THE Ukrainian Catholic Community in Perth commemorated Ukrainian Heroes on 29 May.
After Holy Liturgy the head of CYM (СпÑлка УкÑаÑнÑÑÐºÐ¾Ñ ÐолодÑ, or Ukrainian Youth Association) Perth John Karpewycz and brother Simon placed a wreath in front of the tetrapod (small serving altar).
Then Fr Wolodymyr Kalinecki, the parish priest of the Maylands Ukrainian Catholic parish whom Bishop Peter Stasiuk recently appointed as chaplain of the Ukrainian CYM Perth, began the panahyda (memorial service) for those who gave their lives for freedom and a better future of Ukraine.
During the service at their Maylands church, representatives of organisations and CYMivtsi (Youth Association) formed a guard of honour with the holy cross, the Ukrainian national flag together with the flags of Ukrainian service organisations. The memorial service ended by singing Hrystos Voskres (Christ is Risen) and a memorial song Vydysh Brate Mij (Can you see, my brother), led by church cantor Vladimir Kania.
After the church service, everyone went to the parish hall of St John the Baptist for refreshments and a short commemoration of Ukrainian heroes.
The programme was announced by the President of the Ukrainian Association of WA, Mykola Mowczan, who, after welcoming Reverend Fathers, heads of organisations and all present, outlined the main stages of Ukraine’s liberation struggle in the 20th century.
He also highlighted that this year is the 120th anniversary of the birth of Colonel Evhen Konvalets’, member of the heroic WWI Sich Riflemen and head of the OUN (Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists).
Following the President’s opening address, Vesna Choir conducted by Susanna Prushynska sang three songs – When you grow up son, Oh we can see the Village and For Ukraine it’s freedom, honour and people. Then Diana Teplyj delivered a speech about the heroic struggle of the Ukrainian men and women for an independent Ukraine, especially the role of Evhen Konvalets in this fight and his brazen assassination in Rotterdam by a Russian Soviet agent. The final item was prepared by the education coordinator of the Ukrainian Youth Association, Bohdan Mykytiuk, who reminded the audience that Ukraine was currently in the midst of renewed battle with those led by President Yanukovych who seek to turn back the clock and reduce Ukraine to the status of ‘Little Russia’ through the re-introduction of Russian language and a compulsory, revised history curriculum popularising the former Soviet State.
For the first time since the end of Soviet rule, freedom of speech has been suppressed and people have been jailed for expressing their point of view.
Bohdan emphasised the view of the head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, Most Reverend Sviatoslav Shevchuk, on the importance of educating the youth, the future leadership of Ukraine, and the need to see all proposed through the eyes of God.
Bohdan also highlighted the national movement of Christian renewal under the leadership of the Holy Spirit Seminary and the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, stressing the importance of caring for those in need, as well as caring for community and country, and encouraged donations to support their work.
He ended his presentation with a deeply moving and haunting song about the heroic struggle for independence that he learned from the Rector and vice-Rector of the seminary.
To learn more about or support national Christian renewal in Ukraine, please contact Bohdan on 0403 301 079.