Lemko activists meet with new Ukrainian Catholic eparch of Stamford (06/04/06)

Lemko activists meet with new Ukrainian Catholic eparch of Stamford

by Steven Howansky and Zenon Halkowycz

STAMFORD, Conn. - Representatives of the Organization for Defense of Lemkivschyna (OOL) and the Lemko Research Foundation Inc. (LRF) on April 6 visited St. Basil's Ukrainian Catholic College Seminary to meet with Bishop Paul Patrick Chomnycky, OSBM, who was recently installed as the fourth bishop and eparch of the Stamford Eparchy.

The purpose of the meeting was to inform the bishop about the work of these two Lemko organizations, as well as to congratulate and offer best wishes to the new leader of the Eparchy.

Bishop Chomnycky received the Lemko delegation, which included Zenon Halkowycz (OOL president), Steven Howansky (LRF president and OOL vice-president), Vasyl Harhaj (OOL membership officer and LRF treasurer), Stefan Kosciolek (OOL treasurer) and Petro Gres (OOL board member), in the library of the Stamford Seminary.

After introductions, Mr. Halkowycz read a letter in Ukrainian from the OOL national board and presented it to the bishop, stating "On behalf of the Organization for Defense of Lemkivshchyna in America, we congratulate you on your installation as the new bishop of the Stamford Eparchy and wish you good health and strength to continue the journey as the new leader of this eparchy."

Mr. Halkowycz then described briefly the history of Lemkos in America, as well as the beginnings of the two Lemko organizations.

Next, Mr. Howansky read a similar letter from the LRF and presented it to the bishop. He then explained the mission of the foundation, as well as its accomplishments and achievements.

Lemko-style chapel

The bishop asked various questions and showed interest in the organizations, particularly concerning their success in building a Lemko-style chapel SUM estate in Ellenville, N.Y.

Mr. Halkowycz explained that the foundation of this chapel was consecrated by Cardinal and Patriarch Lubomyr Husar, and that the blessing of the new chapel was conducted on June 25, 2005, by Bishop Basil Losten of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and Archbishop Antony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The chapel was dedicated to the memory of all the victims of Akcja Wisla, the forced resettlement of Ukrainian families from their ancestral lands by the Polish Communist government. The chapel is open to people of all Christian faiths who come to the campgrounds of SUM, where children attending summer camps can learn about a dark chapter of Ukrainian history.

The members of the delegation then shared with the bishop accounts of their experiences and hardships in 1947. The relocated Lemkos, being a God-loving and deeply religious people, missed their churches and clergy, as the Polish government would allow them to worship only in Roman Catholic churches.

At the end of the meeting, members of the delegation presented the bishop with the traditional Ukrainian bread (paska), Easter egg (pysanka) and embroidered ritual cloth (rushnychok), as well as copies of OOL's magazine Lemkivschyna and various books, such as the Annals of Lemkivschyna Vol. 6, "Akcja Wisla - Documents" and "The Small Sacral Architecture in Lemkivschyna," all published by LRF.

Ukrainian-Lemko Museum

Afterwards, Bishop Chomnycky and the members of the delegation visited the Ukrainian-Lemko Museum, which is located in a nearby building, in two rooms on the second floor of the Ukrainian Museum and Library in Stamford, and is managed by the Organization for Defense of Lemkivschyna.

Mr. Howansky, the Ukrainian-Lemko Museum's curator, informed Bishop Chomnycky about the museum's history and the recent remodeling of the rooms in which it is housed.

Following the tour of the museum, the members of the delegation invited Bishop Chomnycky to join them for lunch at a local restaurant, during which there was an exchange of ideas. Delegation members learned about the bishop's earlier years and experiences, including the fact that he was a Canadian SUM member, which led the group, all SUM members, to reminisce about their experiences.

At the end of the visit, on behalf of the organizing committee of the annual Lemko Vatra, or festival, in the U.S., Mr. Harhaj officially invited Bishop Chomnycky to attend the sixth annual festival and to celebrate holy liturgy for all participants.

The sixth annual Lemko Vatra will be held on June 24-25 at the SUM campgrounds in Ellenville. Bishop Chomnycky responded that he will make every attempt to be present at the Vatra.

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