The Education Commission has approved two designs for the new coat of arms of Mykolaiv region

The parliamentary committee on education and culture recommended that two versions of the coat of arms be considered at a session of the Mykolaiv Regional Council, although the majority of communities supported the version featuring Saint Nicholas. The Olbia coat of arms, designed by the military, is, in the opinion of committee members, more suitable as a local emblem or for a military unit’s insignia.

This was discussed at the Mykolaiv Regional Council’s Committee on Science and Education, Innovation, Youth, Family and Sport, Culture and Spirituality on 13 April, reports NikVesti.

Committee Chair Yevhen Horburov recalled that there were three options for the coat of arms in the region. One of them — featuring a stag and a spear — was supported by only four communities. Meanwhile, 46 out of 54 votes were cast in favour of the St Nicholas coat of arms. According to the committee chair, businesses in the region also supported it.

However, it was decided to put the second option — the Olbia coat of arms — forward for consideration at the session as well, as it had been designed by the military.

«We are currently at war. So as not to undermine the morale of our military, we decided to put the second option to the session as well. There, the deputies will decide by a majority which of the two options—the coat of arms and the flag—will become the symbol of our Mykolaiv region,» said Yevhen Horburov.

He also noted that the designers of the Olbia coat of arms had cited the Scythians in the Mykolaiv region as an argument. However, the councillor believes that other peoples also lived in our region, just as the Scythians did in other territories, and that, in general, their history ended badly.

«And as for the bow there — it is depicted on the Olbia coin. You do realise that it will sometimes be difficult to explain to representatives of other regions that this is the coat of arms of the Mykolaiv region. Because the identity here really needs to be sought out under a magnifying glass,» noted the committee chair.

Deputy Chairman of the Mykolaiv Regional Council Denys Andrieiev expressed the view that the Olbia coat of arms would be more appropriate locally, rather than for the entire region.

«The chairman of the Ukrainian Heraldic Society, who is also a member of our heraldic council, put it very aptly when he said that such an image would be appropriate for identifying the specific location of either the village of Parutyne or the Ochakiv community, as the reference specifically pertains to that area. It would be 100% recognisable and appropriate there,» said Denys Andrieiev.

The chairman of the commission also added that Saint Nicholas is venerated by people in various countries around the world, regardless of their religious beliefs. The Olbia variant, according to the councillor, is more suited to a military unit.

«When we were holding a working group meeting, a soldier from the Kharkiv sector joined us. An officer, a heraldist. He also said at the time that the war would soon be over, that these symbols are military, and they would fade into the background. And today, Saint Nicholas protects both the regional centre and the Mykolaiv region, as well as many people. He is truly our protector. These are his words, I remember them verbatim, that this is very suitable not only for a chevron of a particular locality, as you said, but for a military unit or a military formation,» added Yevhen Horburov.

Other councillors also noted that the coat of arms should be recognisable, and Saint Nicholas is associated with the Mykolaiv region. Although the committee chair pointed out that the coat of arms of Lutsk features this very same saint.

Historian Oleksandr Khaetskyi suggested that the Olbia coat of arms should also be recognised, as it came second in the vote, to avoid causing offence. However, he also supported the version featuring Saint Nicholas, as it includes shipbuilding motifs, Taurian painting and the Cossack cross.

«So, in principle, it’s historical. Yes. Well, I think it’s looking to the future. It seems to me that it’s of sufficient quality to be recognisable,» noted Oleksandr Khaetskyi.

Councillor Kateryna Konoplianikova also felt that the coat of arms featuring Saint Nicholas was more suitable as a symbol of the region. In her view, the opinion of the majority of communities must be taken into account.

«The majority have expressed their opinion and chosen the option featuring Saint Nicholas. And it really is wonderful and worthy, because it depicts bunches of grapes, and viticulture is very well developed in the south of our country. Wheat ears, sunflowers, oak trees, an anchor. And to live under the protection of Saint Nicholas, I think, will be wonderful, and it will protect our region from all the troubles that might arise,» the councillor noted.

Councillors Serhiy Chornyi and Volodymyr Potochniak also supported the option featuring Saint Nicholas. Councillor Nataliia Ternavska believed that even a child would recognise such a coat of arms.

«Let us then show respect to the military and put forward two versions of the coat of arms on our part,» said Yevhen Horburov.

Ultimately, the commission recommended putting two coat of arms designs to the vote at the session — one featuring Saint Nicholas and the other featuring Olbia’s symbols.

It should be noted that the Heraldry Council of the Mykolaiv Regional Council has selected two designs for the region’s new coat of arms, which will be submitted to the deputies for consideration. These are the versions featuring Saint Nicholas and the symbols of ancient Olbia.

It should be noted that the majority of local communities in the Mykolaiv region supported the version of the region’s new coat of arms featuring Saint Nicholas. At the same time, two communities do not support either option at all.