No matter what page of Ukrainian history you turn to, almost every page will tell about indomitability, will, effort, and struggle for the highest values. And one of the tests of the current unjust war is the preservation of this history – as well as culture, which the Russian enemy is trying to erase and destroy by any means: stealing works of art, “appropriating” Ukrainian artists, destroying museums and paintings that cannot be appropriated because of their obvious Ukrainian spirit.
The OCU Primate wrote about this on Facebook.
While on a visit to Chernihiv region, together with Metropolitan Oleksandr of Pereyaslav and Vishneve and Bishop Antony of Chernihiv and Nizhyn, he visited the National Historical and Cultural Reserve in the village of Kachanivka, which preservesone of the outstanding collections of Ukrainian relics that Russia has never been able to appropriate. The heritage of the Cossacks, Shevchenko works – both the Cossack era and the outstanding Kobzar turned out to be too obviously Ukrainian for the evil empire to be able to attribute them to themselves.
But, unfortunately, Russia managed to “appropriate” the wonderful Ukrainian artist Repin – who here, in Kachanivka, Chernihiv region, created perhaps his most outstanding works. Those works were created out of love for Ukraine and Ukrainians.
Love has the ability to unite. Sin and evil have the ability to destroy relationships, break people up, and lead to negative consequences.
“We are called to do good, having many examples given to us by the Church of Christ. We have the example of St. Nicholas of Myrlikii, a miracle worker, in whose honor we consecrated a church today in the village of Parafiivka. He was a model of faith, humility and creation of good works, works of mercy. Therefore, he should inspire us to do good,” Epifaniy wrote.
“So today, guided by love, we protect our land, our culture and our history. And even after the victory, we will have a long work to restore the truth about the history rewritten by Muscovites, to ‘return’ stolen artists and figures to Ukraine. I am sincerely grateful to Ukrainian historians, cultural experts, museum workers, and in particular to the historical and cultural reserve in Kachanivka, for the fact that today they stand guard over Ukrainian history and culture,” OCU Primate added.
He believes that with God’s help “we will restore justice and restore peace to Ukraine. And later, thanks to the work of Ukrainian historians, stolen artists and activists will also return to Ukraine.”
