This New Year’s Day, community members gathered with parishioners at Washington National Cathedral for a blessing and ringing of the Solidarity Bell. The bell, a symbol of the steadfast American commitment to defending Ukrainian sovereignty, was commissioned by the National Bell Festival and cast entirely from spent munitions, like bullet casings, recovered from the war in Ukraine.
Festivalgoers arrived at Washington National Cathedral under the cascading sounds of the 53-bell grand carillon. A prelude by resident carillonist Edward Nassor included a voluntary on “Jesus! Name of Wondrous Love” as well as Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra’s “Healing Bells,” which is based on a Ukrainian folk song.
Image: The Solidarity Bell stands before the Jerusalem Altar at Washington National Cathedral during the 2025 National Bell Festival on Jan. 1, 2025.
Entering the cathedral’s grand nave and Great Choir, festivalgoers were then seated for a Eucharist to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Name. A homily by the Rev. Canon Stuart A. Kenworthy invited congregants to reflect on the meaning behind a given name, before additional prayers, hymns, and organ music. Joined by Deputy Ukrainian Ambassador Denys Sienik, Rev. Kenworthy then blessed the Solidarity Bell and invited the diplomat to resolutely sound it three times.
Image: Festivalgoers read inscriptions on the Solidarity Bell following a blessing and ringing at Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 1, 2025.
Following the service, the Washington Ringing Society rang out a full peal on the cathedral's 10-bell ring, as festivalgoers were invited to see the bell’s inscriptions up close.
Origins of the Solidarity Bell
Throughout 2024, volunteers in and around Kyiv, Ukraine, amassed spent munitions from military training facilities and the farther frontlines. In ready supply due to Russia’s continued invasion and onslaught against the people of Ukraine, these bullet casings were smelted into ingots at the Sayamat metalworks company and foundry in Vyshneve near Bucha, before being shipped to the Royal Eijsbouts bell foundry in Asten, Netherlands.
There, the ingots were melted once more and cast into two pieces: a new bell and a headstock of the same material, from which the bell will hang. Named the Solidarity Bell in recognition of the United States’ continued support, the bell is inscribed in Ukrainian on the obverse and English on the reverse with a fragment of a poem by Taras Shevchenko: “Truth will triumph! Freedom will arise!” Around the shoulder, also in both languages, is the familiar Ukrainian national salute and battle cry: “Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the heroes.” A ring of tridents, the state emblem of Ukraine, encircles the shoulder.
Woodworkers at the NovaLabs community makerspace in Fairfax, Virginia, crafted a stand from 25-year-aged cherrywood to support the bell and headstock. The stand is engraved on each side with a coordinating trident. This was placed solemnly before the high altar, the Jerusalem Altar, during the service, when the weapon-of-war-turned-instrument-of-peace was blessed and rung.
Cover image: The Rev. Canon Stuart A. Kenworthy (right) is joined by Deputy Ukrainian Ambassador Denys Sienik for the blessing and ringing of the Solidarity Bell at Washington National Cathedral on Jan. 1, 2025.
