Sviatyj Vechir Play – Youth’s Gift
By
John Pidkowich
The parish youth group at St. Demetrius
Ukrainian Catholic Church (Etobicoke, Ont.) presented a homily play – Christmas
Eve, Sviatyj Vechir – in place of the priest’s homoly-sermon for Sunday
Liturgy on Saturday’s Evening liturgical service, Dec. 20 and on Sunday, Dec.
21, 2008, the weekend before Christmas according to Gregorian calendar. The
group is grateful to Sister Rachel Tataryn who wrote the original script for
the play and former St. Demetrius Catholic School teacher Daria Diakowsky who
directed the youth and adapted the script for a bilingual English and Ukrainian
narration. The play was presented at two liturgies in English and another two
in the Ukrainian language.
The St. Demetrius Youth
Group, under the direction of Youth Co-ordinator Sub Deacon Michael Pidzamecky,
wished to contribute their gift to parish community life in preparation for
Christmas Time. Parishioners and guests were presented with Sviat Vechir
or Ukrainian Holy Christmas Eve Supper traditions, explaining how some
traditions from ancient pagan times had developed with biblical Nativity and
the observance of Christmas by Ukrainians. Emphasis was placed on presentation
of the traditional Twelve Lenten Course Meal served on Sviat Vechir and
their significance, symbolic of Christ’s 12 Apostles.
Subdeacon Michael and the
parish youth group would like to thank their newly adopted “Senior Members”:
Ulana Dychok, who played the role of Baba, who graciously allowed the
youth group to use her Hutsul pottery tableware set and embroidered table
linens; Fr. Deacon Leo Melnyk, who played the role of Dido; couples who
played the roles of Father and Mother - Andrij and Anna Rotko (Saturday 5 pm.
and Sunday at 8:30 am. Liturgies) and Serhiy and Anna Kasyanchuk (
In a “spirit of
co-operation”, the Sviat Vechir play narration was adapted for
presentation at the annual traditional Sviat Vechir – Spil’na Kutia (Community
Holy Supper) prepared by the Ukrainian Women’s Organization (OYK)
Toronto Branch and held at the Toronto UNF Community Centre on Jan. 11, 2009.
Sub Deacon Michael Pidzamecky is a former long-time member of the Ukrainian
National Youth Federation (MYHO) Toronto Branch.