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(UOCUSA) This November, we, the Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and the Diaspora, solemnly gather to honor the memory of the millions of Ukrainian souls who perished during the Holodomor of 1932-1933, a brutal genocide-famine caused by the godless Soviet regime. This tragedy was not just a holodomor, but a purposeful act of oppression - a genocide aimed at erasing the spirit, culture and future of the Ukrainian nation.
Reflecting on this dark page of history, we cannot close our eyes to the horrors inflicted on Ukraine by modern Russia. Our people once again became the object of an extermination campaign aimed at destroying not only the Ukrainian land, but also the very essence of life in our beloved homeland. Cities, towns and villages that once resounded with the laughter of children, the energy of youth and the caring presence of the elderly are now torn apart by the ungodly forces of yet another oppression. Innocent lives become victims of violence; the sacred gifts of freedom, dignity and human worth are flouted in the most brutal way imaginable.
At our spiritual center located in South Bound Brook and Somerset, New Jersey, we have the Memorial to the Victims of the Holodomor - St. Andrew's Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Monument, the first of its kind internationally dedicated to the memory those who died during the Holodomor. This sacred place, created thanks to the sacrifice and dedication of Ukrainian Americans, is an eternal testimony to the truth of our history and a testimony to our faith and resilience as a people.
As Orthodox Christians, we have a responsibility to tell the world about the atrocities of the past and present. We must instill in our youth and all people - regardless of their origin, nationality or race - a clear understanding of the consequences of hatred, indifference and unchecked power. Only by remembering, we can guarantee that such horrors will never take root in a free and democratic society.
In November of this year, we call on all the faithful and all people of good will to fervently pray for the souls of people who lost their lives during the Holodomor and the current war in Ukraine. We call on our communities to speak, teach and act. Together we bear witness to the sanctity of life and the unbreakable power of faith, hope and love in the face of evil.
May the memory of the innocent victims never fade away. Let the power of our faith inspire a world in which such tragedies will cease to exist.
With prayers,
+ Antony, Metropolitan of the UOC of the USA and Diaspora
+ Jeremiah, Archbishop of the South American Diocese of the UOC
+Daniel, Archbishop of the UOC of the USA and Western Europe |
