The Rada proposes to officially approve “God is Great, One” as the Spiritual Anthem of Ukraine

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has registered a draft resolution No. 15383, which proposes to officially grant the work “God is Great, the Only One” the status of the Spiritual Anthem of Ukraine. The document also determines the procedure for its performance during state, memorial, religious and other solemn events.

The corresponding draft resolution has been published on the official web portal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

The initiators of the legislative initiative were people’s deputies, the leadership of the parliament, as well as the heads of parliamentary factions and groups. The authors of the document emphasize that its adoption does not change the legal status of the National Anthem of Ukraine, which is determined by the Constitution of Ukraine and current legislation.

Instead, the project aims to officially consolidate the special status of the work “God is Great, the Only One”, which for many years has been a symbol of the spiritual unity of the Ukrainian people and is traditionally performed during prayers for Ukraine, commemorative ceremonies and state events.

According to the document, the Spiritual Anthem is proposed to be performed during the National Day of Prayer, state memorial and mourning events, opening of monuments, official ceremonies with the participation of the Verkhovna Rada, the President of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers and other state authorities.

In addition, its performance is envisaged during interfaith events, celebrations of local governments, educational and cultural institutions, military events, as well as certain sporting events.

A separate provision of the draft resolution stipulates that on February 24, on the National Day of Prayer, the Spiritual Anthem of Ukraine will be performed during a plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada. During national celebrations, it should be played after the performance of the National Anthem of Ukraine.

If the resolution is adopted, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine should develop a set of measures to popularize the Spiritual Anthem both in Ukraine and abroad.

The work “God is Great, the Only One”, also known as “Prayer for Ukraine”, was created in 1885. The author of the music is the prominent Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko, the lyrics were written by the writer and public figure Oleksandr Konysky. Today, the composition is traditionally performed during prayers for Ukraine, state ceremonies, and events commemorating the dead.