Activities of Ukrainian American Club of SWFL

  There will be no membership meeting tonight. The Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port, instead will have its annual Scholarship Fundraiser luncheon at Heron Creek Golf & Country Club in North Port at noon Friday. 

    At the luncheon, the club’s Scholarship Committee, headed by professor Viktor Lisnyczyj of North Port, the organizer and formal host, will present a scholarship award to a North Port High School graduating student who was selected by the committee. The name of the scholarship recipient and the amount of the award will be made public at the luncheon. Traditionally, the award is in the amount of $1,000. Additionally, $250 will be presented the previous year’s recipients to assist with textbook and related expenses. 

    An invitation to attend the luncheon is extended to all. Individuals interested in attending should make reservations by contacting Christyna Sheldon at 941-460-9890 or Gene Tomashosky at 941-786-5256. 

    A brief business meeting will be held prior to the serving of lunch and prior to the awards ceremonies. 

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    The monthly membership meeting of North Port’s Chapter 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America — UNWLA, commonly referred to as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian ladies), headed by Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, will be held at 10 a.m., May 6, at the St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church Parish Center at Biscayne Drive and West Price Boulevard. 

    The main item on the agenda will be the XXX UNWLA National Convention which will be held in New York City May 23-26. It will be the first time the convention will be held in New York City, where the UNWLA “was born.” 

    North Port Chapter 56 will play an important role at this jubilee convention. In addition to delegates who will be elected, there are three Chapter 56 members who are members of the UNWLA National executive board: vice president for public relations Lidia Bilous, liaison for membersat-large Roxolana Yarymovych, and liaison for branches-at-large Orysia Zinycz, who will also chair the convention’s Nominating Committee. 

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    The monthly membership meeting of Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans will take place at 3 p.m. May 9 at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center — the Oseredok. Please note that this is a change from the customary meeting on first Friday, necessitated by the Scholarship Awards luncheon by the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida.

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    Almost 150 relatives (children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces) and friends, including my wife, Katrusia, and I, of Iwanna Martynetz of North Port gathered Saturday afternoon at the Oseredok to honor Iwanna and to celebrate her 90th birthday. The affair was masterfully managed by Iwanna’s older brother, Dr. Walter Motyka of North Port, who was able to relay his sister’s and their family life history, including the tragedies (their oldest sister murdered by NKVD, predecessor of KGB, in Drohobych prison in June 1941, and their younger brother dying as a hero while fighting the invaders of Ukraine as member of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army — UPA), and the happier times while she was married to now deceased Myroslaw Martynetz and was raising family in Rochester, N.Y., in addition to being active in many cultural and civic organizations, especially the “Soyuz Ukrayinok.” 

    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

‘Christ is risen! — ‘Khrystos Voskres!’

This “Passion Week,” commemorating Christ’s sufferings and crucifixion, observed this year together by all Christians of both eastern (Byzantine) and western (Latin) traditions, will end this Saturday with services that will include the proclamation “Christ is risen!” The Ukrainian Christian believers will proclaim “Khrystos Voskres!” and will greet each other with these words until the Feast of Ascension (40 days after Easter). The response to this greeting is “Voistynu Voskres!” (indeed He has risen).

Easter in Ukrainian is known as “Velykden” (great day), and is observed for three days (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday), with an added touch of Velykden on the following Sunday, the Thomas’ Sunday. This is also known as “Providna Nedilya,” during which the faithful commemorate the deceased by visiting cemeteries and praying at the graves of their relatives and friends. The Ukrainian St. Andrew’s Cemetery in South Bound Brook, N.J., one of the better-known Ukrainian cemeteries in North America, is the site of tens of thousands of visitors on that day, including visitors from outside of the U.S. That cemetery, in addition to an ornate Holodomor memorial church, has many monuments which are works of art, some by world-renowned sculptors.
 
