Marcharch 2018 2018
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MMarcharch 2018 2018 OFOF MUSIC MUSIC MISSION MISSION KI KIEEVV MMusic/Widows/usic/Widows/OOrphansrphans and and C Children/hildren/CChurch/hurch/VVictimsictims of of War War MESSIAHMESSIAH ININ THETHE HHALLSALLS OFOF GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT ThisThis article article is writtenis written by by Yuri Yuri Polakiwsky, Polakiwsky, "We"We are are a apeople people of of song,” song,” says says a membera member of ofthe the Association Association of ofUkrainian Ukrainian MaestroMaestro Zenovii Zenovii Korinets, Korinets, the the artis artis WritersWriters and and Poets Poets in inKyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine. Ukraine. He He is is tictic director director of of Verovka. Verovka. "We "We sing sing at at thethe author author of of the the book, book, “Ukraine “Ukraine - A- A birth,birth, we we sing sing when when we we protect, protect, we we LamentLament of ofa Promise”a Promise” and and his his writing writing singsing when when we we celebrate, celebrate, we we sing sing appearsappears in innewspapers newspapers such such as as Kyiv Kyiv Post. Post. whenwhen we we pray.” pray.” n nthe the right right bank bank of of the the Dnipro Dnipro “Our“Our partnership partnership with with the the Kyiv Kyiv OOriverriver in in Kyiv Kyiv stands stands a statuea statue of of DistributingDistributing Bibles Bibles SymphonySymphony Orchestra Orchestra and and Chorus Chorus is is VolodomyrVolodomyr the the Great. Great. In In his his hand, hand, he he WesWes Janzen: Janzen: After After the the concert concert I personally I personally gave gave a Biblea Bible and and blessing blessing therefore,therefore, a naturala natural one,” one,” he he conti conti holdsholds a abig, big, simple simple cross. cross. To To all all toto well well over over 100 100 individuals individuals who who did did not not have have a Bible.a Bible. nues.nues. “Wes “Wes and and I agree, I agree, that that bringing bringing TheThe response response was was simply simply overwhelming. overwhelming. Ukrainians,Ukrainians, it isit ais symbol a symbol of of the the accep accep sacredsacred music music to to the the people, people, especial especial tancetance of of Christianity Christianity unto unto their their land land which which occurred occurred in in the the year year of of 988. 988. ly lythe the poor, poor, the the elderly, elderly, the the widow, widow, and and especially especially the the magnificent magnificent works works ofof Bach, Bach, Mozart, Mozart, and and of of course, course, Handel, Handel, has has the the power power to to transform transform indi indi Today,Today, over over a thousanda thousand years years later, later, and and less less than than two two kilometers kilometers away away vidualvidual hearts, hearts, and and ultimately, ultimately, the the way way we we think think and and act act in in our our society.” society.” fromfrom that that landmark, landmark, on on a colda cold Monday Monday evening evening in in February February in in the the main main councilcouncil chamber chamber of of the the Kyiv Kyiv municipal municipal government, government, almost almost 750 750 people people “This“This concert concert was was a firsta first step step towards towards a fulla full joint joint performance performance of of Messiah Messiah,” ,” gathered.gathered. Many Many had had to to stand, stand, or or find find space space to to sit sit on on window window sills sills and and sayssays Wes Wes Janzen, Janzen, KSOC KSOC artistic artistic director. director. “For “For the the finale, finale, we we performed performed three three tables,tables, to to hear hear God's God's message message of of hope hope through through song. song. majormajor highlights highlights from from Messiah Messiah together together and and Verovka Verovka is isnow now learning learning the the restrest of of Messiah Messiah. It’s. It’s a majora major undertaking, undertaking, and and they they love love it. it.The The musicians musicians of of InIn what what has has already already become become a traditiona tradition in in this this historic historic city, city, the the Kyiv Kyiv VerovkaVerovka have have never never learned learned Messiah Messiah until until now, now, and and they they want want to to perform perform SymphonySymphony Orchestra Orchestra and and Chorus, Chorus, in in partnership partnership with with the the Verovka Verovka thethe entire entire composition composition with with us, us, with with a shareda shared sense sense of of purpose purpose that that is is Choir,Choir, the the preeminent, preeminent, and and world world renowned renowned folklore folklore choir choir of of Ukraine, Ukraine, deeplydeeply rooted rooted in in Christian Christian faith.” faith.” havehave garnered garnered a reputation a reputation for for presenting presenting concerts concerts that that not not only only appeal appeal toto the the high high standards standards of of musicianship musicianship expected