The people of Liepāja are welcome to attend a support and charity event for Ukraine

24 February will mark two years since the Russian armed forces launched their brutal attack on Ukraine, bombing Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro. By joining forces in support of Ukraine, the people of Liepāja will stand alongside those from Latvia, Europe and around the world who will show both practical and emotional support for the Ukrainians in their fight for their Land and Country.

Every day since the beginning of the atrocious war, the Ukrainian national anthem has been played on the world's largest mechanical organ in the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Liepāja at 12.00.

The Saturday of the 24th of February will be no exclusion and the event will start with the playing of the national anthems of Ukraine and Latvia at the same noon time. Following the anthems, please join us in the Cathedral for a prayer moment to remember and honour the sacrifices of the Ukrainian people, hope and faith for an end to the war and for peace in the world.

Shortly after the prayer, a number of charity and support activities will take place in the Cathedral’s garden from 12.30 to 16.00.

Since the first day of the war, the “Tabitas Sirds” charity organisation has become a focal support point for Ukrainian families, raising donations and organising the delivery of donations to the war-torn country. On 24 February, "Tabitas Sirds" will keep the appeal open for donations of warm socks, gloves and other knitwear, as well as essential medical supplies, candles and paraffin, in addition to cash donations. Representatives of the charity will be on hand to explain, guide and assist in getting the right support to the people and places where it is most expected and needed.

At 13.00, 14.00 and 15.00 the Latvian National Armed Forces Navy Band will perform live music, encouraging every Ukrainian supporter to donate to the Entrepreneurs for Peace Foundation's "Donate to the Ukrainian Navy" campaign. This summer, the campaign is planning to organise a camp in Liepāja for children of Ukrainian Navy servicemen.

At 16.00 in the Liepāja Holy Trinity Cathedral, the support and charity campaign will culminate with a concert by Liepāja musicians dedicated to the people of Ukraine. The concert will feature opera singer Laura Bulava, Liepāja Symphony Orchestra musicians, composer Jānis Strazds, organist Ilze Tomsone, Liepāja Folk Art and Culture Centre choirs and led by the artistic director Reinis Lapa. The programme will include compositions and songs by Latvian and Ukrainian composers.

Whereas, on 25 February at 15.00, you are welcome to attend the chamber series "Personally" at Liepāja Concert Hall, featuring Ukrainian singer, conductor and musicologist Oksana Nikityuk and Latvian pianist Herta Hansena, who will present a programme of Ukrainian and Latvian chamber music "The Sunflower Road". Oksana Nikityuka's life was altered by the war – now she is a soloist of the State Academic Choir "Latvia", has also performed with "Sinfonietta Riga", continues to regularly perform in Ukraine and is gradually adding Latvian composers’ compositions to her repertoire. This ties in closely with the motto of the upcoming concert - the interaction of the past with the present paves the way to the future. The audience will be able to experience the concert both live and online on the concert hall's digital platform https://digitalaisdzintars.lv/en/

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