Newark prayer service mourns victims of terror (10/28/01)

Newark prayer service mourns victims of terror

by Roma Hadzewycz

NEWARK, N.J. - Parishioners and other area Ukrainian Americans gathered at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church on Friday, October 19, for a special commemorative prayer service dedicated to those who perished in the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Clergy of the parish - the Revs. Bohdan Lukie, Leonid Malkov and Andriy Manko - offered a moleben to the Blessed Mother and a panakhyda (requiem service) for victims of the terrorist acts. In attendance were members of Ukrainian youth organizations with their flags.

During the moleben, which was offered for world peace, the Rev. Malkov delivered a sermon in which he expressed the feelings of most Americans. "The terrorists took advantage of the freedoms of this country" in executing their attacks, he said. "Now the world has changed and we, too, are changed. Now we must consider what we are to be."

"We mourn the victims [of the terrorist attacks], and we express our condolences. Vichnaya Pamiat [eternal memory] to them and to all those who tried to save them," the Rev. Malkov stated.

The Rev. Lukie, pastor of St. John's, also addressed the congregation about "this act of terror that shocked the world ... and caused us to re-evaluate our country, ourselves and even our God."

Many are asking, he said, "Where was God when this happened?" The Rev. Lukie went on to explain: "Our God is not a God of destruction, but a God of beauty and truth. God gives us the opportunity to choose good or evil. He gives us the ability to do good in the world."

"And God was there in all those acts of compassion and bravery that we witnessed, with those saving lives and dying for their fellow man," the pastor continued.

"The terrorists wished to cripple America, to bring it to its knees. Well, America has come to its knees - but in prayer," the Rev. Lukie observed. "Everywhere we see people praying." At this difficult time, he concluded, "we need to turn to God and recall the prayer of St. Francis: 'Let me be a channel of Your peace.' "

At the conclusion of the moleben and panakhyda all present sang an emotional "God Bless America."

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