Parma’s Ukrainian Community Celebrates Ukrainian Independence Day
Ukrainian Independence Day Celebration in Parma, OH

UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA

CONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

PRESS RELEASE

 

Parma’s Ukrainian Community Celebrates Ukrainian Independence Day

 

On Saturday, August 27, 2016 – a bright and sunny day - the Ukrainian community in Parma, Ohio celebrated the 25th Silver Anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence with a parade down State Road, through the heart of Ukrainian Village, as designated by the City of Parma.

Promptly at 11:00 a.m., the parade began, led by Parma Police officers and Ukrainian American veterans carrying the flags of the United States and Ukraine.  Representatives of various Ukrainian organizations, city officials, parishes, schools and businesses followed the processing with flags.  Several high school bands, representing the various schools in Parma, added to the pageantry for spectators along the ¾ mile parade route.

This year, St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral parish community was represented by various parish organizations, among them were the Ukrainian Orthodox League Chapter, students and teachers from the Taras Shevchenko School of Ukrainian Studies. His Grace Bishop Daniel, Ruling Hierarchs of the Western Eparchy of the UOC of the USA along with Very Rev. Fr. John Nakonachny, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Hontaruk and Protodeacon Ihor Mahlay led the procession of over 50 individuals representing the parish family. Noteworthy was a decorated float, carrying a statue of Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Prince Volodymyr the Great, which was surrounded by numerous church banners.

It was uplifting to hear the church bells ringing and to watch the parishioners who were unable to participate in the parade cheer and clap and they watched from in front of the Cathedral.

The parade ended at Ukrainian Heritage Park with the raising of the flags of the United States of America and Ukraine.  Both flags and 2 - 20 foot high flagpoles were a gift from the Pasciznyk Family, in loving memory of their mother, Mary, a dedicated member of St. Vladimir Cathedral.

His Grace Bishop Daniel of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and Most Rev. Bishop Robert Moskal, bishop-emeritus of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Eparchy of Parma, OH, opened the official program of the parade with a prayer for the peace, political, economic and ecclesiastical stability of Ukraine.

Among numerous State and Federal government leaders present at the parade and who offered their greetings to the Ukrainian-Americal community of Parma and Greater Cleveland, OH community were Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Parma City Mayor Timothy DeGeeter and others.

Bishop Bohdan Danylo of Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Parma, OH concluded the official program of the parade with a prayerful invitation extended to Zorya Ensemble to sing a religious song-prayer “Bozhe Velykyj Edynyj!”

It was at the request of the clergy and the Parish Board of Administration of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral that this particular section of State Road in Parma was designated “Ukrainian Village.”  Since that designation, the city has hung multi-colored banners with Ukrainian designs, local businesses have decorated entire sides of their buildings with scenes of historical buildings in Ukraine and, this year, the City of Parma hung dozens of American and Ukrainian flags from the utility poles.

This is the 7th year that the Ukrainian Village parade has been held.  It was most impressive and one of a kind outside Ukraine that was honoring the Silver Jubilee of a young nation with the history that dates back centuries. 

Ukrainian Independence Day Celebration in Parma, OH

Ukrainian Independence Day Celebration in Parma, OH - 08/27/2016

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Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
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South Bound Brook, NJ 08880

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