Patriarch Bartholomew feted in Winnipeg (06/14/98)

Patriarch Bartholomew feted in Winnipeg

by Natalka Chomiak
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

WINNIPEG - Grey skies and smiling faces greeted the arrival of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople here on the afternoon of May 27. Church hierarchs, clergy, laity and children, dressed in Ukrainian and Greek national costumes, spilled onto the tarmac at Winnipeg International Airport as the patriarch alighted from an airplane specially chartered for his seven-city Canadian tour.

As cameras whirred and security personnel discretely patrolled the perimeter, an estimated crowd of 150 pressed closer to hear the delegation welcoming the patriarch. Saffron yellow flags emblazoned with the patriarchal seal fluttered in the breeze, rose petals covered the ground and bouquets were exchanged in honor of the occasion. Words of welcome were accompanied with the traditional greeting "Khrystos Voskres" sung in Ukrainian, and similar incantations in Greek and English.

The warm greetings at the airport set the tone for the 24-hour visit. Civic authorities marked the occasion with a special flag-raising ceremony at City Hall. Main Street, site of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, was renamed in honor of the patriarch. Later that evening, Mayor Susan Thompson conferred an honorary scroll on the patriarch on behalf of the city.

The highlight of the afternoon program was a special convocation held at St. Andrew's College on the University of Manitoba campus. In recognition of Patriarch Bartholomew's leadership on matters relating to Church unity and the environment, as well as his contribution to theological issues and matters of canon law, the patriarch was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Divinity. St. Andrew's College bestows the "doctor, honoris causa" upon distinguished leaders and scholars for their contributions to Orthodoxy and the Ukrainian Canadian community.

The special convocation podium included representatives of the university community, the board of directors and faculty of theology at St. Andrew's College, the Center for Ukrainian Canadian Studies and hierarchs of the Orthodox Church.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada was represented by its primate, Metropolitan Wasyly Fedak, as well as Archbishop John Stinka of Edmonton and Bishop Yurij Kalistchuk of Toronto. Representing the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. were Metropolitan Constantine, Archbishop Vsevolod and Archbishop Antony.

Representing the Greek Orthodox Church were Metropolitan Panteleimon of Beroia and Naoussa (Turkey), Metropolitan Photios of Imvros and Tenedos (Turkey), Bishop Dionysios of Synada (Turkey), Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto and Archbishop Spyridon, primate of the American Church.

The presence of Bishop Picenti of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria (Egypt) on the podium underscored the relationship that has developed between this Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Stephan Jarmus and the Rt. Rev. Dr. Oleh Krawchenko delivered introductory remarks. Metropolitan Wasyly presented the Doctorate of Divinity to the patriarch. In his acceptance speech Patriarch Bartholomew noted that St. Andrew is the protector of both Constantinople and the college.

His commentary focused on the nature of knowledge and the truth. He noted that the path to the truth needs to be negotiated using Biblical texts that often are contradictory. To decipher the message of "the Book of Knowledge," he recommended delving deeper into the text, for it is the repository of spiritual riches.

Patriarch Bartholomew then donated an icon for use in the college chapel. In addition, he presented Metropolitan Wasyly with a jewel-encrusted panergia (religious medalion). Dr. Natalia Aponiuk, director of the college's Center for Ukrainian Canadian Studies, presented the patriarch with a copy of the Ostrih Bible (reprinted in l981). Tim Sus and Tom Dusher, representing the seminarians, presented an artistic rendering of St. Andrew's College to the patriarch.

Before attending a banquet that evening, the patriarch conducted a holy communion service at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church. The church was filled with faithful from the 3,000-strong Greek community and the 10,000-strong Ukrainian Orthodox community of Winnipeg.

All levels of government sent representatives to the banquet held at the Winnipeg Convention Center. Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, member of Parliament for Winnipeg North - St. Paul represented the prime minister of Canada. Gary Filmon, premier of the province of Manitoba, spoke on behalf of the provincial government. Mayor Thompson represented the city. The Liberal, New Democratic and Conservative parties were represented and a number of civic politicians were in attendance. The judiciary was represented by Chief Justice Benjamin Hewak of the Manitoba Court of Queens Bench.

The ecumenical nature of the patriarchal visit was underlined by the composition of the head table. Metropolitan Michael Bzdel and Bishop Stefan Soroka represented the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Winnipeg was represented by Archbishop Leonard Wall.

In addition, representatives of the Anglican, Evangelical Lutheran and other mainstream Protestant denominations were part of the estimated crowd of 550. Hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Churches and the Greek Orthodox Churches were joined by Bishop Picenti of the Coptic Orthodox jurisdiction.

Drs. Krawchenko and Ernest Cholakis ably handled the duties of masters of ceremonies. During the banquet, guests were entertained by two troupes of Ukrainian and Greek folk dancers. To honor the occasion, the patriarch was presented with an Canadian Inuit sculpture by the Greek community, an inlaid ivory cross by the Coptic Church and a beautiful icon by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The speeches at the banquet, and at the luncheon the following day, underlined the importance of the dialogue that has opened up as a result of the decision taken in l990 by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada to enter into eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Metropolitan Wasyly spoke of the long and often tragic history of the Ukrainian Church. He noted the many Ukrainian martyrs for the faith and asked that the victims of the l933 famine and of the Chornobyl nuclear accident be remembered in the faithful's prayers. Reference was made also to the desire of the faithful to see an independent and unified Church in Ukraine. This theme was echoed in comments made by Bishop Yurij the next day.

Patriarch Bartholomew spoke of the bonds between Constantinople and the pious of Ukraine. Identifying the 20th century as a "sinful and murderous century par excellence," he spoke of the suffering unleashed during these years. He said that "human weakness and the mistakes of the Orthodox themselves" are to blame for the disunity that exists in the Ukrainian Church. Repentance and reconciliation will pave the way to unity, he intoned, adding, "we pray that the problems will soon be overcome."

On the morning of May 28, the Feast of the Ascension was celebrated with a divine liturgy at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.

The liturgy was attended by representatives of numerous inter-faith denominations and the Orthodox faithful. Dr. John Mayba directed the cathedral choir. Throughout the morning the themes of unity, reconciliation and spiritual renewal echoed in the church.

At the luncheon that followed, thanks were expressed to all those who had contributed to the success of the visit. Bishop Yurij's comments underscored the desire of the Orthodox faithful for Church unity. In his parting remarks the patriarch recognized Dr. Roman Yereniuk, rector of St. Andrew's College, for his efforts on behalf of the Church. Dr. Yereniuk's formal induction as a patriarchal scholar has been scheduled for presentation later this summer.

Many present agreed that this visit was the highlight of the celebrations taking place to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

10,000 gather for patriarchal liturgy