The pre-Christmas season is a magical time, filled with anticipation of something new, faith in the best, when the spirit of Christmas fills every home and reminds of traditions that are passed down from generation to generation.
This is exactly what the evening "Christmas Melodies" initiated by Liudmyla Dolhonovska, AUK Chief of Staff, with Marta Kuziy in AUK campus on the eve of Christmas, was about. An evening that was made possible by the efforts of many people to remind us that by joint actions and uniting we are strong and can create miracles.
In partnership with the law firm MORIS and with the support of AUK Vice-President Oleksii Shershnov, a pianist from Lviv, a prominent figure in classical music, public and musical personality, Marta Kuziy performed her own arrangements of favorite carols and schedrivkas, immersing those present in a festive atmosphere and distinctive Ukrainian authenticity. A momentous occasion marked the start of the event when Plast members (Ukrainian scouts) first passed the Bethlehem Flame to American University Kyiv on the AUK campus. Plast annually spreads the Scout tradition of passing the Bethlehem Flame, bringing a message of light and peace to everyone.
“Christmas, our carols and schedrivkas —the concept itself— adds a sense of continuity of traditions and energy of generations that is so necessary today. They, like us, fought for their own identity. This is especially felt in these walls, created and decorated by the artists of Ukrainian sixties. And now, when russia again wants to deprive us of our foundation – language, culture, traditions, to prove that we never existed and never will, we want to preserve our cultural heritage even more. They can take away our land, property, even our lives, but they will not take away our spirit and the spirit of Christmas,” emphasized Liudmyla Dolhonovska, AUK Chief of Staff, during the event.
We are deeply grateful to Marta Kuziy for the unsurpassed immersion in the Christmas enchantment of carols and schedrivkas, as well as to the leading law firm MORIS for their support and mutual appreciation of Ukrainian culture.
We wish everyone a Merry Christmas!