The traditional Ukrainian observance of the Easter holiday, or Velykden, is a joyful religious and family affair, with no Easter bunny but with the Ukrainian artistically hand-decorated “pysanky” (Easter eggs) as one of the important items of the holiday food basket, which also contains ham, sausage, cheese, butter and “babka” or “paska” (Easter breads). One should not forget the horseradish root.

During my childhood days in my native village of Volya Yakubova (Jacob’s Freedom), as well as in most Ukrainian villages and towns, Easter food baskets were brought to churches for blessings on Sundays after the Resurrection divine liturgy. It was a sight to see — a variety of beautifully decorated food baskets, partially covered by embroidered napkins or towels, and the girls and women dressed in traditional Ukrainian embroidered blouses, dresses and jackets standing next to their baskets awaiting the blessing with holy water. One of the traditions in my village was for the unmarried girls to run as fast as possible with the blessed basket to their homes, with a belief that the one who reaches her home first will be the first to be married that year.

Here in North Port, and in most Ukrainian American communities, the blessings of Easter food baskets take place late afternoon on Saturday before Easter Sunday.

My wife Katrusia and I wish to extend to all our relatives, friends and neighbors a happy and healthy Easter — “Veselykh Svyat!” (happy holidays).

                                                                          • • •

The Ukrainian American community in North Port and Southwest Florida, and other Ukrainian American and Ukrainian Canadian communities, together with Ukrainians in Ukraine and in other countries, will observe next week the sad anniversary of the explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine on April 26, 1986. The plant, located in Ukraine, offi- cially known then as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, was nevertheless subordinated to and completely controlled directly by the central Sevier Russian government in Moscow, which refused to acknowledge the explosion and the extent of potential damage until the deadly radiation reached and was recorded in Western Europe.
 
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

One more traditional Easter bazaar

   On Friday, the popular traditional Easter Bazaar of St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church will be held from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Parish Center, 1076 N. Biscayne Drive at the corner of West Price Boulevard. Ukrainian arts and crafts, pysanky (artistically hand-decorated Ukrainian Easter eggs) and other gift items will be available for viewing and for sale. Food items, including “babkas” ( traditional Ukrainian Easter bread) and sausages will be available for purchase, and homebaked pastries will be available with coffee or tea, eat-in or takeout.

    The traditional and very popular Friday night Ukrainian American dinners with “varenyky” (pierogies), “holubtsi” (cabbage rolls) and other extras will be available from noon-6 p.m., eat-in or takeout as well. Large takeout orders should be reserved in advance by calling 941-423-2427 a day earlier.

    This year’s bazaar committee is co-chaired by active members of the parish Oksana Lew and Iwanna Holowaty, both of Venice. Slava Chomyk of Port Charlotte is the kitchen manager.

    There is no admission charge, and everybody is welcome.

    This is North Port’s second Easter bazaar; the first was held April 4 at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”).

                                                             • • •

    Due to miscommunication, there was an error in my March 26 column regarding the membership of the Oseredok’s Auditing Committee. Elected for the year 2014-15 were Doris Horbachevsky of North Port, Ihor W. Hron of Osprey and Mykola Weremijenko of North Port.

    Daria Tomashosky, who chairs the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida and the North Port Chapter of Ukrainian American Congress Committee, and is an active member of several other clubs and organizations (the North Port Art Center, Kiwanis, and “Hromadskyi Komitet,” to name some) chaired last week’s very successful Easter bazaar. She would like to express her appreciation for the hard and dedicated work of members of her committee, for the community’s support, and for the North Port Sun’s publicity with photographs. It all made this year’s bazaar another success.

                                                             • • •

    This coming Monday, our Jewish friends and neighbors will commence celebrating one of the holiest holidays, Passover, which will last until April 22.

    My wife Katrusia and I wish all our Jewish friends and neighbors and their families here in Southwest Florida and in the greater New York City area the happiest, healthiest and most enjoyable holiday.

    This holiday takes my memory back to my childhood days when Sarah Samet of blessed memory, mother of my classroom friends Adele and Joseph, would present me a gift of matzo. Also, I can never forget attending seders with Jewish staff members and clients of the Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Services Center in New York while I was employed there. I still have my yarmulke.

