Ukrainian American youths and community of Philadelphia welcome Yushchenko (10/02/05)

Ukrainian American youths and community of Philadelphia welcome Yushchenko

by Andrij Zwarych
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

PHILADELPHIA - On September 17, as Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko arrived here to receive the Philadelphia Liberty Medal, busloads of youths from the greater Philadelphia area were arriving with their parents at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The assembled youths were able to watch the medal ceremony on two wide-screen televisions, while they awaited their chance to see the president in person.

Following the ceremony and a subsequent press conference, President Yushchenko and First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko, and their entourage, proceeded to the Ukrainian cathedral with a police and secret service escort.

Immaculate Conception Cathedral was filled to its capacity of 2,500, and local fire marshals would not allow any more people to enter - thus, hundreds more were gathered outside the church. In and around the cathedral there was a heightened sense of excitement in the air.

President Yushchenko was met outside by Metropolitan Archbishop Stefan Soroka, leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States; Ulana Mazurkevich, president of the Ukrainian American Community Committee; the Rev. Ivan Demkiv, pastor of the Ukrainian cathedral; and other clergy. On behalf of the youth of Philadelphia, little Khrystyk Senyk McKernan of the Svitlychka (preschool) presented Mrs. Yushchenko with a bouquet of orange roses.

While walking down the cathedral's aisle with the first lady, President Yushchenko greeted the Ukrainian youth of Philadelphia - several hundred of them representing various local organizations, including Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization and the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM). Although original plans called for the children and teens to be seated in rows reserved for them at the front of the cathedral, due to secret service restrictions the youths were directed to sit with their parents.

Meanwhile, the newly formed combined choir Ukraina, under the direction of Nestor Kyzymyshyn, filled the cathedral with beautiful, harmonious song.

The program opened with a performance of the Children's Bell Choir of the First Evangelical Baptist Church. Next, a prayer service for the intentions of Ukraine and President Yushchenko was led by Metropolitan Soroka, the Very Rev. William Diakiw of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Pastor Dmytro Login of the First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church.

Afterwards, Solomiya Ivakhiv from the Curtis Institute of Music performed a violin solo.

At this point Metropolitan Stefan Soroka made a formal welcoming speech inviting President Yushchenko "to speak with our youth and children ... and to share your thoughts and suggestions on leadership for the youth and children present this day."

The metropolitan also said to President Yushchenko: "You walk as a man and as a leader who is aware that he does not walk alone. You are a man of faith and you walk with God, in Whom you trust to guide you." As a gift from the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Metropolitan Soroka presented the president with an icon of the Mother of God, who is depicted wearing the symbol of hope, an orange scarf. The icon is the work of artist Christine Dochwat.

The program continued with a performance of the Ukrainian Heritage School Children's Choir comprising students from the upper grades through kindergarten. Under the direction of Maria Kaminsky, the choir performed songs intertwined with poetic recitations. President Yushchenko seemed to be particularly captivated by the youngest performer, Julia Kurylec, who stole the show with her poised and confident stage presence.

Two presentations were made on the behalf of the Ukrainian community of Philadelphia. Children from Plast, SUM and the Ukrainian Heritage School presented President Yushchenko with an Orange Revolution banner signed by the youth of Philadelphia. The president later told organizers that the banner would be placed in the Museum of the Orange Revolution that is planned to be opened in Kyiv.

On the behalf of the Ukrainian American community of Philadelphia, Ms. Mazurkevich introduced Borys Zacharczuk, president of the Ukrainian Education and Cultural Center of Philadelphia, who presented Mr. Yushchenko with an impressive sculpture of Hetman Ivan Mazepa by Petro Kapshuchenko.

The president appeared surprised and deeply moved by the community's gifts.

President Yushchenko then spoke, recapping his speech from the Constitution Center and touching upon various topics. What impressed this writer most was when he spoke about faith - faith in God, faith in Ukraine and faith in the Church. He then proceeded to compare the faith that the Kozaks had in God and the freedom of their country with that of the millions of people gathered during the Orange Revolution on the "maidan," who had faith in God, their country and a new government.

Mr. Yushchenko then asked to have a photograph taken with the youth of Philadelphia. A throng of children surrounded the president and first lady of Ukraine on the steps leading to the altar. While the flashes of cameras were going off, the Ukraina Choir sang a powerful "Mnohaya Lita" (Many Years).

This entire day can be summed up with a quote from Stephan Dubenko, 16, who said, "This was an experience of a lifetime."

This writer/photographer couldn't agree more. After always seeing President Yushchenko on television and in the newspapers, I had the opportunity to finally see him in person. This historic day will be permanently etched in my memory.

Andrij Zwarych, 15, of Huntingdon Valley, Pa., is a student at Lower Moreland High School. He was on special assignment for The Ukrainian Weekly to cover President Yushchenko's participation in the youth gathering at Immaculate Conception Cathedral.

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