On January 1, 2025, Washington, DC's main cathedral, the Washington National Cathedral, will ring the "Solidarity Bell" made of ammunition shells collected after the de-occupation of the northern territories of Ukraine. This event will mark the beginning of the traditional international National Bell Festival in the United States, which recognizes 2025 as the Year of Ukraine. The iconic 12-inch diameter bell will be rung to unite in prayer for victory and peace for Ukraine.
This was reported by the organizers of the event, National Bell Festival, Inc.
The service, which will begin at 12:00 p.m. in the Washington Cathedral, will be dedicated to the Feast of the Name of Jesus. And on New Year's Eve, the bell will visit Ukrainian churches in the Washington, DC area.
The service is part of the National Bell Ringing Festival, which is held every January 1 in the United States to welcome in the New Year. This year's festival highlights the centuries-old tradition of bell ringing in Ukraine and its ongoing struggle in the war against the Russian aggressor.
The bell, called the "Solidarity Bell" and measuring 12 inches in diameter, was made from ingots of shell casings collected in the area of Bucha, Kyiv region, which has been de-occupied by Russian troops. After the metal was melted into ingots by Sayamat in Vyshneve, it was shipped to the Royal Eijsbouts bell foundry in the Netherlands, where it was fully cast. Royal Eijsbouts bell foundry в Нідерландах, де здійснили повне ливарне виробництво.
The peculiarity of the bell is the inscription on it - a fragment of Taras Shevchenko's poem: "Truth will rise! The will will rise! The edges of the bell are decorated with a trident, a coat of arms and the national greeting: "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Heroes!"
To learn more about the initiative and tradition of the festival, please follow the link here. link.
Author: Inna Mikhno