Federal Judge Futey to speak tonight

     The Honorable Bohdan A. Futey, serving on senior status for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, will be the guest speaker tonight at the monthly membership meeting of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky of North Port. His topic will be “Ukraine’s quest for democracy and rule of law after the Revolution of Dignity.” Everyone is welcome.

    Judge Futey’s activities have been multifaceted. In addition to his duties at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims since his appointment in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan, he has spoken at various conferences and meetings in the U.S., Canada and Ukraine. He has written numerous articles for American, American Ukrainian and Ukrainian news media. His last mission to Ukraine was heading the World Mission of Ukrainian World Congress on observation of presidential elections and elections to the “Verkhovna Rada,” Ukraine’s parliament.

    The meeting of the Ukrainian American Club will be held at 6 tonight at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center (known as the “Oseredok”), 4100 S. Biscayne Drive, North Port. Judge Futey’s presentation will be preceded by a brief business meeting. Club members are being asked to wear the embroidered attire for a group photograph at the meeting.
                                                     • • •
    The North Port Branch 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, known as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian ladies), held its annual membership meeting, chaired by professor Vira Bodnaruk of Venice on Jan. 20 at the Oseredok. The meeting agenda included the annual reports of officers, committee chairs, and finally of branch president, Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood.

    After all reports were read, discussed and approved, the nominating committee, consisting of Orysia Zinycz, Zina Ferenc and Tusia Van Meggelen, presented a list of candidates to be elected for 2015-2016.

    Ann-Marie Susla was unanimously re-elected for the third term as branch president. My wife Katrusia, who is a Branch 56 member, and I congratulate Ann-Marie and wish her continued success. Also re-elected were recording secretary Roma Guran, corresponding secretary Larissa Shpon, treasurer Orysia Zinycz and financial secretary Ulana Stadnyk. Elected were vice presidents Olya Hron and Lesia Popel, and press secretary Yara Litosh. Lidia Bilous, chair of the UNWLA social services committee, was elected member-at-large.

    Other individuals elected: Anna Mariani and Zina Ferenc, cochairs of the membership committee; Oksana Lew, chair of the cultural affairs committee; Neonillia Lechman and Vira Bodnaruk, co-chairs of the public relations committee; Kateryna Steciuk and Tania Silecky, co-chairs of the art and museum committee, Lieda Boyko, chair of the scholarship committee; Roxolana Yarymovych, chair of the archives committee; and Katia Posnachiwska, chair of the hospitality committee. The social welfare committee will consist of Halya Lisnyczyj, Anna Mariani, Helen Indianu and Odarka Horbachevsky; and the auditing committee, Areta Baranowskyj, Bohdanna Fryder, Iryna Kuzyk, Chrystia Lazor Stecyk and Luba Yarmak.
                                                       • • •
    The monthly membership meeting, first in 2015, of Cpl. Roman G. Lazor Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans will be held at 3 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Oseredok.

    Finance Officer Oleh Sawkiw wishes to remind post members that dues for 2015 of $30 are due. Checks can be made payable to “UAV Post 40,” and any additional donations will be appreciated.

    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

 

Unification of Ukraine lands commemorated

     The Southwest Florida Ukrainian American community commemorated the 96th anniversary of the unification of all Ukrainian lands in one Ukrainian National Republic with an assembly and concert last Saturday at North Port’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish Center. The event was sponsored by the Coordinating Committee of the Ukrainian American Organizations of North Port and vicinity (“Hromadskyi Komitet”), headed by Roma Guran of Venice. It was organized and presented by a Unifi- cation Commemoration Committee headed by Lidia Bilous of Osprey.

    The observance began by posting the American flag and the blue and yellow national flag of Ukraine by the Color Guard of Ukrainian American Veterans Post 40 and Ukrainian Armed Forces officers who are members of the liaison team with U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, and the singing of the two national anthems. Dr. George Baranowskyj, Post 40 judge advocate, and Eugene Tomashosky, past post commander, were the flag bearers. Members of the Honor Guard were Post Commander Col. Roman Rondiak, Marian Bojsiuk, Jerry Zinycz, Julian Helbig, Clifford Heiser and the Ukrainian Army officers, Col. Kalenichenko and Col. Nazola.

