Photocredit: Sandra Zhukova 2024 - Ukrainian children pose with Allah Mihai (one of the festival organisers) and the Mayor of Hereford
Engagement comes in many forms, including supporting friends who might be displaced from their homes and countries. As we share stories during our Year of Engagement, we hope to include an ongoing focus on the work of our Homes for Ukraine project, which highlights the support and encouragement offered to Ukrainians living in our communities from our many churches and schools in the diocese.
A group of local Hereford Ukrainians have organised the first UK version of the annual Ukrainian Arts Festival. The event, which is due to take place this Saturday, 18 January, is inspired by a long tradition of local and national festivals enjoyed by Ukrainians before the war, and the Herefordshire group hopes it will encourage a new custom here in the UK. The event is expected to feature nearly 150 Ukrainian performers who are now living in the UK. People are expected to travel to the city on Saturday to take part in the event, explained the organisers.
Billed as the largest Ukrainian cultural celebration ever held in Hereford and possibly the Midlands, the event will showcase the rich tapestry of Ukrainian culture through music, dance, and poetry, bringing together performers aged from six to over seventy.
"This will be a unique festival. Ukrainians from cities across the UK will come to perform and showcase our music, culture, and traditions," says Sandra Zhukova from St Pete’s Church. "These people were forced to leave their homes during the war, but through this festival, they bring their cultural heritage to life."
St Peter's Church in Herford continues as a beacon of support for the Ukrainian community living in the city. Since the outbreak of the war in February 2022, the church community at St Peter’s responded to calls for help. Initially, they gathered people who were willing to offer their homes to Ukrainians and quickly became a second home for the many Ukrainians who have come to live in Hereford. “The church is our home, and we are so grateful to the team at St Peter’s who support us and make us feel so welcome.” Adds Sandra.
The festival program features an extraordinary range of performances, including three bandura ensembles playing Ukraine's national instrument. Six-year-old Yeva Koshova, originally from the occupied city of Berdyansk and now living in Cardiff, will be the youngest performer, while The Singing Circle ensemble from Cardiff represents the festival's senior participants.
Of the 36 participating groups, six are from Hereford, with others travelling from as far as London, Cardiff, Bristol, and Birmingham to take part in the event. Performances will span traditional Ukrainian songs, contemporary pieces, and classical arrangements, culminating in the spectacular Hopak dance.
A Hopak is a traditional Ukrainian folk dance. Originally for men among the Zaporozhian Cossacks, it was later danced by couples, male soloists, and mixed groups of dancers. This Saturday, a mixed group of dancers will perform the Hopak at the festival.
The festival, which is free to attend, with voluntary charitable contributions welcomed, will take place on Saturday, 18 January, at St Peter's Church in Hereford. Doors are expected to open to the public at 12 noon. The event will celebrate Ukrainian culture and it highlights the ongoing commitment of the wider church community of St Peter’s Hereford to supporting displaced Ukrainians, helping them to find community and preserving their cultural identity in the UK.
Visit the website to find out more about how St Peter's Church is supporting the Ukrainian community.
Please visit the website page here for information about Year of Engagement events.