About five thousand believers together with the clergy held a procession through the center of Kyiv on Saturday, June 4. They did it to participate in the campaign of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations dedicated to Children's Day and family. Along with believers and public figures, the procession was led by the leaders and representatives of all denominations included in the Council.
The procession started from the main entrance of St. Sophia Cathedral, where the audience entertained family songs performed by the band "Noah's Ark". Participants were able to take posters, where the main slogans were: “Children are a blessing of God,” “God is the author of family,” “The people who kill their children have no future,” “Stop Abortion,” “Born himself - give birth to others” and so on. The action’s purpose was to draw attention to the problems of children's rights to assert in society the principles of love and respect and defend the family as a union of man and woman that meets the God’s design and purpose of human nature.
One of the procession participants, Dmytro from Kyiv, has four children. Although he only joined the action only with his medium daughter, it was important for him to come and demonstrate support for family values. “We support the idea of big friendly family, support healthy family,” said the man.
The procession held by AUCCRO became symbolic, since the initiative was proposed by the late Archbishop Peter Malchuk of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine on 1 March. Therefore this action, which is planned to be held annually, is a tribute to his memory. But some believers doubted as for the appropriateness of selected date –the eve of the Pride parade for representatives of the LGBT community fearing it would trigger a new conflict.
Ms. Tatyana Domashenko of Kyiv even has a small collection of her own poems, which devoted to harmony in the family, the role of men and women, education: “My grandchildren and other relatives also participate. I dream about my family being like the holy family of Nazareth, dream that we all lived amicably.”
Not only had the families from Kyiv but from other cities of Ukraine participated in the procession. There were notable representatives of Zhytomyr, Lviv, and a large delegation of the Armenian Church. Spokesman reminded that similar family values that the participants stand for, "is routine for each faithful." Among those present were also Muslims, both from the RAMU and the RAMU “Ummah”.
A resident of Kyiv Tatiana, a mother of one daughter, and Helena, mother of two girls, see special symbolism in this action. For Ms. Olena it was important to openly declare her position and support the traditional family. “Today, we have many examples of violence in the family,” Tetiana said. “It is important to pay attention to it, build the right foundation for a family. It is nice to see here the organizations where you can go for help, and numerous representatives of the clergy.”
The two-hour procession ended with the common prayer and concert with the participation of children in the European square. Heads of religious organizations appealed to all with the requests to pray for family harmony, to maintain peace in word and deed. According to them, the family is the foundation of every state, culture and language of the people, the mainstay of society. Particular attention should be paid for the education of future generations and the role of a father who often cannot seem ideal, but is the support and example for wives and children. The organizers hope that this march will become traditional and will be held in the capital each year.