President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on steps to preserve the national shrines of the Ukrainian people. The Head of State announced this at an event marking the 975th anniversary of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
The President noted that the Lavra is a true center of the spiritual strength of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, of spiritual independence, and one of the historical and cultural sources of Ukrainian statehood.
“Here, at the Lavra, and in our other places like this – in our national shrines – you feel that you are part of something much greater, truly greater and longer-lasting than your personal story, your personal experiences, and your personal memory,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
According to the Head of State, St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, the churches of Chernihiv, St. George’s Cathedral in Lviv, the Horyanska Rotunda in Zakarpattia, Taras Hill, Chyhyryn, Subotiv, Kholodnyi Yar, and the Hryhorii Skovoroda estate in the Kharkiv region, which the Russians burned down and which must be restored, are equally important to Ukraine.
The President emphasized that Ukraine must preserve every national shrine and its cultural heritage and draw even more global attention to Russia’s war.
“And all the more so now, when the challenges of the passage of time have been compounded by the challenges of Russia’s utterly godless and asinine war against Ukraine and our people, and against all the places of our culture, our history, our memory – against all places that embody humanity. You have to be utterly despicable and utterly witless to strike the Lavra, but Russia did it,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
During the war, Russian strikes have damaged the Lavra and St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, burned hundreds of churches across Ukraine, damaged Babyn Yar in Kyiv and Drobytsky Yar in the Kharkiv region, and destroyed dozens of houses of worship, museums, museum collections, etc.
“Today, I signed a decree on measures at the state level to protect Ukraine’s national shrines. A law on our Ukrainian national shrines will be prepared for Ukraine’s Independence Day,” the President announced.
The Head of State called on MPs to support the relevant document so as to clearly define what constitutes Ukrainian national shrines and what steps are needed to protect them. According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the status of Ukraine’s national shrines, which will be enshrined in law, will provide greater financial, political, and legal opportunities for their protection.
“We need more initiative from all our state institutions, a greater ability to seek out and secure resources and funding around the world so that Ukrainian heritage is protected. We need more systematic steps by the state to work with our partners to establish Russia’s accountability, and that of its war criminals, for strikes against Ukraine’s cultural and spiritual heritage – and therefore against the heritage of Europe and all humanity,” the Head of State emphasized.
The President added that more Ukrainian shrines deserve to become part of the UNESCO World Heritage List and receive the corresponding attention, protection, and opportunities for restoration. More political and sanctions-related work is also needed to protect these shrines, including in the temporarily occupied territories.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that only Ukrainians can take care of preserving the places of spiritual strength of our country and the memory of the Crimean Tatar people, and unite the world so that humanity, culture, and history prevail in this confrontation with Russia.
“Today, on the Feast of the Dormition, here at the holy Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, let us all promise one another that Ukraine will endure, that our national shrines will endure, that you will make every possible effort for this, and that our children, our grandchildren, and all other generations of Ukrainians, when they come here, to our Lavra, and to our other national shrines, will be able to see here not Russia, but, definitely, a normal, dignified human life. Not Russia, but Ukraine’s life,” the Head of State concluded.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the Order of Merit, III class, the Order of Princess Olga, III class, and the Presidential award “Ivan Mazepa Cross,” and conferred the honorary title of “Honored Worker of Culture of Ukraine.” Among those honored are employees of the National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” who helped preserve the landmark, research the history of the Lavra, and contributed to its development, as well as representatives of the cultural sector and patronage and charitable organizations.
In particular, the Order of Merit, III class, was presented to Honorary Consul of Lithuania Robertas Gabulas, Head of the “Crown of Dukes Ostrogski” Charitable Foundation, who contributed to many years of funding for the reconstruction of the monument to Prince Konstanty Ostrogski in the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and to supporting exhibitions of Ukrainian museum collections in Lithuania. He also helps the children of Ukrainian defenders and participates in rehabilitation programs for Ukrainian warriors.
