Events in memory of Holodomor victims take place nearby the memorial sign The Candle of Memory

    KYIV, November 22 /UKRINFORM/. Events in memory of victims Holodomor 1932-1933 in Ukraine will take place nearby the memorial sign The Candle of Memory. Participating in the events were Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko with his wife, heads of state and foreign delegations that arrived in Ukraine on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Holodomor. The victims were commemorated by leadership of the Ukrainian government, representatives of the Verkhovna Rada, executive authorities, religious confessions, public, witnesses of those events.

   On the Dnieper slopes they planted bushes of guelder-rose symbolizing sorrow for those who died. The celebrant of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, metropolitan of Kyiv and the whole Ukraine Volodymyr consecrated the memorial to the victims of Holodomor. After that the ceremony participants placed candles near the monument and pots with grain.

    The president addressed to the Ukrainian people and the nation-wide moment of silence was announced.

    Viktor Yushchenko brought in the hall the fire of the Everburning Candle and finished the international action that started on April 1 in Australia and during the year went through 33 countries including Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Armenia and Georgia. The symbolic candle was transferred as a baton from country to country where the Ukrainian diplomatic missions together with local Ukrainian communities held events in memory of Holodomor victims. Since October 26, the action was held in the regional centers of Ukraine.

    On November 22, within the memorial events nearby the sign The Candle of Memory the final stage of the All-Ukrainian action 33 Minutes took place. During the action since September 6, every week-end the names of Ukrainians who died from famine and names of villages that were included in the "black boards" at the times of Holodomor were read for 33 minutes in every Ukrainian settlement.

    The All-Ukrainian action Light The Candle started nearby the memorial sign The Candle of Memory as well. After the moment of silence everyone who wants to commemorate Holodomor victims may light a candle and put it on the window-sill. The candle is a symbol of sorrow and grief for millions dead compatriots. The memorable candles were lighted in Kyiv, in Mykhailivska square and nearby the memorial sign The Candle of Memory, all over Ukraine and in all continents.