Ternopil launches museum to commemorate Ivan Puliui’s 165th anniversary
This Ukrainian physicist of world caliber discovered X-rays three years before Roentgen. He was also an acknowledged translator and journalist. Ivan Puliui’s 165th anniversary was marked in Hrymailiv, a village in Husiatyn raion, Ternopil oblast. In collaboration with Panteleimon Kulish and Ivan Nechui-Levytsky, he completed the first Ukrainian translation of the Old and New Testaments (published in 1903). As rector of Prague’s Polytechnic Institute, he established a Ukrainian students’ relief fund. Ternopil’s National Technological University was named after this celebrated scientist and public figure, who continued to spread the Ukrainian language and culture. Ivan Puliui Museum was launched on the campus of the eponymous university to commemorate his 165th anniversary. The National Bank of Ukraine contributed to the festivities by issuing a commemorative silver coin worth five hryvnias, weighing over 15 g, as part of the Noted Ukrainian Personalities mint series. They were sold for up to 212 hryvnias. The coin portrays one of Ivan Puliui’s early X-ray photo and his quote: “An intellectual can’t have a greater honor than that of preserving his national dignity and working for the good of his people, without waiting for reward, in order to secure his people’s well-being.” This celebrated Ukrainian is remembered in Austria. The guests from Vienna, who arrived to attend the commemorative festivities, stressed that they were proud of Ivan Puliui having been a resident of Vienna. There is a memorial plaque attached to a wall of his former home.
A charity concert breaks all records
Whereas the first Christmas concert held by the Volyn eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church raised nearly 2,000 hryvnias, the sum raised by the latest (the 16th) totals nearly 160,000. The phenomenon, which has become a Volynian brand, merits further research. For the audience attending hall of the Promin Cinema did not look wealthy, yet the people present donated a total of over 70,000 hryvnias for orphans. The rest of the donations was composed of money brought by the people to the eparchy during several weeks preceding the concert, money donated by wealthy businessmen who follow the Christian moral of sharing one’s wealth, and money raised by the Lutsk churches through carol singing at governmental establishments, the prosecutor’s house, law enforcement bodies etc. A total of 15,000 hryvnias was sent by the Belarusian spiritual children of the Lutsk Metropolitan and the Volyn Church Hierarch Nifont. The concert was attended not only by Volynians, but also pilgrims from Slovakia, Russia, and Belarus.
The money raised, as is done every year, will be divided between Volynian orphanages, families that take care of orphans, and the oblast department of the Children’s Foundation. It will also be used for the needs of the theological college, where many children from destitute families study. As usual, the concert featured performances by the bishop chorus, by clergymen, the Mykhniv Female Monastery nuns, the Sunday school and theological school, as well as the chorus of blind people (which is an example of adamantine will and firmness of spirit). For the first time the orphans themselves came up to the stage, including five daughters of Volodymyr Shekel from the village of Dorosyni (located in the Rozhyshche raion), who are being raised by their father following their mother’s death. This year the charity concert was broadcasted live on the local TV channel Avers for the first time, allowing thousands of people to watch the event and contribute to the charitable cause afterwards. The eparchy department continues to receive donations. Unfortunately this event is unique in many ways in the Volyn region. However, even in difficult times of crisis, Orthodox believers’ hearts have not become petty, and this year’s count exceeded the last by 30,000 hryvnias.
A murderer from Marhanets sentenced to life imprisonment
The Court of Appeal of the Dnipropetrovsk oblast has sentenced the resident of Marhanets, Samvel Ftoian, to life imprisonment. Last summer he stabbed three people, including a police officer, resulting in the death of the latter. This sensational murder, committed last June, has sparked an international conflict.
The incident began with a brawl between locals and a group of Armenians, in a cafe where members of the local sports club Hirnyk were celebrating their fellow member’s birthday. The conflict was initiated by Ftoian, who stabbed police officer Serhii Bondarenko after the latter tried to separate the fighters. Events would have probably escalated if not for the intervention of the Berkut (a special reaction force). A gunfight ensued near the local hospital, where the relatives and friends of the earlier victims met. A crowd of local residents then smashed several cars and tried to set fire to kiosks. The funeral of the young sergeant gave way to a tempestuous meeting near the city council building, during which Marhanets residents demanded the expulsion of the Armenians, as well as an investigation into the work of law-enforcement bodies, who have for a long time turned a blind eye to sales of illegal alcohol and drugs.
In order to prevent an international conflict, a commission composed of deputies, members of local community, and of the Armenian diaspora, was created. The trial was transferred to the oblast center, so as to avoid further routs in Marhanets. The trial has gone on for several months and finished with a strict verdict.