                                                             • • •

    The monthly membership meeting of Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans will take place at 3 p.m. Friday at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center, 4100 S. Biscayne Drive, North Port. Attendance of post members is mandatory. Non-member veterans are always welcome.

    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

Traditional Ukrainian Easter bazaars planned

      From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, a Ukrainian Easter bazaar will take place at 4100 S. Biscayne Drive, North Port, sponsored by St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”). A Ukrainian “pysanky” (traditional Easter eggs) decorating demonstration and sale, arts and crafts exhibit, and baked goods sale will be some of the attractions. Ukrainian food will be available on-site as well as for takeout.

    To ensure takeout availability of ring kielbasa, “babka” (Ukrainian Easter bread) and “varenyky” (pierogies), it is highly recommended to pre-order these items by calling 941-786-5256.

    Also at the bazaar, there will be an exhibit of books and other materials dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the birth of universally acclaimed Ukrainian artist, poet and revolutionary Taras Shevchenko, sponsored by the Ukrainian Language Society. The coordinator of this exhibit will be Neonilia Lechman of Venice.

    One week later, on April 11, the traditional bazaar of St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1076 N. Biscayne Drive (corner of West Price Boulevard), North Port. Ukrainian arts and crafts, gift items, pysanky, and Easter bread will be available, as well as other popular Ukrainian food. The traditional Ukrainian American dinners featuring pierogies, “holubtsi” (cabbage rolls) and homebaked pastries will be available from noon to 6 p.m. As in the past, visitors will be able to win prizes by purchasing raffle tickets.

    Takeouts also will be available, but large orders should be pre-ordered by calling a day or two earlier at 941-423-2427.

    This year’s St. Mary’s bazaar committee is headed by co-chairs Oksana Lew and Iwanna Holowaty, both of Venice.


                                                             • • •

    This month’s membership meeting of Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans will be held at 3 p.m. April 11 at the Oseredok.

    This is a change from the regularly scheduled meeting date, which is the first Friday of the month, due to the Ukrainian bazaar sponsored by the Oseredok on Friday.


                                                              • • •

    The Coordinating Committee of Ukrainian American Organizations of North Port and vicinity, known in Ukrainian as “Hromadskyi Komitet,” an umbrella organization of all Ukrainian American clubs and organization of Southwest Florida, held its annual meeting and election of officers last week at the Oseredok.

    After the reading of minutes from the previous meeting and reports of officers, the members re-elected Roma Guran of Venice to serve another year as president. Also re-elected were vice president professor Vira Bodnaruk of Venice, secretary Lieda Boyko of Port Charlotte, and treasurer Klara Szpiczka of North Port.

    Hromadskyi Komitet is composed of two representatives each from member organizations. It was decided at this meeting to ask the organizations to replace representatives who were their delegates for several years with “new faces.” Member organizations will be notified by mail and/or email of the date and place of the next meeting.

    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

 

‘Oseredok’ is not a church

     St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center Inc., known to Ukrainian Americans as the “Oseredok” (the Ukrainian word “oseredok” translates as “center”) in North Port is a not-for-profit, nondenominational, non-political cultural and educational institution incorporated in the state of Florida. It was established by and for the Ukrainian American and Ukrainian Canadian residents of North Port and vicinity. The building and land is owned by the dues-paying members and cannot become property of an individual, a religious entity or political party.

    Several entities have their “home” at the Oseredok: Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, Milena Rudnycka Chapter 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, commonly referred to as “Soyuz Ukraynok” (union of Ukrainian ladies), the Senator Paul Yuzyk Ukrainian Library (reportedly the largest Ukrainian library in the state), and St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Church. The Coordinating Committee of Ukrainian American Organizations of North Port and vicinity (“Hromadsyi Komitet”), and other clubs and organizations hold their meetings at the Oseredok. Cultural affairs, exhibits, parties, dances, weekly get- togethers of seniors, etc. are some of the activities there.

