On Sunday, June 15, 2025, we had the honour of participating in a very special Sunday Service in the German Evangelical Church where we rehearse weekly. This was no ordinary service — it was broadcast live on ZDF, Germany’s national television channel, reaching millions of viewers across the country.
Being invited to represent Ukrainian culture on such a large and respected platform was a privilege and a deep responsibility. The theme of the service — justice and peace — resonates strongly with us as Ukrainians, especially in these difficult times, both for those still in Ukraine and for those who have found refuge abroad.
Our contribution to the service included three songs:
- A traditional ritual song from the “Ivana Kupala” celebration
- “The Cherry Orchard by the House” (“Sadok vyshnevyi bilya khaty”) — a lyrical setting of Taras Shevchenko’s poetry
- And, as a closing piece, the powerful song “Ukraina” by Taras Petrynenko
Each piece was carefully selected to reflect themes of resilience, identity, and hope.
Participating in a live national broadcast was an entirely new experience for us. We worked closely with the production crew, learning to coordinate each movement, entrance, and word with precise timing — down to the second. The live format meant that everything had to be perfectly planned and rehearsed, and we had several full run-throughs in the days leading up to the service.
We were honoured to welcome representative from the Ukrainian Embassy and many distinguished guests. Their presence and support meant a great deal to us.
For our German-speaking audience, two of our songs were introduced with explanations in German, so that viewers could understand the stories and meaning behind the music.
🎶 A short video highlight from our performance is available below.
🎨 We’ve also prepared coloring pages for children, inspired by two of the songs we performed.
For inspiration and fun, we invite you and your family to download and color our themed pages—perfect for celebrating traditions, seasons, and creativity together!
We are grateful to have been part of this meaningful and moving experience — one that brought voices of peace, justice, and Ukrainian culture into homes across Germany.