June 22: Day of Sorrow and Memory of the Victims of the War in Ukraine

June 22 in Ukraine is observed as the Day of Sorrow and Memory of the Victims of the War. This day holds historical significance as it marks the beginning of the German-Soviet war in 1941. However, June 22 also holds significance in other historical events.

On June 22, 1675, King Charles II of England founded the Greenwich Observatory. The observatory was established with the aim of providing navigators with accurate coordinates. The location of the observatory, which now houses the Zero meridian, was chosen by Sir Christopher Wren. Originally situated on the hilltop of Greenwich Castle, the observatory was later moved to a different location in the first half of the 20th century, transforming the old building into a museum.

The Greenwich Observatory gained fame not only for its association with the Zero meridian but also for its contribution to astronomy. The first Astronomers Royal cataloged 60,000 stars, significantly expanding the existing catalog. The observatory became a reference point for measurements, and its prime meridian was accepted as the main meridian of the world during the International Conference in Washington in 1884. This standard is now used by cartographers worldwide. The meridian was initially marked with a brass band in the observatory’s patio and has been marked by a powerful green laser since 1999.

In addition to the observatory’s association with the meridian, it is also renowned for defining Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which was officially renamed universal time in 1935.

On June 22, 1815, French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated for the second and final time following his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. He was subsequently exiled to the island of St. Helena, where he spent his remaining years.

June 22, 1910, witnessed the opening of the first air passenger line in Europe. This line connected the German cities of Friedrichshafen and Düsseldorf and operated using airships rather than airplanes. The airship “Germany” cruised on this route, and the German Aeronautics company established the world’s first passenger transatlantic airline with a fleet of seven Zeppelin airships.

June 22, 1940, marked a significant event in French history as the government of the French Republic signed the surrender to the Third Reich. The signing took place in the Compiègne Forest, the same location where Germany had signed a peace treaty following World War I. The French campaign leading up to this surrender was swift, with German troops occupying Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Northern France. The French army, although putting up a desperate resistance, could not halt the Nazi advance. The French government left Paris, and a new French government led by Marshal Philippe Pétain negotiated the armistice, resulting in the occupation of 60% of France by German and Italian troops.

Lastly, June 22, 1941, marked the beginning of the German-Soviet war. Prior to this, the Third Reich and the USSR had jointly divided Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Hitler justified the attack on the USSR as a preemptive strike, claiming that the Soviets were planning an attack. The Nazi offensive was swift, with German troops capturing various territories in a short span of time.

In addition to these historical events, June 22 holds significance in Ukraine as President Leonid Kravchuk issued a decree in 1994 regarding the return of cult property to religious organizations.

On a religious note, Christians commemorate St. Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria, on June 22. St. Cyril played a significant role in fighting the heresy of Nestorius and presided over the III Ecumenical Council in 431.

June 22 also carries various folk omens and superstitions. For example, if the berries on the currant turn red, it is believed to indicate hot weather. Rain on Kirillov’s day is seen as a sign of a changeable but fruitful summer. Additionally, it is believed that the hotter the weather on June 22, the colder December will be.

While June 22 holds historical and religious significance, there are also certain things that people are advised not to do on this day. Wearing black clothes is not recommended, and lighting a fire is also discouraged.

Overall, June 22 is a day that commemorates significant historical events, religious figures, and carries various folk beliefs.June 22 in Ukraine is observed as the Day of Sorrow and Memory of the Victims of the War. This day holds significant historical events, including the start of the German-Soviet war in 1941, France’s capitulation to the Third Reich in 1940, Napoleon’s second abdication in 1815, and the founding of the Greenwich Observatory in 1675.

On June 22, 1675, King Charles II of England established the Greenwich Observatory with the aim of providing navigators with accurate coordinates. The observatory’s location, which now marks the Zero meridian, was chosen by former professor of astronomy Sir Christopher Wren. Initially situated on the hilltop of Greenwich Castle, the observatory was completed in the summer of 1676. In the 20th century, it was relocated, and the original building now serves as a museum.

