Meetings, bazaars and war news

The monthly membership meeting of North Port’s Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, headed by Post Commander Col. Roman Rondiak, USA Retired of Osprey, will be at 3 p.m., Friday at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian American Religious and Cultural Center in North Port, the “Oseredok.”

Finance Officer Oleh Sawkiw reminds members, who did not submit their dues, to either mail the checks to him, or to bring the dues to Friday’s meeting.

 Annual membership meeting of the Oseredok and election of “Uprava” (president, board members, and auditing board) is planned for 2 p.m., Monday at the Oseredok. Reports of officers, including the financial report, will be presented for approval.

 President Victor Lisnyczyj of North Port wishes to remind members that all membership dues must be paid before the meeting.

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The traditional Pre-Easter Bazaar of Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God (St. Mary’s) Ukrainian Catholic Church will be held, for the first time, over two days, March 11 and March 12. More information, including hours of operation, will be provided in next week’s column.

The Pre-Easter Bazaar of the Oseredok is planned March 19.

 The Ukrainian American Greek-Catholic and Orthodox faithful, who follow the Julian (“Old”) calendar, in Southwest Florida and in Ukraine will begin the annual Lent (known in Ukrainian as “Velykyi Peest,” or “great fast”) on March 14. Tradition and church regulations mandate a strict fast (no meat and dairy products) on the first day of Lent and on Good Friday, known to Ukrainians as “Great Friday.” Dances, including weddings, and other “boisterous” entertainment, are forbidden during the Great Fast.


This year’s Easter will be observed May 1. Eastern, or Byzantine tradition does not allow the Easter celebration prior to the Jewish Passover, which this year will be observed from sundown of April 22 through April 30.

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All observances within the Southwest Florida Ukrainian American community, including all church services, are with full knowledge of and in sympathy with the problems of the Ukrainian homeland, especially the defense of Ukraine from the Russian military invasion. In addition to occupying Crimea, Putin’s Russian Federation introduced some 30,000 troops into parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine where it encourages local terrorists, who are trained and commanded by Russian military officers, to continue to attack Ukrainian military units in spite of the so-called “Minsk Accord” calling for cease-fire.


The officials of the Donetsk oblast announced recently that 49 children were killed and 138 wounded since the start of hostilities. No information was provided by Luhansk oblast.


Over 9,000 individuals were killed, and over 20,000 injured in the area according to the United Nations release.


Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko announced that, as of Jan. 31, a total of 2,269 members of Ukrainian Armed Forces were killed by the terrorists and Russian military personnel.

To contact Atanas Kobryn, call 941-423-9499 or email: atanask@aol. com Atanas Kobryn, North Port, FL