Videos from 30th Anniversary of Chornobyl

Videos from the Commemorative Concert and Prayer Service held at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia, PA on the 30th Anniversary of the Chornobyl Disaster are posted on our YouTube Channel.

Doves of Peace for Ukraine

On Sunday, April 17, 2016 at 3pm a Commemorative Concert and Prayer Service was held at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia, PA for the 30th Anniversary of the Chornobyl Disaster.

After the Commemorative Concert and Prayer Service, the faithful gathered outside by the Cathedral Bell Tower where "The Grace" Choir of the Ukrainian Baptist Church led everyone in singing "Боже Великий Єдиний" and the Ukrainian National Anthem as approximately a dozen doves were released for Peace in Ukraine. After the doves were released, a group photo was taken by the bell tower with performers from the concert, members of the Ukrainian Youth Organizations Plast and SUM, Ukrainian Children's Choir "Soloveiky", Ulana Mazurkevich of the Ukrainian Community Committee of Philadelphia, Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka, Metropolitan of Ukrainian Catholics in the USA, and His Excellency Valeriy Chaly, Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA.




Doves Video: https://youtu.be/jIik3RUBTJw


Photos:

Photos: Teresa Siwak

Pray for Ukraine, April 17 - Philadelphia

Ukrainian Community to Commemorate 30th Anniversary of Chornobyl Nuclear Accident in Ukraine; Sunday, April 17 Program of Prayer, Song, Reflection and Hope Will Also Pray for Peace in Ukraine

Philadelphia, Pa.-- On Sunday, Sunday April 17, 2016 at 3:00 pm in the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 830 North Franklin Street, Ukrainian-Americans from the greater Delaware Valley will offer their prayers for Peace in Ukraine and remember the victims of the worst nuclear accident in world history, the nuclear reactor meltdown at Chornobyl, Ukraine.

The Commemorative Concert and Prayer Service will include prayers, songs, reflections and hope for peace.

Prayers will be offered by Archbishop Stefan Soroka, of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States, Archbishop Antony, Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the United States, and Pastor Sergey Savchuk, from the Ukrainian Baptist Church.

Musical selections as part of the Chornobyl Commemorative Concert will be provided by the Ukrainian Baptist Choir of the Grace Ukrainian Baptist Church, students from the Ukrainian Heritage School on reflections of Chornobyl and the war in eastern Ukraine, solo performance on the 34 string instrument the "Bandura", and the Ukrainian Heritage School Children's choir.

The event will conclude on the grounds of the cathedral by the Bell Tower, where to the pealing of church bells, prayers will be offered for an end to the ongoing war in eastern Ukraine and a flock of white doves, symbols of peace will be released.

On April 26, 1986, a catastrophic accident occurred at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Ukrainian city of Pripyat.   An explosion and fire released large quantities of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, which spread over much of the western USSR and Europe. 

The Chornobyl disaster was the worst nuclear power plant accident in history in terms of cost and casualties. The battle to contain the contamination and avert a greater catastrophe ultimately involved over 500,000 workers and cost an estimated 18 billion rubles.

During the accident itself, 31 people died, and long-term effects such as cancers are still being investigated.  The city of Pripyat, which had a population of 49,360 at the time of the accident and was left a virtual ghost town when it was evacuated on the afternoon of April 27, 1986, the day after the Chornobyl disaster.  Since that time, international studies have shown that millions of people have been afflicted with the medical effects of radiation exposure, including cancers, birth defects and premature death.

Today, the people of Ukraine, besides suffering from the effects of Chornobyl, also are the victims of an ongoing war in eastern Ukraine, fueled by the Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory.  Over 10,000 people have lost their lives, including 2500 civilians, as well as thousands who were wounded in battle.  Hundreds of thousands of civilians have relocated to other areas of Ukraine because of the hostilities in the eastern part of their country.

This event is being coordinated by the Ukrainian Community Committee of Philadelphia which is comprised by over 24 local organizations.

The Way is posted April 3, 2016 issue

The April 3, 2016 issue of "The Way" is posted on our website at the following links....
Posted by Archeparchy of Philadelphia on Friday, April 1, 2016