    Roma Guran, president of Hromadskyi Komitet, opened the assembly, greeted the attendees and introduced mistress of ceremonies Lidia Bilous, who in turn introduced professor Vira Bodnaruk to deliver the keynote address. Yulia Lopanchuk and Iryna Strilka recited poems appropriate for the occasion, and Col. Kalenichenko delivered a brief message and greetings from Ukrainian Army personnel and members of volunteer formations fighting Ukrainian terrorists and soldiers of the Russian Federation in the eastern frontier of Ukraine.

    The highlight of the evening was the internationally renowned Ukrainian soprano-soloist Oksana Krovytska, New York City Opera star, who sang over a dozen patriotic, historic and folk songs, including two arias from the Ukrainian operas “Natalka Poltavka” and “Zaporozhets za Dunayem.” She was accompanied by pianist Chrystyna Karpevych, who also sang two songs while accompanying Krovytska on the piano. The standing ovation prompted the two performers to add yet another song to stop the ovation. It was definitely one of the best commemorations of the unification of Ukraine lands, in our area.

    Proceeds from the assembly and concert were designated to benefit victims of the war in Ukraine. They were augmented by several individual donations, including the honorariums of both guest performers, Krovytska and Karpevych. At the end of the concert, Col. Nazola thanked the organizing committee and all individual benefactors, including the guest performers, for their generous contributions for the benefit of war victims in Ukraine. He also assured all present, on behalf of the members of Ukraine’s Armed Forces and volunteer formations, including the defenders of the Donetsk airport, that they will stand and fight the aggressors until the complete victory. The United Choir, under the masterful direction of Lubow Dobrowolska-Ingram, concluded the very successful affair, attended by over 100, by singing the hymn-prayer “Bozhe Velykyi-Yedynyi” (God, Great and the Only One).
                                                                • • •
    The monthly membership meeting of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida will be held Jan. 28 at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center, known as the “Oseredok.” The guest speaker will be the Honorable Bohdan A. Futey, serving on senior status for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. His topic will be “Ukraine’s quest for democracy and rule of law after the Revolution of Dignity.”

    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

Ukrainian women honor their own

     Members of North Port Branch 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League, known as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian ladies), headed by Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, and their guests had a wonderful time at the traditional annual Christmas “Zustrich” (get-together) on Friday at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center, known as the “Oseredok.” The Christmas Zustrich committee, chaired by Christyna Bodnar-Sheldon of Englewood, who also superbly performed duties as mistress of ceremonies, worked very hard in arranging for an enjoyable program and serving a delicious three-course buffet dinner. All hors d’oeuvres, dishes and desserts, including baked goods, were prepared in UNWLA members’ homes.

    An outstanding part of the program was, naturally, caroling by a group of ladies, organized by past president of Branch 56, Oksana Lew of Venice.

    Lieda Boyko of Port Charlotte was the starcarrier, an integral part of the traditional Ukrainian carolers.

    The Honorable Ihor Sybiga, general consul of Ukraine in New York, with his lovely wife Natalie, daughter Dorothea, and Natalie’s parents of Kyiv, Ukraine, were special guests. Other guests were the Rev. Dr. Severyn Kovalyshin, the Rt. Rev. Mitred Archpriest Wolodymyr Woloszczuk, the Rt. Rev. John Fatenko and Anastasia Fatenko.

    After members and guests had finished enjoying the main course, before serving desserts, President Susla announced and handed out to the branch and several branch members awards that were announced at the XXXth UNWLA National Convention in Tarrytown, N.Y., last May. There were two awards to the branch — one for sponsorship and support of the UNWLA Scholarship Action and organizing new branch members, and a second for a ponderable contribution in supporting the movement to democracy and civil society in Ukraine.

