BRAMA, Dec 22, 2004, 3:00 pm ET
Press release
American Autocephalous Orthodox organize Diaspora vote
Saturday, 18 December 2004 — The Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church of North and South America Sobornopravna (UAOC-S), based in Cleveland, Ohio, are among the organizers helping Ukrainians in the United States eligible to vote in the December 26th election travel to polling stations. Those in mid-West America will go by bus or train to polling stations in New York City and Washington D.C.
"Ukraine is at a crossroads," says His Beatitude Metropolitan Stephan Petrovich, Primate of the UAOC-S and an organizer in greater Cleveland. "Every Ukrainian leader, secular or religious in the Diaspora, has a moral duty to encourage all eligible voters outside Ukraine to support democracy in Europe's second largest country. The UAOC-S is humbled to play a modest role in assisting Diaspora Ukrainians get to polling stations. Every vote counts. It is critical that those eligible to vote do so."
Metropolitan Stephan, who publicly supports Viktor Yushchenko, adds, "there is a great deal at stake. This election can stop the political, economic and religious exploitation of our Motherland. There is a reason this event will occur on the weekend of our Lord’s birth. Jesus was born to set humankind free and now Ukraine will be liberated from unwanted foreign influence."
His Grace Bishop Paul Peter Jesep, Vicar General of Government Relations and Public Affairs for the UAOC-S echoed the Primate's views.
"This is a historic moment," Bishop Paul Peter says. "Ukraine has the chance in this election to confidently walk away from the northern shadow. In the Orange radiance of God's sunshine Ukraine will find truth, liberty and freedom."
The UAOC-S may be contacted at VladykaPaulPeter(a)aol.com.
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