Students of the Ukrainian Catholic University Bring Christmas Cheer to Darnytsia

Honouring Ukrainian traditions, Darnytsia Pharmaceutical Company welcomed students from the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU), who visited the national leader in pharmaceutical production with a traditional vertep performance.

This annual initiative, Christmas Together, was launched by the UCU student community back in 2005. Since then, students have travelled to various cities in Ukraine during Christmas to celebrate together and share the joyful news of Jesus Christ’s birth.

Since the onset of the war, UCU students have taken their vertep performances to frontline areas, delighting and uplifting Ukrainian defenders with their play and carols.

Historically, vertep was a travelling puppet theatre that depicted Christmas stories and scenes of Christ’s birth. The vertep theatre was crafted as a two-storey chest, with performances staged on both “floors.” The first part portrayed the Nativity story, while the second part — often humorous — reflected the realities of the time, shaped by the creativity of the performers.

UCU performers have reimagined the traditional Christmas tale, skilfully weaving in contemporary themes such as the full-scale war, international support for Ukraine, and, of course, the ultimate triumph of light over darkness.

"This is not the first time Darnytsia has hosted a vertep performance by UCU students. “Each time brings incredible emotions for which we are deeply grateful. We are especially heartened by the fact that UCU vertep performers spread the joy of Christmas to our defenders, thanks to whom we can celebrate the Nativity in warm and cosy homes,” said Mariia Kaitan, Communications Technology Manager at Darnytsia Pharmaceutical Company.