Epistle of the Permanent Conference of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops Beyond the Borders of Ukraine оn the 80th anniversary of the 1932-33 Famine-Genocide in Ukraine
To the beloved clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Churches beyond the borders of Ukraine in North and South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand on the 80th anniversary of the genocidal famine in Ukraine 1932-33
Dearly beloved brothers and sisters,
GLORY TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST! GLORY FOREVER!
Once again we have come to the annual commemoration of the victims of one of the acts of genocide that is possibly the most terrible ever committed against mankind – the artificial and genocidal famine of 1932-33 in Ukraine. Purposefully created and perpetrated, it was masterminded by Josef Stalin himself and managed by those who devoted their lives to him and carried out every command regardless of the consequences, not only for the seven to ten million Ukrainian men, women and children who succumbed to the famine, but also for the countless thousands or even millions of Ukrainians and others who dared to challenge the “plan” of the day throughout the Stalin era. The famine was part of the master plan to destroy the mind (intelligentsia), the soul (the Church and her clergy) and the spirit (farmers and villagers, who embodied the national culture and ancient traditions) of the Ukrainian nation.
We call to mind those who were too long forgotten – many of them relatives, neighbours, co-workers and friends of many still living today. Despite the fact that the governments of the former Soviet Union and of other nations had deliberately attempted in the past, with some continuing today, to eradicate the memory of this horrific tragedy from historical annals, we again make the promise that we will NEVER forget. We will NOT allow their martyrdom to go without meaning. We WILL remind the world’s political leaders that they no longer have limitless and incontestable power to destroy life. We WILL remind mankind of the sanctity of life and the God-given rights of every individual human being. We call to mind the words of Edmund Burke: “Those who do not know (or ignore – George Santayana) history are destined to repeat it.”
Our deceased brothers and sisters did NOT perish in vain. Today, they are commemorated throughout Ukraine, regardless of the attempts of some powerful political figures to prevent it. Although suppressed, the memory of the victims and of the famine was preserved in the subconscious of the Ukrainian people. Contrary to the efforts of 74 years of godless rule, Ukraine maintained its self-identity which later led to the independence of the nation. It was a sovereignty achieved without bloodshed. The horror of the famine and other incredible living conditions during most of the 20th century became deeply etched within the consciousness of the nation. Self-identity, the essence of nationhood, serves as the cornerstone for nation-building in Ukraine today and in the future. It defines what will certainly be one of the most important, self-sufficient and freedom-loving nations of the world.
We pray to God this day: To the Helper of the helpless, the Hope of the hopeless, the Saviour of the storm-tossed, the Haven of the voyager, the Healer of the sick. We stand before Him in humility and beseech His eternal blessings upon us. May He grant eternal rest where the Light of His Countenance shines upon those we remember. May their souls rest in eternal happiness and their memory be eternal in God’s Heavenly Kingdom.
As your spiritual fathers, we call you all to personal prayer and actions that will serve to remember our brothers and sisters. We encourage you to fast for at least an entire day so that we may come to feel and have a better understanding of what they endured. In this way, we can appreciate the terror and anguish they experienced over the course of months, suffering more each day until taking their last breath.
During Philip’s Fast and the feast days prior to the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, set aside a sum of your riches daily and make a Nativity gift to the establishment of national memorials, or to your local food bank and homeless shelters to aid those in your own communities who know none of the riches that you enjoy on a daily basis. If our memory of those who perished in the famine does not result in a willingness to act some way in their name, this signals our apathy and indifference to the meaning of these events and their tragic results.
As always, we pray for you, we pray for our Ukrainian Nation, which still endures an extremely difficult path to true democracy and we ask for your prayers for us.
May the Grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Love of God the Father and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
With Archpastoral Blessings,
† YURIJ, Metropolitan
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada
† ANTONY, Metropolitan
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
Locum Tenens of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Diaspora
† IOAN, Archbishop
Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Diaspora
† JEREMIAH, Archbishop
Ukrainian Orthodox Eparchy of Brazil and South America
† ILARION, Bishop
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada
† ANDRIY, Bishop
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada
† DANIEL, Bishop
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA