Patriarch Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) and the 20th Anniversary of the All-Ukrainian National Council of the UOC-KP Celebrated in Poltava

On June 5-6, 2010, in Poltava, the 20th anniversary of the all-Ukrainian National Council of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and the election of the first patriarch, Patriarch Mstyslav (Skrypnyk), was celebrated.

POLTAVA – On June 5-6, 2010, in Poltava, the 20^th anniversary of the all-Ukrainian National Council of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and the election of the first patriarch, Patriarch Mstyslav (Skrypnyk), was celebrated.  RISU’s Ukrainian-language Web page posted this story on June 8.

The celebratory public prayer in the Cathedral of the Holy Assumption in Poltava was attended by numerous believers from all over the Poltava Oblast. They included members of the Orthodox Brotherhood of St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle, local intellectuals, clergy, and politicians.  The participants held a religious procession to the Monument to Perished Cossacks to remember all who died for the Orthodox faith and Ukraine. Here they held a memorial service for the fighters for the freedom of Ukraine and the Ukrainian independent church.

The program of events continued with a celebratory meeting. Bishop Fedir Bubniuk of Poltava and Kremenchuk of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate in his report outlined the history of churches of various countries and their way to independence. The participants also recalled the visits of Patriarch Mstyslav to Poltava in 1991 and 1992. The first meeting with the Poltava residents was held in the regional philharmonic and the second one was held at a higher level, with the participation of state officials.  Father Mykolai Khrapach said in particular: “That man was a great symbol of the struggle for Ukraine, the Ukrainian church. Even more so as he was of the famous family of Symon Petliura. Not an ordinary man. His word was extremely powerful and moving. People who listened to him were lit with the fire which inspired us to struggle for the Ukrainian idea. Both the first and second visits were very important for us, the Poltava residents.”

The participants also heard addresses of the rector of the Poltava Korolenko’s National Pedagogical University, Mykola Stepanenko, and historian Taras Pustovit. The program of events ended with a concert of spiritual music performed by the choirs of the Poltava churches of the Holy Assumption, St. Nicholas, and Holy Protection.

Patriarch Mstyslav’s daughter-in-law, a Canadian citizen, Sofia Skrypnyk shared her memories of the patriarch with our RISU correspondent. “What surprised me the most was his phenomenal memory. This year is the 60^th anniversary of my married life with his son, Yaroslav. I remember how my father-in-law came to Toronto for our wedding. I had as many as ten bridesmaids. You will ask why so many? Because we moved from Europe, they were all friends and I did not know whom to choose and whom to leave out. I did not want to hurt anyone. And I introduced the girls one by one to my father…My father remembered every single one of them by name! And people appreciated it. You know, he could remember people after 20, 30, and 40 years! I also must mention that he was a very good speaker! And very strong-willed! When he said something, that was it! He was very influential in America and in the world,” said Mrs. Sofia.

On June 6, the churches of the UOC-KP held prayer services for the Ukrainian church and Ukraine. Flowers were laid to the memorial board at the museum of Patriarch Mstyslav in Poltava.