"Solidarity Bell" with Ukraine rang at Washington National Cathedral. PHOTOS
A festive service was held at the Washington National Cathedral to mark the beginning of the year. Blessings were read for Ukraine and a symbolic bell made from spent ammunition was rung.
This is reported by the Voice of America, Censor.NET reports.
"This cathedral has been supporting Ukraine from day one. And we are happy and proud of that. To be able to collect the weapons of war, these bullets from Ukraine, and turn them into a symbol of peace, is a really strong message. And we believe that God is a big part of that, so we blessed this bell," said Kevin Eckstrom, spokesman for the National Cathedral of Washington.
The shell casings and bullets found on the frontline in Ukraine were melted into solid ingots, from which the bell was cast. The bell is engraved with a quote from Taras Shevchenko's poem in Ukrainian and English: "Truth will rise! Will rise!", as well as the battle slogan: "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!".
On the first day of the new year, the bell was first solemnly consecrated in Washington Cathedral and then used during the service.
The "Solidarity Bell", as it is called, was commissioned by the National Bell Festival to mark Ukraine as the country that will be in the spotlight in 2025.
"The Solidarity Bell is symbolically linked to the American Liberty Bell, located in the city of Philadelphia, which was the capital of the United States during the struggle for independence from Great Britain. The bell rang to summon the people of Philadelphia to the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on 8 July 1776.
