A grateful, “happy and free” community in Portugal | report
A few Sundays in Lisbon the Greek-Catholic from Russia invaded their country. They prayed for peace and thanked once again the friendship that the Portuguese have given.
There is a word that this immigrant community has used over and over again in recent days: “Thank you”. In the daily demonstrations that their country was invaded, the support received from the Portuguese has never been forgotten since. They do it on their own initiative.
This Sunday, at the emotional Sunday mass at the church of São Jorge de Arroios, in Lisbon, it was the Ukrainian ambassador to Portugal, Inna Ohnivets, to go up to the pulpit of the temple to, on behalf of all, thank you once. But this assessment is not new. Citizens of this Eastern European country say they have been “happy, free and well cared for” since arriving, some more than 20 years ago.
But what community is this that, also in recent days, has received, through statements to the media, much praise from the Portuguese?
“I tell you what our Portuguese brothers tell us every day: we are hardworking, honest people and we just want to make friends. That’s how we are and our way is also a way to thank you for the way you welcomed us from Ukrainians”, said Pavlo Sodokha, president of the Association, who has been in our country for 21 years.
Father Mateus Dziurban, who ministered the Greek-Catholic Mass at the Church of Arroios, has only been in Portugal for five years, but says he knows “the community” of his country in Portugal. “Ukrainians are good people, who want good for themselves and for others.”
The serious crisis experienced in their country in the 90s of the last century led Ukrainians to look for a better life all over the world. Today it is estimated that around 10 million people live and work in a foreign country. In Portugal there are 28,000, around 8,000, around 8,000, between 200,000 and 200,000. Most are, even today, originally from the western part of the country, an agricultural region with very little industry.
“The first ones quickly realized that they were well received in Portugal, that they were treated with respect. What work was there? The keyword. And he gives his own example: “I arrived more than 20 years ago without work, without speaking Portuguese, without knowing anything about the country and the Portuguese. From day one I had people helping me. Ever. Easily find friends and I even married a Portuguese woman.”
“No difficulties in finding a job”
The AUP president also says that another reason for the “happy Ukrainians in Portugal” is due to the fact that “all governments without exception have always given great support to the community”. “They gave us jobs, schools, even houses, they named many support protocols”. “We never lacked the support of the government”, he assures.
He estimates that, in terms of age, the “Maia are between 50 and 60 years old – they were those who 20 years ago acquired for Portugal at the age of 30, 40”. “In recent years, many young people, many children were born and the community now has a lot of young people.”
The majority who arrived in Portugal were “workers in construction and agriculture and cleaning workers”, but “in the last decade the community has specialized”. “Today we also have engineers, doctors, musicians, teachers and very specialized in different areas, which it is not difficult to find”, he points out.
As for the reduction to work in Portugal, the president of the AUP with the fact that some immigrants who never had the intention of staying – only significant money for Portugal to explain to us later with the number returning to Ukraine” and “the financial crisis that affected Portugal, which started in 2011, and left many people without jobs”.
Pavlo Sado who, in the near future, due to the war and then António Costa having opened the ones in Portugal to all who come to believe that coming, the community will grow. He still has no idea how many will arrive, but calculates that “there will be many”.
On Saturday Augusto Santos Silva, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in an interview with CNN, said that “they may come from thousands of pasts” of Ukrainians to Portugal.
“One thing I can guarantee to those who were delivered: in Portugal they will be well received, satisfied, safe and treated”, Pav Pav.
“Glory to Ukraine”
Let’s go back to the Church of São Jorge de Arroios. It’s not yet 8 am and the temple pews are almost full. Father Mateus Dziurban says the church fills up every Sunday. “Ukrainians, like the Portuguese, are people of great faith. In these difficult times, praying helps to gain some peace of mind. It doesn’t remove problems or worries, but it helps. The people are suffering a lot. Our people are in great suffering. We pray a lot for peace,” he told PÚBLICO.
This Sunday, the priest says he saw “closer faces” and “more pain”. “All these people have there [na Ucrânia] family.”
After the ceremony was over, the ambassador of the church in Portugal, Inna Ohnivets, took the pulpit of the church.
“Putin wants to eliminate Ukraine as an independent and democratic state. With the support of everyone we will resist, and with the support of the Portuguese we will win”, he told his compatriots.
As soon as the ambassador finished speaking, the Ukrainians sang their national anthem. Tears flowed on some faces. “Glory to Ukraine, respect to its heroes”, they all shouted with one voice before leaving the church.
Outside the temple, Inna Ohnivets took advantage of the conversation with PÚBLICO to thank the support that, on Saturday night, she received from the Portuguese Government, which announced that it will send weapons to Ukraine: “I have once again to thank Portugal and the people english for this support. Ukraine is very grateful to Portugal. Together we will win”.
Inna Ohnt also revealed to the PUBLIC that the mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, has already made himself available to the president for all Ukrainians who want to come to Portugal following the Russian invasion. “Now we will study the type of support that we are being helped, but we have the guarantee of”, he said.
The PUBLIC then asked the ambassador for permission to photograph. She said yes, but before that she put a flag of her country on her shoulders.