Ukrainian Bible House Officially Opens in Kyiv

On June 12, as part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Ukrainian Bible Society (UBS), a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the opening of the Ukrainian Bible House in Kyiv. Attending the event were the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Lytvyn, minister of culture Mykhailo Kulyniak, the deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration Leonid Novokhatko, national deputies of Ukraine, representatives of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, and representatives of 16 denominations that belong to the UBS.

Volodymyr Lytvyn together with the UBS president cut the ribbon, officially opening the Bible House in Kyiv.

Mykailo Kulyniak read a greeting to the members of the Bible Society from President Viktor Yanukovych and Prime Minister Mykola Azarov.

“It is very symbolic that the 20th anniversary of the UBS coincides with the 20th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. The work the UBS is an example of constructive interdenominational cooperation, the fulfillment of God’s will and the following of the apostles,” said Kulyniak.

On behalf of the UBS, Hryhorij Komendant gave Viktor Yanukovych the first copy of the new, fourth translation of the Bible, the presentation of which was held as part of the UBS’s anniversary celebrations.

“I am convinced that Ukraine will assert itself as soon as faith is asserted in the souls of the people,” said Lytvyn, addressing the participants of the event. He added that “God is the safeguard of Ukraine’s independence.”

“This Bible House should be on the Pechersk hills, in the middle of the triangle of the president, prime minister, and parliament,” said Lytvyn.

We remind that the Religious Information Service of Ukraine is the media sponsor of the event.

Background information:

The Ukrainian Bible Society is an interdenominational Christian organization, founded in 1991. Its goal is to translate, print, and distribute the Bible and Biblical literature in Ukrainian and in the languages of Ukraine’s national minorities. The society comprises 16 leading Ukrainian Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant denominations, as well as the Department of Religious Studies of the H. Skovoroda Institute of Philosophy at the National Academy of Science of Ukraine. The society is a member of the worldwide association United Bible Societies.

Since its establishment, the society has published and distributed more than 8.1 million copies of the Bible and other Biblical literature. Over 3 million of the publications were distributed as part of national charitable projects.