11.1.2008
Bethlehem flame enlightened the Donetsk citizens before Christmas

Before Christmas and during Christmas days all scouts of the world give Bethlehem peace flame to nations as a symbol of Faith, Love and Good.

This year scouts of the Donetsk region took part in the ”scout relay race” of Bethlehem flame handovering. In Kyiv the Flame was given to representatives of the Donetsk region – scouts Oksana Brovko and Dmytro Kolesnyk on the 23d of December. On the 30th of December the holy flame was handed to scouts of Donetsk and Avdiyivka. During three days before the Christmas every interested person could burn the Bethlehem flame from icon lamps, which permanently were in the office of the Credit union “Mriya” (Kramators’k town), in the scouts’ houses in Donetsk and Avdiyivka, and on the 4th of January – in the central branch office of the Prominvestbank (Kramators’k town). This year the members of the Kramators’k scouts handed for the first time the Bethlehem flame to pupils and teachers of the First Ukrainian city gymnasium, and the Donetsk scouts – to Church of gospel Christians – Baptists.

This year the geography of the Bethlehem flame is rather wide in the Donetsk region: Donetsk city council, credit union “East”, religious communities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv patriarchship, the Nativity Temple affiliated to the State university of informatics and artificial intellect (Donetsk city); the biggest three libraries and surgical department of the town hospital (Kramators’k town); educational institutions, territory center for the people of the old age (Avdiyivka).

 

These days, honest thoughts and love entered the hearts of those, who took the light of the Bethlehem flame, the Flame of Love, Friendship, and Disinterestedness. Christmas holidays continue. Scouts-kolyadnyks from all stanitsas (Cossack village) went from house to house with a star and carols about the Nativity and wished every family various well-beings   and harmony, prosperities of Ukraine.

 

The information is from press-service of the National Scout Organization of Ukraine in the Donetsk region

 

Reference

In 1986 the Austrian broadcasting company ORF (Lints city) initiated the Christmas tradition – to spread the Bethlehem Peace Flame. From the very beginning the action was as a help to children and those, who needs the help and attention on the Eve of Christmas time.

 

Every year, Austrian scouts take the Flame from the Christ Birthplace in Bethlehem, and then transport it to Austria by plane. After the solemnities in Viennese cathedral, the relay baton is handed to the neighboring countries. From hand to hand, the Bethlehem Flame crosses numerous borders and reaches those, who wait for the warm, calmness and faith.

 

The Ukrainian nation perceived the idea of the Bethlehem Peace Flame and its simple symbolism. In Ukraine the Bethlehem Flame is spread by members of “Scouts” – National scout organization of Ukraine. This year, scouts received the Bethlehem Peace Flame already nine years running from the Polish scouts and handed it to the Ukrainians, churches, kindergartens, hospitals.

 

The Bethlehem Flame burns the candles for the Holy Supper. Traditionally, the Flame remains in church till Jordan – to the 19th of January. Then it may be out.

The action of holy light was blessed by the Ukrainian Byzantine-rite Catholic Church, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv patriarchship, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. The action was held by the protection of the first lady of Ukraine Kateryna YUSHCHENKO.