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News from and about Ukraine & Ukrainians: Ukrainian Community Press Releases
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BRAMA, October 9, 2001, 10 am ET
Dear Editor:
A recent Brama article titled 'Parish needs spiritual leader' (September 20, 2001) echoes my own experience in the aftermath of the tragic terrorist attack on New York City. As I looked out my window in the East Village on the morning of Sept. 11th my perfect view of the World Trade Center was marred by the billowing smoke rising upwards towards the sky. The reality finally settled in. It was true - the Twin Towers were on fire and collapsing right before my eyes!
Was this a war, were we being attacked by an unknown enemy – is this the Armegeddon which Nostradamus predicted? Frightening thoughts raced through my brain. Relatives in other states were impossible to reach by the over loaded telephone circuits, so I ran outside to seek some solace and comfort. What I saw was shocking! Thousands of soot covered people wandering around aimlessly, coughing, sobbing, covered with debris – reminding me of the World War II refugee stories my parents told me about when I was growing up.
All the churches in the neighborhood were open to the public. I myself was beckoned into a small Presbyterian church on 2nd Avenue & East 7th Street by a group of soft-spoken clergy and volunteers who knew exactly what their spiritual role was to their fellow man. Their gentle, soothing manner calmed my shattered nerves. Feeling somewhat relieved, I knelt down to pray for the safety of my friends in the financial district.
As I walked through the neighborhood I noticed that the local community centers were also opened and were distributing water, refreshments, offering restroom facilities, refuge and consolation to the walking wounded. I remember feeling such a great sense of pride for my community and the camraderie everyone exhibited during this, the most catastrophic day New Yorkers and Americans have ever experienced.
On my way home I wondered what St. George’s Church on East 7th Street was doing for its parishioners. I thought of my parents’ contemporaries and how terrified they must be. I guess the parish was not as concerned as I was about their spiritual needs – for St. George’s was CLOSED. When I called the parish to find out why the church was not open for counseling and guidance for the Ukrainian community the very rude and curt response was shocking: "I don’t have time I have to go to the bank", and "if we leave the church opened people will steal the valuables." Obviously, the parishes finances and wordly possessions were more important than tending to the spiritual needs of its flock.
Where were the Ukrainian spiritual leaders the week of 9/11? Where were they on Friday, September 14th, the official day of mourning? Outside of their regularly scheduled daily early morning masses, there were no special masses or prayer vigils at St. George’s as there were in so many houses of worship in New York City. The clergy which was missing in action for the Ukrainians, the clergy which was just too busy for their own parishioners, the clergy which was diligently looking after its own assets was very willing and very much available to provide spiritual counseling to the faculty and students of Cooper Union.
The message is very clear isn’t it?
Stefa Charczenko
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