Ukrainian Christmas Carols at Prime Minister’s Residence

Ottawa - For the first time, carollers performed traditional Ukrainian Christmas carols Koliady and Shchedrivky at the Prime Minister’s residence on January 18, 2012.

Approaching the end of the Ukrainian Christmas season (according to the Julian calendar January 7 to 19), a group of carollers composed of members of the choir of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral and a youth choir from St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine in Ottawa performed a series of carols in Ukrainian and the Ukrainian “Carol of the Bells” (Shchedryk) in English.

Weathering a January winter storm, the carollers arrived at 24 Sussex Dr. at 5:30 pm. and greeted Mrs. Laureen Harper with the traditional Ukrainian Christmas greeting “Khrystos Narodyvsya”, sang Dobriy vechir tobi, and asked: “Do you accept carollers?” The carollers then sang Boh Predvichnyi – “God Eternal”, performed by the entire group. This was followed by a traditional Ukrainian Christmas greeting, a vinchuvannya recited in English by Mr. Keith Swinton.

The youth choir from St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine performed an English language version of Shchedryk - the Ukrainian “Carol of the Bells”. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin choir then concluded the performance with Boh Narodyvsya – “God Is Born”, followed by Boh Sya Rozhdaye – “Christ Is Born, Angels Rejoice”.

The carollers concluded by offering Christmas greetings. Mrs. Harper graciously provided hot chocolate and homemade pampushky to the carollers.

The carolling was organized by the National Office of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in cooperation with the UCC Ottawa Branch.

The carollers from the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral Choir, under the direction of Larissa Mason, were Natalka Mason, Oxana Genia, Nadia Zelem, Zora Jackson, Angie Reshitnyk, Tamara Rudenko-Charalambij, Vera Hutzuliak, Margret Kopala, Keith Swinton, Oleh Belkin, and Michael Reshitnyk. The Ukrainian Catholic children’s choir members included Madeline Visser, Auke Visser, Zoe Butcher, Jasmine Butcher and Roman Kozak.