The mass-media on the ceremonies at Majdanek

The ceremonies which took place on March 25, 2009, on the site of the former Nazi concentration camp of Majdanek, Poland, as part of marking the 65^th anniversary of the death of Blessed Martyr Fr. Emilian Kowcz found resonance in the mass-media in Ukraine and Poland. TV, radio, print and electronic media on the air and in columns told about the example of Christian life and ministry of the priest of the UGCC who, according to the words of His Beatitude Lubomyr, being the son of one nation, perished on the territory of another nation because he saved the lives of sons and daughters of yet another nation.  On Sunday March 29 on the weekly program "Time. Results," extended reportage about the ceremonies at Majdanek was shown by the journalists of Channel 5. The reporting, including comments of the participants of the ceremonies, detailed the life accomplishments of Fr Emilian, the unveiling of a tablet with the message the "Pastor of Majdanek." and the expectation that he will be proclaimed a righteous man of the world’s nations (today Blessed Emilian bears the title of “a righteous man of Ukraine," – aut.). This video can be seen on our channel on Youtube at: www.youtube.com/pressugcc. It is noteworthy that much material was published about the ceremonies in honor of Fr. Emilian in Majdanek in the Israeli-American Internet-newspaper "My zdes'" (“We are here”) under the title "He gave his life for the Jews." The article is based on the letter of President of Poland Lech Kaczynski and the speech in Majdanek of Vice-Prime Minister of Ukraine Ivan Vasyunyk. "The world knows today about Schindler, but unfortunately does not know about the Ukrainian Emilian Kowcz. He accepted a martyr's death here, rescuing people of another nation, another faith." The author of the article quotes the words of Ivan Vasyunyk.  "Young Ukraine," "Ukrinform," UT-1, "Radio Liberty," "Zahid.net," "ZIK" and the religious mass-media also reported about the events in Majdanek.

Information Department of the UGCC

Addition The Patriarchal Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, which was held on September 2-9, 2008, decreed to proclaim Blessed Martyr Emilian Kowcz the patron of pastors of the UGCC. This decision of the Synod is being realized in three stages:

1. On March 25, 2009, there was a pilgrimage of clergy of the UGCC to Majdanek Museum (Lublin, Poland) and the acceptance there of a receptacle with ashes of the blessed to present them for veneration in the cathedral church of every eparchy and exarchate. 2. On April 25, 2009, the solemn proclamation of Blessed Martyr Fr. Emilian as the patron of pastors of the UGCC. The solemnity will take place in Kyiv on the territory of the construction of the Patriarchal Center of the UGCC with the participation of all bishops, clergy and laity.  3. Every eparchy and exarchate at the local level is to conduct an appropriate ceremony.

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