    Individual awards were presented to the following Branch 56 members: Honorary UNWLA memberships to Orysia Swystun of North Port and Lidia Bilous of Osprey; for 50 years of dedicated service to the UNWLA to Iwanna Holowaty and Maria Wolynec, both of Venice; for many years of dedicated service as members of the UNWLA National Executive Board to Anna Macelinski and Roxolana Yarymovych of Osprey; and for leadership activity in the area of culture in the local community to Oksana Lew.
                                                                 • • •
    The Coordinating Committee of Ukrainian American Organizations of North Port and Vicinity (“Hromadskyi Komitet”), headed by Roma Guran of Venice, is inviting all to attend the commemoration of the 96th anniversary of the unification of all Ukrainian lands in one Ukrainian National Republic, at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Ukrainian Catholic Parish Center, 1078 N. Biscayne Drive (corner of West Price Boulevard), North Port.

    The commemorative program will be highlighted by internationally known Ukrainian soprano-soloist Oksana Krovytska, a New York City Opera star who was honored with its coveted “Diva Award.”

    Proceeds will benefit the war victims.
                                                                • • •
    The annual membership meeting of UNWLA Branch 56 will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Oseredok. All members are encouraged to attend. Membership dues may be paid at the 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

 

Ukrainians celebrate birth of Jesus today

    Ukrainian Christians in Ukraine and many Ukrainian Americans and Ukrainian Canadians celebrate today, Jan. 7, the Feast of Jesus Christ’s birth, including North Port’s St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Church and the Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God (St. Mary’s) Ukrainian Catholic Church. This day is the 25th of December according to the “old” Julian calendar used by some churches of the Byzantine tradition, including the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church and Ukrainian Orthodox churches.

    The celebration actually commenced yesterday, on the eve of the feast, starting with a strict fast (no meat or dairy products), special church services and a festive 12-course dinner known as “Svyata Vecherya” (holy supper). All courses of the meal are also meatless and, traditionally, without dairy products, although the traditional ban on dairy products is more often than not ignored, especially in North America. Some of the Ukrainian dinner recipes include “borsch with vushka” (meatless beet soup with mushroom dumplings), “varenyky,” also known as “pyrohy” (pierogies stuffed with potato), “uzwar” (dried fruit compote), “holubtsi” (stuffed cabbage without meat), fish and special baked goods. The main dish that is almost identical in all regions of Ukraine and abroad is “kutia” (boiled wheat, poppy seeds and honey, often with crushed nuts and raisins). This is the first dish of the “Holy Supper.”

    The Christmas (in Ukrainian “Rizdvo”) Eve supper, in addition to the traditional dishes, is also replete with many ancient traditional ceremonies, many predating Christianity. Many of these practices are still in effect in some Ukrainian villages. It is primarily a family affair, although in many localities, including here in North Port, churches sponsor community suppers to accommodate a large number of single or older and infirm members of the community. Caroling is an integral part of the festivities.

    The two aforementioned North Port churches had these community suppers last night after special Christmas Eve church services.

    Today’s continuous celebration will consist of special Christmas divine liturgies, which will be celebrated at 9 a.m. by the Rt. Rev. Ivan Fatenko for the Ukrainian Orthodox faithful at St. Andrew’s Church, and at 11 a.m. by the Rev. Dr. Severyn Kovalyshin, pastor, and the Rt. Rev. Mitred Archpriest Wolodymyr Woloszczuk, pastor-emeritus, at St. Mary’s Church. The rest of the day is devoted to visiting relatives and friends, and caroling.
                                                             • • •
    North Port Branch 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, known as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian ladies), headed by Ann-Marie Susla of Englewood, will hold its traditional annual holiday (Christmas and New Year’s) “Zustrich” (get-together) at 4 p.m. Friday at St. Andrew’s. Members can invite a guest, spouse or signifi- cant other.

    The Zustrich, to celebrate the holiday season while enjoying delicious hors d’oeuvres and baked goods brought in by members, as well as a glass of wine, storytelling and caroling, will also include a presentation by Ann-Marie Susla of several awards approved by the last UNWLA XXX National Convention to members.

    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

 

Farewell to the old year, welcome to the new

      People will bid farewell to the old year 2014 and welcome the new year 2015 differently, based on their own perception of this annual event. Some will celebrate in public places or at home with family and friends; others will limit their “celebration” to viewing the dropping of the ball in Times Square in New York City on TV or possibly in person, while still others will ignore the event and go to bed at their usual time.

