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UGCC parish in Chicago collects half a million dollars for wounded soldiers

23.02.2017, 10:41
UGCC parish in Chicago collects half a million dollars for wounded soldiers - фото 1
The program “Open Church” tells a story of the Ukrainian Church of St. Joseph the Betrothed, Chicago. This relatively new Ukrainian parish has a church, which has been repeatedly noted as an outstanding architectural construction.

Храм_УГКЦ_в_Чікаго.jpgThe program “Open Church” tells a story of the Ukrainian Church of St. Joseph the Betrothed, Chicago. This relatively new Ukrainian parish has a church, which has been repeatedly noted as an outstanding architectural construction.

Once a year up to ten thousand people come together at its yard for the annual Ukrainian Festival ‘Uktoberfest’. This is a parish where the largest number of Ukrainian organizations and communities operate. Its moto is ‘Welcoming parish’.

The program guest – the church rector, Father Mykola Buryadnyk – told via Skype how one of the “most vibrant” congregations in America was started and what it is now like, as well as about the assistance they send to Ukraine. From the beginning of the war in eastern Ukraine, the laity gathered half a million dollars as humanitarian aid to our wounded warriors.

“Just at this time we have the fifth soldier who undergoes rehabilitation treatment in America. This is Leonid Khmelkov, paratrooper of the 95th brigade, who was wounded in the airport of Donetsk. He underwent 43 surgeries and we accepted him here with our doctors of Ukrainian origin who help him with rehabilitation,” Fr Mykola said.

According to the church rector, this charity not only helps soldiers and their families, but also allows to unite our community overseas. “We provide them with financial assistance, but these guys are helping us as well,” said Fr. Mykola Buryadnyk. “As we see, heroism and such acts educates us and encourage us to unite and be ambassadors of Ukraine in the world.”