The mobile team DonorUA, on March 19, for the first time, collected blood from residents of the capital in the basement of the 115-year-old Church of St. Nicholas. The medics came at the request of the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Nicholas.
According to the parish priest, Father Pavlo Vyshkovskyi OMI, during Lent, believers try to organize large-scale events to help those affected by the war, as well as the military, reported RISU at the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Nicholas in Kyiv.
"During this period of Lent, there was and still is the greatest need for blood. Many wounded soldiers are in hospitals, so we decided to organize a blood drive on the church grounds. Just as Jesus shed blood for us once, we now must help our soldiers," said the temple priest.
Father Pavlo Vyshkovskyi himself also donated blood. It's not the first time he's been a donor.
From early morning, there was a line of dozens of eager volunteers willing to donate blood outside the church. Among those willing to help was singer Anna Dobrydneva. The artist holds charity concerts for the military and has now decided to become a donor for them.
DonorUA Project Manager Maria Vereitina commented to "Vechirniy Kyiv" that blood donation within the walls of the Church of St. Nicholas is a historic event, as before, medics used to collect blood in centers and premises.
"About a hundred people volunteered to donate blood. We anticipate that such an event will be repeated. Perhaps, in the future, we will establish such a wonderful tradition," she commented.
According to Maria, a total of 54 donors donated blood today, which is over 24 liters of blood. Thus, the people of Kyiv potentially saved 162 lives.
The parish also reminded that it has been 2 years since the massive fire in the temple and 32 years since the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Nicholas has been waiting for the promises of the Presidents of Ukraine to return the building of St. Nicholas Church, a model of European sacral architecture, to the religious community for service.
The Government of Ukraine, represented by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, responded on January 30, 2024, to a public appeal from citizens (electronic petition No. 41/005649-ep titled "Transfer of the Church of St. Nicholas in Kyiv to the religious community of the Roman Catholic Church"), stating that "according to the appendix to the memorandum dated December 4, 2023, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy and the religious organization agreed that the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy undertakes to transfer the monument for permanent use by the religious organization by May 1, 2024.”