Montreal’s Ukrainian community mourns 7-year-old refugee killed in hit-and-run | 24CA News
The household of Mariia Lehenkovska sat within the entrance rows of the St. Sophie Orthodox Ukrainian Cathedral on St-Michel Street in Montreal for the seven-year-old woman’s funeral.
Her small white casket was half open subsequent to them. A crown of child’s breath had been positioned round her head. Bouquets of flowers introduced by the 70 or so individuals in attendance have been positioned behind her coffin.
Mariia died final week after she was struck by a automotive on Rouen Street. She and her two siblings have been strolling to their new college in Montreal’s Centre-Sud neighbourhood. A forty five-year-old man has been charged with leaving the scene of a deadly accident.
During the service, Mariia’s 10-year-old brother usually leaned out of the pew he and his household sat in to look contained in the casket.
Her mom, Halyna Lehenkovska, and two siblings are refugees of the battle in japanese Ukraine and have lived in Canada for 2 months.
Andrii Lehenkovskyi, their father and husband, stayed behind to hitch the Territorial Defence Forces. He flew to Canada Tuesday to mourn his youngest daughter’s demise and plans to remain for 2 or three months earlier than going again to Ukraine.
Lehenkovskyi learn a poem he wrote for Mariia as Rev. Volodymyr Kouchnir translated it into English. He recalled the enjoyment of the second she was born, stated she was radiant and in contrast her smile to a dawn.
“Our sweet daughter, you were given love, embraced with love, now and always,” he stated. “Stay, don’t go.… Angel, everything is possible in your hands.”
Kouchnir additionally shared a message from Lehenkovska, who spoke to reporters the night time earlier than.
“I hope the soul of little Marika will beseech the Lord to protect all children so that they no longer know the horrors of war and the loss of loved ones,” he stated.
The ceremony was stuffed with singing, which at one second grew louder as Kouchnir blessed Mariia’s coffin, swinging an incense thurible round it.
Simon Koklewsky, a member of the church who sang within the funeral, stated the chanting and singing “is for the soul of the deceased. It helps the family to pass this difficult time, to pass the grief.”
Koklewsky stated he was moved by Halyna Lehenkovska’s stoicism when he first met her on the funeral house final Wednesday, the day after Mariia was killed.
“I had to keep my own emotions in check. She’s a very strong, courageous woman,” he stated. “It’s been a very difficult year.”
Kouchnir, the priest, stated the household had instructed him the exhibits of assist they acquired from individuals in Montreal and throughout Quebec and Canada had given them energy.
“I’ve been a priest for 30 years. I’ve seen many things in my life, many funerals. This is the first funeral of a child in my life,” Kouchnir stated.
Priests from different Ukrainian congregations have been additionally invited to the funeral, which Koklewsky stated spoke to the importance of the occasion.
Eugene Czolij, Ukraine’s honorary consul in Montreal, additionally spoke on the funeral and known as for extra to be finished by NATO nations to cease the battle.
As the service drew to an in depth, Mariia’s coffin was delivered to the church’s entrance, adopted by her household and a procession of funeral attendants.
They paused and sang earlier than carrying her out into the chilly.
