The United Ukrainian Orthodox Sisterhoods of the U.S.A., or UUOS, of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church U.S.A. was founded by acclamation of the First Conference of Orthodox Sisterhoods held on June 3, 1961, with the blessing of Metropolitan Ioan and Archbishop Mstyslav (later Patriarch Mstyslav of Kyiv and All Ukraine). The UUOS first president was Ludmyla Ivchenko (Kovalenko), noted author and church activist.

According to its Constitution, the UUOS's membership and activities are countrywide. The governing authority of the UUOS is its Convention and the Church's leadership to whom the UUOS, as a church organization, shows great deference. At the UUOS's Convention, the Executive Board summarizes its work and delegates from member sisterhoods discuss the activities of parish chapters. Delegates then elect a President and Officers who comprise the Executive Board.

The UUOS coordinates the work of parish sisterhoods and realizes projects that apply to all chapters. The UUOS also represents interests of parish sisterhoods before the Church's leadership and the greater community.

With respect to cultural and educational activities, the Executive Board has published a number of books, bulletins and brochures. On the 100th anniversary of the Emsky Ykaz, which forbid the use of Ukrainian, the UUOS published a book entitled The Prosecution of the Ukrainian Language in English, German, French and Ukrainian.

For younger readers, an encyclopedia entitled Ukraine was published for use in Ukrainian language schools. On the 1000th anniversary of Christianity in Ukraine, the encyclopedia was published in English.

On its 25th anniversary, the UUOS published an anniversary booklet, which described the contributions made by sisterhoods in the development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

In order to improve ties between member sisterhoods, the UUOS has published a quarterly magazine entitled "FIRS " during the last 23 years. The magazine is sent to various countries throughout the world. At present about 200 issues are sent to Ukraine.

In defense of dissidents, sisterhoods took an active role in demonstrations, hunger strikes, and letter writing campaigns to the President of the United States as well as to members of Congress.

On the anniversary of the Famine of 1932-1933, the UUOS dedicated a marble plaque on the grounds of the church monument in S. Bound Brook in memory of the victims, many of whom were women and children.

The UUOS has granted many stipends to qualified students in the United States and Brazil. Since Ukraine's independence, and thanks to many generous contributions to the stipend fund, the UUOS has been able to issue 50 stipends to students in Ukraine each year. Recipients are usually university students interested in pursuing careers in education. The UUOS continues to give stipends to students in the United States and to seminarians in Brazil. The UUOS also makes one-time grants to students who, in addition to their studies, are also active in community affairs.

The UUOS has held four arts and crafts exhibits in order to support its Ukrainian children's fund. The UUOS assists Ukrainian orphanages with packages of clothing, shoes, school supplies and toys. For two years, the UUOS sent children from the Chernobyl zone to health camps.

At the UUOS's behest, member sisterhoods and individuals have made generous contributions to reconstruction funds for the Myhaijlivsky Sobor in Kyiv, the Pokrovsky Sobor in Rivne, and the Illinsky Sobor at Ratno in Volyn.

The UUOS gave financial assistance to the Kharkiv Kolegium named for Patriarch Mstyslav for the publication of a prayer book for children and the purchase of a computer. The UUOS also sent religious literature, music and tapes of liturgical song to libraries in Ukraine.

The UUOS supports the publication of the "Orthodox Bulletin " by the Fellowship named for Metropolitan Polikarp. The UUOS also supports "SmolosJfyp " and the Association of Writers of Literature for Children and Young Adults located in Toronto.

The UUOS is a sponsor of the Perpetual Fund named for Patriarch Mstyslav and a donor to the building fund for the Ukrainian Consulate in New York.

The UUOS takes part in activities initiated by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. and the greater community. The UUOS has been a member of The World Federation of Ukrainian Women's Organizations for over twenty years.

It is difficult to list every accomplishment of the UUOS because a lot was done and a great deal of assistance was given by each sisterhood and by many individuals, whose generosity and support made the work of the UUOS and its Executive Board possible.

Our past Presidents were talented and hardworking leaders dedicated to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church: Ludmyla Ivchenko, 1961 until her death in 1969. Pani. O. Selepyna, 1969 to 1974 and 1977-1978. Halyna Petrenko, 1974 - 1977. Mrs. Petrenko was the Editor of "Vira" from 1975 - 1996. Valentyna Kuzmych, 1978 - 1996 and 1996 to the present as Honorary President.

The UUOS would also like to thank the Church leadership, our religious advisors, and the members and staff of the Consistory for their help and assistance.

For additional information, contact:

Mrs. Nadiya Mirchuk - President
110 E. Cedar Street
Livingstone, NJ 07039-4015
Tel.: (973) 992-6479