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.
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