The tradition of bell ringing in Lviv has been added to the National List of Elements of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ukraine. This was reported by the Ministry of Culture, UNN reports.
Details
The bells in Lviv are not only the sounds of the city, but also its soul, the Ministry of Culture noted. Melodious sounds are used for religious services, weddings, funerals, and other church rites. The repertoire includes the following melodies:
- “The Annunciation,” performed daily before the service;
- The “chime” performed during the blessing of Easter cakes, during the celebration of Palm Sunday, during various processions, weddings, and baptisms;
- a tune for a funeral;
- alarm tone, alert about a natural disaster or enemy attack.
For centuries, bell ringers have been preserving the diversity of bell ringing, which is rarely recorded in written documents. Instead, the knowledge is passed on to young people from the masters. Today, associations of bell ringers preserve and restore the tradition of bell ringing.
The sounds of bells form a unified cultural and emotional space in Lviv. It is a part of the citizens' identity and a sentimental connection to the bell tower and its ringing, which evokes emotions, memories, and experiences, both personal and collective.
Another feature of the tradition of bell ringing in Lviv is social and interfaith harmony, as bell ringers profess the principle of equality and perform their duties in different faiths, creating a tolerant environment.