On Sunday November 8th, the U.O.C. of St. Demetrius celebrated its 75th Parish Anniversary Khram with an Archpastoral Divine Liturgy and celebratory banquet.

His Eminence, Metropolitan Yurij, and His Grace, Bishop Andriy, were firstly greeted by the parish children with bouquets of roses, then with bread and salt by Mykhailo Zienchuk, parish president, and by Oksana Balaban, parish cultural/educational liaison and finally by Fr. Walter and guest clergy Fr. Mykolaj Sidorski, Fr. Bohdan Hladio, Fr. George Gembliuk, Fr. Deacon Borys Melnyk and Subdeacon Franko Diakowsky.

After the Archpastoral Divine Liturgy, a celebratory banquet was held at the Trident Banquet Hall in Etobicoke.  Parishioners enjoyed a delicious meal while listening to the beautiful sounds of Oksana Kosarenko playing the harp, and while viewing a slideshow of parish photos from over the last 75 years.  A full program was presented with greetings from parish council as well as greetings from representatives of sister parishes.  The program included a singing performance by the Sunday School children directed by Oksana Chved and Oksana Klinovska, with a lively solo performance of “Ласкаво просимо” by young Maria Klymenko.  A selection of musical pieces were performed by the violin duet of Basil & Lukian Zmiyiwsky.  Members of CYMK enthusiastically sang “Ой у вишневому садочку”, and a septet of members of the St. Demetrius Church Choir, under the direction of Victor Kowalenko and Zhanna Zinchenko, sang a trio of liturgical songs.  The program was highlighted with a special performance by the St. Demetrius Bandura Ensemble which included 20 current and former students of the Bandura School from over the last 33 years – the ensemble, directed by Ron Demeda, performed bandura arrangements of the liturgical pieces “Достойно є”, “Херувимська Пісня No7”, and concluded with the lively “Полтавський Марш”.  The afternoon was fortified with words from His Eminence Metropolitan Yurij, His Grace Bishop Andriy, and Fr. Walter Makarenko who, this last August, started his 25th year as parish priest.  The afternoon concluded with the singing of “Достойно є” and then everyone joined hands for the singing of “Де згода в родині” by all present at the banquet.  Thank-you to our talented masters-of-ceremonies Liza Zienchuk and Taras Chved, and to Mark and Stefan Olynyk for engineering the sound and lighting.

Thank-you to the 75th Anniversary Organizing Committee: Michael Kalimin (Chair), Fr. Walter Makarenko, Victor Kowalenko, Natalka Olynyk Kowalenko, Luba Linok-Kalimin, Vera MacIntyre, Tamara Dowhal, Michael Zienchuk, Darcy Moskaluk-Rutkay and Johnny Moskalyk.  And a special thank-you to the Banquet sub-committee including: Victor Kowalenko (chair), Natalka Olynyk Kowalenko (organization), Luba Linok-Kalimin and Nadia Linok (decor), Nicholas Kalimin (printed program), Leo Atamanchuk, Ola Cybuchowska, Orysia Manzatiuk, Oksana Balaban, Team A (ticket sales), Helen Spendick (fundraising).  Additional thanks to Ron Demeda (photo slideshow).  Thank-you to Iwona and the staff of Trident Banquet Hall, to Baby Point Lounge Catering, and a special thank-you to Dobr. Sonia Melnyk for the wonderful and delicious 75^th Anniversary Cake.

Thank-you to all who attended and participated to make the 75th Anniversary Khram Banquet such a successful and well-enjoyed event!