The Bureau of the UGCC on environmental issues encourages everyone to abandon the usage of plastic wreaths and flowers

The Bureau of Kyiv-Galician Major Archbishopric of the UGCC on environmental issues encourages the abandoning of harmful practices - to decorate graves of deceased people with plastic flowers and wreaths that, in particular, is gaining a widespread scale prior to the feast of the Resurrection of Christ.

At this time all faithful people, while wishing to honor their deceased relatives and friends, bring to the cemeteries tons of colorful plastic, usually without thinking about the fact that this practice is not only tasteless and illogical, but also it is very harmful to the environment and dangerous to the health and to the lives of people. Plastic fills all the cemeteries. Later, while cleaning, it is all burnt: harmful compounds escape into the environment, including dioxins, which are carcinogenic effect and thus lead to the development of oncological diseases.

We encourage all Christians to become responsible for themselves, for neighbors, and the creation of God – nature, and we ask to abandon plastic flowers and wreaths in cemeteries. We have to express our remembrance and honor to the dead not through bringing dead plastic wreaths and flowers, but through planting the fresh flowers. The feast of Resurrection of Christ is the feast of life. Its symbol is not a dead plastic flower, but a fresh plant. At the same time we should remember that the best gift for the deceased is our sincere prayer.

In particular, we ask pastors to draw the attention of their faithful people to the harmful effects of the “plastic habit" to the health of all people and to all God's nature.

Volodymyr Sheremeta, Doctor,
Head of the Bureau of the UGCC on environmental issues