Ukrainian authorities and leaders of Churches and religious organizations took part in a memorial service for victims of the Holodomor
Leaders of Churches and religious organizations of Ukraine, representatives of the authorities and the diplomatic corps today held a funeral procession to the sculpture "Bitter Memory of Childhood" on the territory of the National Museum of the Holodomor-genocide in Kyiv.
After that, a memorial service was held for those who died from the Holodomor of 1932-1933. It was headed by Metropolitan Epifaniy.
According to Religiyna Pravda (Religious Truth), the former Primate of the UOC-KP Filaret also came to the events honoring the deceased Ukrainians in the national Museum of the Holodomor. However, he stood aside.
Interlocutors of Religiyna Pravda (Religious Truth) in the office of the President note that the former Primate of the UOC-KP Filaret did not get an invitation to the official part of the memorial service. Filaret arrived at the national Museum of Holodomor around 13: 00. There he held a separate service with his priests.
The delegation of the UOC-MP headed by Metropolitan Onufriy was also present. They also did not take part in the Service.
"A huge amount of facts and evidence still does not give either the mind or the heart the answer to the simple question: "What for?» How can the idea of destroying an entire nation ever arise? How can you take the last crumb of bread from people, and the last crumb of hope with it. I hope that you or at least your children will live until the next morning, " the Head of State noted.
Volodymyr Zelensky noted that, according to various studies, from four to eight million Ukrainians died during the Holodomor of 1932-1933, which is comparable to the losses of Ukraine in the Second world war.
"We are Ukrainians. And we can do anything. But there are two things we can never do. We can't forget it. We can't forgive it. Today, Ukraine and the entire civilized world are praying for the innocent victims of this terrible crime against our people. Today Ukrainians will light candles in their windows. May the warmth of them warm the souls of all the dead. Memory eternal to them," the Head of State said and announced a national minute of silence, after which the all-Ukrainian action "Light a Candle" began.
The action was joined by representatives from each region, the Crimea, the cities of Kyiv and Sevastopol.
Compositions with grain and lighted lamps were put to the sculpture "Bitter memory of childhood".
After that was installed the lamps from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, from the government, from the presidents of Ukraine 1991-2019 years, the World Congress of Ukrainians, the Public Committee on honoring the memory of victims of Holodomor-genocide of 1932-1933, the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, ranging from the heads and representatives of diplomatic missions of foreign countries and international organizations accredited in Ukraine, as well as from each oblast, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, cities of Kyiv and Sevastopol.
At the end of the official ceremony, the Head of State struck the bell, which is installed at the entrance to the Alley of black boards of Ukraine.
