92nd Anniversary of the Battle
Co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund
September 19, 2012
On September 19, 2012, Holy Mass was celebrated for the fourth time in memory of the fallen soldiers who heroically defended a piece of their homeland near Dytiatyn.
Guests arriving for the ceremony were greeted at the entrance to the village of Dytiatyn by an inscription: "We welcome everyone who arrives with peace", visible on a roadside board funded by the local population. At the exit, on the reverse of the same board, one could read: "May the Lord protect you on your way". The fact that these were not dead records is evidenced by the attitude of the residents of Dytiatyn, who, standing by their homes, greeted arriving guests with smiles and kindness.
The celebrations were attended by both Poles and Ukrainians, local people and guests from Poland, representatives of local and state authorities, including motorcyclists, participants of this year's Katyn Rally with their chaplain. The ride of several dozen motorcyclists certainly made a big impression on the residents of the village, where there is not even an asphalt road. The liturgical setting was traditionally prepared by the Franciscans from Bołszowce. During the Holy Mass led by the Primate Senior Archbishop Henryk Józef Muszyński, prayers were said in Polish and Ukrainian not only for the fallen, but also for those who today strive for reconciliation and expect mutual forgiveness, Poles and Ukrainians. Among the concelebrants were, among others, Fr. Grzegorz Cymbała, parish priest from Bołszowce and Fr. Prelate Wiktor Antoniuk, dean of Halicz, who represented the Metropolitan of Lviv Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki.
In his homily, the Primate said: "We gather here as a community of God's children to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice. This is a place that speaks in a special way by its very existence. We realize that this is where, on the one hand, the defense took place, and on the other hand, the death of our heroes. We realize that once a church and a grave stood here. Thanks be to God that even when these external signs disappeared, memory endured. Because these people who gave their lives here fully deserve this memory. Let us thank God that we have lived to see such times when Poles and Ukrainians can commemorate and pray together on this land, thanking God and those who cultivate this memory. After ninety years, we are here, gathered together in prayer. Poles and Ukrainians, representatives of one power and another power, faithful people, Christians who pray together."
Following Mass, wreaths and bouquets of flowers were laid at the cross erected three years ago by the local community. Motorcyclists placed burning candles at the cross. Following these ceremonies, it was time for speeches.
Senator of the Republic of Poland Łukasz Abgarowicz drew attention to the duty of memory and gratitude to those who fought together (i.e. Poles and Ukrainians) for freedom. He said that "the signs of history and sacrifice in the past are a good indication for us of what we should be heading towards."
A letter from the Deputy Speaker of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, Marek Kuchciński, was also read. Information was also given about the efforts made by the Polish and Ukrainian sides to renovate the war cemetery in Dytiatyn, which was completely destroyed by the Soviets after World War II. Not even the foundations of the chapel remained. Only a regular, circular mound made us realize that there was something more than a small meadow in this place. The respect of the local population for the consecrated land that protects the bodies of fallen soldiers did not allow for the memory of silent heroes to be plowed under and trampled.
On the Ukrainian side, representatives of local government and authorities took the floor, expressing their support for commemorating the heroism of soldiers fighting on the Dytiatyn Hills. The need and necessity of continuing actions to forgive mutual wrongs and to bridge the divisions between Poles and Ukrainians were also emphasized. A group of pilgrims from Stanisławów, Warsaw and Silesia also participated in the celebrations. The provincial of the Kraków Franciscan Province was represented by Fr. Bronisław Staworowski, who arrived with a group of volunteers from the Brother Sun Foundation.
After short informal conversations, exchange of addresses and brotherly hugs, some of the participants of the ceremony went to the Franciscan monastery in Bołszowce, where a meal was prepared and a documentary film dedicated to the memory of the heroes of Dytiatyn was shown.