expected by by Ukrainian Ukrainian audienc audienc UkraineUkraine is ispart part of of a centuriesa centuries tradition tradition of of sacred sacred music, music, especially especially through through es,es, but but for for music music that that also also seeks seeks to to satiate satiate the the spiritual spiritual hunger hunger of of a peoa peo itsits Orthodox Orthodox and and Catholic Catholic liturgies, liturgies, but but it hasit has only only been been in in the the last last decades, decades, ple,ple, who who still, still, after after decades decades of of independence, independence, seek seek the the meaning meaning and and true true afterafter the the demise demise of of communism communism and and its its oppression oppression of of religious religious and and artistic artistic understandingunderstanding of of the the freedom freedom of of the the soul. soul. expression,expression, where where Ukrainians Ukrainians have have been been introduced introduced to to the the choral choral traditions traditions ofof Europe Europe and and North North America. America. But But what what is isnow now clearly clearly evident evident is isthat that as as UkraineUkraine gravitates gravitates towards towards the the example example of of Europe's Europe's political political traditions, traditions, it isit is alsoalso becoming becoming inherently inherently cognizant cognizant of of the the essential essential spiritual spiritual foundations foundations thatthat enabled enabled the the respect respect of of freedom, freedom, and and from from that, that, the the respect respect for for individu individu al aldignity dignity that that emanated emanated through through the the spiritual spiritual power power and and principles principles of of the the Reformation.Reformation. Such Such growing growing interest interest in in these these expressions, expressions, which, which, hitherto, hitherto, hadhad not not been been widely widely known known and and experienced experienced in in Ukraine, Ukraine, are are becoming becoming a a sourcesource of of renewed renewed spiritual spiritual inspiration, inspiration, knowledge knowledge and and sustenance. sustenance. ThisThis particular particular evening evening was was but but another another example example of of the the articulation articulation of of thethe essential essential Christian Christian mission mission the the proclamation proclamation of of hope hope through through songsong and and the the expression expression of of generosity. generosity. IntroducingIntroducing the the evening, evening, Janzen, Janzen, in in his his ContinuedContinued on on page page 4 4 kindkind and and affecting affecting manner, manner, introduced introduced 1 1 The White House s central Kyiv still slumbers on Saturday morning, close to five hun throughout society, but it was a societal statement that wanted to assert A dred widows and pensioners gather. the principle that societal institutions, and life in general, must be based on the sacred dignity and respect of human life, and that people, and To all who gather, it’s known as the “White House”, where, from nine to the promise of their individual lives matter. noon every Saturday morning, widows from around Kyiv, a city of over 4 million, gather in shifts, for extensive Bible study, to have an opportu An important mandate of the work of Music Mission Kiev is to provide nity to participate in a choir practice with their friends, are offered the a biblical example to Ukraine’s society in its determined breakaway services of a doctor, and to finally, receive a food package that will sup from the values of atheistic materialism, to values of caring and com plement their meager, government pension. passion while defining what it means to love one’s neighbor. But perhaps most important, the life at the “White House” has been “We provide medicines that our widows could not possibly afford,” says transformed into a thriving and vibrant community where numerous Wes. “We know we have a direct effect on their quality of life. Many volunteers and scores of widows have created a place of solace in an would have to choose between medicine and food.” enormous city, and where hundreds are provided with a place of belong ing and acceptance, an awareness that no one is to be forgotten and With the presence of the Mission’s Dr. Vadym, up to 20 widows can be that everyone should experience the feeling that they are cared for. medically examined every Saturday morning. This has resulted in: pro viding the means for major eye operations, financing post operative Begun in 1993, the work was started by the “aftercare”, prescribing and paying for over husband and wife team of Roger and Diane 300 pairs of glasses, the conduction of McMurrin, who were inspired to come and numerous tests regarding, cardio problems, bring sacred music to Ukraine, and second, to kidney ailments, blood pressure and cancer fulfill the biblical mandate of caring for wid diagnosis, and providing access to medical ows, the poor and those in most dire need.