The annual pre-Christmas Bazaar at St.Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish Center, 1078 N. Biscayne Drive (corner of Biscayne Drive and West Price Boulevard) in North Port will be held Friday starting at 9 a.m., with coffee and pastries available for visitors. Traditional Ukrainian American dinners, including homebaked pastries, to eat on-site or for takeout, will be served from noon until 6 p.m.
There will be many gift, household and other items for sale in addition to raffle tickets and the aforementioned food. All are welcome.
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The Most Rev. Bohdan J. Danylo, Ordinary of St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy (Diocese) in Parma, Ohio, will visit the Southwest Florida Ukrainian Catholic congregation Saturday and Sunday.
The bishop will meet with parishioners and celebrate the solemn pontifical Divine Liturgy (Mass) with the Rev. Vasyl Petriv, pastor, at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at St. Mary’s Church.
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On Saturday at 9 a.m., Rev. Petriv will celebrate a Requiem Divine Liturgy at St. Mary’s for the repose of souls of Col. Andriy Melnyk, on the 125th anniversary of his birth, and his wife Sofia (nee Fedak). Melnyk was a hero of the Ukrainian War of Liberation, one of the military leaders during and immediately following World War I, a leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) after the murder by KGB agent of his comrade-in-arms and brother-in-law Col. Yevhen Konovaletz, and a prisoner of Polish prison and Sachsenhousen Nazi German concentration camp.
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St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center, known as the “Oseredok,” will celebrate its 40th anniversary and St. Andrew the Apostle’s Feast Day with a festive dinner and special program at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets, at $25 per person, must be purchased in advance at the center, 4100 S. Biscayne Drive.
A jubilee commemorative book will be published that will include the history of the Ukrainian American Southwest Florida community and the Oseredok in both English and Ukrainian languages.
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Last Friday’s monthly membership meeting of Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans was chaired by UAV National Commander Ihor W. Hron of Osprey, who relayed some interesting information of the dedication of National Holodomor Memorial in Washington, D.C., last month. Hron, in addition to representing UAV at the festivities, also commanded the UAV Color Guard.
After approving reports of Post Adjutant John Czerkas and Finance Officer Oleh Sawkiw, and discussing several proposed initiatives, Hron formally inducted two new members, Zenon Derzhko of Englewood and George Sawczak of Sarasota.
The next membership meeting will be at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at the Oseredok.
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The traditional Christmas party of the Southwest Florida Ukrainian American Club, held Saturday at the Oseredok was a resounding success.
The party committee was chaired by Anna (Nusia) Mariani of Port Charlotte, who led a dedicated and hardworking team of volunteers. In addition to a tasty buffet dinner, followed by a dessert of delicious pastries, the highlight of the evening was the North Port High School girls’ choir, directed by Chris Brown, which sang several beautiful songs and carols including the world-renowned Ukrainian “Shchedryk,” known as “Carol of the Bells,” and “Silent Night” in German and English.
The choir received several standing ovations.
Also contributing to the success of the party were the Slavic Pentecostal Church singers “Blahovist,” led by guitarist Volodymyr (Vova) Zayats, and the club’s male singing group.
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
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