Panakhyda for the Victims of the Conflict in Ukraine

Chancery Staff prayed a Panakyda for the Victims of the Conflict in Ukraine.  The Panakyda was held at the Chapel at the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia on Thursday, February 27, 2014.

The celebrants were Fr. Rabiy, Fr. Demkiv, and Fr. Sverdan.

http://youtu.be/T1bnOPaiIqc

Links to local stories about Ukraine

Links to local stories, one from the Pottsville, Pa. Republican Herald, and TV reports from WNEP-TV Scranton and WFMZ-TV Reading, Pa..

http://republicanherald.com/news/ukrainian-native-distressed-over-bloodshed-in-his-homeland-1.1638286

http://wnep.com/2014/02/20/nepa-ukrainians-react-to-bloodshed/

http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-berks/Local-pastor-speaks-out-about-protests-in-Kiev/-/121418/24551942/-/1224irhz/-/index.html

Prayers in Washington, DC

Washington, DC -- A warm night in the US capital city provided some comfort to those who came to mourn and pray for the fallen heroes of Maidan at the Taras Shevchenko Monument in northwest DC.  About 300 people of the Washington area Ukrainian-American community and Ukrainians living in the US came together in candlelight to pray for their brothers and sisters in Ukraine.  Led by the Priests of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and its Washington Deanery, o. Robert Hitchens, o. Wasyl Kharuk, o. Volodymyr Baran, and o. Roman Petryshak, offered the Panakhyda service as the names of those who died at Maidan were read by many young people.  Ukrainian Ambassador to the USA, Oleksander Motsyk, and other embassy personnel also came to pray for the fallen and for Ukraine.

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Washington, DC -- Nearly 500 members of the Ukrainian-American community of Washington and Ukrainians living in the USA gathered outside the White House on Sunday February 23, 2014 to pray for Ukraine and for those who died at Maidan.  Speakers asked President Obama to help the Ukrainian people to continue on a peaceful path to reform the government and to provide financial and humanitarian aid.  

The Priests of the Washington Protopresbyterate, o. Volodymyr Baran, o. Vasyl Sivinskyj, o. Wasyl Kharuk, and o. Robert Hitchens, dean, celebrated Panakhyda.

Prayer Appeal for Ukraine

His Beatitude Sviatoslav during his recent visit to the United States, gave an interview to Catholic News Service. The link to the article is found below. In the interview, he renewed his appeal for people all over the world to offer prayers to resolve the crisis in Ukraine. Specifically he stated,"Each night at 9 p.m. – 2 p.m. EST -- Ukrainians pray one Our Father and one Hail Mary for the intention for a peaceful and nonviolent resolution to the crisis in Ukraine."

Kindly share this appeal with the faithful, by informing them of this prayer request of the spiritual leader of our Ukrainian Catholic Church.  Ask them to say one Our Father and one Hail Mary each day at 2 p.m. EST to join in solidarity with the faithful in Ukraine who are praying at that hour, which is 9 p.m. in Ukraine.  Even people at work may silently say these prayers at 2 p.m.  

Thank you for encouraging the faithful to pray for peace in Ukraine.

http://ncronline.org/news/global/ukrainian-church-leader-asks-prayers-resolve-national-crisis

Article about Cathedral on Philly.com

Here is a link to an article about the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

http://www.philly.com/philly/living/20140209_Ukranian_Catholics_can_find_a_dome_of_their_own_in_Northern_Liberties.html#8chXM8pgDrtBGmAI.01

Pictures from Washington

Washington, DC - Patriarch Shevchuk met with representatives of the US State Department including Assistant Secretary of State Eric Rubin, Assistant Secretary of State Tom Melina, and Special Envoy Ira Froman on Friday, February 7, 2014.  He asked the officials to help foster peaceful dialogue with the government and the people.

Washington, DC - On February 6, 2014,  Patriarch Sviatoslav met with Senator Christopher Murphy (D-Connecticut) who serves on the Foreign Relations Committee. He suggested to Senator Murphy that the USA could help Ukraine by acting as a mediator between the government and the people so that there can be constructive dialogue without violence.

Washington, DC - Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk was greeted by Representative Chris Smith (R-New Jersey) who serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs - Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations  Chairman, on February 6, 2014.  He informed Representative Smith of the great concern about human rights violations happening in Ukraine with at least 60 people having disappeared without a trace and some 1000 people being imprisoned and denied visits by chaplains.

Washington, DC - Patriarch Sviatoslav met with Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) who serves on the House Appropriations Committee and Defense Subcommittee  on Thursday February 6, 2014.  The Patriarch shared with her about the growing economic issues in Ukraine, especially as they impact the elderly who for months do not receive pension checks; teachers, doctors, nurses, and others employed by the government not receiving a pay check regularly.  He related how this problem then results in middleclass businesses not being able to sell any goods or services thus compounding the economic hardships being experienced by ordinary people in Ukraine.

Washington, DC - Patriarch Sviatoslav had a private audience with Vice President Joseph Biden after the National Prayer Breakfast on February 6, 2014.  His Beatitude told Vice President Biden that the people involved with the protests are peacefully manifesting that there is no trust at this time between the ordinary people of Ukraine and its government.

Major-Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk's Homily in Washington, DC

Major-Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk offered the Homily at Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family Church in Washington, DC on February 9, 2014, the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee.

Major-Archbishop speaks in English at the 8:42 mark of the video.

http://youtu.be/Nz9ksNBGvRI

EWTN Live - 2014-2-5- Fr. Mark M. Morozowich - Eastern Rite of the Church.

HEADS OF UKRAINIAN CHURCHES PRAYED FOR UKRAINE IN WASHINGTON, DC

Washington, DC -- Patriarch Sviatoslav celebrated a Moleben to the Mother of God for her intercession for a peaceful resolution to the turmoil in Ukraine on Wednesday, February 5, 2014, at the Taras Shevchenko Monument in Washington.  Patriarch Filaret also joined the Ukrainian Greek Catholic clergy.  Many faithful were also present to pray for peace in Ukraine.

The Shevchenko Monument has served as a gathering place for the Ukrainian-American community for 50 years.  This was especially true during the communist era when Ukrainian-Americans would gather to call attention to the denial of basic freedoms and human rights to the people of Ukraine by the communist overlords.