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100 YEARS COMMEMORATION OF THE EVACUATION FROM THE CRIMEAN PENINSULA

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This year marks 100 years since the “Great Exodus” – the evacuation of the Crimea (November 13-16, 1920) an event in the Russian Civil War, in which the Russian State evacuated over sea from the Crimean Peninsula, their last stronghold, on the Southern Front (Sevastopol, Yevpatoria, Kerch, Feodosia, Yalta).  Organized and led by Baron Pyotr Nikolayevich von Wrangel, nearly 150,000  soldiers, civilians and crew were evacuated. Wrangel’s White “Black Sea” fleet, foreign ships & temporarily mobilized, in total 126 ships of the  Voluntary fleet sailed to Constantinople.  While some of the evacuees left the ships here, a significant number of emigre’ soldiers and their families evacuated to other locations such as Gallipoli, the island of Lemnos in the Aegean Sea and the Tunisian port of Bizerte.

From there, many went to European countries, such as Yugoslavia, where they found refuge. The soldiers and civilians who stayed or were left behind in the Crimea, suffered under the  “Red Terror” organized by the new Soviet government, authorized by Vladimir Lenin. The White Army soldiers had been falsely promised amnesty if they surrendered.

In memory of those who evacuated, leaving behind their homeland (many, never to return) and for those who stayed behind and succumbed to the “red terror” of the Bolsheviks and Soviet Red Army, memorial services will be held at churches throughout the US and the world, including panihida after Divine Liturgy at the Russian Orthodox Church of All Russian Saints Outside Russia in Burlingame and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Washington, DC. on Sunday, November 15, 2020 and at the Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral outside the church next to the Russian World War I Veterans memorial on Sunday, November 22, 2020.  All COVID-19 state restrictions will be enforced, incl. masks, distancing & other health & safety measures.

Congress of Russian Americans has been sponsoring commemorative events in honor of the 100 years, which includes producing a 4-part series film featuring interviews of descendants of this evacuation (USA only, as it has become overwhelming).

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CRA is also proud to announce the publishing of a new book by one of our Russian American community and CRA  members – Tatiana Amochaev.  Writing under the pseudonym of Tania Romanov (her grandmother’s maiden name), she is a prolific author (many other books under her belt) and a descendant of the Amochaev family that evacuated on the last ship from the Crimean Peninsula port of Yevpatoria.  Her gripping story captures not just the evacuation from the Crimea, but further obstacles that her family had to overcome before coming to the United States.  The book has just come out in print and can either be purchased through Amazon or better-yet, send your check $30.00 which will cover cost of the book, tax and S&H charges to CRA (per above address, memo: Crimean book).  The book will be mailed to you and the donation will go directly to CRA, per the author’s generous contribution.   CRA is a non-profit organization, so any donations that you make are tax-deductible.

 

Please sign the petition to save the statue of Alexander Baranov in Sitka, Alaska.

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We urge you to sign the petition against removing the statue of Alexander Baranov, founder of Novo-Arhangelsk (now the city of Sitka) and the first Russian governor of Alaska. Link to petition:

www.change.org/BaranovStatue

Here the letter that was sent to Mayor Paxton and Assembly members of the City and Borough of Sitka regarding removal of the Baranov statue:

Download (PDF, 105KB)

75th Anniversary of the End of WWII. Russian-Americans in the United States Armed Forces during WWII.

