Anne of Kyiv Centre
Anne of Kyiv Centre, France is a platform where cultural, artistic, scientific and educational projects are implemented, as well as scholarship programs. Among its projects are conferences, discussions, exhibitions, etc. The Centre is a place around which the Ukrainian community can meet to preserve Ukrainian history and spread Ukrainian culture. You can visit the Anne of Kyiv Centre in the Church of Borys and Hlib in the city of Senlis, France.
On June 26, 2017, during a working visit to the French Republic, President Poroshenko visited the city of Senlis, where he honored the memory of victims of Holodomor in Ukraine in 1932-1933 and laid flowers to the Memorial plaque.[1] The President also visited the St. Vincent Abbey, Senlis, which was founded by Queen Anne of Kyiv and the Anne of Kyiv Cultural Centre located in the Church of Borys and Hlib.
Establishment of the Centre
The Centre is located in Senlis, near Paris. It was founded in 2013 by a group of women and men from Ukraine and France. The project was implemented under the patronage of Borys Gudziak.
On September 27, 2013, the Ukrainian Eparchy of St. Volodymyr in Paris, led by Bishop Borys Gudziak, president of the Ukrainian Catholic University, purchased the church near St. Vincent Abbey in Senlis (45 km from Paris), which Queen Anna Yaroslavna founded in 1065.[2]
The Anne of Kyiv Centre sets itself a goal – to be the keeper of the shared history and to tell about it to the French (and not only) audience, to create a serious intellectual platform for the joint work of international and Ukrainian philosophers, historians, sociologists, artists and thinkers, on topics whose unity will be determined not by consensus (according to Gilen and Leisters), "but by the desire to enter into a conflict, only without bloodshed" and with the mission to find new development directions viable for Europe and Ukraine.[3]
Anne of Kyiv, patron of the Centre
The royal town and the figure of Anne of Kyiv are attracting tourists and enthusiasts from all over the world. In Senlis, Anna dedicated her life to the education of her sons, including the future King Philip I. While Philip was young, under 14 years old, Anna was his regent. The Queen created all the conditions for the development of spirituality, culture and education in France, and taught her son to be a prudent and responsible ruler.
Anna is the granddaughter of Volodymyr the Great, the baptist of Ukraine, the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, the niece of the first Ukrainian saints Borys and Hlib. She is the first emigrant from Ukraine to Western Europe recorded in history, who became an outstanding personality and made a significant contribution to the development of European culture and spirituality.
Anna Yaroslavna and her husband Henry I were spoken about by contemporaries for women's wisdom and acute mind. The signature of Queen Anne is the oldest finding of Old Ukrainian writing that has come to us. This reminds us of Anna's great deeds, her sacrifice and love for people.
Participation of Bishop Borys in the project
In 2012, Borys Gudziak was appointed eparch of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) for Ukrainians living abroad; it became a decisive factor. In his first sermon of the same year, Bishop Boris said: "I do not know for sure why the Lord brought me to France, but I'm sure he has a mission for me."
Since the independence of Ukraine, Bishop Borys did everything possible to open new opportunities for Ukrainians, both in Ukraine and abroad. He was well aware of the importance of preserving Ukrainian history and spreading our culture in the world. Bishop Boris met with followers of Anna of Kyiv, who told him about the idea of the revival of the heritage of Queen Anne. And of course, they invited the Bishop to become part of their mission.
Centre's Activities
Anne of Kyiv Days – is one of the numerous cultural events dedicated to the French-Ukrainian relations. They are held in Senlis, in the Anne of Kyiv Centre and in the ancient St. Vincent Abbey. These days guests and friends of the centre from all around the world including Canada, the United States and Ukraine come to visit Senlis.[4]
Memorial days. Every year in November, the Ukrainian community holds a Memorial service for the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 and honors their courage and power to face the challenges of destiny. From 2014, on this day those who perished during the Revolution of dignity are also commemorated.
The Holodomor memorial plaque was set up in Senlis in 2008 on the occasion of the fierce fire of the Holodomor, which took place on August 19, 2008, in the cities of France. The plaque is located on one of the historic squares of the town – the area of the ancient Aren (place des Arènes). Next to the memorial plaque was planted a Magnolia tree.
Since then, every year in November, representatives of the Embassy of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Church and the Ukrainian community, with the participation of official representatives of France, put flowers on the memorial plaque during the official commemoration ceremony of the Holodomor.[5]
Exhibitions, Conferences, Concert
In May 2018, the Centre presented a version of the book "Kyiv period of Kazimir Malevich from 1928-1930" in Paris in French within the framework of the Parisian guidebook of the Ukrainian avant-garde. In cooperation with the Ukrainian publishing house "Rodovid".
The new development path
The Anne of Kyiv Centre has become one of the winners of the Cultural and Art Projects Contest, held by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation (UCF) in 2018. Co-financing from the UCF will be directed to the development of the Centre.[6] Within the framework of the project a virtual excursion "Anne of Kyiv path" was organised. A video 360° about the history of Anna Kyiv, a figure that has become a symbol of the shared history of Ukraine and France. This video enables you, without leaving your home's comfort, to travel to Senlis in France and Kyiv. Visit the castle where Anne of Kyiv lived in France and the grand Cathedral of St. Sophia in Kyiv, as well as visit the Anne of Kyiv Centre.
On November 27, 2018, the Anne of Kyiv Centre gathered experts, cultural figures, public activists and representatives of international organisations in Kyiv to discuss the Draft Centre's Development Strategy. The base of the strategy are the values of the Centre: Christianity, experience, human, ministry and creation. Strategy developers established that the Mission of the Centre is to encourage reevaluation of the European identity in the 21st century through dialogue and the implementation of cultural, artistic, scientific and educational projects.
References
- ↑ "Poroshenko in France, has honored the memory of Holodomor victims – The International Massmedia Agency". Retrieved 2018-12-06.
- ↑ "Ukrainians Purchase Church in Senlis, France". risu.org.ua. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
- ↑ Що Україна може запропонувати Європі?. nv.ua (in українська). Retrieved 2018-12-06.
- ↑ "France Celebrates Ukrainian Days (VIDEO, Photos) | Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation". Retrieved 2018-12-06.
- ↑ "Ukrainian President commemorates Holodomor victims in France". 112.international. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
- ↑ фонд, Український культурний. УКФ підписав усі грантові угоди у 2018 році. ucf.in.ua (in українська). Retrieved 2018-12-06.
External Links
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