    St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Church was established in one of the wings of the Oseredok’s structure to serve permanent and seasonal residents,who are of Ukrainian Greek Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox faiths. Visiting clergy of those denominations, with approvals of their respective bishops, conducted services on Sundays and holidays until the decision was made to form a parish and build the Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God (St. Mary’s) Ukrainian Catholic Church. Consequently, St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Church is now being used by the Ukrainian Orthodox, even though legally it can be used by Greek Catholics also.

    The existence of St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Church and the fact that it now serves only the Ukrainian Orthodox faithful leads some to assume that the Oseredok is a Ukrainian Orthodox institution, which is incorrect.

                                                           • • •

    The annual membership meeting of the Oseredok and election of officers took place March 19. The meeting was opened by Oseredok president, professor Victor Lisnyczyj of North Port, who, after brief introductory remarks and greetings, proceeded to present the report of activities during the past year. Other reports and discussion followed.

    The members re-elected professor Lisnyczyj to serve as president for another year. Also re-elected were vice president Daria Tomashosky, secretary Dr. Bohdan Bodnaruk, treasurer Maria Bojduj, membership chair Klara Szpiczka, property manager Eugene A. Tomashosky, cultural committee co-chairs professor Vira Bodnaruk and Halya Lisnyczyj, social service co-chairs Anastasia Fatenko and Maria Nikitin, and members-at-large Victor Kapij, Orysia Swystun, Roman Swystun and Vladimier Szpiczka.

    Auditing Committee members Iwanna Holowaty, Doris Horbachevsky, Victor Kapij and Mykola Weremijenko were also re-elected.

    The traditional pre-Easter Bazaar will be held at St. Andrew’s from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 4. More details next week.

    One of the surprises of the meeting was the unanimous election of Maia Bojduj, longtime Oseredok treasurer, as honorary member of the Oseredok. Congratulations, Mrs. Bojduj!

    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

 

When and where WWII started

It is universally accepted that World War II began Sept. 1, 1939, with Hitler’s Wehrmacht attacking the Polish Republic (Rzeczpospolita Polska). However, the actual shooting war, with Hitler’s blessing, began nearly six months earlier when the modern, superbly equipped army of one of Hitler’s satellites, Hungary, attacked a newly established democratic state, Carpathian Ukraine, a Ukrainian land which after World War I became a part of Czechoslovakian Republic, often referred to as the most democratic state in Europe.

    Following the infamous Munich agreement, Czechoslovakia was forced to surrender to Germany the German-populated Sudetenland, which resulted in the hastening of the breakup of the heretofore one republic in three autonomous entities. Soon thereafter, the Germans occupied the territory, which they named “Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia,” while the Slovaks (Oct. 6, 1938) and Ukrainians (Oct. 11, 1938) had formed autonomous states which eventually (March 14, 1938) became independent. Hitler had allowed “Independent” Slovakia to exist, but he long before had agreed to the occupation of Carpatho-Ukraine by the Hungarians.

    It is interesting to note the comparison of events in March 1938 and in March 2014, both involving Ukraine.

    Immediately upon the declaration of independence of Carpatho-Ukraine, the Hungarian government issued an ultimatum demanding that the government of Carpatho-Ukraine stop anti-Hungarian propaganda (no such propaganda had been conducted), release Hungarian political prisoners (there were none) and arm the Hungarians residing in Carpatho-Ukraine. The first two demands were without basis in fact. When the third demand was rejected, the Hungarian army invaded. The defense of the newly proclaimed Ukrainian state depended on the 5,000 poorly armed members of the hastily formed Carpathian Sitch. Within days, the Hungarian army, assisted by well-trained and armed saboteurs sent ahead, had occupied most of the important strategic points in the state, in spite of the heroic efforts of the young and militarily inexperienced defenders, many of whom were killed in battles, and others taken prisoners (many summarily executed).

