Ukrainian Community Honors Unity Day at St. Mary’s Cemetery
On Thursday, January 22, 2026, the Ukrainian community of the Philadelphia region gathered to mark Ukraine’s Freedom, Sovereignty, and Unity – A Day of Dedication and Commemoration, honoring two historic moments in Ukrainian history: the Act of Independence of January 22, 1918, and the Act of Unity of January 22, 1919. Representatives of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia also joined the commemoration, standing in solidarity with the community in prayer and remembrance.
The commemorative program began at 11:00 a.m. with a Panakhyda (Requiem Service) and Commemoration Ceremony at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery on Cedar Road in Elkins Park / Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. Clergy, community leaders, faithful, and guests assembled in prayerful remembrance of those who gave their lives for Ukraine’s freedom and for the unity of its lands and people.
The program opened with remarks by Eugene Luciw, who offered historical reflections highlighting the enduring significance of Ukrainian statehood and national unity, especially in light of Ukraine’s ongoing struggle to defend its sovereignty.
In his address, Mr. Luciw emphasized the profound spiritual and moral meaning of the Act of Unity, saying that it was, “An act of faith, courage, and love for the homeland — proof that the Ukrainian spirit is stronger than any borders. The Act of Unity became a symbol of resilience, passed down from generation to generation in our songs, our prayers, our embroidered shirts, and the memory of our families.”
He also drew attention to the deep historical ties connecting the Ukrainian struggle for independence with the local community. Mr. Luciw noted that Longin Cehelsky — a key diplomat of both the Western Ukrainian People’s Republic and the Ukrainian People’s Republic, and the person who publicly proclaimed the Act of Unity in Kyiv’s St. Sophia Square — is buried at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery. He recalled that Cehelsky later came to the United States in 1920 as an official representative of the Western Ukrainian government, spent his final years in Philadelphia, and passed away there in 1950. Mr. Luciw added that it was especially meaningful to him that, in emigration, Cehelsky also served as an editor of the Ukrainian newspaper The Way, linking Ukraine’s historic struggle for unity with the living memory preserved by the local community.
Reflecting on the present day, he added, “Today, as Ukraine fights for its freedom and territorial integrity, this symbol resounds especially powerfully. It reminds us that this is not only a historical fact, but a living promise that we renew each time we stand here together. And as long as this unity lives in our hearts, in our community, and in communities around the world, Ukraine will always live.”
The program continued with a Panakhyda memorial service, followed by a prayer at the monument of Longin Cehelsky.
