UKRAINIAN RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL LEADERS JOIN MARCH OF SOLIDARITY IN KIEV
On 18 January at 2:00 p.m. a march of solidarity against terrorism made its way from Mikhailov Square in Kiev. The participants in the procession were honoring the memory of 13 passengers who died in a bus near Volnovakha in the Donets area as well as 5,000 victims of the war in the Donbass that has continued for ten months in a row now. Afterward a prayer service was held on Independence Square (Maidan) at the end of which the people were addressed by the primates of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev patriarchate (\PTsKP) and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, bishops of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAPTs) and UPTsMP, and representatives of protestant churches and Muslims. The action concluded with the lighting of candles and laying flowers in memory of the victims of Volnovakha. Also participating in the march and laying of flowers were Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and his wife, Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk, Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klichko, and others. (tr. by PDS, posted 19 January 2015)
UGKTs PATRIARCH CALLED TODAY'S HONORING OF VICTIMS OF TERRORISM A MARCH OF DIGNITY
The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGKTs), Sviatoslav Shevchuk, called the procession and prayer service for the victims of Volnovakha, that was held on 18 January in Kiev on Independence Square a march of dignity of free citizens and a march for life. This was said by the patriarch of UGKTs, addressing tens of thousands of Kievans and guests of the capital after the prayer service.
"Today we are participants in and witnesses of an unprecedented event in the history of our independent fatherland. This event today already is being called different things. Somebody says that we are participants in a march of peace, in order to say a decisive 'no' to terrorism in any of its manifestations. A decisive 'no' to violence against humankind. Some call this event a march of solidarity. And this is correct because today all of Ukraine is united in all of its corners. Today we are joined by the world community in various cities in various countries of the world. Today we are together in order to unite in our decisive 'no' to aggression and violence," he said.
"Today's event can also be called a march of dignity. Because today we want to affirm and testify to the sacredness and dignity of each person, regardless of what language one speaks, what religion one confesses, and what convictions one holds in one's heart. Every human individual is created in the image and likeness of God and is the most dignified creature in this world. Today we also want to testify to your and my dignity as free citizens of an independent state. Today we can say that this event is a march for life, because we want to affirm the sanctity of each human life. And our obligation is to protect life. Today we should be united and be in solidarity in our obligation to protect our country, our land, and our brothers and sisters. May the all-merciful Lord send peace to the Ukrainian land," the head of UGKTs added. (tr. by PDS, posted 19 January 2015)
PATRIARCH FILARET ASKS WORLD COMMUNITY TO HELP UKRAINE CONQUER TERRORISM IN DONBASS
The primate of UPTs of the Kiev patriarchate, Filaret, addressed to people of good will in all the world a request to be united in the struggle with terrorism that today is being conducted by Ukraine in the Donbass.
The first hierarch spoke about this after the prayer service in memory of the victims in Volnovakha that was held on 18 January in Kiev on Independence Square.
"Why have we gathered on Independence Square and made a march of peace along the central street of the capital? What is the goal? By this march we have testified that Ukraine and the Ukrainian people want peace," he declared, addressing tens of thousands of people who participated in the march and prayer service.
"We have assembled in order to protest against acts of terrorism being conducted in the Donbass and, in particular, near Volnovakha. Let the whole world know that acts of terrorism are being committed in the east of Ukraine. And we ask that they unite themselves to our struggle against terrorism," the primate of UPTsKP continued his thought.
Patriarch Filaret noted that Ukrainians have not spared their own lives and have given them for the state and freedom. He expressed the hope that God will surely bless us for this sacrifice by means of victory over the enemy. (tr. by PDS, posted 19 January 2015)
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