Ukraine First Lady Visits Pittsburgh

Ukraine's First Lady's Visit to Pittsburgh, PA

     November 30, 2008, Ukraine's First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko visited St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Church in Pittsburgh, accompanied by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine in the United States, Oleh Shamshur, members of the Pittsburgh Ukrainian community, and Ukraine 3000 Foundation.
    Together with the parishioners, Mrs. Kateryna attended the Divine Liturgy. After the service, Mrs. Yushchenko visited the Ridna Shkola cultural center on the church premises and a small ethnographic museum, created by members of the Pittsburgh Ukrainian community and the school teachers. Mrs. Kateryna presented to Ridna Shkola publications on ethnography, culture, history, children’s books, and CDs with old and modern Ukrainian music.
    Mrs. Kateryna Yushchenko and Ukraine 3000 Foundation members are staying in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a working visit on an invitation from the local Ukrainian community. Earlier they visited the University of Pittsburgh, attending its Medical Center and the Ukrainian Room.
    That evening, Kateryna Yushchenko was awarded with the medal of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem at the St. Josaphat Bishop's Ball. The award ceremony took place November 30, 2008, in Pittsburgh, in the presence of the numerous representatives of Ukrainian diaspora organizations, religious communities, and churches, in part, the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saint Josaphat in Parma, Ohio, Ukrainian National Women's League of America, Self Reliance Federal Credit Union (Samopomich), Ridna Shkola, Nova Khvylia, Saint Josaphat Union, and Ukrainain Radio Program radio station.
    Mrs. Kateryna was bestowed of the high award for her contribution into developing the humanitarian sphere in Ukraine. The medal was presented by members of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem in North America.
    The Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus was founded in 1098 in a leper hospital in Palestine by crusaders. It originally admitted knights with leprosy. The Order took part in hostilities, in part, during the Third Crusade. After the crusaders were expelled from Palestine, the Order settled in France, continuing its hospitaller activities. In 1517, a part of the Order joined the St. Mauritius Order, forming the Order of Sts. Mauritius and Lazarus; however, the Order of Saint Lazarus continued to exist. The modern Order of Saint Lazarus is represented in 24 countries, continuing its charitable activities.
    Mrs. Kateryna Yushchenko and Ukraine 3000 Foundation members are staying in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a working visit on an invitation from the local Ukrainian community. November 29 they visited the University of Pittsburgh, attending its Medical Center and the Ukrainian Room.