On a chilly and dreary Saturday afternoon, the fourth Saturday of November, which is set aside as a remembrance of the Holodomor (murder by starvation), hundreds of people gathered within St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.  They came from near and far to remember, to give honor, and to pray for Ukraine, her tragic history, her loss, her fight, her continued battle for independence and freedom.

As the hierarchs and clergy stepped up into the altar, the Dumka choir under the directorship of Maestro Vasyl began to sing solemnly, the service commenced with the Ukrainian American Veterans processing down the main aisle with the flags of the U.S.A and Ukraine. Having placed the flags in their stands and saluted, the men and women stepped to the side as dozens upon dozens of children in the embroidered shirts solemnly came down the aisle, each carrying a sheaf of wheat and placing it next to the lit candle before the altar.  The wheat is especially symbolic, as during the year of the Holodomor, 1932-33, Ukrainian soil had produced a bumper crop of wheat, and yet the people starved to death.  The abundant harvest was forbidden to them being shipped via train or boat to Moscow, with the grain that was left behind being dumped unceremoniously in rivers so that the people of Ukraine would not consume it.  If anyone was found with even a handful of grain, they were executed.  The final bouquet of wheat was placed atop the little pile by an elderly woman, a survivor of the atrocity committed against the people of Ukraine.

As the strings of “Alleluia” concluded, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia stepped up to the podium.  Having greeted the various hierarchs, clergy, diplomats, veterans, supporters and faithful, he expressed his sadness that 92 years ago millions of people were forced to die by starvation.  He continued by stating his support to the elderly survivors of the Holodomor, and his prayers and hopes for God’s protection of the warriors of Ukraine present in the cathedral, and those currently fighting on the front lines.

Having shared his thoughts and dreams for a better future for Ukraine, the hierarch concluded by asking the Lord to protect the peoples of Ukraine, and for all those gathered to continued to pray for Ukraine’s freedom.  He stated that “our hope is strong, our prayer fervent, our fellowship and communion is the source of our strength.”

With “Master, give the blessing!” declared by Protodeacon Pavlo Vysotskyi of the UOC of the USA, the service began.  The people who filled the cavernous interior of the cathedral joined their prayers and hopes to those of the hierarchs and clergy as they prayed for the souls of the millions who suffered slow and agonizing deaths at the hands of the Soviet regime as they attempted to exterminate Ukrainians.

With the final chords of “Вічная Пам'ять” (Memory Eternal) hanging in the hazy, incense filled air, Michael Sawkiw, Jr., the President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) and the Director of its Washington, D.C. bureau – the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS) stepped up to the microphone.  He spoke on the horrors experienced by the villagers of Ukraine in 1932-33, and that the current conflict has reignited the Ukrainian spirit and continued fight to safeguard their identity and nation.

Senate Majority Leader, Mr. Charles Schumer, next stepped up the podium and spoke about how honored and privileged he was to be present at this solemn commemoration.  Even though it was his birthday, he felt it was crucial for him to show his support and attend this service, as he does every year.   

He expressed that while we remember the tragedies of Ukraine’s history, we also remember and support Ukraine’s current battle against the foe.  Those gathered applauded loudly as he asked that everyone remember that Ukraine has outlasted authoritarian thugs in the past and will do so again.  Stalin is gone, Soviet Russia is gone, but the Ukrainian people live on.  “Long may they live!”

At the bequest of Metropolitan Antony, the Dumka Choir returned to the stage to honor and sing “Многая Літа” “God grant you many years” to the senator, who chose to spend his birthday with the Ukrainian community.

His Excellency Sergiy Olehovych Kyslytsya, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine and Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations stepped up to the podium next.  He stated that we are here to commemorate one of the darkest chapters of Ukrainian history – the genocide of 1932-33.  While we are all gathered here to remember the millions upon millions who died during the Holodomor, we are also here to acknowledge the living.  He introduced Maria Severyn, a centenarian who is a Holodomor survivor and was present at the service.  His Excellency expressed his gratitude to all gathered and reflected on the parallels between Ukraine’s history and present, which have three things in common – the Kremlin, Moscow and Russia, who wish to suppress Ukrainians right to live freely on their own soil, who still use starvation as a weapon.  At the beginning of the invasion, Russia bombed the seaports in order the paralyze the shipment of grain out of Ukraine, not only stifling Ukraine’s economy, but, resulting in food insecurity and starvation to nations around the world, who depended on that wheat for their very survival.  He concluded by expressing his hope, that no people on earth should ever face the horrors of genocide. 

