Concert, bazaar and bishop’s visit

    The local Ukrainian American community will welcome at 4 p.m. today at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center, known as “the Oseredok,” one of the witnesses and active participants of the “Revolution of Dignity,” known also as “Euromaidan” in Kyiv, Ukraine (November 2013 — March 2014), which resulted in the ousting of pro-Kremlin former president Yanukovych and his clique.

    Sofiya Fedyna, a world-renowned singer, composer, lyricist and pianist, in addition to being a professor of international security at the National Lviv University and head of the worldwide Lemko organizations, will appear at the Oseredok to sing Lemko and other contemporary Ukrainian songs and to talk about the current situation in Ukraine, including the eastern part now under attack by Russian military forces.

    Ms. Fedyna performs at charity concerts in various Ukrainian cities to raise funds to support the Ukrainian Army and Ukrainian volunteer battalions fighting the Russian aggressors. She visits the soldiers and volunteers at the front very often to deliver supplies purchased with funds raised at her performances, in addition to the greetings from “people back home.”

    My wife Katrusia and I were surprised and appreciate very much Ms. Fedyna’s visit last Sunday, accompanied by Anna Mariani of Port Charlotte. In addition to greeting Katrusia on occasion of her St. Patron’s Day (last Sunday was the feast of St. Catherine) Ms. Fedyna sang a Lemko version of “Mnohaya Leeta” (many, many years) and another Lemko song. We appreciate her visit and friendly chat, and hope to see and hear her again tonight.
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    The traditional and very popular year-end bazaar at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, at Biscayne Drive and West Price Boulevard, will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday. Oksana Lew and Iwanna Holowaty, both of Venice, are co-chairs of the bazaar committee.

    Ukrainian food will be served all day, and baked goods (breads and pastries), artwork, crafts, and other gifts will be available for purchase. All are welcome.
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    The Ukrainian Catholic community of Southwest Florida will have the great pleasure and honor to welcome the recently ordained and installed by Patriarch Sviatoslav of Kyiv, His Excellency Bohdan J. Danylo, Eparch (Ordinary) of St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Diocese in Parma, Ohio.

    Bishop Bohdan will celebrate the pontifical divine liturgy at St. Mary’s in North Port at 11 a.m. Sunday. All are welcome to attend.

    The parishioners and guests will have an opportunity to personally meet and greet Bishop Bohdan at a parish breakfast in the Parish Hall before the liturgy, starting at 8:30 a.m.
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    Members of the Oseredok are inviting all to attend their annual dinner honoring the patron saint of the Oseredok, St. Andrew the first-called apostle, at 1 p.m. Sunday at 4100

S. Biscayne Drive in North Port. Tickets for the dinner, at $20 per person, are available from Halya Lisnyczyj at 941-429-2350.

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    Illinois native Ms. Natalie Jaresko, who grew up in the Chicago area and is an alumna of DePaul and Harvard universities and the Kennedy School of Government, was appointed and approved by “Verkhovna Rada” (Ukraine’s parliament) to Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers as finance minister.

    Atanas Kobryn covers the Ukrainian community for the North Port Sun. He can be emailed at atanask@aol.com 

Our Neighbors — The Ukrainians

by Atanas Kobryn