Maronite Catholics to acquaint Ukrainians with the traditions of their Church
On February 8, for the first time in Ukraine on the occasion of Saint Marun’s day, Father of the Maronite Church, “Lebanese cultural and information center”jointly with a Lebanese Maronite family in Ukraine are to organize a solemn festive evening, according to ‘Day’ newspaper.
At 18.00 in St. Alexander Cathedral located at Kostyolnaya 17 in Kyiv, a Mass will be led by Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine and Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki, Metropolitan of Lviv and Head of the Conference of Roman Catholic Bishops in Ukraine. Prior to the Mass, the church parishioners and guests will be presented a spiritual concert performed by the Maronite choir from Lebanon, which willbeginat 17:30.
After the solemn divine service at 19:30 at the International Center of Culture and Arts (October Palace) at Avenue of Heaven’s Hundred Heroes, 1 a gala concert will be held.
Before the concert, guests will be able to see a documentary about the Maronites (director and artistic director – Hassan Hosseini), and then enjoy music concerts by the State Orchestra of Ukraine together with musicians from Lebanon:
-church chants performed by Lebanese singers Fouad Fadel and Xena and Marcel Badawi
- Lebanese music in modern arrange under the direction of composer Michel Fadel.
Together with guests, the following respectable persons are to attend the festive evening:
- Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti;
- Ambassador of the Republic of Lebanon to Ukraine Mrs. Claude Khalil Al Hazhal;
- Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki, Head of Lviv Metropolitan Conference of Catholic Bishops in Ukraine
- Sheikh Ahmed Tamym–the Mufti of Ukraine
- Representatives of the diplomatic corps
- Patron, President of “UM Air” Airlines Rodrigue Merhej.
A standing reception“Degustation of modern Lebanese cuisine” is scheduled at 21:00.
MaroniteChurchisthe largest Eastern Rite Catholic Church in the Middle East that has over three million parishioners, a third of them living in Lebanon. The Maronite Church and its parishioners are called in honor of a Maronite ascetic, hermit Marun, one of the most famous Lebanese Christian saints, who lived in IV-V centuries AD. St Marun’s Day is the greatest feast for all Maronite Catholics of the world.