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This year marks the 75th anniversary of WWII. Victory Day, commemorates the surrender of Nazi Germany 1945. It was first inaugurated, following the signing of the German Instrument of Surrender late in the evening on 8 May 1945 (after midnight, thus on 9 May Moscow Time). V-E Day was observed on May 8, 1945, in Great Britain, Western Europe, the United States and Australia, and on May 9 in the Soviet Union and New Zealand.
Regardless of the day that the world acknowledges victory over Nazism, CRA recognizes the many lives lost throughout the world, no where more than the Soviet Union, with over 24 million military and civilian lives lost there alone, and salutes all of our veterans for their heroic courage under fire, who gave the ultimate sacrifice – their lives.
For many years, Congress of Russian Americans collected data of Russian-American veterans in the US. This “Golden list of Russian-American veterans” was collected by one of CRA’s founding members and US Army Colonel Oleg Olegovich Pantukhoff, son of Oleg Ivanovich Pantukhoff, founder of ORUR, Russian Scouts St.George Pathfinders and himself a colonel in the Life guards of the Russian Imperial army and published in various issues of CRA’s “Russian American” magazine and CRA’s Biographical Dictionary, compiled by Prof. Eugene A. Alexandrov.
During the war some 16 million Americans served in the United States Armed Forces, with 405, 399 killed and 671,278 wounded. Colonel Pantiukhov listed 159 Russian-American WWII veterans in the US military, which included 39 who gave their lives on the front. Photos and biographical data (both in English and Russian) of those were featured in CRA’s “Russian American”, as well as the Biographical Dictionary of Russians of North America (including those Russian-Americans who gave their lives in WWII, were kamikaze suicide flier, Vladimir Klochkov, Lieutenant Commander Nicholas Elin, Seargent Paratrooper John Lukashevich Jr., Lieutenant Georges Koushnareff, commanding a mine-throwing mission, wounded flying over Algiers, where he subsequently died, Lieutenant with the tank division of the US Army, Victor Staradoub, Army Air Force Lieutenant Alexander Rusecky, Private Marine Corp. Walter Valaskov, Peter Kisel with the Infantry Division, who participated in the Invasion of France, Sergeant 1st Class Special Agent CIC, Michael Varenik, who had already been a veteran of the Russian Civil War before serving in counterintelligence in WWII and many more).
Famous Los Angeles historian, A.Dolgopolov (himself a veteran of WWI & Russia’s Civil War) gathered lists of Russian veterans in America,  his list included  more than 2399 names. All three (Pantukhoff, Dolgopolov, Alexandrov) continued to state that this work has not been completed and we must continue the work of gathering these names. To further complicate finding many of these people from the 2nd and 3rd generations of Russians in America, many changed their names. such as Evgenyi Kiaschenko who Americanized his name as Eugene Kayes. 

The main logo: DOD, DVIDS and Graphics by Lynn Kaczenski.

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Христос Воскресе!

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Христос Воскресе!  Воистину Воскресе!
On behalf of the National Board of Directors of the Congress of Russian Americans and myself, we wish all of our members, sponsors, donors, supporters, friends,
a most blessed and joyous Easter.   Wishing all of you strong health and prosperity during these difficult times.
Natalie Sabelnik
President, Congress of Russian Americans

Public announcement re Coronavirus.

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With the rapid spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) throughout the world, and specifically the United States, Congress of Russian Americans’ office, headquartered in San Francisco, CA, will remain closed until further notice.   We thank our CRA members for their continued membership, donations and support. However, we will be unable to respond to your telephone calls or letters, as the building is virtually closed for access.
 
All of CRA’s currently planned events have been canceled in the SF Bay Area, as well as throughout our nationwide chapters.  
 
If you need to reach CRA for any reason, please email crahq.sf@gmail.com.   We will be checking our email periodically and respond to inquiries in a timely manner.  
To all our members, friends and extended families you are all in our thoughts and prayers, especially those that are afflicted or must continue their jobs as first responders or providers of essential services.  All are at risk and we want to stress the importance of sheltering in place and social distancing.
 

32nd annual Russian Festival in San Francisco.

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Congress of Russian Americans was a proud sponsor of the 32nd annual Russian Festival held at the Russian Center of San Francisco on the weekend of February 21, 22, 23, 2020.
Each year the festival brings together the Russian American community to celebrate “Maslenitsa” with 3 days of traditional Russian food, drink, desserts, arts & crafts and a variety of entertainment
featuring Russian dancers, musicians, singers in authentic colorful costumes.  The Museum of Russian Culture is open throughout the 3 days and displays their collections, archival material and exhibits,
as is the Library with their collection of over 20,000 Russian books.  Local Russian artists display their artwork, which can be purchased, as well as admired.  Other arts & crafts for sale include Matrioshka
stacking dolls, Russian shawls, souvenirs and a large collection of jewelry of precious and semi-precious stones.  CRA has a table throughout the 3 days of the festival with information about our organization,
our events, humanitarian aid and historical programs, funds, as well as a photo display of last year’s work, as well as information about CRA’s upcoming commemorative events and sponsorships.DSC_6495

