UGCC parishioners are actively uniting around creation of the exhibition for the future Holodomor Museum complex through His Beatitude Sviatoslav’s (Shevchuk) campaign on the Grains of Truth platform. According to the UGCC Information Department.
On 22 July 2021, one of the biggest donations to date was made by the Ivano-Frankivsk Archdiocese: UAH 500,433.15 was raised by parishioners through joint efforts.
As Bishop Volodymyr Viytyshyn, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Ivano-Frankivsk comments, it is not the first time when Greek Catholics of the Ivano-Frankivsk region band together around spiritual values:
“We have a great experience of community, while we have been rebuilding and building our temples from the beginning of Ukraine’s independence, and also returning spiritual life to the most remote corners of the Ivano-Frankivsk Archdiocese. At present, it is impossible to overestimate significance of the project to create the Holodomor Museum because we as a community are under obligation to do our best to eternise the memory of Holodomor victims.”
In total, since November 2020 the Holodomor Museum Fund has already received over UAH 739,000 from private benefactors, from more than 50 individual parishes, as well as general contributions from the UGCC Sambir-Drohobych Diocese and the Ternopil-Zboriv Archdiocese through His Beatitude Sviatoslav’s campaign.
According to Ivan Vasiunyk, Chairman of the Fund’s Supervisory Board, active involvement of Churches and their faithful as Holodomor Museum benefactors is a unique example for Ukraine and the rest of the world.
“When we were launching the Grains of Truth platform, which is in fact a fundraiser for the exhibition of the future Holodomor Museum complex, we meant to complete a lofty objective: the State funds construction of the premises and the entire Ukraine is to join creation of the exhibition. Because the tragedy that took millions of innocent lives can upspring with truth when millions of citizens of independent Ukraine feel involved in restoring the memory of Ukrainians killed by starvation. In fact, the UGCC fundraising, which is taking place in Ukraine and around the world, is a real symbol of multiplication of thousands and hundreds of thousands of Museum benefactors, uniting people around a great mission: tell the world the truth about one of the greatest humanitarian tragedies of the 20th century,” — said Ivan Vasiunyk.
It is a reminder that His Beatitude Sviatoslav’s campaign continues and aims to spread information about the future Holodomor Museum across the globe where Greek Catholic communities, in particular, are present.
The head of UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, said on the occasion:
“The news that the eparchs, priests, monks and faithful of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church are actively involved in raising funds for the Holodomor Museum is a great consolation for our Church. After all, this is a testimony of living faith and prayer, not restricted to recalling only on the November days commemorating Holodomor victims. I am convinced that even the smallest charitable contribution by our faithful to the Holodomor Museum is of special importance, because it becomes a kind of talent that will be multiplied in the future.”
The UGCC Primate believes that this is important, “for we will have a place where to come and bring our relatives, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.” “We will have a place where we will renew our urge for truth, where we will find solace, and look for a way to the light by turning the tragic pages of our history,” — His Beatitude Sviatoslav explained.
“In the times of challenges, pandemics, economic turmoil and war the value of every contribution grows as we see that Christians’ hearts are open to charity, open not only to current problems but also to building up values: culture, history and national identity. And this means that today our Church as a community unites and remains faithful to its calling to serve,” — said the Head of UGCC.
Share
