National Holodomor Commemoration 2018

Video Description

On Saturday, November 17, 2018, hundreds of Ukrainians, friends and supporters gathered at Manhattan’s iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral for an ecumenical requiem service and commemorative program dedicated to the memory of Ukraine’s Holodomor, Stalin's Famine Genocide of 7-10 million Ukrainians in 1932-33. As co-organized by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), the largest representation of Ukrainians in America, this annual commemoration once again attracted attendees from across the tri-state metropolitan area, including buses of churchgoers from Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as tens of thousands of viewers who watched the livestream on UCCA’s Facebook page. The traditional Ukrainian Memorial Service – the Panakhyda – was led Archbishop Anthony, Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA, Bishop Andriy Rabiy, Apostolic Administrator of the Metropolitan Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, as well as Bishop Paul Chomnycky, OSBM, Eparch of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford, with the sung responses by the Ukrainian Chorus "Dumka" of New York, under the direction of Vasyl Hrechynsky. Just prior the service, a solemn procession through the massive nave of the cathedral was organized by Ivanka Zajac, president of the United Ukrainian American Organizations of New York (UCCA-NY). With the Dumka Chorus singing, students from St. George Academy, the “Samopomich” School of Ukrainian Studies in New York City and the Jersey City chapter of the Ukrainian American Youth Association, followed a Ukrainian American Veteran (UAV) Color Guard led by CDR (Ret.) Carl Harvey. At the very front of the procession, escorted by UAV National Commander Ihor Rudko as well as her grandson, Bill Wieting, was Holodomor survivor Nadia Severyn, who laid a sheaf of wheat at the base of a candle bearing the flame of remembrance. Following the requiem service, attendees were addressed by UCCA President Andriy Futey, who served as the program’s master of ceremonies. To begin the program, he clearly underlined that the Holodomor was a “deliberate act within the attempt to destroy the Ukrainian nation” and that Ukrainians around the world have advocated with greater and greater success for their governments to “recognize the genocide of the Ukrainian nation.” Mr. Futey went on to highlight that “under the leadership of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and our many organizations and active local communities, working together with the Embassy of Ukraine,” the U.S. Senate passed Senate Resolution 435 by unanimous consent this year, recognizing that “Joseph Stalin and those around him committed genocide against the Ukrainians in 1932–1933,” and that the corresponding House Resolution 608 had already passed committee approval on the way to its final passage in the House of Representatives. Speaking next, Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko, permanent representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, noted that earlier that week the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly approved a draft resolution on "The Situation of Human Rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol (Ukraine)," which condemned the grave violation of human rights of Ukrainian citizens. Oleksii Holubov, Consul General of Ukraine in New York.delivered the prepared remarks of the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Valeriy Chaly, who thanked the United States government for its support, while also highlighting the actions of “governors, mayors, state and local legislators of 18 U.S. states, including New York and New Jersey” who added their voices in recognizing the Holodomor as genocide. Mr. Futey also noted the absence of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), a regular attendee of this commemoration, who could not attend this year as he was attending his daughter’s wedding. Reading from the Senator’s prepared greetings, Mr. Futey relayed his “deepest sympathies to the victims and survivors of the famine and their families… To ensure that these atrocities are not repeated, it is paramount that we continue to remember the genocide and honor the memory of those who cannot speak for themselves.” Prior to the closing benediction, Mr. Futey acknowledged the attendance of New York City Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, who was seated alongside the speakers throughout the ceremony, on behalf the East Village Ukrainian Community she represents.