On Friday, August 24, a special commemorative liturgy was celebrated at St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in Manhattan’s East Village. With the coordinated efforts of the United Ukrainian American Organizations of New York, a local chapter of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), the service honoring 27 years of Ukraine’s renewed independence was attended by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) as well as local community leaders.
Following the conclusion of the liturgy by the Rev. Emilian Dorosh, OSBM, the cantor for the service, UCCA-NY Vice-President Andrij Dobriansky, was invited to address the congregation from the podium. To mark 27 years of renewed independence, Mr. Dobriansky explained, UCCA-NY had reached out to elected officials from the City Council and all the way up to the State House. He then proceeded to read statements issued by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as well as City Councilmember Carlina Rivera, which had been translated into the Ukrainian-language by UCCA’s National Office.