Every year, Ukrainian children around the world await the arrival of Sviatyj Mykolaj (St Nicholas the Wonder-worker). On December 19, Sv Mykolaj’s feast day according to the Julian Calendar, The New Pathway’s Petro Lopata caught up with the big man himself at St Josaphat’s School in Toronto. At 40 years old, St Josaphat’s is the oldest Ukrainian day school in the city. Following two months of hard work, the staff and students moved into their new home at 55 Pelham Ave, just after Thanksgiving.

Petro Lopata

Though I knew I was close, I had trouble finding my relocated old grade school St Josaphats in Toronto. Thank goodness for Yurko Marechko of the St Josaphat Parish Credit Union, who gave me directions to the new school building. Driving around in circles through Toronto traffic may have put a damper on my spirits, but they were immediately lifted when I saw the new building.

Whats more, I had arrived just on time for the schools Sv Mykolaj concert. When I entered the gymnasium, most of the 300 students at St Josaphats were already seated on the floor, awaiting in fact, someone elses big entrance Sv Mykolaj would be making his first ever visit to the schools new home.

Instrumental in arranging for this special guests appearance at St Josaphats Ukrainian teacher Ulana Ofik and principal Bill Zyla. But before Sv Mykolaj could make his entrance, the little devils of the fourth grade warned that only those children that had behaved well over the year would be getting presents, while the rest would receive prutyky – whip-like tree branches used for dealing out capital punishment

Then two angels appeared on-stage, announcing the arrival of the guest of honour. They escorted him to a throne in the audience, and stood by him throughout the remainder of the concert.

Now with Sv Mykolaj as one of the spectators, every grade went up on stage to perform a song dedicated to the 4th century bishop from Anatolian Myra.

Finally, Sv Mykolaj himself pro-ceeded to the stage, from which he called upon the children to behave, work and study well for the benefit of Ukraine and all Ukrainians. Bidding farewell till next year, Sv Mykolaj left the stage, but not without leaving gifts behind for all the good children of St Josaphats.

After Sv Mykolajs departure he still had other Ukrainian schools and children to visit around the world Ofik guided me around the school, proudly showing off the new facilities.

She beamed as she showed me the well-equipped drama room, where she spends much time with the school children.

With assistance from the schools other Ukrainian-language teacher Ihor Petriv, Ofik works at really honing the students comprehension and pronuncia-tion. According to Ofik, drama and role-playing are key elements in bringing the Ukrainian language to life for the children and making it real in their lives.

With just two short weeks to prepare her screenplay, the whole school came together, notes Ofik. In addition to standard devotional songs, two of the compositions performed were written by the schoolteacher herself.

According to Ofik, the shows main goal was to bring alive an age-old Ukrainian tradition in a contemporary way.

Though shes only been teaching here since March, Ofik has already made progress in getting St Josaphats students involved in drama outside of the school. Students have participated in a number of community events, most recently at the Sviato Knyzhky (Book Festival) held at Torontos St Vladimir Institute.

Upcoming events include a long-held Ukrainian tradition the Vertep, or Christmas play, scheduled to be held at the school 7pm, January 16, 2003.

In this grand new facility, and with an obviously dedicated staff and principal, St Josaphats school looks set to churn out plenty of good kids over the years to come. That way, Sv Mykolaj will be able to visit again and again.