![\"\"](\"https:\/\/testdytiatyn.fundacjabratslonce.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/20210918_104842-scaled-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div><\/a><\/div>"Polish Thermopylae" - this is how several heroic battles fought with an extremely heroic attitude against a much larger enemy force are remembered in the pages of history. One of them was the valiant defense on Hill 385 near Dytiatyn, in the territory of present-day Ukraine. The heroic fight of 600 soldiers against a force five times larger had strategic importance on the front in the Polish-Bolshevik war. Why, after so many years, do the Polish and Ukrainian Armed Forces arrive on the hill, around September 16, government delegations from both countries and several hundred people who travel a long and bumpy road to get to the hill lying between fields and pay tribute to the fallen?<\/p>\n
Memory and homage, that's what attracts people to Dytiatyn every year. This year's celebration of the 101st anniversary of the Battle of Dytiatyn took place on September 18 of this year. Traditionally, most of the invited guests and the Polish Army set off at 11:00 Ukrainian time from the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Bolsheviks, located 15 km from the Cemetery in Dytiatyn. The access road is not easy, most of the route leads along a bumpy road through fields. All the more valuable seems the fact that the desire to pay due respect to the fallen is greater than any discomfort or difficulties. A column of a dozen or so buses and cars sets off in a single file for Dytiatyn.<\/p>\n
The celebrations began with a Holy Mass at the War Cemetery celebrated by the Custodian of the Custody of the Holy Cross in Ukraine, Fr. Stanis\u0142aw Kawa OFM Conv. After welcoming all government delegations, ambassadors, the military and numerous guests, the celebrations began solemnly. Poles and Ukrainians, government delegations, Polish diaspora groups, invited guests from both countries and local believers participated in the joint prayer. After the Holy Mass, the Consul of the Republic of Poland in Lviv, Mr. Rafa\u0142 Kocot, took the floor to welcome the guests once again. The first to speak was the Vice-Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, Mrs. Ma\u0142gorzata Gosiewska, who in her speech emphasized how important cooperation and mutual support of both nations, Poland and Ukraine, is: "Therefore, in a place that unites us so beautifully, I ask for truth and I ask for remembrance. History cannot divide us. It must be our strength, it must be our weapon." The Vice-Marshal also emphasized the presence of Mr. Petro Chrudzewycz at the ceremony \u2013 awarded this year by the President of the Republic of Poland with the Virtus et Fraternitas medal for defending the cross located at the site of the Battle of Dytiatyn against Soviet propaganda. He refused to carry out the order, for which he suffered persecution. He participates in the commemorative ceremonies at the Dytiatyn Cemetery every year.<\/p>\n
Then, the Polish Ambassador in Kiev, Mr. Bartosz Cichocki, quoted fragments of letters addressed to participants of the 101st anniversary of the Battle of Dytiatyn. For this occasion, the following persons prepared their words: Mr. Adam Kwiatkowski, Secretary of State of the Republic of Poland; Mr. Jan Dziedziczak, Government Plenipotentiary for Polonia and Poles Abroad and a representative of the Office for War Veterans and Victims of Repression.<\/p>\n
\u201cHistorical memory is the foundation of national identity, the preservation of which is our patriotic duty,\u201d we read in a letter from Secretary Adam Kwiatkowski. \u201cToday we know that the blood sacrifice was not in vain, and their dreamed-of Poland \u2013 after years of suffering and struggle \u2013 enjoys a sovereign national existence.\u201d On his own behalf and on behalf of President Andrzej Duda, he expressed his gratitude in a letter to all his compatriots and those who bear the burden of caring for this place of national remembrance. \u201cI address my words of appreciation to the activists of the Polish national minority organizations in Ukraine, the Clergy and all people of good will who, through their social work and commitment, set an example of attachment to Polishness every day (...).\u201d<\/p>\n
Following the speeches of the government delegations, Father Arkadiusz B\u0105k, President of the Brother Sun Foundation, OFM Conv., ceremonially presented a commemorative coin of the Battle of Dytiatyn, issued by the National Bank of Poland on September 8th of this year, to the representative of the Polish Government, Vice-Marshal Ma\u0142gorzata Gosiewska. The issuance of this coin demonstrates the special significance of the heroic Battle of Dytiatyn, commemorated each September, in our historical consciousness. Subsequently, all government and Polish delegations, as well as the Polish and Ukrainian Armed Forces, ceremoniously laid flowers at the gravestones of the fallen soldiers.<\/p>\n
The very difficult weather conditions during the main celebrations further emphasized and made it clear to all those gathered that we are commemorating difficult, sometimes borderline events for the soldiers who died at that time. Their fate did not spare them. There was hardship, sweat and sacrifice of one's life for a greater goal, which we are now heirs to - the goal of freedom for us and our country. Therefore, a worthy commemoration is not only our duty, but also a privilege.<\/p>\n
God, Honor, Fatherland \u2013 these three met again in one place, in Dytiatyn. Inseparable values that direct our view of the most important and valuable matters and things. The memory of fallen brothers. A tribute to the effort and sacrifice. As long as timeless values last in the nation, the nation will be strong with the power of memory.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div><\/a><\/div>