Kyiv, February 11, 2015. A series of events is scheduled to take place in Kyiv to commemorate the heroes of the Heavenly Hundred who have perished during the mass killings on 18-20 February 2014. Yevhen Nishchuk, chairman of the committee responsible for the organization of the Heavenly Hundred anniversary, Roman Savchak, editor of the “Heavenly Hundred” requiem-book, and Volodymyr Bondarchuk , son of one of the heroes, during the press-briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. “These dates should remain in the memory of not only the relatives and friends of the heroes, but of the entire Ukrainian society,” Mr. Nishchuk said.
The anniversary ceremony will start from the art performance called “The lights of dignity”. The lights, symbolizing the souls of Maidan activists, will be installed at every place where one of the Heavenly Hundred heroes was killed. A number of music bands, including the National Symphony Orchestra, the “Dumka” Academic Choir and Pikkardiyska Tertsia will participate in the requiem service. On February 21, a range of events are scheduled to take place at the Tchaikovsky National Academy of Music, Ukrainian House, Ivan Honchar Museum and the “Master Class” culture center. The anniversary will conclude with the march for peace, starting from the European Square, going through the Hrushevkoho Street, and culminating at the Independence Square. Members of the international delegations and the clergy will participate in the march as well. A more detailed program will be published on February 16.
Family members of the Heavenly Hundred heroes will receive state awards of the Hero of Ukraine. Yevhen Nishchuk explained that currently they are trying to push for necessary changes in order to award those who were not Ukrainian citizens. “The most respectable Ukrainian award for foreigners right now is the Order of Freedom, however, we have prepared amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On state awards” in order to add the names of foreign citizens who sacrificed their lives for Ukraine,” Mr. Nishchuk said.
Roman Savchak emphasized that the commemoration ceremony will highlight the humanity, and not the spectacle or the art value of the event. “Sacrifices of the Heavenly Hundred heroes should resonate in the heart of every Ukrainian. Precisely these events changed the history of Ukraine,” Savchak concluded.
