Patriarch Of Ukraine to Visit USA

Oct. 15, 2009 - PRLog -- PRESS RELEASE


UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX PATRIARCH TO VISIT U.S.

(Bloomingdale, IL) October 15, 2009,   On Friday, October 23, 2009 the leader of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church- Kyivan Patriarchate, His Holiness Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv and All Ukraine will arrive for a one week visit to the United States of America.  Patriarch Filaret is the leader of the third largest group of Orthodox faithful in the world with over 15 million believers.  The Patriarch’s visit will begin with his arrival at Chicago’s  O’Hare International airport  where he will be greeted by official members of Ukraine’s Consulate in Chicago.  He will be spending the following three days in Bloomingdale, Illinois at St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The Patriarch’s visit comes at a crucial point in the life of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.  A recent visit of the Russian Patriarch Kiril of Moscow to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv has energized Ukrainians world-wide in their fight for recognition of the Kyivan Patriarchate by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.  The Patriarch of Moscow continues to try and exert his political influence in Ukraine and has commented that he does not recognize the sovereignty of Ukraine and its independent Orthodox Church.  Patriarch Filaret along with Ukraine’s democratic government under President Yushchenko have called upon the Ecumenical Patriarch to recognize the Kyivan Patriarchate as Orthodox Canon Law gives independent nations the right to an independent Orthodox church with its own Patriarch.

The Patriarch will preside over services at St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church,
300 E. Army Trail Rd. Bloomingdale, IL on Saturday October 24 at 4:30 p.m. (memorial services for the over 10 million Ukrainians  starved  by the Soviet regime in Stalins enforced famine of 1932-33 as well as those who fought the Bolshevik forces for Ukraine’s freedom).   A concert featuring the Ukrainian Bandurist Capella of Canada will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the church auditorium.  

On Sunday October 25 at 9:30 am, His Holiness Filaret The Patriarch of Kyiv and All Ukraine will preside over the Divine Liturgy and Blessing of the Mosaic depicting Ukrainian Orthodox Saints on the façade of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church followed by a Banquet in his honor at Eaglewood Resort in Itasca, IL.  St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church will also be named the Administrative Center for The Kyivan Patriarchate in the US and Canada.  On Monday His Holiness will preside over The Clergy Conference of The Kyivan Patriarchate with visiting clergy from across the US and Canada.  

On Monday His Holiness the Patriarch of Kyiv and All Ukraine will fly to Washington D.C for official meetings with congressional leaders, senate members and Ukrainian officials at the Embassy of Ukraine.

For More Information and Opportunities to Interview the Patriarch
Contact:  John Jaresko (630) 202-5331 or jjaresko@aol.com

Photographic opportunities Saturday 4:30 p.m.  Sunday 9:30 a.m.

Location      St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church
                   300 E. Army Trail Rd.
                   Bloomingdale, IL 60108