Kushnir and the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain 80th

Rev. Voyakovsky, Kushnir, Jean, Malynovsky, Germany 1946

After a long and fruitful day of service among the Ukrainian faithful in London (most refugees), I had planned to sleep late. Unexpectedly, I awoke early and discovered that the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) had posted a message on the 80th anniversary of its organizational meeting, which took place on 19 January 1946. What can I do to mark this occasion, I asked myself. Searching through my research from archives in the Vatican, London, and Canada, I came upon a report by Reverend Vasyl Kushnir of Winnipeg (1893–1979) which mentioned his work among the Ukrainian refugees (Displaced Persons or DPs) in Britain and  Western Europe. The report was addressed to Cardinal Eugène Tisserant of the Vatican Congregation pro Ecclesia Orientali (today known as the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches).  Kushnir had received and affidavit from his own Bishop, Vasily Ladyka. After arriving in London he received another testimonial letter from the papal representative, Archbishop William Godfrey. This document provided an entré to the offices of Catholic officials and charitable organisations on the European Continent. Kushnir's meeting with Godfrey, which took place on 15 January 1946, was arranged through Vladimir de Korostovetz and Danylo Skoropadsky. They were Orthodox Christians who held the Holy See in high regard and had become Godfrey's principal source on Ukrainian affairs. They were also founding members and founding leaders of AUGB. 

After completing his inspection of the DP camps and settlements in Europe, Kushnir presented a report to Cardinal Tisserant, the excerpts of which concerning Great Britain I reproduce here:

Rome, April 1st 1946            

MEMORANDUM

Re: Mission of Mercy to the displaced Ukrainians in Western Europe by Rev Dr Basil Kushnir, diocesan priest of Ukrainian catholic Diocese in Canada.

 

Your Eminence,

         As delegate of “Ukrainian Canadian Relief Fund” on a special mission of mercy to the displaced Ukrainians in Western Europe, I consider it as my duty to make to Your Eminence a report on conditions of those people living in different countries I visited.

         The Ukrainian Canadians were deeply and justly concerned, for obvious reasons, with the welfare of a large number of Ukrainians displaced and stranded in Western Europe as a result of the war.

         In consequence “The Ukrainian Canadian Relief Fund” of which I am the president, moved by such concern and Christian charity has made preparations and actions taken to render these unfortunates all the material assistance and moral and spiritual guidance withing their power; for that purpose I have been delegated as a messenger of charity in such a mission to Europe.

         My mission has been sponsored by Canadian Government, British Foreign and War Offices, Canadian and International Red Cross Associations and commended by my highest Ecclesiastical Authorities, His Eminence Cardinal Villeneuve of Quebec, my own Bishop Ladyka of Winnipeg and His Excellency Archibishop William Godfrey, Apostolic Delegate in London.

         During my mission from December 23rd 1945 until March 31st 1946, I visited the following countries: Great Britain, Belgium, France, Germany (British and American Zones), and Italy. I have still to visit Switzerland and Austria. [...]

         In Great Britain I started my mission on the 7th day of January 1946. I visited the camps in the neighbourhood of London, the Ukrainian Catholic community in Manchester and the Ukrainians in Polish forces in Edinburgh. The conditions of those people are in moral and physical aspect satisfactory. During the war, it was the Ukrainian Catholic chaplain [Mykhaylo Horoshko] carried out his pastoral duties for Canadian Ukrainians soldiers and for civilians, especially in Manchester. Now, after the demobilisation of the chaplain, the religious care for these people in Great Britain is a problem. While staying in London, I approached the people in authority in British Foreign Office, War Office, and the House of Lords. The purpose of the contact was to create a favourable opinion in regards the DPs, moreso as, at that time, the United Nations Conference was deliberating in London.

As a result of this contact on behalf of the Ukrainians Central Relief Bureau in London, sponsored by Ukrainian Canadian Relief Fund, I presented a memorandum to the Conference asking for DPs the right of asylum and urging [the UN] to denounce forced repatriation as incompatible with the concept of human liberty. This memorandum has been presented also to all the delegations at the conference and to the press. The London press and especially the Catholic press made, in this respect, very favourable comments.

A Report on the inaugural meeting of the AUGB was published in Nash klych, on 9 February 1946:

"On a cloudy and frosty day, 19 January 1946, in Edinburgh, for the first time in its history Scotland's capital witnessed such a large gathering of Ukrainians, who came from every corner of Great Britain and even from other continents. They had come for the first meeting of the Organization of Ukrainians in Great Britain.  In the city's train station, trams, and streets, the Ukrainian language echoed in the greetings of mutual friends and joyful and pleasant conversations. Individuals and groups hurried from the churches in which it was arranged to began this festive day by celebrating the Feast of the Theophany.  Exactly at 10:00,  the meetings' participants gathered at their churches: the Orthodox at Saint Mary's Cathedral [Episcopal Church of Scotland] and the Greek Catholics at the Roman Catholic Church of the Armed Forces [Saint Mary's RC Cathedral?]. The Orthodox Divine Liturgy and Great Water Blessing was celebrated by Bishop Mafiy [Siemaszko], Orthodox Chaplain of the Polish Armed Forces. The Greek Catholic Liturgy was celebrated by an honoured guest, Rev. Dr Vasyl Kushnir, representative of North American Ukrainian organizations, assisted by Major Hodys, Greek Catholic Chaplain in the Polish Armed Forces, with two Roman Catholic priests serving as deacons. A few hundred people were present including a number of Polish officers and several local women. Carols were sung by the faithful and Father Hodys preached a beautiful sermon. After the Divine Liturgy, they celebrated the Great Water Blessing. All participated in the Liturgy with youth and their elders joining their voices in a beautiful sung prayer. The church celebration concluded with the hymn Bozhe velykyi yedynyi.

From twelve o’clock noon, the meeting’s participants began to gather at the place designated for the organization’s general meeting – the church hall of St. Mary’s Cathedral. The spacious hall was soon filled with people and the sounds of cheerful chatter. Friends found each other, greeted those from the same villages as themselves, and exchanged pleasantries. They recounted their adventures, recalled both sad and happy times they had experienced together. After a prolonged period of conversation, it was time to begin the meeting and everyone took their seats. There were 110 people present: members of the AUGB and guests such as Rev. Dr Kushnir and press representatives of the PAT (the Polish Telegraph Agency).

At 1:30 PM the acting AUGB chairman Mykyta Bura called upon those present to observe a minute of silence to honour the memory of the soldiers who had given their lives on all fronts of the last war in the struggle for an independent Ukrainian state. Then he opened the first general meeting of the AUGB. Mr. Bura greeted Rev. Dr Kushnir on behalf of the AUGB. Then he addressed himself briefly to the members of the organization, emphasizing the importance of the First Organizational Congress of the AUGB and the participation a representative of overseas Ukrainian organizations in the person of Rev. Dr Kushnir. Finally, he suggested that Rev. Dr Kushnir be elected honorary chairman of the meeting. Those present approved his proposal with lively applause. In turn, Rev. Dr Kushnir thanked them for choosing him. In his speech he brought greetings to the members of AUGB from the Ukrainians of Canada and from all organised Ukrainian of North and South America. In his remarks, Dr Kushnir said: "I speak to you as a representative of the citizens of Ukrainian nationality of Canada and the United States of America. 

In Canada, we pondered every possible scenario which could have befallen you after the war and have been preparing to help you for a long time ... Be strong and have faith in your hearts! We are the finest warriors of our cause which is love for our Motherland – for Ukraine! Your most important task is to save your lives, and in this you will be helped by all Ukrainians of the free world. [...]"