September 15, 2017

Proclamation of the Centennial Anniversary Year of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A.

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The first instincts of these new immigrants were to gather themselves together into local communities in order to provide support, comfort and social interaction, but most importantly of all, to worship God Almighty according to their 900+ year-old Ukrainian Orthodox customs and traditions. They sought to establish churches, first in the large cities of the United States around the year 1915, and eventually organized into a solid ecclesiastical structure in 1918.

We, by the Grace of God, the present hierarchs of our Holy Church, hereby proclaim the year 2018 as the Centennial Anniversary Year of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. for our clergy, monastics and faithful, and we commemorate all those hierarchs, clergy, monastics and faithful who came before us, sacrificing so much more than most of us do 100 years later, for the extension of God’s Kingdom here on earth.

Through those first 100 years of our history, our founders and benefactors gave of the best of what they had, in order to ensure the preservation of our rich spiritual legacy, inherited from our ancestors, preserving it in a land free of fear, repression and extinction. We thank God Almighty for their conviction, dedication and devotion, which continues to inspire us to follow their example.

As we prepare for this great celebration of the legacy of our forefathers from both Ukraine and here in the United States of America, we call upon every Ukrainian Orthodox Christian to join in all commemorations, which will be scheduled to share our great joy with one another, and with our friends and neighbors. Our prime celebration event will take place at the Metropolia Center on the Feast of Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Prince Volodymyr, July 28, 2018. We look forward to the participation and support of all our faithful. Regional events will also be scheduled so that every single clergy and lay member of our Church might join in the celebration.

As we prepare for and make these celebrations, may we always remember our mission to be the salvation of souls and “… to offer healing, comfort, wholeness, spiritual fulfillment and joy as we work together to reveal the beauty of God’s creation by proclaiming and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

+Antony, Metropolitan
+Daniel, Archbishop

Given at the Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolia Center, South Bound Brook/Somerset, N.J., on the Great Feast of the Baptism of Ukraine, August 14.

(Editor’s note: The proclamation was released to the press on September 12.)

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