ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Members of the Ukrainian community gathered Saturday at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Allentown to remember the millions of Ukrainians who died during the Holodomor, a famine in 1932 and 1933.
Marta Fedoriw, a member of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America Branch 91, spoke during the annual memorial service about the suffering Ukrainians endured.
“People weren’t allowed to plant or have any food. They died by the millions,” Fedoriw said.
This year’s service also drew attention to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, including the abduction of Ukrainian children, according to Fedoriw.
Children from the Lehigh Valley School of Ukrainian Studies played a special role in the service, holding candles and joining the community in prayer and song.
Fedoriw said organizers wanted to connect the history of the Holodomor with the challenges Ukrainians are facing today.
“We wanted to connect that to what is happening in Ukraine today, which is the abduction of Ukrainian children during the war,” she said.
The inclusion of children was a new addition to this year’s memorial. Fedoriw said it was especially meaningful as the community continues to build connections between younger generations and their Ukrainian heritage.
“It was the first time that we included the children because of the genocide happening in Ukraine at the same time now, as well as the fact that we have a Ukrainian Saturday school for the first time,” Fedoriw said.
The service brought generations of Ukrainians together to honor those who lost their lives during the Holodomor while showing support for people affected by the current war.
Fedoriw hopes the children will return next year to pray and give thanks for peace in Ukraine.
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