Anniversary of Holodomor recognised

The 82nd anniversary of the Ukrainian Holodomor (famine) recognised in the Memorial Gardens

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The 82nd anniversary of the Ukrainian Holodomor (famine) was recognised this morning (Friday 20 November) as residents and specially invited guests met in the Memorial Gardens to mark the anniversary.

At the height of the Holodomor:

• 17 people died each minute.
• 1,041 people died each hour.
• 25,000 people died each day. 

The service began with a procession from Rochdale Town Hall to the Memorial Gardens, which included the Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale, Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk, local councillors and residents who wanted to pay their respects.

The service was then led by Chairwoman of the Friends of Lviv/Holodomor Committee, Anna Kecyk.

Wreaths were laid at the Holodomor memorial by Mayor Surinder Biant and Mayoress Cecile Biant, Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk and representatives from the Rochdale Ukrainian Community and Friends of Lviv.

A one minute silence was then observed.

A service of remembrance was then lead by Rev Bohdan Matwijczuk, Rev Father Yaroslav Riy, Rev Father Volodymyr Sampara, Rev Father Ewhen Nebesniak and The Rev Canon Alan Shackleton.

The service, which is held every year in Rochdale, commemorates the 7-10 million innocent men, women and children who were barbarically and systematically starved to death in the enforced famine.

Following the service those in attendance made their way back to the Town Hall for a visual presentation and a historical review of the Holodomor.