    My wife Katrusia and I wish everybody, our children and other relatives, neighbors and friends throughout the world a happy, healthy and prosperous new year, regardless of how they choose to observe it.

    The observance of the new year in Ukraine underwent a fundamental change during and as a result of the over seven decades-long occupation of the atheist Russian Communist regime. The goal of the regime was to eradicate religion and religious customs, including the observance of Christmas and all traditions associated with it. In addition to persecuting individuals who observed any religious holidays, the national and local government and Communist party media were actively promoting alternate observances, in this case, promoting the observance of the new year with a Christmas tree (which was not called a “Christmas” tree), the Soviet equivalent of Santa Claus (called “Grandfather Frost”), the exchange of gifts and elaborate parties. The new custom became quite popular and this is how the new year is observed in Ukraine nowadays.

    While many, especially the Communist party and “Komsomol” (Communist Youth League) members gave up their practice of observing Christmas, neither the religion nor the traditional observances of Christmas and other holidays had disappeared. Families continued to prepare the traditional Christmas Eve suppers (“Svyata Vecherya”), children and young people continued to gather and sing carols in public places and from house to house, and religious services were held either in the remaining churches or in private homes during the time when the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was outlawed. Many individuals, including schoolchildren, had to pay the price for their religious beliefs. Demotions and firings of employees were quite common, and arrests and sentencings also took place.

    Since the restoration of Ukraine’s independence on Aug. 24, 1991, religion has taken its place in both government and private lives, and Christmas religious services and ancient Ukrainian customs and practices associated with Christmas are becoming more and more popular, but the once-considered strange, elaborate observance of the new year also continues.

    While Jan. 1 is the beginning of the new year, both officially and in practice, Ukrainians have another special “old” new year, observed Jan. 14. That day is actually the “Jan. 1,” according to the “old,” or Julian, calendar. Some customs long associated with this “old” new year are still observed here and there; the most common is the “Malanka dance,” a party on Jan. 13, the day of St. Melanie (Malanka in Ukrainian). In North America, the Malanka dance is usually held anytime during the second half of January.

    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

Merry Christmas, happy holidays to all

   My wife Katrusia and I wish all our relatives, friends and neighbors who will be celebrating the birthday of our Lord Jesus, joy and peace this Christmas and beyond. And let us remember the most ancient and probably the most important Christmas tradition of forgiving and helping each other to feel the joy of life.

    Ukrainian Christians in Ukraine as well as many Ukrainian American and Ukrainian Canadian Christians will observe the Feast of Christ’s Birth, known in Ukrainian as “Rizdvo Khrystove,” on Jan. 7, in accordance with the Julian calendar still used for religious and church purposes. This later observance of Christ’s birthday has an advantage of being out of the commercialization craze, therefore, it is more religious and pious. Ukrainians traditionally give gifts (primarily to children but not exclusively) on St. Nicholas Day, which is on Dec. 19 according to the Julian (old) calendar, and Dec. 6 according to the Gregorian (new) calendar. The gifts are distributed by “St. Nicholas,” an individual attired in bishop’s robes, and not by Santa Claus.

    During my childhood and ’tween years in Ukraine, the gifts from St. Nicholas appeared under my pillow the morning of the Feast of St. Nicholas. These gifts were quite simple, usually nothing more than a small purchased pastry in human shape with a tiny head of St. Nicholas pasted on it. This was pretty standard practice and not because my parents could not afford to buy something more expensive.

    Teams of members of the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida, headed by Daria Tomashosky, will begin visiting homes of Ukrainian Americans in North Port and the vicinity to sing carols and to deliver special traditional holiday (Christmas and New Year) greetings. They will accept donations for a charitable cause, which the teams will explain during the visit.


                                              • • •

    It pleases the senses of most Ukrainians and Ukrainian Americans to hear frequently the world-renowned “Carol of the Bells,” in Ukrainian, known as “Shchedryk,” by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych (Dec. 13, 1877-Jan. 23, 1921).

