Ornek master class led by Ukrainian ambassador's wife held during heads of diplomatic missions meeting
As part of the program for the annual meeting of heads of Ukraine's diplomatic missions abroad, the spouses of Ukrainian diplomats took part in a presentation on Crimean Tatar cultural heritage and the Ornek master class, which took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (MFA).
According to an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent, the workshop was held as part of a regular presentation on Crimean Tatar cultural heritage. The wife of Ukraine's ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, Leviza Dzhelialova, led the Ornek workshop (Crimean Tatar: Örnek) and explained that in Crimean Tatar tradition, Ornek is a language of symbols through which prayers, blessings, and wishes for well-being are passed down from generation to generation. Created over a century ago, Ornek remains a living heritage of the Crimean Tatar people to this day, uniting generations and preserving traditional spiritual values.
"It is a great honor for me to introduce you to Crimea and immerse you in its culture," the wife of the Ukrainian ambassador to the Republic of Turkey said.
She said that in 2021, Ornek and knowledge about it were inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, maintained by UNESCO.
"And today we will try to get a feel for Ornek. There are several periods in the history of Ornek's origins. There is a pre-Islamic period, characterized by simpler, more concise ornaments representing the sun, water, air, and solar symbols. Then, with the arrival of Islam, Ornek became more refined. Ornamental art reached its peak during the Crimean Khanate, when artisans created exquisite fabrics, embroidery, and filigree. Today, I tried to recreate this as faithfully as possible so that you could see it," Dzhelialova said.
At the same time, the ambassador's wife noted that this ornament is not only elegant but also carries special meanings.
"When our ancestors created these patterns, they embedded certain wishes for future generations within them. Every element, every twig, every flower, and every direction has its own specific meaning. And this is very symbolic and important," Dzhelialova said.
The wife of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and co-founder of the Spouses of Ukrainian Diplomats Associatio Tetiana Sybiha thanked Leviza Dzhelialova for another masterand emphasized the importance of speaking more and more actively about Ukrainian Crimea, whose people are suffering under Russian occupation.
"Thank you for this initiative. Crimea is Ukraine. I believe that Crimea will definitely return home. And here, our activism and everyone's commitment matter. As long as Crimea remains occupied and the Crimean Tatar people are suffering, we must speak the truth to the world more loudly," Sybiha said.
She added that other Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad could also hold such workshops to showcase Crimean Tatar cultural heritage. Sybiha noted Leviza Dzhelialova's active involvement with the Association of Wives of Ukrainian Diplomats and her coordination of Crimean Tatar initiatives.
"It is extremely important for Ukrainians and the world to hear the truth about the culture and values preserved by Crimean Tatar families directly from the bearers of that culture. I am very pleased that Ms. Leviza is organizing a special program on Crimea for the second year in a row as part of the annual ambassadors' meeting," Sybiha said.
The Ukrainian diplomatic couple also sang the well-known Crimean Tatar folk song "Ey, güzel Qırım" together to immerse themselves more deeply in Crimean Tatar culture.