Daniel Landau, the federal government’s education coordinator for Ukrainian students, first came up with the idea. As soon as work is completed on the construction site in St. Barbara Parish in Vienna, the street in front of it may be renamed “Ukraine Square”. The church is located at Postgasse 8-12 in the 1st district of Vienna.
Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Chimynets believes the idea is “excellent”.
Landau X went on (Twitter): “I can actually imagine it very well! So as soon as this street here (in front of St. Barbara) actually becomes a square, should we name it ‘Square of Ukraine’?! On the contrary, the “Square of Austria” in Kiev would also be nice.
“An excellent idea,” comments Vasil Chiminets. It will link Ukraine and Austria more closely “on the basis of a common history”. Furthermore, it would have a “strong symbolic power” as the St. Barbara parish has been “the center of Ukrainian life in Vienna” since the 18th century. “generously recognized among the Viennese”.
The Barbarakirche is the main church of the Greek Catholic Church in Austria and also the parish church of the Ukrainian Uniate Church.