TERNOPIL — The national event “Keep the Candle of Memory Alight” is conducted in Ukraine and 32 countries with a Ukrainian diaspora to bring the attention of Ukrainians to the memory of Holodomor of 1932-1933. The symbol of the event, which is to last from July to October, is the “Candle of Memory,” reported Taras Hrebeniak, the coordinator of the Ukrainian Cause association of public organizations of the Ternopil Oblast, to our RISU correspondent, Volodymyr Moroz. The campaign is not only of spiritual character but primarily educational. “While I hold the candle for the Ternopil region we propose to serve memorial services for the repose of the victims of Holodomor in all the parishes. We are prepared to come to the services with the symbolic candle and tell people about what happened in 1932-1933,” he said. 

“We want to reveal the truth about the famine of 1932-1933 again. We have seen that people heard about Holodomor but in general our contemporaries do not understand all the horrors of the tragedy. And this is natural. It is important for us, our children and grandchildren, to remember this page of our history. For us, as a great European nation, to realize that we ourselves determine our fate and should not rely only on the friendly support of our neighbors and partners. For as history shows sometimes, this ‘friendship’ costs too much,” continued Taras Hrebeniak. The organizers look for volunteers to conduct the campaign. Interested persons in the Ternopil region can reach Mr. Hrebeniak by phone: 095-53-46-788.

“We see the main objective of the volunteers as being the propagandists of the movement in order for services to be served in each parish and for people to learn about the Holodomor,” said Hrebeniak.

The campaign is a continuation of the Candle of Prayer event which was held in Kyiv on June 19. After visiting the regions of Ukraine the candles are to be brought to Kyiv in November.

“If there are many parishes ready to participate in the action and not enough ‘candles of memory,’ we will ask for more in Kyiv,” stated the activist.