Commemorating the First Anniversary of the Repose of the Heavenly Hundred during the tragic events of February 18-20, 2014 in Kyiv, Ukraine

Statement of the Council of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA Commemorating the First Anniversary of the Repose of the Heavenly Hundred during the tragic events of February 18-20, 2014 in Kyiv, Ukraine Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ: GLORY TO OUR LORD! As we approach the first anniversary of the still incomprehensible murder of over 100 Ukrainian citizens on the Maidan in Kyiv – simply because they stood for the freedom of choice in their nation without control or manipulation from other nations – we your hierarchs and a delegation from our Council of the Metropolia are traveling to Ukraine.  In Kyiv and hopefully on the Maidan, we will participate with the Hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, all of us representing the Permanent Conference of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops beyond the Borders of Ukraine, in a Memorial Service for those lost not only on the Maidan, but also for the more than 5,300 other people lost in the battle against terrorism and foreign invasion over the past year. As we stated during the 40th day memorial service for the “Nebesna Sotnya” (The Heavenly Hundred) in the Ukrainian Cultural Center in March 2014, by all human calculations, Ukraine should not even exist today having suffered cataclysm after cataclysm after cataclysm throughout her history during which so many millions of people perished and millions more who were never born because those who perished were unable to give them life. How can a nation continue to exist and endure if its population cannot grow through the birth of successive generations?  It is by the Grace of God that Ukraine exists.  Once again, we encourage you all to pray fervently for Ukraine, especially to the Mother of God who has always extended her veil of protection over her people. We awaken each morning over the past years asking ourselves: how can this be happening to Ukraine again?  How is it that a nation already independent for twenty-four years cannot be accepted as such by her neighbors?  How can those neighbors still claim to have “rights” to any part of Ukraine that have no moral, legal or logical foundation? What is important to remember at this first anniversary of the Maidan murders as we commemorate these fallen heroes is that they were not simply following the example of earlier martyrs for truth in Ukrainian history. They were standing firm for truth and human dignity in response to the circumstances of today – standing against those who would sell Ukraine’s independence once again to foreign invaders. None of them expected or wanted to die. None of them expected that their very deaths would be the catalyst for abrupt change in the life of their nation – with a corrupt “president” fleeing from the knowledge that his corruption was about to be revealed, abandoning any possible claim to his presidency or legitimacy before the world community.  But, their very deaths were the last straw that changed the life of the nation instantly. Their deaths forced a corrupt government to realize that its days were over and that it could no longer squander the wealth of the nation – of the people.  Their deaths resulted in a new government leadership placing very surprised members of the Verkovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) in authority and finally in the election of a new President and Rada, which leads the nation today.  Their deaths provoked a self-examination of the membership of the former ruling party, finally bringing on the realization that they were on the wrong side of “truth”. What the world needs to comprehend is that, which the people of Ukraine have known for generations:  “Heroes do not die!”  (“Heroyi ne vmirayut!”)  They live on in the collective memory of the nation and give rise to future heroes who will continue to stand firm in “truth”.  We ask all of you, our faithful spiritual children, to remember that such heroism is never wasted or useless.  It reaches not only the minds of the nation’s population but the minds of the world – in particular the czars, the commandants, “unidentified” invaders and even the presidents who refuse to accept the new world reality and want to recreate empires.   They speak to proclaim: “we will not die!” No longer will you be free to murder millions of us through starvation, by freezing us during long cold winters or dropping your abundance of destructive bombs.  Beneath all the attempts to wipe the Ukrainian nation out of existence and off the world map, the Ukrainian self-identity has survived and always resulted in the rebirth of a stronger nation.  “Heroes do not die!” We direct that on 22 February, 2015 all our parish clergy shall serve Memorial Services commemorating the “Nebesnya Sotnya” and the 5,300 + other victims who have perished over the past year.  May their memory live eternally in God’s Heavenly Kingdom and may the spirit of their sacrifice be imbedded within each of us to inspire our own will to stand firm in the “truth”.  Further, we ask that a special collection be made this day for the Ukrainian Aid Fund established by our Church almost a year ago.  