Ukraine members celebrate heritage
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KYIV, UKRAINE
Members of the Kyiv Ukraine Temple District honor their ancestors. Such attitude was demonstrated in the cultural program they staged Saturday evening, Aug. 28, in conjunction with the dedication of the temple the next day.
The program included a "play within a concert" that told the religious history of the temple district. More than 160 members from six cities in Ukraine formed the choir; the orchestra included 34 musicians, all of whom except one are LDS. Dancers and other performers came from throughout the temple district.
The program included one unexpected performer. After entering the Palace Ukraine Concert Hall's stage, President Thomas S. Monson delighted the audience when he sat down at the grand piano and played a few bars of a couple tunes. Members of the audience, already standing in respect for President Monson's arrival, applauded and cheered.
Before proceeding to the lectern to address the audience, President Monson made his way around the piano bench and some music stands to greet members of the choir. He shook hands with a surprised and delighted young man, Sergiy Vivcharyuk.
In his address to those who had assembled to watch the cultural program, President Monson said the Kyiv Ukraine Temple was the reason for the great celebration that brought together performers from throughout the temple district.
"I have attended many cultural celebrations held in conjunction with temple dedications. I have loved all of them," he said.
To the performers, President Monson said, "I pronounce a blessing upon you tonight that you may feel the love which we have for you. May you know, also, that our Heavenly Father loves you."
Noted musicians Igor and Vesna Gruppman opened the program with the Bach Concerto for Two Violins. Brother Gruppman, director of the Orchestra at Temple Square, was born in Kyiv and lived here until his was 16. Vesna Stefanovich-Grupmann was born in Serbia, then part of Yugoslavia.
Both internationally acclaimed musicians — featured on some of the world's most prestigious concert stages and with top orchestras — performed to the accompaniment of the LDS volunteer orchestra, the members of which began intensive rehearsals months ago.
Brother and Sister Gruppman's eyes practically sparkled as they spoke about the choir, orchestra, dancers and other performers.
"We felt joy in our hearts to perform with them," Brother Gruppman said. "We were coming to the temple dedication. Then we were invited to participate. It has been thrilling."
Kateryna Serdiuk, co-chairman of the cultural program, said planning for the program began a year ago. "We decided we should connect with our culture and Christianity. Ukraine is the cradle of Christianity in Eastern Europe."
In recent years, the cultural program the night before a temple's dedication has been staged by young people, ages 12-18. A great number of performers in this program included adults.
"The Church is only 20 years old here," Sister Serdiuk said. "We do not have enough young people for them to stage a cultural program themselves, so we included all ages. Since we are only 20 years old, I say all the members are young in the gospel."
Elena Nikolaeva was over all the music for the cultural program, as well as choirs for the temple dedication.
The Kyiv Ukraine Stake's choir performed throughout the program, interweaving LDS hymns and anthems with music reflecting the rich musical heritage found in the temple district.
"The structure we chose was a concert inside a play," Sister Nikolaeva said.
She spoke of the love and reverence people here have for their ancestors and how they want to honor them.
Olga Hakalenko, who worked with Maxim Goryachev in overseeing the dances presented during the performance, said of the program, "This is not just something to present and do for people to enjoy. It also helps us grow personally, get to know our culture better, develop our talents and unite a lot of youth."
Further, she said "A lot have sacrificed to be a part of this. They have paid their own way here, for their food and lodging. They have sacrificed time in their personal lives to be here for the celebration."
According to religious tradition, the Apostle Andrew preached the gospel of Jesus Christ along the Black Sea as far as the Volga River and Kyiv. An opening scene depicted Andrew and his companions on their missionary journey to what is now Ukraine.
Videos on large screens, ballet and folk dances, and dramatizations combined to present a polished presentation. Few in the audience were aware of the countless hours that dancers spent learning their steps, singers rehearsed and orchestra members practiced to perfect their art.
In the end, all that mattered was a program that delighted and touched hearts.
