UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA
CONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
PRESS RELEASE

65th Annual UOL Convention Concludes!

The 65th Annual UOL Convention came to a formal conclusion on Sunday, July 29, 2012, as the delegates gathered at Holy Protection of the Birth-Giver-of-God Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Allentown, PA for Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom concelebrated by his Eminence Archbishop Antony, the Locum Tenens and Acting Metropolitan as well as the Ruling Hierarch of the Eastern Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and His Grace Bishop Daniel, the Ruling Hierarch of the Western Eparchy and spiritual father to the Senior UOL.

At the entrance to the Cathedral, children greeted the bishops with flowers of love, while the president of the Parish Board of Administration Nick Fartuch and Senior UOL President Martha Misko and Junior UOL President Gregory Markiw presented the hierarchs with the traditional Ukrainian Bread and Salt. The pastor of the parish family Very Rev. Fr. Myron Oryhon sincerely offered words of prayerful welcome to the Archbishop and the Bishop, asking them to pray for the success of the numerous ministries of the Church’s central organization.

Joining Archbishop Antony and Bishop Daniel at the altar were spiritual fathers of the local and visiting parish communities: Very Rev. Bazyl Zawierucha, pastor of the Dormition of the Birth-Giver of God Ukrainian Orthodox parish in Northampton, PA; Very Rev. Fr. Steven Repa, pastor of Sts Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox parish in Carnegie, PA; Deacon Mikhail Sawarynsky of the Dormition of the Birth-Giver of God Ukrainian Orthodox parish in Northampton, PA and Deacon John Charest of Sts Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox parish in Palos Park, IL.

Prior to the beginning of the Divine Liturgy, the bishops tonsured and set aside as Readers and Subdeacons seminarians of St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Bound Brook, NJ) Ivan Chopko and Yurii Andreiko. Both Archbishop Antony and Bishop Daniel in English and Ukrainian languages addresses the seminarians and the congregation in attendance about the meaning of the Holy Subdeaconate of the Church and the new responsibilities that Subdeacons assumed in the life of the Holy Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.

As the Liturgy progressed, over two hundred people approached the Chalice and received the Holy Eucharist at the Divine Liturgy. Parishioners from the local Ukrainian Orthodox communities as well as from other Orthodox jurisdictions participated in the services of the day.

At the conclusion of the service, His Grace Bishop Daniel called upon the newly elected executive boards of the Senior and Junior UOL to come forward in order to be presented to the His Eminence Archbishop Antony, the Locum Tenens of the UOC of the USA for a formal induction into their service in the life of the organization and the Church. Holding candles in their hands, the officers of the organization made a solemn promise to work for the Glory of God and the fulfillment of the mission of the organization: "Dedicated to the Church; Devoted to Her Youth!”

Immediately following the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy His Grace Bishop Daniel called upon the delegates of St. Vladimir UOL Chapter from Parma, OH to come forward and to receive from the hands of the pastor of the cathedral’s community Very Rev. Fr. Myron Oryhon a traveling icon of the Mother of God of Pochaiv, that will remain at St. Vladimir Cathedral in Parma, OH the entire year until the conclusion of the 66th Annual UOL Convention.

Following the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy and various presentations, the faithful venerated the Holy Cross from the hands of their bishops and joined each other in a cathedral’s parish social hall for a farewell brunch prepared by the local UOL chapter and the entire parish congregation.

Having departed the premises of the Protection of the Birth-Giver of God Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Allentown, PA, His Eminence Archbishop Antony and His Grace Bishop Daniel stopped for a short visit at the parish’s cemetery in order to offer prayers at the place of final repose of the long-term pastor of the cathedral’s community Protopresbyter William and Pani-matka Halyna (Anna) Czekaluk.

The next 66th Annual Ukrainian Orthodox League Convention is scheduled to take place in Parma, OH, hosted by St. Vladimir’s UOL Chapters on 24-28 July, 2013!

Read about the Opening of the 65th UOL Convention – Day 1!

Read about the 65th UOL Convention – Day 2!

Read about the Final Day of the 65th UOL Convention – Day 3!