Holodomor Victims Memorial Day (2013)

On November 23, 2013, Ukraine mourned the 80th anniversary of the Holodomor, a genocide of the Ukrainian nation. The Public Committee of commemoration of the Holodomor, the genocide of 1932-33,  victims organized the Sorrow Procession in the center of Kyiv. About 10,000 participants of the procession came to the Holodomor Victims Memorial, where a memorial service by the Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus’-Ukraine Filaret was held, as well as by the hierarchs of the UGCC, the UAOC, the RCC, Protestant Churches, Muslims and Jews. Participation in the events was taken by leaders and deputies from the opposition, representatives of the World Congress of Ukrainians. At 4 P.M. a National Minute of Silence and a nationwide campaign “Light a Candle” were announced, during which the participants of the event lit 10 thousand candles.

President Viktor Yanukovych, who subsequently opened fire on participants in a peaceful protest, and then fled from Ukraine, ignored the memorial day.