Volodymyr the Great Square may appear in Kherson

The suggested name is not accidental. There is a Greek Catholic shrine consecrated in the name of that grand prince and located in Tavriisky neighborhood of Kherson, at the intersection of Voroshylova and Pokrysheva streets. It is this intersection that the community wants to be named in honor of Volodymyr the Great. The city authorities have taken note of the priests’ suggestion, and the bill to that effect has already been submitted to the council and is awaiting its next scheduled meeting.

Let us recall that Kherson is gradually ridding itself of Soviet toponyms as its localities acquire new neutral names or get historical ones restored. Just last two years saw Lenina, Karla Marksa, and Krasnoflotska streets disappearing, replaced by Soborna, Hretska, Potiomkinska, and Bohorodytska. Recently, one of central parks was renamed City Park instead of Lenin Park on the mayor’s initiative. The decision to name the square after Prince Volodymyr will, according to city councilor Stanislav Troshyn, become another touch to the patriotic portrait of Kherson.

“The Greek Catholic community of Kherson first appealed to me as a city councilor to help with renaming the square housing St. Volodymyr the Great Monastery two years ago. I introduced such a bill to the council, but the city officials did not want to be distracted by such issues at the time. That bill failed to even get a hearing at the standing committees, and it became clear that the prospects for its adoption at the session were nil,” public relations head of the Kherson City Council Stanislav Troshyn commented for The Day. “We saw Mayor Volodymyr Mykolaienko and Fatherland caucus councilors greeting the city’s Christian communities recently on the occasion of Christmas. While staying at the monastery, it occurred to us all to reintroduce this matter for the council’s consideration. After the Revolution of Dignity, many councilors have switched to a pro-Ukrainian stance. Currently, all items on the agenda get a genuine hearing. Typically, the city council responds positively to such requests coming from faith communities and churches, so I think that the request of the Greek Catholics is likely to be approved now. Moreover, renaming of the square to honor Volodymyr the Great will enable us to show the country and the whole world that the councilors are unanimous in their support for the idea that Kherson was, is, and will remain a glorious Ukrainian city.”