On the anniversary of the beginning of the war, Chancellor Nehammer commemorates those “who are murdered, badly injured and traumatized, who are being attacked right now” – acknowledging the resilience of Ukraine and the “peace project” EU
Vienna (KAP) – Austria’s federal government, headed by Chancellor Karl Nehammer, visited the Ukrainian Greek Catholic central parish of St. Barbara in downtown Vienna on Friday afternoon to commemorate the anniversary of Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Representatives of the opposition parties, EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn, and ambassadors from numerous countries accepted the invitation of the Ukrainian ambassador to Austria, Wassyl Chymynez. Parliamentarians from Ukraine also attended the prayer.
In addition to the Apostolic Nuncio in Austria, Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, the Orthodox Metropolitan Arsenios (Kardamakis), among others, was also present from the churches. As many Ukrainians are of Orthodox faith, after the prayer the participants marched in silence to the nearby Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, where candles were also lit and silent prayers were offered. “A church is a good place to remember all of this, to reflect, to pray for those who believe,” Nehammer said.
In Austria there is a “truly strong voice for Ukraine,” the Chancellor stated in a short speech. This is visible in the federal government, in the mayors and municipalities as well as in the people living in the country. The “causes of the war” had doubts that the EU was capable of unity. However, the “belief in what really defines the European Union and what constitutes the great peace project” is having an effect – “still,” said the Chancellor. He assured the people in Ukraine of the closeness of the people in Austria: “We have a long history in common and we will always stand by their side.”
The past year since the beginning of the war has shown, in Nehammer’s words, “how resilient, how heroically and heroically Ukraine is being defended.” One can see in Ukraine “that belief in oneself, in one’s country, in one’s people, in the people who are important and close to one, can achieve a lot.”
At the same time, the Chancellor also remembered all the victims of the war. Many have been murdered, seriously injured or traumatized, and many are “being attacked and bombed right now.” Nehammer also remembered all those “who are fighting for their faith, for their own lives and for their belief in the future of Ukraine”.
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