My Ukraine, we know, we believe: no one will take Christmas away from You. Because even there, in the trenches and dugouts, a carol is softly sung these days. And in relatively peaceful Ukrainian territories, it is sung. And everywhere, all over the world, where there are Ukrainians, it resounds:
“We ask You, King, we ask You now.
Grant fortune, grant freedom
to our glorious Ukraine.”
No festive gathering of Ukrainian communities is complete without collecting charitable donations to support Ukraine and its defenders. And Chicago in this regard is no exception.
“Christmas Miracle” in Arlington Heights
Under this name, a concert program was held, organized by the Ukrainian Church of Chicago in Arlington Heights. It was truly a warm gathering in a cozy hall, where the atmosphere of home comfort prevailed, where Pastor Vitaliy Hanulych invited everyone to join in prayer, and a group of carolers visited not just a stage family, but as if coming to each of our homes—even if this home is now far from Ukraine.
Because our hearts know no borders and distances. And the love of the Lord knows none. And God, Who “came today from heaven to save all His people,” is everywhere—where He is awaited, where He is deeply believed in, where there is hope for His mercy and love.
Beautiful Ukrainian carols made one want not only to listen but also to sing along with the carolers—and the audience did so with joy. They also participated in a charity auction or simply approached the box to make their donations. For more than the first time, the church has been sending aid to wounded Ukrainian soldiers. Their treatment in America is organized by the charity Protez Foundation. The official representative of the foundation, Volodymyr Dolynka, and the prosthetized Ukrainian defender Vitaliy Belyaev thanked for the financial support, wished everyone a God-blessed New Year, and expressed great hope that it would be the year of Ukraine and Ukrainians returning to a happy peaceful life.
(Photo by the newspaper's editorial team)
In St. Nicholas Cathedral, everyone felt again: God is with us!
This incredible meeting took place last Sunday. And it was made incredible by the “Glorious” choir (recently the ensemble became part of the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art) and the chamber orchestra conducted by Bohdana Chepil.
The fact that their performances are always highly professional is true, but incomplete. Because they are also deeply Christian, exquisitely classical, or sincerely folk—depending on the concert's theme.
This time, the artists prepared a Christmas program titled “God is with Us.” And the audience, as always, expected something especially moving. And these expectations were met.
Yes, God is with us. Every moment. In everything. Always. His Christmas is not just an event that happened two thousand years ago. He is born in our lives today: to show the way to Eternity, to fill hearts with love, to teach us to be God's children.
Is each of us ready to turn our heart into a cozy manger for the birth of the Child destined to become the Savior of the world—and thus, our Savior?
About this, probably, everyone present in the temple thought, listening to the blessing of Father Pavlo Drozdjak, the carols performed by the “Glorious” choir accompanied by the chamber orchestra, the heartfelt greetings of the ensemble members, the touching solo by Vira Boyko, and the sincere children's “Kolyada-Kolyadka” by Nadiyka Drozdjak.
Every sound, every word, every wave of the conductor's hands seemed to turn into feathers from angel wings, covering the bed of the Divine Child. Because a new joy has appeared in the world. Because heaven and earth rejoice today. Because the silent night, the holy night has given the mystery of Christmas—a mystery that is always with us. Because God is with us.
And at the end of the concert, the legendary “Shchedryk” by Leontovych was performed. And it was as if a swallow flew over the hall, reminding that life turns to spring—and instilling faith in a peaceful spring.
Upon leaving the temple, no one passed by the box labeled “Collection for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.” Because such concerts make our hearts bigger and our souls purer.
(Photos provided by St. Nicholas Cathedral)
From St. Joseph the Betrothed Church—Home for Christmas
This virtual journey was offered to their audience by the vocal group “Trioda”—Pavlo Chervinsky, Volodymyr Rybak, and Andriy Hambal—along with instrumentalist colleagues Elvis (Volodymyr Olensky), Yuriy Karpenko, Vitaliy Fedyukov, and Andriy Shpulyak.
The program “Home for Christmas” has been in their repertoire for a long time. Year after year, it is refined, supplemented with new carols, but the idea remains unchanged.
“Each region of Ukraine has its own Christmas traditions, but there is something that unites us: gathering the whole family for such grand holidays,” Elvis shared with the newspaper “Surma.”
This year, together with “Trioda,” hundreds of Ukrainians in Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia experienced the mystery of Christmas, and in Madison (Wisconsin), the concert became an introduction to Ukraine for the American audience.
The final concert of the Christmas tour took place in Chicago, at St. Joseph the Betrothed Church, for which the performers expressed sincere gratitude to Father Mykola Buryadnyk, the Cyril and Methodius community of the church, and the company ZVUK.
Together with “Trioda,” we mentally flew home—to childhood, to carols, to Ukraine, where there is now pain and war, but also a living faith in Victory. Therefore, each concert had a charitable component to support Ukraine and its defenders.
There was a feeling of family. There was a feeling of home.
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