Ukrainians in London raise money for their homeland’s army on Independence Day

On Aug. 24, Ukrainian Londoners combined Independence Day celebrations of their homeland with charity. Volunteers organized a range of events, showcasing folk crafts and patriotic souvenirs to assist the Ukrainian army.

Organized by United for Ukraine, a group of native
Ukrainians, the event celebrated their homeland’s 23rd birthday “to foster a
greater awareness of modern Ukraine and its culture through versatile
integrative projects,” according to the organization’s website. They were
joined by the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church and the Ukrainian
embassy, raising over 3,000 pounds for the army’s needs, including injured
servicemen, and internally displaced families who fled war-torn areas.

A charity fair, or yarmarok, took place in London to raise money for the Ukrainian army on Aug. 24, 2014 during Ukraine’s Independence Day.

The
group formed in January 2014,
and soon launched the World Pray for Ukraine project of support.
After enjoying a Ukrainian-themed
lunch, attendees took part in a charity yarmarok
(fair). On offer were souvenirs, traditional crafts, handmade wooden
chopping boards, plates made in the Petrikivsky style, patriotic T-shirts and
caps.

Guests were also treated to Korovai, ceremonious bread served at weddings that was shipped from
Ukraine. Symbolically, the day started at the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church
with a midday mass attended by nearly 1,000 people.

A kid tries to pinch a piece of traditional Ukrainian bread called the korovai.

​A midday mass takes place in the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church devoted to Ukraine’s 23rd Independence Day in London on Aug. 24, 2014.

“It was incredible to see how many Ukrainians came to
pray for unity and peace in our country and how many international people came
to support us in our fight for freedom and right to be an independent young
European country,” the organizers stated in a news release.

A girl in vyshyvanka (traditional embroidered shirt) holds patriotic goods purchased at the charity yarmarok in London.

The cathedral’s Great Hall also
showcased a wealth of Ukrainian culture: paintings of most talented native artists living in
the UK, traditional Ukrainian
hand-embroidered towels and traditional ornamental folk art crafts from
different Ukrainian regions.

The post-event news release describing the charity fair’s success stated: “Just imagine how many families this will help, how many lives it will save. This is what creates a truly united, strong country – when people start helping each other without personal benefit for them, but rather from the bottom of their heart.”

A woman in vyshyvanka holds a painting of Ukrainian artist at the exhibition in the cathedral’s Great Hall in London, Aug. 24, 2014.

Kyiv Post staff writer Iryna Matviyishyn
can be reached at [email protected].