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RISU/News/November 12, 2002
Lviv, Ukraine
LVIV, UKRAINE, Nov 12, 02 (RISU.org.ua) - On 8 November 2002, bishops of the
Kyiv and Halych Metropolitanate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
(UGCC) addressed the faithful and all people of good will on the occasion of
the 70th anniversary of the Soviet-imposed famine in Ukraine in 1932 and
1933.
"For decades, the so-called free world has concealed this horrible page of
our history, even though it was well informed about the famine. The Soviet
government tried to eradicate all memories about the famine, even from
witnesses' minds, and denied its existence at all. We, the bishops of the
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, together with our whole nation. are calling
upon everyone to pray lest such a calamity should happen again," reads the
address of the UGCC hierarchs.
According to the bishops, the consequences of the famine can be still felt
today. The spirituality of the Ukrainian nation suffered a terrible blow,
since, along with physical destruction of people, the famine also
presupposed an absolute russification of the population.
"Today's numerous problems, including the inability to organize social,
political and economic life, alcoholism, drug abuse, abortion, and suicide,
are deeply rooted in the disasters of the previous century, among which
the famine was not the least conspicuous one," stated the bishops in their
address.
In addition, the bishops believe that the first step to combat the
consequences of the 70-year-old tragedy is to return the land to the people
and to restore the feeling of national dignity, justice, economic and social
stability. The UGCC bishops are convinced that this should be a primary task
for the Ukrainian state.
http://www.risu.org.ua/article.php?sid=545&l=en
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