Exhibition of icons dedicated to Maidan and ATO opens in Kyiv

On Monday, December 1, the exhibition of icons which highlights the themes of Maidan and the Antiterrorist Operation was opened. Eighteen participants of the iconic plein air "Mercy in Icons" held at St. Michael's Monastery presented their works. After the exhibition a part of them will be giftedto Polish hospitals, where the activists of Maidan and Ukrainian military servicemen received treatment.

The iconic plein air, which lasted for a week in Kyiv,was visited by masters of Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine and France, two of the painters came from Donetsk region. The purpose of the plein air exhibition co-organized by the Social Service Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyivan Patriarchate together with the Embassy and the Consulate General of Poland, was to present icons that reflect the developments of Maidan and the undeclared war in the East-South.

“We are being tempted now to start World War III, but we consistently do our bestitdid not happen. We have to demonstrate indomitable spirit. And the developments in Ukraine and Europeattest to its awakening. We see volunteers who are not afraid of death. The people are not indifferent to what is happening and we feel support from Europe and America. It is important that such plein is dedicated to the issues of Maidan and ATO,it brought together people from different countries. Thank you for this support,” said the patriarch.

Attending the opening of the exhibition were representatives of other denominations, including Roman Catholic and Lutheran. Pastor Ralph Khaska remembered the developments of Maidanwherehe was also in the epicenter and noted the special role of the icons. Although the Lutheran Church has no special iconic tradition, he is attracted by them. Representatives of St Alexander Cathedral who received the wounded during the revolution also supported the exhibition.

“We need to create and display events of the past. We witnessed close cooperation between the Roman Catholic Church and the UOC-KP during Maidan, and it continues up to date. There were times when we could not accept wounded activists in the church of St Alexander and they knew that could always turn to St Michael's Cathedral. Currently we need to do charity and to continue working for charity,”Fr Joseph Kostevskyy believes.

The exhibition is held in the same room where the exhibition of the articles  from the ATO zone is conducted by the National Museum of Military History of Ukraine. So the icons are neighboring  with fragments of weapons, armor, personal belongings of soldiers such as a charred Gospel,rosaries, banners etc.

It should be noted that special guests of the exhibition received special gifts - the icons painted on the pavement of Maidan by Polish master Michal Ploski. He painted themin order to lay a special emphasis on their role in the revolution.

The Embassy of Poland in Ukraine and the Consulate General of Poland provided considerable support in conducting and organizing the plein air exhibition. Polish Ambassador to Ukraine H.E Mr. Henryk Litwin said that the Poles stand by with the Ukrainian and are ready to help: "We are the part of space where Eastern and Western Christianity are present, therefore art has the an interesting effect due to combination that we see on the show. It is important that the works will be sent to the hospital where Ukrainian activists and fighters are treated. We have many more joint initiatives and will always support Ukraine on its path to full independence.”

Minister of Culture Yevhen Nyschuk along with the Director of the Nationalities and Religions Department to the Ministry of Culture Andriy Yurash also visited the opening. The latter stressed that Ukraine has shown particular example and demonstrated its spirituality to the world: “Ukraine is the country that has always show an example to others, not with weapons but with culture and spirituality. And the events of last winter testified that the society works closely with religion when people gathered at Maidan. Such cooperation should continue and this exhibition is another example of this.”

The plein air exhibition of icons “Mercy in Icons” will run until 19 January. It is open seven days a week, from 10:00 to 18:00 in the exhibition hall of St. Andrew's Church (St. Andrew's Descent, 23). Entrance is free.