REMEMBERING THE 2013/2014 REVOLUTION OF DIGNITY
February 18, 2022
PARISHES OF MANITOBA INVITED TO JOIN BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN UKRAINE IN REMEMBERING THE FIRST TO DIE FOR A NEW FREEDOM
The Archbishop of Winnipeg, Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak, has asked that all the parishes of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg know about the Ukrainian holiday that now takes place every February 20th. Parishes may also choose to follow the lead of the Manitoba Branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (see below) in shifting commemorations of this day to the following Sunday - February 27th.
ДЕНЬ ГЕРОЇВ НЕБЕСНОЇ СОТНІ
MEMORIAL DAY OF THE HEAVENLY HUNDRED
According to the Presidential Decree of February 11, 2015, Ukraine annually commemorates February 20 as the Day of the Fallen Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred. On this day, we honour those who were killed during the Euromaidan, the protest during the winter of 2013-2014 against pro-Russian former president, Viktor Yanukovych. Violent crackdowns by authorities resulted in the killing of 104 peaceful protesters and the injury of approximately 2500 others. As eight years of war in Ukraine's Donbas region and recent military build-up of Russian troops and armaments around Ukraine indicates, the struggle for democracy, territorial integrity and rule of law in Ukraine continues to this day.
This year, there is a week of commemorative events planned for Ukraine's capital city Kyiv where one finds the "Maidan" (Independence Square) which was the epicentre of the 2004 Orange Revolution and the 2013/2014 Revolution of Dignity. Members and groups of the Ukrainian Catholic Church will be widely represented throughout the events that include ceremonies and prayer services. This is expected as the Ukrainian Catholic Church was "with the people" during these revolutions - helping work the supply chains, ministering to the crowds that gathered - as well as dying on the "front lines". They will participate as hierarchy and clergy and speakers. The seminarians from the Ukrainian Catholic Seminary of the Three Holy Hierarchs (situated just outside the Capital) will be singing for a few of the events, like the Panakhyda (requiem service) for those who died in the Revolution of Dignity.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Manitoba Provincial Council joins Ukraine in this commemoration of the 8th anniversary of the Heavenly Hundred. They encourage the participation of the Ukrainian community of Manitoba - and of all persons who support freedom of peoples and freedom for self-determination - to commemorate this day in some way. Parishes across Manitoba are encouraged to join together on Sunday February 27th in commemorating the Heavenly Hundred, who paid the ultimate price for a brighter future for Ukraine.
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