Pannikhida for Cossacks and Confession of the Desecrators of the Cemetery

On June 8th, at St Vladimir's Cemetery in Jackson, New Jersey, a pannikhida was held at the recently desecrated Cossack chapel. This service was in commemoration of the betrayal and massacre of Cossacks at Lienz, Austria. Even though it had rained the entire day, a group of about 50 people had assembled to participate. At the service, Kuban Cossacks stood at attention bearing flags and drawn sabers, flanking both sides of chapel. A small group of other Cossacks, including Ataman Alexander Pewnew, flew to Lienz to participate in services there. Protopriest Phillip Petrovsky officiated at the service, with the assistance of St. Vladimir's choir director, Vladimir Tarkan. The service was solemn as everyone reflected on the lives of some 28,000 Cossacks (many of them women, children and the elderly) that were repatriated to the Soviet Union by British troops in 1945 and murdered by the communists.

At the end of the commemoration, Protopriest Phillip related the story of the chapel desecration. Two boys ages 10 and 12 years were apprehended and had confessed the vandalism to the police. One boy noted that the turning point to their destruction occurred when they broke into the chapel. The boy decided to take a decorative crown that stood under an icon of Pokrova of the Virgin Mary and attempted to leave the chapel. As he proceeded towards the battered door a strange force blocked his way, he tried several times but with no avail. He finally was overcome with fear of the unknown and placed the crown back on the shelf. After returning the crown, he was then able to leave the chapel. This fear caused the two youths to cease their defilement, and they left the cemetery. This story shook everyone present at the memorial service, showing that the Virgin Mary with her Veil, or Pokrova, as always, watches over and protects over evil.

May these youths, through this dreadful event, find the right path to God and stand beside Him as did the Cossacks remembered on this day.

Unworthy Servant of God Peter Okopny