The Greenwich Observatory gained fame not only for its association with the Zero meridian but also for its role in defining Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The first Astronomers Royal cataloged 60,000 stars, significantly expanding the existing star catalog. The prime meridian, established in 1851, became the main meridian of the world during the International Conference in Washington in 1884. This standard is now universally used by cartographers worldwide. The meridian was initially marked with a brass band in the observatory’s patio and has been marked by a powerful green laser since 1999.

On June 22, 1815, French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated for the second and final time after losing the Battle of Waterloo. He was subsequently exiled to the island of St. Helena, where he spent his remaining years.

June 22, 1910, witnessed the opening of Europe’s first air passenger line, connecting the German cities of Friedrichshafen and Düsseldorf. The transportation used for passengers was not airplanes but airships. The German Aeronautics company operated the world’s first passenger transatlantic airline, which consisted of seven Zeppelin airships. However, this era of passenger transportation came to an end with the crash of the airship Hindenburg, the company’s flagship.

On June 22, 1940, the French government signed the surrender to the Third Reich in the Compiègne Forest, the same location where Germany had signed a peace treaty following World War I. The French campaign leading up to this event was swift, with German troops occupying Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Northern France. The French army, although putting up a desperate resistance, could not halt the rapid advance of the Nazis. The French government, under Marshal Philippe Pétain, negotiated an armistice, resulting in the occupation of 60% of France’s territory by German and Italian troops.

June 22, 1941, marked the beginning of the German-Soviet war. Prior to this, the Third Reich and the USSR had jointly divided Eastern Europe and the Balkans during the early years of World War II. Hitler justified the attack on the USSR as a preemptive strike, citing the concentration of Soviet military equipment near the border. The Nazi offensive was swift, with German troops capturing major cities and territories within months.

In more recent history, on June 22, 1994, President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk issued a decree regarding the return of cult property to religious organizations. The decree aimed to transfer state-owned religious buildings and property to religious organizations by December 1, 1997.

On the religious front, Christians commemorate St. Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria, on June 22. St. Cyril played a significant role in combating the heresy of Nestorius and presided over the III Ecumenical Council in 431.

Folk omens associated with June 22 include the belief that if currant berries turn red, it will be a hot summer. Rain on Kirillov’s day is seen as a sign of a changeable but fruitful summer. Additionally, it is believed that the hotter the weather on June 22, the colder December will be.

There are also certain activities to avoid on June 22, such as wearing black clothes and lighting fires on the street, especially near houses, to prevent potential accidents or fires.

How did the occupation of a significant portion of France lead to the negotiation of the armistice and the establishment of a new government led by Marshal Philippe Pétain?

Ed the peace treaty after World War I. The rapid German campaign led to the occupation of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Northern France. The French army, despite their resistance, could not stop the Nazi advance. The French government left Paris, and a new government led by Marshal Philippe Pétain negotiated the armistice, resulting in the occupation of a significant portion of France.

Lastly, June 22, 1941, marked the start of the German-Soviet war. The Third Reich and the USSR had previously divided Eastern Europe and the Balkans, but Hitler used a supposed Soviet attack as a pretext for launching an offensive. German troops swiftly captured various territories during the early stages of the war.

In addition to these historical events, June 22 holds significance in Ukraine as it is observed as the Day of Sorrow and Memory of the Victims of the War. President Leonid Kravchuk issued a decree in 1994 regarding the return of cult property to religious organizations on this day.

On a religious note, Christians commemorate St. Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria, on June 22. St. Cyril played a prominent role in combating the heresy of Nestorius and presided over the III Ecumenical Council in 431.

June 22 also carries various folk omens and superstitions. For example, a change in currant berries’ color to red is believed to indicate hot weather, while rain on Kirillov’s day is seen as a sign of a changeable but fruitful summer. There is also a belief that hotter weather on June 22 predicts a colder December.

While June 22 has historical and religious significance, there are also guidance on what not to do on this day. It is advised not to wear black clothes and not to light a fire.

Overall, June 22 is a day that commemorates significant historical events, religious figures, and carries various folk beliefs. It serves as a reminder of both sorrowful moments in history and notable achievements.