UKRAINIAN CANADIANS HONOURED AT REMEMBRANCE DAY AT NEW WESTMINSTER

The Eparchy of New Westminster commemorated Remembrance Day with a Divine Liturgy and Panakhyda at Holy Eucharist Cathedral and by participation at the ceremonies at City Hall.

Remembrance Day in Canada is a national holiday that takes place annually on November 11^th to honour and remember the men and women who served in the Royal Canadian Armed Forces - especially those who died in battle during one the many conflicts and wars in which Canada was involved over the years.

A Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Cathedral church of the Holy Eucharist in the morning with the intention for the fallen heroes. Both Ukrainians who served in the Canadian armed forces were remembered as well as the many Ukrainian soldiers who have more recently given their lives on the battlefields of Ukraine defending against the Russian invasion. In his homily, Bishop Michael Kwiatkowski, spoke about prayer for those who boldly stepped forward to put themselves in harms way to defend right and freedom and to defend their country and their families from injustice and destruction. The Lord declared that “greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13) and, the Bishop explained that soldiers certainly fit that category of people willing to give their lives for their countrymen…. and not a few are actually called to make that sacrifice. A panakhyda (requiem service) for the deceased was prayed following the Liturgy. The “Heroes of Their Day Pokrova Icon” depicting Ukrainian Canadian military service men and women, and which is permanently enshrined in the cathedral, was brought over and placed at the tetrapod for these Remembrance Day services.

Following the church services, those who could, made their way to the New Westminster City Hall for the civil ceremonies. One of the highlights of the ceremony was the laying of wreaths at the cenotaph memorial of the Canadian soldiers. There Bishop Michael laid a wreath on memory of the Ukrainian Canadians who died in military service. At an armoury near City Hall there is a memorial to two Canadian military heroes, one being Ukrainian-born Seargeant Filip Konowal who received the rarely awarded Victoria Cross “for gallantry in the face of the enemy”.

Following the ceremonies, the regular forces, militia, cadets groups and  scouts marched back to the armoury in a colourful parade to the delight of those gathered in the streets. A video of the parade can be seen [HERE].

This famous Canadian poem was recited at the City Hall ceremonies…

In Flanders fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

- John McCrae

В полях фламандських

В полях фламандських квітне мак
Поміж хрестів — скорботний знак
По нас; а жайвір серед хмар
Нам шле свій спів — останній дар,
Ледь чутний тут крізь грім атак.

Бо ми, полеглі в цих полях,
Ми, що кохали, нині — прах,
Жили — і приняли удар
В полях фламандських.

Ідіть у бій, забувши страх,
Нам світоч випав з рук, відтак —
Вам підіймати цей тягар!
Якщо загасне віри жар —
Наш сон розвієтся, як мак,
В полях фламандських...

- Іван МикКрей