Thus far, we have distributed nearly $200,000 of that aid – Bishop Daniel handing it directly to individual recipients and not organizations. We will distribute more of this aid during the present visit to Ukraine. May the Grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Love of God the Father and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Please keep our delegation in your prayers as we travel through the end of February. In our Lord’s All-encompassing Love, + Antony, Metropolitan + Daniel, Bishop Звернення Собору Єпископів Української Православної Церкви США з приводу першої річниці масового вбивства в Києві 18-20-го лютого, 2014 р. Дорогі брати і сестри у Христі, СЛАВА ІСУСУ ХРИСТУ! Наближаючись до першої річниці жахливої трагедії розстрілу 100 українських громадян на Київському майдані, котрі просто відстоювали вільний вибір своєї країни без втручання інших націй, ми, ваші архиєреї разом із делегацією Ради Митрополії подорожуємо в Україну. У Києві, а можливо і на Майдані, ми разом із ієрархами Української Православної Церкви Канади, представляючи Постійну Конференцію Українських Православних Єпископів за межами України служитемемо заупокійну панахиду за постраждалими не тільки на Майдані, але більше 5300 інших людей котрі поклали своє життя у боротьбі проти тероризму та чужоземного захоплення за останній рік. Як ми вже зазначили на сорока-дневній панахиді за «Небесною Сотнею» в Українському Культурному Центрі у березні 2014 року, за усіма людськими підрахунками, Україна не повинна була б уже існувати сьогодні після усіх катаклізмів, що вона пережила впродовж своєї історії коли мільйони людей загинули і мільйони ніколи так і не народилися, тому що ті, хто загинули не змогли дати їм життя. Як може нація продовжувати існувати та терпіти коли в її суспільстві не було навіть одного покоління, яке б народилося і прожило без війни або переслідувань. Тільки з Божої Ласки Україна і досі існує. Знову ж закликаємо усіх вас щиро молитися за Україну, особливо до Матері Божої, яка під своїм омофором завжди охороняла Український народ. За останній рік, коли просинались кожного ранку та запитували себе: як таке може повторюватися з Україною знову? Як це так, нація будучи незалежною протягом 20-ти років і досі не може бути визнаною її сусідами? Як ці сусіди і досі можуть стверджувати що вони мають “права” на будь-яку частину України яка не має легальних основ? Що потрібно пам’ятати у першу річницю вбивства на Майдані згадуючи загиблих героїв, це те, що вони не просто слідували прикладу попередніх мучеників за правду яких ми знаємо з історії України. Вони відстоювали тверду правду та людську гідність у відповідь на сьогоденні обставини – виступаючи проти тих, хто готовий вкотре продати незалежність України чужоземним загарбникам. Ніхто з них не чекав чи хотів загинути. Ніхто з них не сподівався що їхня смерть стане причиною різких змін у житті їхньої нації – з корупційним “президентом”, який втікаючи, як він вбачав від загрози його життю, покинув будь-яке відношення щодо його президенства чи легітимності перед світовою громадою. Смерть “Небесної Сотні” стала останньою краплею терпіння, яка різко змінила життя нації. Їхня смерть заставила корупційну владу усвідомити що прийшов кінець їхньому пануванню та марнотратству майна нації – людей. Їхня смерть повністю змінила лідерів уряду, призначивши до влади нових членів Верховної Ради. Їхня смерть заставила усвідомити колишніх членів керуючої партії те, що вони були на поганій стороні “правди”. Світ повинен зрозуміти те, що народ України на протязі поколінь пам’ятає що: “Герої не вмирають!” Вони продовжують жити в пам’яті нації та бути прикладом для майбутніх героїв які продовжать відстоювати правду. Ми просимо всіх наших вірних духовних дітей, пам’ятати, що цей героїзм ніколи не є лишнім чи зайвим. Він досягає до свідомості не тільки нашої нації, а й до цілого світу – в тому числі до царів, командирів, “незнаних” загарбників та навіть президентів, які відмовляються визнати нову реальність та продовжують відтворити імперії. Вони виголошують: «ми не загинемо!» Ви вже не зможете вбивати мільйони наших голодом, чи обмороженням під час холодної довгої зими чи чисельністю руйнівних бомб. Попри всі спроби стерти Українську націю чи місце на світовій карті, Українська само-ідентичність виживала і завжди буде сприяти народженню нової сильнішої нації. «Герої не вмирають!» Ми закликаємо всіх парафіяльних священиків відслужили Панахиду за «Небесною сотнею» та більше 5300 жертв котрі загинули за останній рік. Нехай їхня пам’ять буде вічною у Небесному Царстві і щоб дух їхніх пожертв був у кожному з нас, надихаючи нашу власну волю стояти міцно у «правді». Більше цього, ми просимо про особливу збірку у цей день на Український Фонд Допомоги заснований рік тому назад. До цього часу ми вже роздали майже 200 тис. дол. власноручно через єпископа Даниїла постраждалим особам. Ми будемо роздавати додаткову допомогу і під час нашого візиту. Нехай Милість Господа і Спаса нашого Ісуса Христа, Любов Бога Отця і Причастя Святого Духа буде зі всіма вами. Просимо молитися за нашу делегацію до кінця місяця лютого. З любов’ю у Христі, + АНТОНІЙ, митрополит + ДАНИЇЛ, єпископ Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ: GLORY TO OUR LORD! As we approach the first anniversary of the still incomprehensible murder of over 100 Ukrainian citizens on the Maidan in Kyiv – simply because they stood for the freedom of choice in their nation without control or manipulation from other nations – we your hierarchs and a delegation from our Council of the Metropolia are traveling to Ukraine.  In Kyiv and hopefully on the Maidan, we will participate with the Hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, all of us representing the Permanent Conference of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops beyond the Borders of Ukraine, in a Memorial Service for those lost not only on the Maidan, but also for the more than 5,300 other people lost in the battle against terrorism and foreign invasion over the past year. As we stated during the 40th day memorial service for the “Nebesna Sotnya” (The Heavenly Hundred) in the Ukrainian Cultural Center in March 2014, by all human calculations, Ukraine should not even exist today having suffered cataclysm after cataclysm after cataclysm throughout her history during which so many millions of people perished and millions more who were never born because those who perished were unable to give them life. How can a nation continue to exist and endure if its population cannot grow through the birth of successive generations?  It is by the Grace of God that Ukraine exists.  Once again, we encourage you all to pray fervently for Ukraine, especially to the Mother of God who has always extended her veil of protection over her people. We awaken each morning over the past years asking ourselves: how can this be happening to Ukraine again?  How is it that a nation already independent for twenty-four years cannot be accepted as such by her neighbors?  