The Head of the UGCC comments on the initiative to establish a National Pantheon of Heroes of Ukraine at Askold’s Grave
A petition to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to erect a National Pantheon of Heroes of Ukraine in Askold’s Grave Park in Kyiv has received the 25,000 signatures required for consideration. The Father and Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, told whether the Church supports this initiative, speaking about this on the air of the weekly Open Church program on Zhyve Television.
The Ukrainian people offer particular thoughts and ideas on where the most renowned heroes could be honored.
“The Christian conscience and the voice of the people suggest an interesting idea that the glorious Askold’s Grave in Kyiv could be a pantheon of Ukrainian heroes who gave their lives for the Motherland,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
A petition to establish a National Pantheon at Askold’s Grave was registered on March 21 by Alina Mykhailova, the fiancée of the fallen Hero of Ukraine, Dmytro Kotsiubailo.
The Head of the UGCC recalled that a cemetery had long existed there in pre-revolutionary times. It is known, in particular, that the Heroes of Kruty, Maidan, the ‘Ilovaisk cauldron,’ and the courageous defense of Bakhmut are buried on Askold’s grave.
“Today, Askold’s Grave is one of the parks in Kyiv. Our congregation has restored a church there, and now they pray there. Yet, our Church does not own it, only uses it,” His Beatitude emphasized.
According to the Head of the Church, spontaneous burials in the city park are most likely illegal. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, not the territory’s legal owner, has no competence to resolve this issue. However, the Patriarch assured the church fully supported the initiative to create a national pantheon at Askold’s grave.
“Obviously, we support the aspirations of the Ukrainian people to honor their heroes properly,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
The UGCC Department for Information
