Students from five schools honored the Fathers of the Romanian Great Union, especially those of the Union of Bukovina with its Motherland Romania.
On Wednesday, the 28th of November, starting at 12:00, Putna Monastery hosted the event “100 years after its return to the Motherland, Bukovina is next to Stephen the Great and Holy”, dedicated to the anniversary of the Union of Bukovina with Romania, accomplished on the 28th of November 1918.
The event was organized by Putna Monastery together with the town halls and schools of Putna, Vicovu de Jos, Bilca, Vicovu de Sus and Straja. The participating students received anniversary medals.
The event began with a special ceremony: the reconstructed crown of St. Stephen the Great was brought from the monastery's museum and placed on the tomb of the Holy Prince, to the sound of bells. Archimandrite Melchisedec Velnic, abbot of the monastery, explained that bringing the Crown to St. Stephen the Great’s tomb symbolized the return of Bukovina to state unity along with all Romanians.
A Commemoration service was officiated in memory of those who worked and sacrificed themselves for the Union of Bukovina with the Motherland and for the Fathers of the Great Union. An address was delivered on the significance of the Great Union for today's people, especially for young people, and on the source of strength for the makers of this historic act.
In front of the monastery Museum, the students held an especially moving recital, each group expressing their wishes for the Romanians of today and Romanians who will live 100 years from now.
Five choirs sang: the “Sons of Putna” Vocal-Instrumental Group from “Metropolitan Jacob of Putna” Secondary School, Putna; the “Guardians of Traditions” Choir of “Dimitrie Onciul” Secondary School, Straja; the “Little Bilca” Folkloric Group of the “George Tofan” Secondary School, Bilca; the “Crown of Vicovu” Choral Group of the “Ioan Vicoveanu” Secondary School, Vicovu de Jos; the “Prince Stephen’s New Soldiers” Vocal-Traditional Group of the “Ion Nistor” Technological High School, Vicovu de Sus.
As an expression of Romanian unity, the teachers, students and all the other participants joined hands in a circle dance around the monastery church, reminding of “The Circle Dance of Union”, a famous Romanian poem.As an expression of Romanian unity, the teachers, students and all the other participants joined hands in a circle dance around the monastery church, reminding of “The Circle Dance of Union”, a famous Romanian poem.