News
On display now:
...And They Will Rise in Glory and Power:
Destroyed Temples of Ukraine
Since February 24, 2022, the russian forces have destroyed, damaged, and devastated over 660 places of worship in Ukraine. More than 12,000 civilians have been killed. The exhibit “… And They Will Rise in Glory and Power: Destroyed Temples of Ukraine" portrays just a few of these sacred sites damaged during the full scale invasion, and invites us to reflect on Ukraine’s diverse cultural and spiritual heritage in a religiously tolerant and pluralistic society.
QR-codes provide links to information about the destroyed temples, their appearance before the russian attack, history of the buildings architecture, links to additional resources and media reports.
russia’s full scale attack on Ukraine’s history, cultural and spiritual heritage, along with the mass atrocities against civilians reinforces the genocidal nature of the war. The destruction of Ukraine’s unique places of worship is part of this targeted attack. The largest number of damaged structures is in the eastern Donetsk region. These include Catholic, Orthodox, Jewsih, Muslim and Hindu religious buildings.
Most of the 32 photos displayed were taken during the expeditions of the “National Memorial to the Heavenly Hundred Heroes and Revolution of Dignity Museum”, also known as the Maidan Museum, to the territories affected by russian aggression. This documentation work was a part of the Heritage Emergency Response Initiative, and conducted in partnership with the “National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War.” The co-organizer of the museum project is the “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” National Preserve in Kyiv where this exhibit was first presented. The English-language exhibit is developed by the Maidan Museum and the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) and supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) as a part of the “Religion and War” CIUS project.
As you are observing this exhibit the documentation team continues receiving information about newly destroyed places of worship. Evidence of War Crimes is being collected. The story of the people affected needs to be told and is a part of decolonization, or as they say in Ukraine, derussification.
Ihop Poshyvailo, Director of The Maidan Museum, when presenting this exhibit in Edmonton last year, stressed the importance of rebuilding and attempts are already being made to rebuild in the de-occupied regions. This is evidence of the people’s RESILIENCE and passion for re-affirming their Ukrainian National Identity. 
On the opening day of the display exhibit, MUM Board President, Anna Mycyk, presented to media outlets and visitors. "Coming today to see this exhibit brings info focus what is happening in Ukraine right now. Places of worship are being destroyed. It's part of the ongoing destruction in Ukraine to destroy the culture and the heritage of all the people who live there. The will and resilience to rebuild - this is what Ukraine wants to do. The people want to rebuild their country..."
This exhibit provides an opportunity for reflection, connection and support and will be on display until Easter.
News reports:
CBC Saskatoon
CTV Saskatoon
Note: until such time that russia is worthy of proper noun use, we follow the 2023 consideration of the National Commission on State Language Standards that it is not considered a mistake to use the lower case writing in unofficial documents.
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