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Sviato Pokrovy
October 14 signifies one of the most respected Feasts for Ukrainians - the Feast of the Protective Veil or Sviato Pokrovy.
On this date, we gratefully and prayerfully accept protection from the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Her intercession on our
behalf before the Lord. On this occasion we also pay tribute to the valiant Ukrainian Kozaky, the warriors for freedom of UPA,
as well as other heroes who fought for Ukraine's freedom.
This year's Sviato Pokrovy was organized by the Ukrainian Youth Association of Canada, Calgary Branch (CYM) along with League of
Ukrainian Women in Canada, Calgary Branch (LUC). Following regular CYM activities on Saturday October 18, we joined our
parents and guests in the main hall at the CYM domivka.
The starshe yunatstvo groups began with singing two prayers, "Chy ty buv na Holhofti" and "Bozhe Velykyy".
The main speaker was president of LUC, Oksana Dawid. She spoke of the heroic battle for Ukraine's freedom by UPA, with emphasis
on the Commander-in-chief Roman Shukhevych-Chuprynka.
The audience joined in two more songs dedicated to the Virgin Mary, lead by our sumivtsi and accompaniment by podruha Halya Wilson.
A power-point presentation about the miracle of the Protective Veil, its significance to Ukrainians and especially to our
history, was prepared and shown by podruha Marusia Shysh.
We concluded this year's Sviato Pokrovy with the singing of Ukraine's national anthem.
The following day, on Sunday, Sumivtsi took part in a panakhyda at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in remembrance of Stepan
Bandera and the heroes of UPA.
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