23 November 2016
MEDIA RELEASE
Ukrainian communities around the world pause to honour victims of the Holodomor – Ukraine’s genocide of 1932-33
On Saturday 26 November Ukrainian families in Australia and around the world will light a candle of remembrance to mark the Holodomor – a forced famine imposed on the people of Ukraine by Josef Stalin in 1932-33.
The Holodomor is a horrifying event in Ukraine’s history made all the more tragic by the fact it remains relatively unknown – a famine whose death toll is placed between 7–10 million.
“The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) calls upon the Australian and international communities to pay their respects and commemorate the Holodomor anniversary”, Stefan Romaniw OAM, Chairman of the AFUO and General Secretary of the Ukrainian World Congress said today.
“We call on all Australians to light a candle of remembrance on Saturday November 26, International Day of Remembrance in memory of the victims of the Holodomor” Mr Romaniw said.
Concealed behind the iron curtain of the USSR for decades, the Holodomor only came to light on an international level following Ukraine’s declaration of independence in 1991.
The goal of the famine was to break the spirit of Ukrainian farmers and force them into collectivisation. Despite the impressive harvest 83 years ago, millions of Ukrainians perished from starvation as their grain was forcibly removed as well as any food they had in their homes.
The scars still run deep. With east Ukraine’s population wiped out, the ethnic makeup was forever changed, the effects of which are painfully apparent as war rages on today.
Ukrainian communities across the globe vow not to forget and continue to honour the victims of the Holodomor each year on the fourth Saturday in November.
Remembrance services will be held throughout Australia on 26-27 November 2017 – List follows.
Further information: Stefan Romaniw 0419531255
2016 schedule of Holodomor commemorative services in Australia
ADELAIDE
Saturday 26 November 11am
St Michael’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church (at Holodomor Memorial)
427 Port Road
Croydon 5008
CANBERRA
Sunday November 27, 2016 at 12.30am Holodomor Memorial
St Michaels’ Orthodox Church
6 Mackay Garden Turner
MELBOURNE
Sunday 27 November, following morning liturgy approx. 10.30am
Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul
35 Canning St
North Melbourne 3051
Sunday 27 November, following morning liturgy approx. 11.30am
Ukrainian Autocephalic Orthodox Church
91 Buckley St
Essendon 3040
Sunday 27 November, following morning liturgy approx. 10.30am
Dormition of The Theotokos, Ukrainian Orthodox Parish
17 Camden Street
Balaclava 3183
GEELONG
Sunday 27 November, following morning liturgy approx. 10.30am
Ukrainian Catholic Church
21 Alder Crescent
Bell Park 3215
Sunday 27 November: Divine Liturgy commences at 9:30am start to be followed by panchyda
Ukrainian Orthodox Church
14 Alder Crescent
Bell Park 3215
QUEENSLAND
Sunday 27 November, following morning liturgy approx. 10.30am
Ukrainian Catholic Church, Our Lady of Protection
36 Broadway St
Woolloongabba 4102
PERTH
Sunday 27 November, following morning liturgy approx. 10.30am
St John the Baptist Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
20 Ferguson St
Maylands 6051
