Ukrainian state, the Memorial was The event ended by a opened in Washington performance of Kyiv in order to become Chamber Choir. another evidence of the fact that our nation http://usa.mfa.gov. cannot be overcome ua/en/press-center/ by any troubles, any news/52198-ukrajinci- malicious intentions of vashingtonu-vidznachili- foes, for Ukrainians pershu-richnicyu- strive for truth, freedom, vstanovlennya- democracy and peace memorialu-zhertvam- on their land and in their golodomoru-1932-1933- country". rokiv-v-ukrajini Chairman of the U.S. NOVEMBER 20, 2016 2 Annual Requiem at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Commemorates Ukraine’s Holodomor On November 12th , 2016 at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC, the 83rd Anniversary of the Holodomor- Genocide (1932-1933) in Ukraine, organized by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (NYC Branch) was commemorated with a Solemn Requiem (Panakhyda). The requiem was co- celebrated by Bishop Emeritus Basil Losten, Bishop Paul Chomnycky, O.S.B.M of the Eparchy of Stamford, Metropolitan Antony, of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Bishop Paul Chomnycky, O.S.B.M. speaks at St. Patrick’s USA. Cathedral on November 12, 2016. (Photos: Irene Rejent Saviano) (continued on next page) NOVEMBER 20, 2016 3 Annual Requiem at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Commemorates Ukraine’s Holodomor (continued from previous page) In attendance along with the Ukrainian Diaspora were: Holodomor Survivors, Mr. and Mrs. Severyn Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA, Valeriy Chaly Deputy Minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine, Sergy Kyslytsya Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN, Volodymyr Yelchenko Consul General of Ukraine in New York, Ihor Sybiga Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for the affairs of Crimean tatars, Mustafa Dzhemilev Former Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN, Yuriy Sergeyev President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Andriy Futey U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer U.S. Department of State Representative William P. Pope Ukrainian Choir “Dumka” NYC https://www.facebook.com/UCCA.org Photos: Irene Rejent Saviano Holodomor Survivors, Mr. and Mrs. Severyn NOVEMBER 20, 2016 4 THE FEAST OF ENTRANCE OF THE MOTHER OF GOD INTO THE TEMPLE November 20, 2016 The feast of the Entrance of the Mother of God Into the Temple praises and glorifies God for His plan of salvation. God prepares for Himself a holy dwelling place. The Byzantine Church never tires of praising the Mother of God for Her role in our salvation. She is called the "Heavenly Tabernacle" in the Kontakion of the Feast and the "Living Tabernacle of God" in the Hirmos. She is given these titles because in Her womb the Word of God has taken flesh and dwelt among us. Her body is the living tabernacle of the Incarnate Word and, through Her, God has taken on our human nature and elevated us to become "sharers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1: 4). God, Who is beyond our reach and beyond our grasp, comes to dwell among us. This is God's plan, and in the Virgin Mary, this plan of salvation was achieved. In the Icon of the Entrance of the Mother of God, Mary is shown as a young girl being escorted to the Temple by Her parents, Joachim and Anna. She is also accompanied by the holy virgins carrying candles. In all the icons of the Presentation, the High Priest greets the holy family at the entrance of the Temple. The entrance into the temple is the main event, so the figures of the holy family and the High Priest are SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN predominant. The Church honors the Virgin Mary as UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC the God-bearer, (in Greek: Theotokos) the one who, in God's plan of salvation, would give birth to God ARCHEPARCHY the Word. In the upper corner of some icons, the OF PHILADELPHIA Virgin Mary is seen already seated in the Temple, and being cared for by the Angels. Thus, Mary, the young girl, is not only presented but also participates December 9th, 2016 - Feast of in the very task of Her temple life. Through the Icon, we celebrate and share this mystery in the life of the Conception of St. Anne. Annual Divine Virgin. Liturgy of Thanksgiving for all Benefactors of Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of TROPARION - Today is the prelude of the benevolence Philadelphia, 9:00 am at Ukrainian of God and the herald of the salvation of man, for Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate the Virgin plainly appears in the temple of God and Conception, Philadelphia, PA. foretells Christ to ail. Let us also with full voice cry out to Her: "Hail, Fulfillment of the Creator's Plan." (God-with-us Icon series) NOVEMBER 20, 2016 5 Feast of the Blessed Josaphata Hordashevska (November 20, 2016) Josaphata Hordashevska (1869-1919) The Servant of God Sr Josaphata Michaelina Hordashevska was the first member of the Sisters Servant of Mary Immaculate. In 1869, Michaelina Hordashevska was born in Lviv. At the age of 18, she decided to consecrate her life to God in a contemplative monastery of the Order of St Basil the Great, then the only Eastern-rite woman's congregation. Then the Basilians decided to establish a woman's congregation that focused on the active life, Michaelina was elected to be the first leader. When she agreed, she was sent to the Felician sisters to give her the experience of active paramonastic life. Michaelina took the name "Josaphata", in honour of the Ukrainian martyr St Josaphat Kuntsevych. She was the first superior of the young sisters there, training them in the spirit and charisma of the Sisters Servants: "serve your people where the need is greatest". At the age of 49, she died amidst terrible suffering from bone cancer. She is buried in the generalate of the Sisters Servants in Rome. The process of her beatification started in Rome in 1983. On June 27, 2001 she was beatified by Pope John Mosaic and relic of Blessed Josaphata Paul II in Lviv. Numerous miracles are ascribed due Hordashevska at the Ukrainian Catholic to her intercession after her death. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia, PA http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/ documents/ns_lit_doc_20010627_hordashevska_ en.html The Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate Congregation SSMI is a congregation year old woman to join Austria-Hungary). greatest. of Byzantine Catholic them in founding a new sisters that serve in ethnic religious community; Blessed Josaphata, that The early years were Ukrainian and Ruthenian one that would minister founding member, found difficult. The new communities worldwide. specifically to the needs appealing the concept of congregation and those of ordinary folk living in a community that would whom they served were In 1892, two visionary the Halychyna region of have outreach to serve priests convinced a 22 Ukraine (then-Galicia, where the need was the (continued on next page) NOVEMBER 20, 2016 6 Feast of the Blessed Josaphata Hordashevska (November 20, 2016) (continued from previous page) exceedingly poor; yet to make this a better of their suffering. By a woman for all times. the congregation grew world through a broad- educating and caring and spread rapidly in scoped view of its for children, you gave Prokimen: My soul Ukraine and to missions ministries. Never bound parents strength and magnifies the Lord, and abroad. by a singly-defined renewed hope. Your My spirit has rejoiced ministry, SSMI has healing touch reached in Lord, My Savior (Lk. Early struggles, however, always taken a flexible the sick and the dying. 1:46). did not compare to view, remaining faithful The poor found a place the trials the brave to its charism and the in your heart. You care Verse: Because He has SSMI sisters in Ukraine founders’ words, "Serve for the beauty of the regarded the humility suffered in subsequent where the need is the churches bringing out of His handmaid; for years. There were the greatest." the beauty of worship for behold, from henceforth deprivations of World the people. The Lord led all generations shall call War I, World War II http://ssmi-us.org/ you to sanctify through Me blessed.