Lisbon Christmas carols

On Sunday February 1, a festive concert took place in Aula Magna (University of Lisbon) organized by the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church of the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God. The celebration began with the greeting of Yurij Demidenko, plenipotentiary in affairs of culture from the Embassy of Ukraine. Fr. Yoan Lubiv, OSBM, addressed all those present with warm words and greetings. After the greetings a theatrical performance for the audience was presented by the art studio Theotokos created at the Greek-Catholic Church. All were immersed in the days of the birth of Jesus Christ, as if eyewitnesses of this event. Father Delmar, an invited guest, noted in particular: "For many years I have co-operated with the Ukrainian diaspora, I am at all meetings and holidays, and this is the first time I have seen a vertep [Christmas play] so professional and well-organized." The performance of one school followed another. With colorful Christmas and Epiphany carols on the stage came students of the school Family from the association World without Borders. And the school Wonderful World from the Association of the Union of Ukrainians prepared a vertep in the Portuguese language. Consequently our opera singer Larysa appeared on the stage. In her voice everybody felt the grandeur, force and glory of our homeland. Every song which she executed under the accompaniment of Svitlana Kuznetsova was met in the hall with thunderous applause and calls of «Brava!» After the appearance of Larysa the following performed: Yaroslav Dekalyuk from the Ternopil’ Region, Orysya Andrusyak and Andriy Shumanskyj, the theatrical group Ruteniya, and the duet Nostalgia. At the conclusion of the celebration Fr. Yoan Lubiv, OBSM, greeted all on the holidays and called all Ukrainians to unite.

Information was given by Fr. Yoan Lubiv, OSBM