• Home page
  • News
  • UGCC Patriarch and Ukraine’s President unveil Metropolitan Sheptytskyy’s monument...

UGCC Patriarch and Ukraine’s President unveil Metropolitan Sheptytskyy’s monument

29.07.2015, 15:19
UGCC Patriarch and Ukraine’s President unveil Metropolitan Sheptytskyy’s monument - фото 1
On July 29, a monument to Metropolitan Andriy Sheptytskyy, whose 150th anniversary celebrated today at the church and state levels, was solemnly unveiled today in Lviv.

exklusiv.gifПам’ятник Андреєву Шептицькому у Львові

On July 29, a monument to Metropolitan Andriy Sheptytskyy, whose 150th anniversary celebrated today at the church and state levels, was solemnly unveiled today in Lviv. Lviv Greek Catholics, clergymen, government officials, pilgrims from Ukraine and abroad came to mark this event. Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko attended the opening of the monument to the great Ukrainian.

Metropolitan Sheptytskyy’s monument was installed opposite the Cathedral of St.George. At 10:00 in the morning, the clergymen led by Patriarch UGCC Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) celebrated the Liturgy. Then they descended into the crypt where the Metropolitan was buried.

The unveiling of the monument started with the Anthem of Ukraine. Poroshenko was the first to speak out: “Today we are restoring historical justice and finally inaugurate the monument to Sheptytsky in Lviv. And the best monument to the metropolitan is the independent Ukraine that moves towards the family of European nations.”

Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) of the UGCC called the unveiling of the righteous Metropolitan’s monument a historical event. He said the attempts to honor Metropolitan Andriy were an integral part of the national liberation struggle of our people. Before World War II, Ukrainians had made an attempt to erect a monument to the metropolitan, but these intentions were not a success. The patriarch said that the pedestal in its present shape had been established during the life of Metropolitan Sheptytskyy, in autumn 1932, at the Greek Catholic Academy. In 1945, the monument to Metropolitan Andriy was destroyed as well as the most of Lviv monuments. Another monument to Sheptytskyy designed by Sergey Litvinenko was installed in the courtyard of the National Museum in 1935, but it was also destroyed by soviet authorities.

“Many residents of Lviv remember in the 90's the people bringing flowers to the places where the monuments to Taras Shevchenko and Metropolitan Andriy were to be raised. Many of you remember that in St. George’s square there was a mountain of flowers and candles and an inscription: “Here the monument to Metropolitan Andriy will be raised.” And now this has come true,” Patriarch Sviatoslav said.

After the monument inauguration ceremony, UGCC Metropolitan of Lviv Ihor (Voznyak) thanked all those who contributed to the monument’s contruction, those who disseminated ​​Metropolitan Andriy’s ideas and the people who assembled in the square.

 The construction of the monument to Metropolitan Andrey, as we know, began in May this year. Its author is sculptor Andriy Koverko, the designers are architects Ihor Kuzmak and Mychailo Fedyk. Metropolitan statue is cast from bronze. It is 3.6m high. Metropolitan Andriy is depicted in monastic robe, belted with a leather belt. His head is slightly bowed. In one hand he holds a cross, and rests against the stele with another hand.

The monument installation was preceded by lengthy debate on the appropriateness of spending money on its construction during war and by the protests of activists who opposed the tree cutting in the park and the reconstruction of St. George's Square.

Photos from President of Ukraine’s website

Відкриття пам'ятника Митрополиту Андрею у Львові

Відкриття пам'ятника Митрополиту Андрею у Львові

Відкриття пам'ятника Митрополиту Андрею у Львові

Відкриття пам'ятника Митрополиту Андрею у Львові

Відкриття пам'ятника Митрополиту Андрею у Львові