Visiting Ukraine, September 2005
From Sept. 22 -27, His Holiness Mahamandaleshwar Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda visited Ukraine. His disciples cordially welcomed him and, according to the Slavic tradition, offered him bread, salt and fruits. His Holiness Swamiji visited the cities of Kiev and Cherkasy, where numerous remarkable meetings and programs took place.
Swamiji met several distinguished personalities from Ukrainian civil and religious circles:
- His Excellency Mr. Shah, Ambassador of India to Ukraine
- His Eminency Filaret, Patriarch of the Ukraine Orthodox Church
- Bishop Ioann of Cherkasy
- Aleksandr Cheverko, Governor of the Cherkasy Region
- Anatoliy Voloshyn, Mayor of Cherkasy
- The head doctor and his team from the Cherkasy City Hospital
- Aleksandr Boryak, Secretary of President Viktor Yushchenko
In Kiev His Holiness Swamiji had a cordial and inspiring meeting with Patriarch Filaret who showed great interest in Swamiji's mission and message.
Bishop Ioann from Cherkasy invited His Holiness Swamiji into his church and office and they led a friendly dialogue about philosophical and theological questions. Bishop Ioann stated that there is a wide common ground of all beliefs, and said that he would like to implement a multi-faith society together with His Holiness Swamiji.
On Sunday evening, Sept. 25, Bishop Ioann with his numerous priests took part in the World Peace Prayer event that was organised by the Cherkasy "Yoga in Daily Life" Society.
On Sept. 26 His Holiness Swamiji took part in a Conference about Ecology, together with Bishop Ioann and several scientists from the field of ecology and physiology. In his speech, His Holiness Swamiji addressed particularly the importance of Ahimsa (non-violence) and vegetarian lifestyle for the sake of environment and protection of life on earth. Bishop Ioann pointed out that in the early Christianity Christians were vegetarians and were expelling meet-eaters.
On the way to the airport, His Holiness Swamiji met the personal secretary of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, Mr. Aleksandr Petrovitch Boryak. Both Mr. Boryak as well as the Patriach of Kiev showed interest in supporting the organization of the Sri Madhavananda World Peace Summit in Kiev/Ukraine in 2007.
Swamiji in Ukraine, 2005