    Partisan battles continued until mid-April.

    From an international point of view, the Carpatho-Ukrainian-Hungarian battles were the first battles of WWII, for the Czechs surrendered their state to Hitler without firing a shot.

    The territory of the 1938-1939 Carpatho-Ukraine is now the “Zakarpatska” (Transcarpathian) oblast of Ukraine, which Ukrainians call “Sribna Zemlya” (silver land). It, together with the rest of Ukraine, is now defending itself against “modern-day Hitler” Putin, who makes outlandish and withoutbasis-in-fact accusations of persecutions of the Russian-speaking minority in Ukraine, and other anti-Ukrainian propaganda, in preparation for an attack on Ukraine.

                                                        • • •

    The solemn commemoration of the Taras Shevchenko bicentennial will be held at the ECOSOC Chamber of the Organization of United Nations in New York City on March 27. The elaborate program will include remarks from U.N. General Secretary Ban Ki-moon, President of the U.N. 68th General Session H.E. John

W. Ashe, and other dignitaries.

    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

 

Shevchenko’s bicentennial commemorated

    The commemorative assembly honoring the 200th anniversary of the birth of Ukrainian artist, poet, revolutionary and national prophet Taras Shevchenko (March 9, 1814-March 10, 1861), sponsored by the Coordinating Committee of Ukrainian American organizations in North Port and vicinity, headed by Romana Guran of Venice, took place last Sunday at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish Center in North Port. The Jubilee Committee, responsible for the organization and production of this very successful affair, consisting of singing and recitations of Shevchenko’s poems, was headed by Halya Lisnyczyj of North Port.

    The festive commemoration began with the United Choir conducted by Lubow Ingram singing “The Zapovit” (“My Testament”), followed by welcoming and introductory remarks by Neonillia Lechman, mistress of ceremonies. As is the custom, attendees stood during the singing of this very personal Shevchenko poem, which was translated into more than 50 languages (including English), which Ukrainians regard as one of their most sacred national treasures. Two very young piano players, sisters Ariana and Mia Allen, wearing beautiful national Ukrainian costumes, played “Dumy Moyi” (“My Meditations”) to the delight of the more than 150 attendees.

    Two songs by the choir of the local branch of “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian ladies), also directed by Lubow Ingram, sang two Shevchenko poems, followed by a group recitation of a lengthy poem, “Nevolnyk” (“Captive”) by Lieda Boyko, Julia Danylovych, Olya Hron, Bohdan Lechman, Halya Lisnyczyj, Ostap Macilynsky and Lesya Popel.

    The United Choir’s song “Dumy Moyi” was followed by the recitation by Bohdan Bodnaruk and Halya Lisnyczyj of “Rozryta Mohyla” (“The Plundered Grave”). The final item was a song by the United Choir about the river Dnipro, followed by the Ukrainian national anthem, sung by all.

    The stage was tastefully decorated by Klara and Vladimier Szpiczka. The success of the affair was the result, to a large degree, of Daria Tomashosky’s advertising posters and leaflets. Lidia Bilous designed the artwork and printed the evening’s program.

    Attendees were able to view a display of a large selection of publications of Shevchenko’s works, including some archival pieces.

    It should be noted that Shevchenko’s bicentennial is being commemorated worldwide, including at the United Nations, and in some countries on the national level. In the West Ukrainian city of Lviv last Sunday, some 2,500 students had formed a human chain from the “Ukrainian Bookstore” to the Shevchenko monument at the Prospect of Freedom. From the stage at the monument the students then read a selection of popular poems, then read Shevchenko’s “Zapovit” in 16 languages, including Armenian, Azerbaijani, Belarusian, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian and Spanish, in addition to Ukrainian.

                                                             • • •

    The Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans, headed by Commander Eugene A. Tomashosky held its March monthly membership meeting last Friday at the Military Heritage Museum at Fishermen’s Village in Punta Gorda, which included viewing the exhibits and socializing with the museum’s staff and volunteers.

    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