KHABAILO (CHABAILO) PIONEER CEMETERY - On Sunday, Aug. 21, in conjunction with the 112th annual feast day celebration of the Dormition of the Holy Mother of God church at Mamornytsya (Mamornitz), a special pilgrimage trip was made to the Khabailo (Chabailo) pioneer cemetery, a long-forgotten and abandoned cemetery, located on the NW1/4 of S32-T29-R7-W2ndM, the homestead land of pioneer Stefan Chabailo, who settled on this land in 1898.
Rev. Petro Tsenov, parish priest of the Canora area, officially blessed the marker Orthodox cross newly-erected in 2021 and all the 20 documented graves of pioneers resting in this virgin land sacred burial grounds, and he prayed for the repose of their souls. He was accompanied space by some eight faithful members, who made the pilgrimage with him on that very hot August afternoon located some five miles south-west of Mamornitz, after the official festivities at Mamornytsya were over. This is the first time in many years that there were special prayers said on this abandoned cemetery.
This historic undertaking was not a special government sponsored project, but the initiative and work of three historically-minded dedicated resident volunteers: Adeline Dutchak, Cheryl Kaban and Phyllis Vitsko, whose aim was to preserve history dating back 125 years ago, spurred on by the spirit of their ancestors who lie buried there.
May God send His blessings upon them for many, many years. На Многії Многії Літа!