Old-Style Russian New Year’s Celebration

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This year marks the 70th anniversary of the arrival of the first ship to San Francisco from Tubabao (November 30, 1950 on the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) ship USNS General M. L. Hersey ).  Refugees, residents of the island encampment, in several ships had already left the island earlier that year to Australia and other countries, and this ship was the first of three that arrived to America.   This year also marks the 90th anniversary of the League of Russian Women (later to be renamed Russian American Women’s League in SF), and over 95 years of the All Cossack’s Union.  Both organizations were founded in Shanghai in the early to late 1920’s by White Russians who fled the terror of the Russian Revolution and Civil War.   Many organizations were founded, but not many survived.   Yet these two found strength in working together and continued their work, not just in Shanghai, but through Tubabao and in the United States.
 
According to an article from one of the Russian newspapers “Slovo” in Shanghai, dated 1926, the Cossack Balls were considered one of the most grand in the city.  Held at the Majestic Hotel in Shanghai in 1926 and throughout the years as annual balls , Cossacks dressed in their respective Cossack regiment’s uniforms performed as a choir on stage for the delight of the guests.  Many who came in the 1950’s may recall the grand Cossack balls held in San Francisco at the Russian Center.  These traditions have been carried throughout the years, and the Cossacks though dwindling in numbers have continued to hold their traditional Old Russian Style New Year.  
 
This year, joining forces with the Russian American Women’s League (who have their own legendary history, as well as many of whom are also Cossack descendants), the traditional Old-Style Russian New Year was held at the Russian Center’s Gold Room on Friday, January 10.  This was a partnership of cooperation and respect, commemorating 90 years of working together and was a celebration for members (and their families) of both organizations.  While the quantity of members of both organizations may have declined in recent years, both organizations continue their work and united, celebrated the holiday season and their annual commemoration of the Old-Style Russian New Year.
A pot-luck dinner proved that the members, families and friends were able to start the Old New Year celebration together in harmony and commeraderie. Both the zakuski, the main table and dessert table were full of the most delicious variety of gourmet delicacies that Russian hostesses prepared for this joyous celebration. Guests also brought their own favorite drinks. It wasn’t about eating and drinking, it was truly about celebrating together.
Palina Suhonos, who coordinated the tables and pot-luck thanked those people from each organization that brought this evening together. This included the wonderful ladies of both organizations – Nadia Buick, Irene Goncharoff, Sasha Sabelnik-Whooley, Vika Sabelnik, and Katia Sabelnik-Snider who donated her time and help as a director of Russian Center to help set-up and clean-up of the evening. Of course, Palina also thanked everyone who brought food and helped with making this evening a success.
Goga Engurasoff, a favorite of the Russian community, donated his time and talent to the event, with guests dancing to throughout the evening, and our own world-celebrated Nikolai Massenkoff sang several Cossack songs, bringing the audience to join in the singing.
All agreed, that the speech by Congress of Russian Americans (who was a sponsor of the event) president, Natalie Sabelnik who reached out to the participants that there are so few of us left, that we need to work together was inspirational. She encouraged people to join both organizations – Cossacks & League, and people agreed that we, indeed, need to carry on these traditions and we indeed need to work together. Some filled out applications straight away to both Cossacks Union and League, and others approached the directors of each board and promised to join and help in future events.
With the start of the New Year and the new decade, let’s continue working together in harmony and prosperity, much like our parents and grandparents did when they were forced to live abroad, awaiting return of our Russian homeland.

“Taste of Russia” festival in San Francisco.

