His Beatitude Patriarch Sviatoslav, Major Archbishop (Patriarch) of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, has been on tour visiting the Eparchy and associated communities in numerous countries over the past 3 years. During the Patriarchal visit to Australia in September, the Patriarch finally arrived in Melbourne. As part of the tour, a banquet was held in his honour at Melrose Reception in Tullamarine with over 450 people in attendance.
Members of Verchovyna’s Elementary group greeted the Patriarch with a traditional Ukrainian “Pryvit” – a “Welcome” dance and ceremony which concludes with the ritual of offering bread and salt on embroidered cloth to honoured guests. The bread represents the offer of the host’s hospitality and the salt symbolizes eternal friendship (as salt never sours or expires).
Verchovyna’s eldest dancers performed a vibrant, colourful and uplifting dance from the Volyn region of Ukraine.
It was a momentous occasion for all our Verchovyna performers.
