Not Nice to ‘Mother Russia’
Jan 14th, 2009 by John
”Mother Russia”
Today is our last day in Ukraine and we are in Kiev. The huge statue of Mother Russia is an historical anachronism for the Ukrainians. “Mother” is facing toward Moscow and the Ukrainian joke is that they would like to turn the statue around and been it over at the waist so “Mother” is mooning Moscow. There is another huge statue of a Ukrainian man and a Russian gladly holding hands, arms in the air and the motto is “Brothers Forever.” Oops! Ukraine and Russia are now fighting over oil. So much for comradeship.
This has been a unique trip in that the New Year/Christmas season is at least a week long. Schedules are not as routine. While there has been plenty of teaching, mentoring and encouraging, it has taken place in smaller more ad hoc situations. Jeremy Bouma and I did, however, have opportunities to preach in churches and in new church plants.
Today we will visit two great cathedrals–St Sophia’s and St Michael’s. We also will visit the replica of the ancient gates into the old city called “The Golden Gate.” Also, in the old city is a natural history museum. Ukraine prior to becoming Christian was a pagan, polytheistic land.
The generational difference between those who grew up under communism (when Ukraine was part of the USSR) and those who’ve known independence is palpable. Ukraine is a land rife for civil war and division, with the eastern region reconnecting to Russia and the western becoming more European. Kiev and the Dniper River are the Mason-Dixon line so to speak.
Dopopotchinya!
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“Mother Russia” is absolutely wrong translation!
The statue’s name is literally “Mother Motherland”.
Or just “Motherland”, as ‘mother’ appears in the second word, too
You really think it’s ripe for war? Scary
Olha,
Our Ukrainian friends tell us that it is “Mother Russia.” Sorry for the mistranslation. I only wrote what I was told by those born and raised in this city.
John
Post Blackbird Song,
My friends say that it is very possible, especially since Putin seems to want more power and reestablish the old USSR. How far he will get…who knows? But the difference in the two regions–East Ukraine and West Ukraine–is very real.
When I was there walking around that same statue there was an artist providing a rather “creative” reinterpretation of the statue with buttocks and all. Our interpreters were all embarassed, but we thought it was pretty funny.