PERMANENT CONFERENCE OF UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX BISHOPS BEYOND THE BORDERS OFUKRAINEon the 80th ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOLODOMOR
To the beloved clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Churches beyond the borders of Ukraine in North and South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the genocidal famine in Ukraine 1932-33.
Dearly beloved brothers and sisters,
GLORY TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!
GLORY FOREVER!
Once again we have come to the annual commemoration of the victims of one of, if not the worst, acts of genocide ever committed against mankind – the purposefully created and perpetrated 1932-33 artificial and genocidal famine in Ukraine, masterminded by Josef Stalin himself and managed by those who devoted their lives to him and carried out every command – regardless of what the consequences were for not only the seven to ten million Ukrainian men, women and children who succumbed to the famine, but also for the countless thousands or even more millions of Ukrainians and others who dared to challenge the “plan” of the day – all throughout the Stalin era. The famine was a part of the master plan to destroy the mind (intelligentsia), the soul (the church and her clergy) and the spirit (farmers and villagers, who embodied the national culture and ancient traditions) of the Ukrainian nation.
We call to mind those who were too long forgotten – many of them relatives, neighbors, co-workers and friends of a significant number of people still alive today. In spite of the fact that the government of the former Soviet Union and those of other nations in the world deliberately attempted – and in some cases still do today – to eradicate the memory of this horrific disaster from historical annals – we again make the promise that we will NEVER forget. We will NOT allow their martyrdom to go without meaning. We WILL remind the world’s political leaders that they no longer have unlimited and unquestioned power to destroy life. We WILL remind mankind of the sanctity of life and the God-given rights of every individual human being. We call to mind the words of Edmund Burke: “Those who don’t know (or ignore – George Santayana) history are destined (condemned) to repeat it.”
Our deceased brothers and sisters did NOT perish in vain. Today they are commemorated also throughoutUkraine, regardless of the attempts of some powerful political figures to prevent it. Although stifled, the memory of those victims and the memory of the famine itself festered beneath the surface consciousness of the people of Ukraine and maintained, regardless of all efforts of the 74 years of a godless regime, maintained a self-identity, which led to the independence of the nation – an independence achieved without the shedding of blood. The endurance of the horror of the famine – and other almost incredible conditions of life through most of the 20th century preserved – albeit deeply within the conscience and social fabric of the nation – that self-identity, which serves as the foundation for nation building in Ukraine today and tomorrow into what will certainly be one of the most important, productive and freedom loving nations of the world.
We pray to God this day – to the Helper of the helpless, the Hope of the hopeless, the Savior of the storm-tossed, the Haven of the voyager, the Healer of the sick. We stand before Him in humility and beseech His eternal blessings upon us and that He will grant eternal rest where the Light of His Countenance shines upon those we remember. May their souls rest in eternal happiness and their memory be eternal in God’sHeavenlyKingdom.
As your spiritual fathers, we call you all to personal prayer and actions, which will serve to remember our brothers and sisters. Fast for an entire day to reach – in a minimal way – a better comprehension of what they endured for months, each day suffering more until the end finally came. During these holy days prior to the great feast of the Nativity of our Lord – Philip’s Fast – set aside a sum of your riches daily – and make a Nativity gift to the establishment of national memorials – or – to your local food bank to aid those in your own communities who know none of the riches you enjoy on a daily basis. If our memory of those who perished in the famine does not result in a willingness to act some way in their name, it will mean little to us.
As always, we pray for you, we pray for our Ukrainian Nation, which still endures an extremely difficult path to true democracy and we ask for your prayers for us. May the Grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Love of God the Father and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
YURIJ
Metropolitan Ukrainian Orthodox Church ofCanada
ANTONY
Metropolitan Ukrainian
Orthodox Church of theUSAand Locum Tenens Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Diaspora
IOAN
Archbishop Ukrainian
Orthodox Church in Diaspora
JEREMIAH
Ukrainian Orthodox Eparchy of Braziland South America
