A few of the Ukrainians dwelling in Portugal held the primary Greek-Catholic Mass in Lisbon on Sunday after Russia invaded their nation. They prayed for peace and as soon as once more thanked the Portuguese for his or her friendship.
There’s one phrase that this immigrant group has saved repeating over the previous few days: “Thanks”. Within the every day demonstrations they’ve been organizing for the reason that invasion of their nation, the assist they’ve acquired from the Portuguese isn’t forgotten. They do it on their very own initiative.
This Sunday, throughout the shifting Sunday mass on the São Jorge de Arroios church in Lisbon, it was the flip of the Ukrainian ambassador to Portugal, Inna Ohnivets, to ascend the pulpit of the temple to, on behalf everybody, thanks as soon as once more. However this real gratitude isn’t new. The residents of this Jap European nation have stated they’re “joyful, free and properly cared for” since their arrival, some greater than 20 years in the past.
However what is that this group which, additionally in current days, has acquired, by means of quite a few declarations to the media, a lot reward from the Portuguese?
“I let you know what our Portuguese brothers inform us each day: we’re hard-working, trustworthy folks and we simply wish to make associates. That is how we’re and our path can be a means of thanking you for the best way you could have acquired and acquired us,” stated Pavlo Sodokha, president of the Affiliation of Ukrainians in Portugal (AUP), who’s in our nation for 21 years. .
Father Mateus Dziurban, who celebrated Greek-Catholic mass on the church of Arroios, has solely been in Portugal for 5 years, however says he is aware of “the group” of his nation in Portugal. “Ukrainians are good folks, who need the perfect for themselves and for others.”
The extreme disaster skilled by their nation within the 90s of the final century led Ukrainians to hunt a greater life everywhere in the world. At this time, it’s estimated that round 10 million folks reside and work abroad. In Portugal there are about 28,000, unfold all through the nation, however between 2008 and 2010 they reached 80,000. Most are, even at this time, from the west of the nation, a really agricultural area. little industrial.
“The previous rapidly realized that they had been properly acquired in Portugal, that they had been handled with respect. That there was work. The phrase unfold and lots of people began coming, entire households,” says Pavlo Sadokha, a 52-year-old economist. And he offers his personal instance: “I arrived greater than 20 years in the past with out work, with out talking Portuguese, with out realizing something in regards to the nation and the Portuguese. From day one, I had individuals who helped me. Already. I made associates simply and even married a Portuguese woman.
“No issue to find a job”
The AUP president additionally claims that another excuse “Ukrainians are joyful in Portugal” is as a result of “all governments with out exception have at all times given nice assist to the group.” “They gave us jobs, faculties, even homes, they signed many assist protocols.” “We have now by no means lacked authorities assist,” he stated.
He estimates that by way of age, “the bulk are between 50 and 60 years previous – these are those that arrived in Portugal 20 years in the past on the age of 30, 40”. “Lately, many younger folks have come, many kids have been born right here and the group now has many younger folks.”
The primary to reach in Portugal had been principally “staff, building staff, agricultural staff and cleansing staff”, however “during the last decade the group has change into extra specialised”. “At this time we even have engineers, medical doctors, musicians, academics and really specialised folks in several fields, who haven’t any issue to find a job,” he factors out.
Concerning the numerous discount within the variety of Ukrainian immigrants working in Portugal, the President of the AUP explains it by the truth that “a lot of those that got here by no means supposed to remain – they simply wished to save cash after which return to Ukraine” and with “the monetary disaster that hit Portugal, which started in 2011, and which left many individuals unemployed”.
Pavlo Sadokha believes that within the close to future, “because of the conflict and after António Costa opened the doorways of Portugal to anybody who desires to come back, the group will develop. He nonetheless has no thought of the variety of arrivals, however he calculates that “there shall be many”.
Final Saturday, Augusto Santos Silva, Minister of Overseas Affairs, in an interview with CNN, stated that “tens of hundreds” of Ukrainians may come to Portugal.
“One factor I can assure to those that wish to come: in Portugal they are going to be properly acquired, joyful, free and properly handled”, ensures Pavlo.
“Glory to Ukraine”
Let’s return to the Church of São Jorge de Arroios. It isn’t but 8 o’clock within the morning and the benches of the temple are virtually full. Father Mateus Dziurban says the church fills up each Sunday. “The Ukrainians, just like the Portuguese, are folks of nice religion. In these tough occasions, prayer helps to achieve some peace of thoughts. It does not take away issues or worries, however it does assist. Persons are struggling quite a bit. Our individuals are struggling quite a bit. We pray quite a bit for peace,” he advised PÚBLICO.
This Sunday, the priest says he noticed “nearer faces” and “extra ache”. “All these folks have [na Ucrânia] household.”
After the ceremony was over, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Portugal, Inna Ohnivets, took the pulpit of the church.
“Putin desires to eradicate Ukraine as an impartial and democratic state. With everybody’s assist we’ll resist and with the assist of the Portuguese we’ll win,” he advised his compatriots.
As quickly because the ambassador completed talking, the Ukrainians sang their nationwide anthem. Tears streamed down some faces. “Glory to Ukraine, respect to its heroes”, all of them shouted with one voice earlier than leaving the church.
Outdoors the temple, Inna Ohnivets took benefit of the dialog with PÚBLICO to thank the assist she acquired on Saturday night from the Portuguese authorities, which introduced that it might ship arms to Ukraine: “I need to as soon as once more thank Portugal and the Portuguese folks for this assist. Ukraine could be very grateful to Portugal. Collectively we’ll win.”
Inna Ohnivets additionally revealed to the PUBLIC that the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, has additionally made himself out there to assist all Ukrainians who want to come to Portugal following the Russian invasion of the nation. “We’re presently investigating what sort of assist is required, however I’ve a assure that we are going to be helped,” he stated.
The PUBLIC then requested the ambassador for permission to {photograph} her. He instantly stated sure, however first he insisted on placing a flag of his nation on his shoulders.