A Ukrainian delegation from Vinnytsia and Bar participated in walking the Vilnius route of the Camino de Santiago at the invitation of the Association of Friends of St. James Way and the Association of Municipalities of St. James Way in Lithuania.

The purpose of the visit was to walk the Camino for five days and to get acquainted with the Lithuanian network of St. James Way routes, an important part of the European Camino de Santiago network. 

It is worth noting that Lithuania’s successful experience inspired Vinnytsia to join this network and launch the «Camino Podolico» tourist route in Ukraine in 2021. This invitation thus represented a continuation of the long-standing friendship and cooperation between the peoples and municipalities of both countries.

In total, 24 participants from Lithuania, Taiwan, and Ukraine took part in the pilgrimage along the Vilnius route. 

The Ukrainian delegation representing Camino Podolico included: 

• Kateryna Ohneviuk and Natalia Rybak from the Department of City Marketing and Tourism of Vinnytsia City Council, which is a coordinator of the Camino Podolico route; 
• Volodymyr Onofriichuk – deputy of Vinnytsia City Council;
• Svitlana Hordiichuk  – guide and ambassador of the Camino Podolico route;
• Liudmyla Haponiuk and Liudmyla Vlasova from the Department of Culture, Youth Policy, Sports and Tourism of Bar City Council. 

«We were invited to walk the Vilnius route by Laima Andrikienė, a member of the European Court of Auditors. She was previously the initiator of St. James Way in Lithuania, so it was invaluable for us to meet her, exchange knowledge, and share experiences. Ms. Laima accompanied the delegations from Ukraine and Taiwan throughout our entire stay. It was a true pilgrimage route: we visited nearly 10 towns and small cities along the way from Vilnius to Druskininkai. We walked carrying the Ukrainian flag, visiting several churches each day, where we prayed for the freedom of our country. We are sincerely grateful for such support and solidarity. In addition to the pilgrimage, a series of meetings was organized for us with the mayors of the municipalities of Druskininkai, Trakai, and Vilnius. They shared their experience in tourism development, including cooperation with local businesses, a focus on sustainability, and initiatives in rehabilitation and restoration. It was an extremely rich and inspiring experience that we will definitely apply in our future work in Ukraine»,  – noted Camino Podolico communications specialist Kateryna Ohneviuk.

«St. James Way in Lithuania is more than a pilgrimage. It is a path that transforms not only a person’s heart and life but also the country itself. Step by step, it gives new meaning, connects people and generations, and reveals spiritual and cultural heritage. It is a journey that brings hope – both personal and collective – for a world where unity and faith are stronger than any trial», – shared the deputy of Vinnytsia City Council Volodymyr Onofriichuk.

«St. James Way is the most active cultural route in Lithuania among the Council of Europe Cultural Routes, attracting visitors from other countries. This year’s route, walked together with pilgrims from Taiwan and Ukraine, is a wonderful example and proof of how Cultural Routes can strengthen communication and expand connections», – said Alfredas Jomantas, Head of the Division of International Relations and Heritage Promotion at the Department of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture of Lithuania.