    Mykola received his first musical lessons from his father, the Rev. Dmytro Leontovych, who was skilled at playing several instruments and was also directing a school choir. After attending schools, including the theological seminary in Kamianets-Podilsky, where he sang in the choir, began to study Ukrainian music and embarked on his first attempts at choral arranging, he began teaching music in various Ukrainian cities. He organized choirs and created numerous choral arrangements, including “Shchedryk,” which brought him great success from the public following his choir’s performance in Kyiv in 1916.

    During the night of Jan. 22-23, 1921, Mykola Leontovych was murdered by Chekist (Soviet Russian state security) agent Victor Gerashchenko at the home of his parents.

    Mykola left behind over 150 choral arrangements, including artistic arrangements of folk songs, religious works, cantatas and choral compositions set to the texts of various Ukrainian poets. His “Shchedryk” is played worldwide without ever mentioning his name.

    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

 

Sofiya Fedyna entertains at Oseredok

   Officers and members of St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Religious and Cultural Center, known as “the Oseredok,” were busier last week than other times — including last Wednesday’s concert and presentation of Sofiya Fedyna, Ph.D., a singer, composer, lyricist, pianist, political activist and professor at the Ukrainian Ivan Franko National University in L’viv, Ukraine, sponsored by the Oseredok, who had no difficulty enlightening and entertaining the full-house audience for more than 90 minutes. She spoke about her personal and other Ukrainian patriots’ experiences in “Euromaidan” (November 2013-March 2014), where more than 100 patriots were killed by former president of Ukraine Yanukovych’s goons, and about the current situation of the undeclared war with Russian special forces and their Ukrainian fringe elements on the eastern border of Ukraine. She also interrupted her presentation several times by singing Ukrainian songs, some modern and some old-time patriotic songs which I and my friends used to sing during our teens in Ukraine. Those in attendance often joined her in singing.

    North Port Post 40 of the Ukrainian American Veterans and the Oseredok presented Dr. Fedyna with $1,000 each for her humanitarian projects in Ukraine.

    Following the “formal” presentation and concert, Sofiya mingled with the public during a social hour with coffee, sandwiches, and pastries provided by the Oseredok.

    Last Sunday, the Oseredok held a traditional and very successful dinner celebrating “St. Andrew’s Day,” honoring the patron saint of the Oseredok, the first-called apostle St. Andrew who visited the land now known as Ukraine during the first century A.D. A delicious dinner prepared by members and a special program were enjoyed by all.
                                                       • • •
    His Excellency Bohdan J. Danylo, who was ordained and installed last month Eparch (Ordinary) of St. Josapht Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy in Parma, which also encompasses the Ukrainian Catholic parishes in Florida, visited our parish last weekend. He presided over a meeting of pastors of all five Ukrainian Catholic parishes in Florida last Saturday, and celebrated the pontifical divine liturgy at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church last Sunday. He was assisted by the Rev. Dr. Severyn Kovalyshin, pastor, and the Rt. Rev. Mitrate Archpriest Wolodymyr Woloszczuk, pastor-emeritus.

    Bishop Bohdan was welcomed in the church, in accordance with the Ukrainian tradition with bread and salt, presented to him by Larissa Shpon and John Susla, while the choir under the direction of Lubow Dobrowolska-Ingram sang three times, “Bud Imya Hospodnye Blahoslovenne” (May God’s Name be blessed). He was accompanied by an honor guard of parishioners and parish children carrying a cross, icons and candles.

    In his homily after the reading of Holy Gospel, spoken in Ukrainian and in English, Bishop Bohdan reminded parishioners and guests of God’s continuous love and continuous protection of the Most Holy Mother of God, and wished all to be able to be as true with God as Holy Mary was all her life. At the end of the liturgy. Bishop Bohdan greeted all parishioners and guests individually as they exited the church, and distributed commemorative icons.
                                                       • • •
    The members of North Port Branch 56 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America known as “Soyuz Ukrayinok” (union of Ukrainian ladies), headed by Ann-Marie Susla, had a unique opportunity to meet with UNWLA National President Marianna Zajac this week during an informal “meet and greet” coffee and pastries reception at the Ukrainian Catholic Parish Center.

    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

FEDYNA