How can those neighbors still claim to have “rights” to any part of Ukraine that have no moral, legal or logical foundation? What is important to remember at this first anniversary of the Maidan murders as we commemorate these fallen heroes is that they were not simply following the example of earlier martyrs for truth in Ukrainian history. They were standing firm for truth and human dignity in response to the circumstances of today – standing against those who would sell Ukraine’s independence once again to foreign invaders. None of them expected or wanted to die. None of them expected that their very deaths would be the catalyst for abrupt change in the life of their nation – with a corrupt “president” fleeing from the knowledge that his corruption was about to be revealed, abandoning any possible claim to his presidency or legitimacy before the world community.  But, their very deaths were the last straw that changed the life of the nation instantly. Their deaths forced a corrupt government to realize that its days were over and that it could no longer squander the wealth of the nation – of the people.  Their deaths resulted in a new government leadership placing very surprised members of the Verkovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) in authority and finally in the election of a new President and Rada, which leads the nation today.  Their deaths provoked a self-examination of the membership of the former ruling party, finally bringing on the realization that they were on the wrong side of “truth”. What the world needs to comprehend is that, which the people of Ukraine have known for generations:  “Heroes do not die!”  (“Heroyi ne vmirayut!”)  They live on in the collective memory of the nation and give rise to future heroes who will continue to stand firm in “truth”.  We ask all of you, our faithful spiritual children, to remember that such heroism is never wasted or useless.  It reaches not only the minds of the nation’s population but the minds of the world – in particular the czars, the commandants, “unidentified” invaders and even the presidents who refuse to accept the new world reality and want to recreate empires.   They speak to proclaim: “we will not die!” No longer will you be free to murder millions of us through starvation, by freezing us during long cold winters or dropping your abundance of destructive bombs.  Beneath all the attempts to wipe the Ukrainian nation out of existence and off the world map, the Ukrainian self-identity has survived and always resulted in the rebirth of a stronger nation.  “Heroes do not die!” We direct that on 22 February, 2015 all our parish clergy shall serve Memorial Services commemorating the “Nebesnya Sotnya” and the 5,300 + other victims who have perished over the past year.  May their memory live eternally in God’s Heavenly Kingdom and may the spirit of their sacrifice be imbedded within each of us to inspire our own will to stand firm in the “truth”.  Further, we ask that a special collection be made this day for the Ukrainian Aid Fund established by our Church almost a year ago.  Thus far, we have distributed nearly $200,000 of that aid – Bishop Daniel handing it directly to individual recipients and not organizations. We will distribute more of this aid during the present visit to Ukraine. May the Grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Love of God the Father and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Please keep our delegation in your prayers as we travel through the end of February. In our Lord’s All-encompassing Love, + Antony, Metropolitan + Daniel, Bishop

Hierarchs of the UOC of the USA Meet With the Ecumenical Patriarch

UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA CONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS Following the conclusion of the plenary sessions of the annual meeting of the Permanent Conference of the Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops Beyond the Borders of Ukraine, the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA traveled to the ancient city of Constantinople in order to hold an audience with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on March 16-18, 2015. Having arrived to Istanbul the bishops of the UOC of the USA, representing the brother hierarchs of the Permanent Conference met with the Members of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and in informal gathering reflected upon the current set of circumstances in the life of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in North America and especially in Ukraine. During the lengthy audience with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, His Eminence Metropolitan Antony along with Bishop Daniel shared with the Patriarch reflections on the most recent trip to Ukraine and meetings with the representatives of various jurisdictions of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine as well as with the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. The bishops expressed their concern over the continued ecclesiastical division in Ukraine, sharing with the Patriarch the observations of the hierarchs of various Orthodox jurisdictions in Ukraine about the logical and pastoral solution to the ongoing ecclesiastical disunity that exists in Ukraine. While yet another historic opportunity presents itself for political and economic renewal in Ukraine, the Church must claim and remain to be the moral conscience of the nation, - yet this noble and sacred concept is constantly under the attack by the circumstances of the ecclesiastical division. His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch, with parental love and concern received the reflections of the hierarchs of the Permanent Conference of the Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops Beyond the Borders of Ukraine and reassured the bishops of his constant prayer and attention that is dedicated to Ukrainian ecclesiastical division and the ways in which the anomaly may be resolved. Leaving the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the United States of America, the bishops of the UOC of the USA made a one day visit to Ukraine in order to meet with the representatives of various ecclesiastical communities of the Holy Orthodox Church of Ukraine