Today, 20 February, is the tenth anniversary of the Heavenly Hundred. On this day, ten years ago, the largest number of peaceful protesters who took to the streets of the capital to defend their country’s democratic European course were shot dead on Maidan Nezalezhnosti.
The brutal massacre of civilians marked the beginning of the all-Ukrainian resistance to the pro-Russian government and the subsequent struggle with the hostile neighbour, which continues to this day.
In Drohobych, clergy, community leaders and concerned residents gathered together in the Heavenly Hundred Heroes Square to pay tribute to the Heroes of Ukraine who were the first to give their lives for Ukraine and launched the fight against the enemy.
The event began with a solemn performance of the Ukrainian national anthem and a sorrowful memorial service led by Bishop Yaroslav (Pryriz) and the clergy of Drohobych.
Today, the conscious Ukrainian people gather in unity to honour the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred. Their slogan was freedom, dignity, integrity and unity of the Ukrainian state. We remember and thank them. God was on the Maidan. In one of the tents, during the Revolution of Dignity, there was a continuous prayer and a symbolic inscription: “God will save Ukraine”. Those people who came out for peaceful protests then became victims of brutal reprisals. The enemy’s metastases spread further. But no one can overcome those with whom God is. The slogan “Heroes do not die” has a resurrection basis. We need the perseverance and strength that these people showed to the enemy when they voluntarily went to the barricades. May the feat of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes unite and strengthen us and give us the strength to fight on,” said Bishop Yaroslav (Pryriz) in his speech.
After the prayer, the sincere and painfully symbolic for Ukrainians words “There, near the poplar, the viburnum grows” were performed by the Municipal Chamber Choir “Legend”.
Today is the tenth anniversary of the honour and dignity of our people, who stood up to sniper bullets with wooden shields. Ukrainians have shown how unbreakable a person can be who has God in his heart and defends the interests of his people. The enemy will continue to do everything to divide us, but our unity and faith will prevail. For ten years now, we have been showing the world how powerful we are. A nation that does not give up. A nation that will be able to win and build a society in which God and Ukraine will come first,” said Drohobych Mayor Taras Kuchma.
Flowers and memorial lamps were laid at the memorial to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred jointly by the community leadership and the children of the fallen Heroes of Ukraine – Sofia Skrypnyk, Anastasia Petrylyak, Maria Savshak, and Ivana Boyko.
The mourning event was concluded with the song “God, the Great One, Save Ukraine for Us”.
The Revolution of Dignity, which took place ten years ago, marked the beginning of a bloody struggle against the Russian aggressor, which annexed Crimea, invaded Donbas and Luhansk, and since February 2022 has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This struggle continues to this day…