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On Sunday, October 20, 2019, the doors opened at 11:00am for the 12th time for the “Taste of Russia” festival at the Holy Virgin Cathedral. Only one year was missed, since its inception in 2006, when there were conflicting schedules of all of the dedicated volunteers and miscellaneous other community events in San Francisco Bay Area.
There was much to do in the area of the cathedral and school halls and the courtyard, including tasting all of the traditional Russian foods, such as piroshki, borscht, pelmeni, beef stroganoff, as well as a barbecue of sausages, shashlik and fine meats. Both bars, courtyard and in the walkway between halls, offered plenty of libations, including Russian beer, wines, flavored vodkas, mixed drinks and sodas, juices and waters. Truly a labor of love, families worked together to set up, prepare, cook, clean and support the efforts of this Russian Orthodox community fundraising effort for the beloved Holy Virgin Cathedral, home of the relics of St.John of Shanghai and China.
The cathedral choir with their choir director, Vladimir Krassovsky, in addition to singing the liturgy stayed to perform a repertoire of their concerts in the cathedral hall, and the multi-talented Vladimir Krassovsky, iconagrapher also presented an icon painting demonstration.
The official opening was at 12:00 noon, on the stage in the school hall, when Congress of Russian Americans, President Natalie Sabelnik thanked everyone for coming, performing, volunteering and helping under the skilled leadership of Mira Troyan. Shawn Sabelnik-Whooley presented Mira Troyan with a bouquet of flowers and thanked Ms.Troyan for her wonderful organizational work. Sabelnik, who was the MC, also thanked dedicated sound engineer Nick Ionoff and his assistant, Carlos for their enormous help in coordinating all of the music and sound needs. Sabelnik also introduced Matt Davis from the US Department of State, Foreign Missions to say a brief word. Matt Davis, although not a native Russian speaker, who tries to speak Russian to his two young children, thanked Natalie Sabelnik for the invitation, explained how he has worked with CRA in the past, and congratulated the cathedral for a splendid “Taste of Russia” festival.
Congress of Russian Americans was one of the sponsors of the festival, and the coordinators of the program of entertainment, which included beautiful costumes and dances of Vladimir Riazantsev’s Russian Folk Ensemble (where V.Riazantsev also accompanied the dancers on the bayan), newcomers to the festival, Slavitza Folk A-Cappella Group, Sivka-Burka Children’s Cossack Ensemble (again accompanied by V.Riazantsev), Kalinka Women’s Dance Ensemble from Sacramento with young singer, Liliya Vartanova, classical guitarist, Yvgenyi Shilin, singers Oksanna & Liza Nadelson (accompanied by Roman Shatsev), and again Liza with her brother, David, in a Latin ballroom dance. Another newcomer to the HVC stage, Soussanna Chubarian (accompanied by Tatiana Scott). Halfway through the program, Natalie Sabelnik introduced her daughter, Sasha Sabelnik-Whooley to assist with the introductions of the performers, and introduced stage veterans, Russian Center Dance group, under the direction of Aleksei Prokoshin. The program concluded with the Grande Finale by world-reknowned Nikolai Massenkoff and his Massenkoff Russian Folk Orchestra (including piano, flute, guitar, balalaikas, 2 accordions and again, V.Riazantsev on the bayan). It’s important to note, that three of the programs performers were Honored Artists, V.Riazantsev (Russia), Yvgenyi Shilin (Kazakhstan) and Roman Shatsev (Belorussia).
During the intermissions, audience could visit the CRA sponsor table, eat more of the delicious food and a vast variety of desserts (e.g. napoleon, vatrushka & many more), buy souvenirs, jewelry, arts & crafts from the tables of the Russian American Women’s League and the Sisterhood of the Holy Virgin Cathedral. All proceeds going to the cathedral’s fundraiser.
Comments by many of the guests were that the food was plentiful, delicious and some of the best Russian food they’ve every had. The music, singing, dancing and the Russian costumes, especially the bejeweled boyar costumes, the cossack uniforms, sarafans, and all the rest of the colorful costumes also contributed to one of the best programs attended. This was evidenced at the end, when guests were reluctant to leave and were already making plans for next year’s “Taste of Russia” festival (yet, to be determined when)!
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