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Celebration of the 1025th Anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus’-Ukraine at the Metropolia Center of the UOC of the USA

12.08.2013, 13:00

The 1025th Anniversary of Baptism of Kyiv-Rus Ukraine brought people from all over the continental United States of America to the spiritual center – Metropolia of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA in South Bound Brook, NJ. On Saturday, August 10, 2013 His Eminence Metropolitan Antony, the Prime Hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and the Locum Tenans of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Diaspora along with His Grace Bishop Daniel, Ruling Hierarch of the Western Eparchy and President of the Consistory of the UOC of the USA led about 40 priests and hundreds of Ukrainian Orthodox faithful in a prayerful observance of yet another monumental celebration of Ukrainian Orthodoxy in the Ancestral Homeland of Ukraine and the United States of America.

The St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church in South Bound Brook, NJ was a sight designated for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and Blessing of Water following the service. What a spiritual connection it was for the faithful of the Church to pray in a place of worship that was dedicated to the memory of innocents of Ukrainian Genocidal Famine-Holodomor of 1931-1933! What a spiritual connection it was for the faithful of the Church to pray in the church, in the crypt of which the physical remains of the first spiritual father – Metropolitan and Patriarch Mstyslav found its final rest! What a spiritual connection it was for the faithful of the Church to pray on the grounds of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, where almost 10,000 Ukrainian-Americans found their final rest in the Lord!

The Divine Liturgy itself began promptly at 10am with the arrival of Metropolitan Antony and Bishop Daniel. Very Rev. Yuriy Siwko, pastor of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church welcomed the hierarchs, clergy and visiting faithful of the UOC of the USA for the celebratory Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. Responding to Fr. Yuriys words of welcome Metropolitan Antony reflected upon the path of Christian Witness on the lands of ancient Kyivan Rus and the significance that the historic events of 988 have upon the generations of Ukrainian Christians throughout the world, especially in the United States of America.

The Divine Liturgy was prayerfully served by the clergy of the Church, while four choirs in Antiphonal singing chanted responses. The choir of St. Andrew Memorial Church was joined by the members of St. George Ukrainian Orthodox parish from Yardville, NJ; St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Philadelphia, PA and St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Johnson City, NY. As these lines of the article are being printed, the fullness of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA prayerfully offers words of gratitude to these choirs and parishes that have commissioned their choir directors and members to honor the celebration with their presence.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy Metropolitan Antony and Bishop Daniel pronounced to those in attendance the Pastoral Encyclical of the Permanent Conference of Ukrainian Orthodox Hierarchs Beyond the Boundaries of Ukraine, stating: “… Dear Brothers and Sisters! Let us also treasure the Holy Orthodox Faith which has been passed down to us by St. Volodymyr the Great. “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow.” (Heb 13:7) May our All-merciful Lord, through the prayers of our Enlightener, the Holy Great-prince Volodymyr the Great, strengthen us in the Holy Orthodox Faith, help us overcome all the trials of life so that we would be worthy and faithful children of our native Ukrainian Orthodox Church and our ancestral homeland of Ukraine. Thanks to God’s providence, Ukraine has maintained its Christian Faith through the centuries. With this Faith, Ukraine will overcome all obstacles and remain unvanquished and faithful, according to the example of its great Apostle and Baptizer, the Holy Great-prince Volodymyr, “For he is our Apostle, he is our Baptist, he is our glorious and Godly Renewer.”

Following the conclusion of the prayer services at St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church, the procession of hierarchs, clergy and laity in attendance processed around the Memorial Church, pausing for the prayerful “Memory Eternal – Vichnaya Pamiat’” at the entrance to the Holy Resurrection Mausoleum, remembering the ministry of patriarch Mstyslav along with Metropolitan John (Theodorovych) and other hierarchs, clergy and faithful of the Church that are buried at St. Andrew Cemetery.

The procession continued until its final destination – Holy Transfiguration chapel on the grounds of the Metropolia Center for a Moleben with the Blessing of Waters service, led by both hierarchs of the Church. Noteworthy is a fact that the entire Prayer Trail at St. Andrew Metropolia Center was recently renewed by the High School Mission Team of the Church that spent the entire week at the Metropolia offering their prayers and physical support with the grounds of their Mother Church. The entire Mission Team was present at the blessing in the chapel, as they were honored by the hierarchs of the Church for their love and dedication to the mission of the UOC of the USA.

Once again, the responses to the liturgical service were chanted by St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church’s choir under the direction of Maestro Michael Andrec.

Later in the afternoon, the entire congregation gathered at the Ukrainian Cultural Center of the Historical and Educational Complex of the UOC of the USA for a formal luncheon. Mrs. Natalia Honcharenko, director of Ukrainian Museum of NJ led the festive program, calling upon those in attendance to recall the prayerful events of 1025 years ago. His Grace Bishop Daniel spoke to the congregation of about 300 faithful, reflecting upon the historical, cultural, and most importantly spiritual meaning of the celebration. His Excellency Igor Sybiga, Consul General of Ukraine in NY eloquently greeted the congregation with the celebration of 1025 anniversary of the Baptism of Ukraine on behalf of the Consulate, while Bishop Daniel presented a greeting from the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev. Following the presentation, Mr. Vsevolod Salenko of Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union greeted those in attendance, mentioning the significance of input the UOC of the USA in the nurturing of Christian Orthodox spirit among Ukrainians on the North American Continent and throughout the world. In conclusion, Mr. Salenko presented a monetary gift on behalf of the Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union to the Metropolia of the Church.

Once the formal program concluded, Mrs. Honcharenko called upon the choirs St. Andrew Memorial Church, under the direction of Michael Andrec; St. George Ukrainian Orthodox parish from Yardville, NJ, under the direction of Inna Nikolukin; St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Philadelphia, PA, under the direction of Karen Ferraro and St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Johnson City, NY under the direction of  Melodye Onysko to honor the celebration with a selection of several pieces of sacred music, which is in itself a living memorial to the spiritually uplifting tradition of Ukrainian Orthodox Choral Art.

The celebration concluded with a singing of “Bozhe Velykyj Edynyj” by a join choir of over 50 individuals, directed by Maestro Michael Andrec.
Once again, on behalf of the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA – His Eminence Metropolitan Antony and His Grace Bishop Daniel, the Consistory of the UOC of the USA expresses its sincerest gratitude to those that took time and traveled from all over the US to honor the celebration of 1025 years of the Baptism of our Ancestral Homeland Ukraine.

Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Great-prince Volodymyr, Baptizer of Rus’-Ukraine! Pray to God for us sinners, and for the entire Ukrainian nation on native soil and throughout the Diaspora!

10 August 2013 UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA