Celebrating Ukraine's Statehood Day: Exhibition 'Our Heritage'
On July 15, Ukraine celebrates Statehood Day, and to mark this occasion, the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory has opened a new exhibition available to all. It focuses on the cultural legacies that modern Ukraine has inherited from Rus.
The main idea of the exhibition 'Our Heritage' is that statehood was not a gift, but an inheritance. The exhibition is open to anyone passing by the Main Post Office at Khreshchatyk, 22.
Visitors stop to explore photographs, documents, and artifacts that reflect significant milestones in the history of Ukrainians on their path to independence.
During the opening, the UINP team emotionally shared the achievements of the Ukrainian nation that have laid the foundation for the modern state.
“The exhibition showcases how the medieval heritage of Rus continues to live in the symbols of modern Ukraine: from the state coat of arms to the colors of the flag and cultural phenomena used by the Armed Forces,” the organizers noted.
UINP Head Oleksandr Alfiorov addressed the guests:
“The deep meanings embedded in this exhibition speak to us through its title 'Our Heritage'. In German, 'heritage' is 'Erbe', from which the word 'coat of arms' is derived. Our heritage is embodied in our coats of arms, colors, traditions, and culture.”
A renowned historian also spoke about the losses faced by Ukrainian cultural heritage during the war with Russia and in previous centuries. Russia struggles to accept that world-renowned values belong to Ukraine.
This has led to incidents such as the theft of the mosaic of St. Demetrius from the St. Michael's Cathedral, which is currently displayed in Moscow.
“The legacy of Rus is one of the important influences that have shaped us into who we are today. It connects us not only geographically but also spiritually, symbolically, and culturally,” emphasized Victoria Yaremenko, head of the Scientific and Institutional Support Department of National Memory Policy at UINP.
The deep historical roots of the Ukrainian nation are a guarantee of our resilience. Ukrainians are reclaiming what is theirs.
“A nation can only be destroyed when its roots are destroyed. Our heritage, represented in this exhibition, is a testament to that. We cherish our historical memory and safeguard the material values that embody it. The presence of the most famous mosaic in Ukraine - the Sofia's Oranta - is a symbol of our resilience,” added Vyacheslav Korneenko, deputy general director of the National Reserve Sophia Kyivska.
The military units of the Ukrainian army bear the names of historical figures who fought for our freedom. In total, 11 brigades have the names of notable personalities.
These include the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Daniel, the 7th Tactical Aviation Brigade named after Petro Franko, and others.
It's not just the names - the Armed Forces have inherited the valor and resilience that have been built over centuries.
This is also reflected in the exhibition 'Our Heritage'.
The exhibition will last for three months.
The head of UINP thanked all partners for their cooperation in creating the exhibition: the National Reserve Sofia Kyivska, the Manuscript Institute of the National Library of Ukraine, and the National Museum of History of Ukraine.
