In a special ceremony held at the Hellenic Parliament, the Ambassador of Ukraine Volodymyr Shkurov, delivered an exact copy of the Ukraine-Protovivlou Holy Gospel "Peresoptitsa". In the presence of members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group between Greece and Ukraine, Ambassadors from Switzerland, Georgia, Bulgaria and Slovenia, Mr Shkurov presented the gold-trimmed Gospel to the President of the Parliamentary Group of Friendship Mr Lazarus Tsavdaridis in order to be placed permanently in the Library of Parliament.
Receiving the Gospel Mr Tsavdaridis thanked the Ambassador of Ukraine and assured him that "the Hellenic Parliament receives today the «soul of Ukraine», a luminous proof of strong ties and shared values that bind the two countries". He added that the word «gospel» means "cheerful message and now you, Mr Ambassador, donate the Hellenic Parliament not just a sacred relic but a universal message of faith, hope and culture. From today, the exact copy of this Ukrainian intellectual heritage will adorn the Hellenic Parliament as a proof of the excellent relations between us. "
"With this initiative we want to emphasize the value of the principle of democracy and symbolically to express our appreciation to the Hellenic Parliament, as well as to emphasize the respect of the Ukrainian people to the Greek people" said the Ambassador of Ukraine. Mr Shkurov also stated that it was a great honor for him to be present at the event which takes place "in a timing during which our countries celebrate two hundred years since the birth of the Ukrainian national poet Taras Shevchenko and two hundred years since the establishment of «Filiki Eteria»".