THE CROSS OF PEACE
A UNIVERSAL SYMBOL OF HARMONY AND UNITY, UNITING THE THREE BRANCHES OF CHRISTIANITY: ORTHODOXY, CATHOLICISM, AND PROTESTANTISM
"The Cross of Peace" stands as a monumental sculpture, a global emblem of harmony and unity. Marking a historic moment since 1054, "The Cross of Peace" brings together the three branches of Christianity: Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Protestantism. This monumental symbol of life, which Sergey Melnikoff and Viktor Belchik are creating from the debris of war—fragments of artillery mines and shells collected in Ukrainian fields—stands as a testament to humanity's yearning for peace amidst the ravages of conflict. The sculpture, aptly named "The Cross of Peace," will serve as a poignant symbol for the United Christian Church, echoing the unity that prevailed before the Great Schism.
A GLOBAL SYMBOL OF CHRISTIAN FAITH AND UNITY!
“The Cross of Peace” not only embodies faith but also signifies unity. Standing at three and a half meters (138 inches) tall, it will be adorned with a mosaic of military munitions fragments, intricately arranged.
Twenty thousand 5.45 and 7.62 caliber shell casings will be used for the intricate ornamentation that adorns “The Cross of Peace.” The Christ figure will be painstakingly assembled from small fragments of artillery mines coated with a layer of pure gold. A poignant addition to the sculpture is an artillery shell embedded in its lower section.
A TESTAMENT TO TRIUMPH OVER DEATH!
“The Cross of Peace” encapsulates the triumph of life over death. Originating from a nation defending its people against Russian aggression, this symbol of the three Christian religions embodies the hope for peace and justice. Notably, that this work of art is using the embroidered Ukrainian national towel, symbolizing the nation’s spirit and identity.
A SANCTIFIED JOURNEY ACROSS CHRISTIAN LANDS!
This sacred artifact from Ukraine can find its temporary home in various Christian places of worship dedicated to the Lord God.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the Church of St. George in Istanbul, the Iberian Monastery on Mount Athos, St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral in Kyiv, Tsminda Sameba in Georgia, the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris in France...
A crucifixion model served as the reference for creating a sculpture of Jesus Christ from flaked military munitions debris. The figure of Christ is first nickel-plated, then electroplated with 999.9 gold.
Renowned Kharkiv volunteer Exuzyan Ardavazd delivered another batch of shell casings from the firing range to Victor Belchik’s workshop in Odessa. These casings are used to craft an ornament adorning the majestic Peace Cross sculpture.
The cross is based on a stylized anti-tank hedgehog, assembled from railway rails salvaged from a streetcar depot in Kharkiv, which was destroyed by a Russian missile. On this substantial base, the creators have placed large-format fragments of artillery shells and aircraft bombs, each engraved with the logos and personal names of the sponsors of this historic composition.
Once the Cross of Peace artwork is completed, it will no longer be possible to add new sponsorship logos. Don't miss your chance to leave your name in history!
Reserved for the Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
"THE CROSS OF PEACE" SYMBOLIZES THE URGENCY TO HALT ARMED CONFLICTS ACROSS OUR GLOBE AND AVERT A THIRD WORLD WAR!
“The Cross of Peace” stands as a poignant symbol of peace and reconciliation, aimed at halting military conflicts and preventing the catastrophic outbreak of a third world war. Through a global tour, the sculpture will be showcased in front of the parliaments of nations supporting Ukraine’s peace initiatives.
The creation of “The Cross of Peace” signifies a beacon of hope for a brighter future. History has demonstrated that such symbols possess the power to inspire peace and harmony amidst adversities and challenges.
In recent centuries, no other religion has possessed such symbolic heirlooms!
The cross was made using water pipes that the emergency service of the city of Kharkiv dismantled from a multi-story building located at 82 Nataliya Uzhviy Street. In August 2022, a Russian S-300 ballistic missile hit this building at night, killing residents in dozens of apartments.
The crossbar of the cross was assembled from pipes taken from an apartment building at 134 Dobrovolsky Avenue in Odesa, where, on the night of March 2, 2024, 12 people, including five children, were killed by a treacherous Russian strike.
At the base of the cross, an antique bell featuring an image of the Virgin Mary is suspended on an anti-tank obstacle known as a Czech hedgehog.
The inscription on the bell reads:
VOCEM MEAM AUDI QUI ME TANGIT
WHOEVER TOUCHES ME WILL HEAR MY VOICE
ARDAVAZD EKSUZIAN
OLEXANDER KOSTETSKY
OLEXANDER ZOLOTAREV
BOGDAN SHUMEYKO
YURI LYSYUK
ANTON KUDIN
IVAN NAKONECHNY
KRISTINA HOIMAN
TATIANA ALEXANDROVA
FEDIR KUSKOVALSKY
VICTORIA MAZUR
OLEG AVTOMONOV
MARIIA UNIVERSALIUK
IRYNA OLISIEIENKO
IURII OLISIEIENKO
MARIA HAKIROVA
ARCHBISHOP ANDREI
ANASTASSIA MELNIKOV
MIKOLA POSOKHOV
VALERY ZHURAVLEV
VALERY GREBENYUK
VICTOR BALYTSKY
LYUDMYLA LEUKHINA
VYACHESLAV PAVLIY
VERA TOMCHUK
AND EVERYONE IN UKRAINIA
FRAILTY OF LIFE
The names of the people involved in the creation of the work “The Cross of Peace” will be engraved on a fragment of an artillery shell, torn apart by an explosion. From its center, a solitary red rose made of fragile glass will “grow.”
DONATIONS
IMMORTALIZE YOUR NAME OR BRAND IN A HISTORIC SCULPTURE
You can make a personal or corporate donation to the Cross of Peace Project here. For believers, your donation comes from the depths of your heart and brightens your soul. For atheists, your contribution enriches human culture and supports the Mother Teresa Rehabilitation Center. This center is being established by the Soul of Ukraine, an International Charitable Foundation, in Albania for children disabled by the military actions in Ukraine. Every penny will be used exclusively for this purpose. The size of your donation does not matter—your generosity does. Thank you!
Donors in the United States may request an Acknowledgement Letter on the 501(c)(3) form for a tax deduction. Please send your request to the Foundation’s email: info[at]soulofukraine.foundation
BANK DETAILS
UА183005280000026009455082461 (Ukrainian hryvnia)
UA363005280000026035455045654 (US dollars)
Recipient Code: 39490790
SWIFT code: OTPVUAUK
JOINT-STOCK COMPANY OTP BANK
Sichovykh Striltsiv St., 52, Kyiv, 04053
Phone: +38 044.495.6070
MFO (sort code) 300528
DONATIONS VIA PAYPAL
PARTNERS AND PROJECT SPONSORS
NAMES OF DONORS AND SPONSOR BRANDS ARE LASER ENGRAVED ON LARGE PIECES OF ARTILLERY MINES, WHICH ARE USED TO CREATE THE FOUNDATION FOR THE CROSS OF PEACE SCULPTURE
STAGES OF CREATION
Finishing the reverse side of the Cross.
LEAVE YOUR NAME FOREVER!
Purchase an autographed model photo of the Ukrainian Madonna from our charity gallery and secure a sponsored spot on the Cross of Peace artwork.
