The icon “The Virgin of Okhtyrka” – in the exhibition project dedicated to destroyed churches

The ancient icon “The Virgin of Okhtyrka” from the funds of our museum is on display as part of the exhibition “…But they will be revived in glory and power”. The exhibition project is dedicated to the churches of Ukraine, mutilated as a result of the full-scale military aggression of the Russian Federation. It was opened in the Dining Room of the National Reserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”. Organisers of the exhibition: National Reserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”, National Memorial Complex of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred Museum of the Revolution of Dignity, National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War with the participation and assistance of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

The icon “The Virgin of Okhtyrka” is one of our most recent acquisitions. This year, priest Andrii Pasiuha donated it to the museum. The image, dating back to the first half of the 20th century, was housed in the Church of Saint Nicholas of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in the village of Velyka Pysarivka in the Sumy region. During a Russian shelling, the church was damaged, and the ancient icon of the Mother of God was also mutilated. As a result, it was decided to transfer it to the Holodomor Museum as evidence of the current crimes committed by the Russians.

According to the Institute for Religious Freedom, Russian forces completely destroyed or damaged at least 630 religious sites in Ukraine during the 21 months of the full-scale invasion. The destruction was caused mainly by Russian missile, drone and artillery fire.