Orthodox and Greek Catholics of North America Jointly Honor Anniversary of Holodomor

The hierarchs of the Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox Churches of the United States and Canada published a joint pastoral message calling the Ukrainians of the world to honor the 77th anniversary of the Holodomor, which was perpetuated by Joseph Stalin and the Soviet regime against the people of Ukraine in 1932-33. "We will pray together for the souls of the over 7 million victims of this man-made famine. We will raise our collective voice against such oppressive measures and suffering being used in the name of any ideology," reads the address.

The hierarchs remind the faithful of their responsibility to remember the victims of the famine: "It is important that we remember the more than 7 million victims made up of innocent men, women, and children of a proud nation who simply attempted to defend themselves from the forced collectivization policy of Soviet Russia.  Borders were closed. Food and crops were confiscated.  People who were defiant were shot.  Their souls cry out to be remembered. Let us gather in our holy churches to pray for their souls.  We unite ourselves with them in our collective holy prayer."

We are also called to be a living voice for justice for the millions of victims of the Holodomor.  We are called to continually bring to mind, to ourselves and to the world around us, that this famine occurred as a result of the policies of a repressive and evil regime.  Much of the world deluded itself of it happening at the time.  Voices for justice and democracy were silenced, largely by the media who perpetuated the oppressive regime's denial of the existence of the man-made famine. Our living voice is needed to ensure that such acts of genocide are remembered and prevented from reoccurring."

The hierarchs remind that efforts to erase or minimize the horrific impact of this man-made famine continue to this day.  Therefore, the address says that "our strong and assertive collective voice is needed to ensure that the sacrifice of the over 7 million victims is not forgotten and not repeated.  Your hierarchs urge you to choose to be a part of the living conscience of those who have suffered. Their memory and sacrifice cannot be forgotten or minimized.  The victims of the genocide in Ukraine need to be remembered and given justice and dignity by our speaking up in remembrance of them, and for other such victims of genocide throughout the world.