The final speaker of the commemorative program was His Eminence Metropolitan Antony, Prime Hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.  He gave a riveting speech, stating that “Today, is the 37^th time that we have gathered in this magnificent world-renown cathedral to call in remembrance those who perished under the great Holodomor under the direction of Joseph Stalin in 1932-33.  Stalin had hoped to accomplish demographic depopulation, in other words, he had wished to depopulate Ukraine – get rid of those pesky peasants, whose leaders were a problem.  The Intelligentsia were the ones who preserved the Ukrainian identity and provoked trouble against Stalin, and so he started by starving to death 7-10 million people, and killed the landowners and intelligentsia, calling them all kulaks.  He created economic and psychological trauma for Ukrainians about their own national identity.  As a result, Ukraine suffered for decades following the Holodomor until they were able to once again find within themselves who they were.

However, Stalin had misunderstood what the Ukrainian identity was all about. He failed to see that no matter what he did to the people en masse, there would be those who survived and carried that identity deep within their souls, and eventually the nation rose up again and became an independent, God loving, and contributing nation of the world.

Here, 92 years later, we have another dictator in Russia who wishes to finish the job Stalin began.  When Vladimir Putin began the invasion of Ukraine, almost three years ago, he made a statement in a long 2-hour address made to the nation of Russia, that “by the time I am through, not one single person in the world, will ever again identify themselves as Ukrainian.”

We are all gathered here together, and we declare loudly in one voice, “Mr. Putin, it will never happen!”” 

As applause broke out, His Eminence continued stating that in case Mr. Putin did not learn the lessons of his hero, Stalin, he will learn them for himself soon.  Ukraine is an independent nation.  Her people have true identity which they will never, ever cast aside. 

Metropolitan Antony continued, “We are so thankful to God for giving us the opportunity to gather and worship together once again at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.  Over these past 30 years we have had the blessing of three cardinals who have welcomed us to this cathedral.  In the 80’s there was Cardinal O’Connor, followed by Cardinal Egan, and now a wonderful, sincere, kind and sympathetic person to Ukraine, His Excellency Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who receives and welcomes us here today.

We are most appreciative of Senator Chuck Schumer, and all the diplomats who came here today, as well as all of you, my dear friends who have come to pray for those who perished, and for victory for those who fight on.” 

His Eminence thanked everyone for their continued presence and support of our brothers and sister in Ukraine.  He continued by expressing his gratitude to the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York, along with their conductor Vasyl Hrechynsky, who made this commemoration the beautiful and loving service that it was meant to be. He prayed that they continue to serve for many years, utilizing the loveliest instrument of all – the human voice.

He concluded by expressing his hope that the Lord should hear all the prayers from today, not only for those who perished 92 years ago, but for those who suffer in Ukraine today, under yet another genocide.  Stating that it is difficult for those of us in the West, who live in freedom, to absorb the reality of what is truly happening in Ukraine, to comprehend the huge loss of life, both civilian and military, young and old, he asked for continued and unceasing prayers.  “Our prayers are so important to the people of Ukraine.  We cannot pray just on a Sunday in November but must pray each and every day that the Lord will strengthen our brothers and sisters as they face this struggle, and face a new day not knowing what the it holds for them – life or death. Pray for Ukraine.  Слава Україні! Glory to Ukraine!”

The moving service concluded with the choir singing a prayer for Ukraine “Боже Великий, Єдиний, нам Україну храни!” “God the Great, the Only One, protect Ukraine for us!”  As their voices rose high to the heavens, young children wearing Ukrainian embroidered shirts, walked slowly down the center aisle clasping their hands in solemn prayer.  Following the youth, the hope of tomorrow, followed a procession carrying in a large unfurled Ukrainian flag.

As the hierarchs and clergy stepped down into the nave to greet the survivors of the Holodomor and bestow their blessing, the choir sang a stirring requiem which left everyone with goosebumps and tears in their eyes as they contemplated the horrors Ukraine historically survived and continues to endure today.  With final prayers for Ukraine’s victory and ultimate independence, the faithful slowly exited the cathedral and poured back out onto the dark and cold evening streets of New York City, taking the flame of remembrance and faith, safely sheltered within their hearts, out into the world, to continue to fight the cause for Ukraine.