Met. Onuphry of Kiev pays tribute to memory of victims of political repression (+ VIDEO)

Kiev, May 22, 2018

Photo from the site of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Photo from the site of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
    

On Sunday, May 20, the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine took part in an official ceremony honoring the memory of the victims of political repression in Ukrainian history, reports the site of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

He was accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, His Eminence Archbishop Jonah of Obukhov, and a number of clergymen.

​

The event was held on the territory of the National Historical-Memorial Reserve “Bykovnyasnkie Graves.” The Bykovnyansky Forest is the site of the largest mass grave of political victims in Ukraine. The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs buried those shot and tortured there in the 1930s and 1940s.

Photo from the site of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Photo from the site of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
    

President Petro Poroshenko and representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers, Verkhovna Rada, and various religious organizations also took part in the event, honoring the victims of political repression with a minute of silence and flowers and lampadas placed at victims’ graves.

Photo from the site of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Photo from the site of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
    

“We are now celebrating the 80th anniversary of the mass political repressions of 1937-1938. Due to the incomprehensibly large scale, which has not been accurately established so far, this crime of the Communist totalitarian regime is called a Great terror,” Poroshenko said during his speech, reports the president’s official site.

Photo from the site of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Photo from the site of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
    

Ukraine celebrates the victims of political repression every year on the third Sunday of May, as established by presidential decree on May 21, 2007. In addition to honoring the victims, the day draws society’s attention to tragic events in Ukrainian history.

Follow us on Facebook!

5/22/2018

See also
New Martyrs forgave their murderers, but did not reconcile with Bolshevik ideas—Bp. Tikhon (Shevkunov) New Martyrs forgave their murderers, but did not reconcile with Bolshevik ideas—Bp. Tikhon (Shevkunov) New Martyrs forgave their murderers, but did not reconcile with Bolshevik ideas—Bp. Tikhon (Shevkunov) New Martyrs forgave their murderers, but did not reconcile with Bolshevik ideas—Bp. Tikhon (Shevkunov)
Attempts to artificially reconcile the Whites and Reds in Russia will go nowhere—it is a matter only for God, and not for man, according to His Grace Bishop Tikhon (Shevkunov). “Assaults on Holy Places Will Not Go Unpunished” “Assaults on Holy Places Will Not Go Unpunished”
Sergei Geruk “Assaults on Holy Places Will Not Go Unpunished” “Assaults on Holy Places Will Not Go Unpunished”
A Conversation with the Abbot of the Pochaev Holy Dormition Lavra, Metropolitan Vladimir (Moroz) of Pochaev
Sergei Geruk
There are innumerable examples of the intercession and help of the Theotokos, and every pilgrim and parishioner of the Lavra still experiences this aid. The Mother of God also appeared here in 1240 in a pillar of fire and left her footprint on a rock. She, like the burning bush, bore witnesses that this place is holy. She is the abbess here and the patroness of this land… A Church, or a Museum? A Church, or a Museum?
Vasiliy Shchipkov A Church, or a Museum? A Church, or a Museum?
How should comtemporary Russians remember Soviet-era political repressions?
Vasiliy Shchipkov
In this article, Vasiliy Shchipkov, who holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Moscow State Institute of International Relations, discusses the Christian approach to remembering the terrible time of Soviet repressions vs. a mentality of retribution. Epistle to the Soviet of People’s Commissars Epistle to the Soviet of People’s Commissars
Patriarch Tikhon (Bellavin) Epistle to the Soviet of People’s Commissars Epistle to the Soviet of People’s Commissars
Patriarch Tikhon (Bellavin)
We present this bold letter written by Patriarch Tikhon to the new rulers of Russia a year after the revolution. Half a million people may have suffered for Orthodox faith in USSR Half a million people may have suffered for Orthodox faith in USSR
Thousands of people may have been subjected to repression for Orthodox faith under Soviet rule, church researchers said.

Subscribe
to our mailing list

* indicates required
×