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Home , Flag of Ukraine, Melkite, Methodius (Kudriakov), Religion in Ukraine, Ukrainian alphabet

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Just few facts ! Where is Ukraine?

Ukraine is found in Europe. (Don't say the Ukraine)

Its neighbors are: • to the north and east • Belarus to the north • Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to the west • Romania and Moldova to the south. Map of UKRAINE

• Ukraine declared independence on Aug. 24, 1991

• Population of Ukraine: 44,381,300

• Territory of Ukraine: 603,700 sq. km.

• Capital of Ukraine: (population 2,894,900) pronounced KY (like in kick), (like in yield), V (like in water)

• Ukraine is divided into 24 Oblasts (like provinces)

• Each oblast is named after its main city

• was an autonomous region that was forcibly taken over by Russia in 2014. Many countries in the world do not acknowledge this takeover.

The flag is blue and . The yellow symbolizes Ukraine’s wheat fields. The blue symbolizes the sky above and some say Ukraine’s rivers and mountains. Coat of Arms - TRYZUB The Tryzub – meaning trident is an ancient sign. It was used by Prince the Great on gold and silver coins used in Kyivan Rus (Ukraine’s ancient name) Ukraine’s National Anthem

• The words and music were written in the 1860’s and performed as a choral work. The song became very popular since it was a vocal protest against Ukraine’s occupation by other nations. • It was sung as the anthem in 1918, when Ukraine declared its independence, but was forbidden during Soviet times. Outside of Ukraine, all over the world continued singing it as the anthem.

• It was officially accepted in Ukraine in 1992.

Approximate translation: Ukraine’s glory, nor her freedom, has not yet perished, Fate shall smile once again upon us, brothers, Our enemies will vanish, like dew in the sun, And we too shall rule, brothers, in a free land of our own. Refrain x 2 We’ll give our souls and bodies for our freedom, And we’ll show that we are brothers of the Cossack nation! National animals of Ukraine

• The BEAR is wise, strong, and • The STORK is a symbol of parental independent. love, family welfare and patriotism. • His awakening in spring is a symbol of • Stork’s nests, built on rooftops of the renewal and a new life cycle. houses, are thought to bring fortune and happiness to the household. National plants • SUNFLOWER is the national flower. It • The Guelder-rose or KALYNA is the national symbolizes the warmth and power of the sun tree (shrub). It is a symbol of life, blood and and wellbeing. fire. It is also a symbol for the timeless unity • Painted and embroidered sunflowers are of the Ukrainian nation. very popular in folk art. • The leaves and red berries are used to decorate wedding breads. in Ukraine

• From the acceptance of in 988, • St. Sofia Church in Kyiv was built in religion flourished. 1017. It is part of a larger complex that • Many churches were built. includes a bell tower and residential • Under the Soviet rule, religion was banned, building for , that were added many churches were burnt and were throughout the years. The church has persecuted. gone through many restorations, • Even before independence, religion however the exposed brick is part of resurfaced. the original building. • UNESCO world heritage site Nowadays, the largest denominations in Ukraine are: • Ukrainian Orthodox • Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox • Ukrainian Greek Catholic (Byzantine ) • Roman Catholic

There are also a number of Protestant, Judaic and Islamic denominations. Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church

• Part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church converted to Catholicism in 1596. • Ukrainian Catholic Church belongs to the group of Byzantine Eastern Catholic Churches. • Other Churches belonging to this rite are Slovak, Greek, Melkite, Bulgarian – among others. • Ukrainian Catholic rite is similar to the Ukrainian Orthodox Rite. The language of the liturgy is Ukrainian. • Ukrainian churches are beautifully decorated with . A screen with icons called the ICONOSTASIS separates the Iconostasis in Ukrainian church in Lourdes, sanctuary from the congregation. France. CURRENCY

• HRYVNIA is the name of currency in Ukraine. It comes from an old word - name of a measure of silver in the X century.

• After Ukraine proclaimed independence in 1991, they needed their own currency and Canadian Bank Note Company was chosen to create it.

• Some of the first Ukrainian Hryvni were printed in Canada in 1992. New bills were kept in Canada until its circulation in 1996.

• There are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 Hryvnia bills/nominations.

• Famous historical figures and poets are depicted on one side. Buildings and/or monuments associated with these figures are on the reverse side. 1 Ukrainian Coins

• Coins are called “kopijky”. • They come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 and 50 denominations. • Just as Canada has gotten rid of the 1cent coin, the 1 and 2 “kopijky” coins are becoming obsolete. • Ukraine has issued some coins in addition to the bank notes. They come in 1, 2, 5 and 10 Hryvni denominations. Ukrainian - history

• uses Cyrillic alphabet.

• Cyrillic is based on the Glagolithic (Old Slavonic) and Greek .

• The Glagolithic and were developed by the brothers St. Cyril and St. Methodius to use in translating the Bible into in the IX c.

• The alphabet came into Kyivan Rus (Ukraine) around the time of the arrival of Christianity in 988.

• Many Slavic languages (Bulgarian, Macedonian, Serbian, Russian, Belorussian, Tatar, Montenegrin) use Cyrillic alphabet with some unique letters in each.

• Ukrainian alphabet or ABETKA has 33 letters. Ukrainian Alphabet 1 - pronunciation

Letter Name Pronounce as Letter Name Pronounce as Cyrillic CYrillic

А а А a as in mama Ж ж zh as in measure

Б б b as in bus З з z as in zoo

В в v as in very І і I i as in Easter

Г г He h as in hard Ї ї yi as in yeast

Ґ ґ g as in gas Й й Yot y as in yoga

Д д d as in dog К к k as in kite

Е е E e as in pet Л л l as in like

Є є ye as in yet М м m as in mouse Ukrainian Alphabet 2 - pronunciation

Letter Name Pronounced as Letter Name Pronounced as Cyrillic Cyrillic

Н н n as in nose Х х kh as in Bach

О о o as in got Ц ц ts as in mitts

П п p as in pet Ч ч ch as in church

Р р Re r as in trois (French) Ш ш She sh as in shoe С с s as in sun Щ щ Shche shch as in fish chowder Т т t as in tick Ь ь Softening Makes the sound before softer У у Oo oo as in soon Ю ю yu as in you Ф ф f as in fish Я я ya as in Maya