Symbols of the European Union

Patron saints of Europe
Europe Day
The European Union flag
Listen to the European anthem (60 sec, 176 Kb)
The euro

EUROPEAN ANTHEM:

In 1972, Council of Europe decided to adopt "Ode to joy" as its anthem. Contemporary version of work of Ludwig van Beethoven was composed by Herbert von Karajan. The text shown below is a poem written by Friedrich Schiller. Officially, anthem of the European Union possesses only instrumental version - it is accepted that it has no words.

ODE TO JOY


Joy, beautiful spark of the gods
Daughter of Elysium
We enter fire-imbibed
Heavenly, thy sanctuary
Thy magic reunites those
whom stern custom has parted
All men will become brothers
Under thy gentle wing
Chorus

Be embraced, you millions!
This kiss for the entire world!
Brothers, above the starry canopy
Must a loving Father reside.
Whoever has the great fortune,
To be a friend’s friend,
Whoever wins the love of a lovely woman,
Add his jubilation to ours!
Yes, anyone also who has a soul
To call his own on this earth!
And anyone never able to must steal,
Sobbing, himself from this group!
Chorus

Those who occupy the great circle,
Pay homage to sympathy!
It leads to the stars
Where the unknown is enthroned

Joy, all creatures drink
At the bosoms of nature,
All good, all evil
Follow your trail of roses.
Kisses she gives us, and wine,
A friend, proven in death.
Pleasure was given to the worm,
And the cherub stands before God.
Chorus

Do you fall before him, you millions?
Do you sense the Creator, world?
Seek him above the starry canopy,
Above the stars he must live.
Joy is called the strong spring
In the perpetuity of nature.
Joy, joy drives the wheels
In the earth’s great clock.
Flowers, she calls from the buds,
Suns, out of the firmament,
Spheres, she rolls through space
That the seer cannot know
Chorus

Happy, as his suns fly
Through the heavens’ magnificent plan
Run, brothers, your race
Joyful, as a hero to victory.
As truth’s fiery reflection
Smiles at the explorer,
To virtue’s steep hill
She guides the silent sufferers’ path.
On faith’s sunlit summit
One sees her banners in the wind,
Through the cracks of burst coffins
They are seen in the chorus of angels.
Chorus

Endure courageously, you millions!
Endure for the better world!
Over the starry canopy
A good God will reward you
Gods one cannot repay
Beautiful it is, to be like them.
Grief and poverty, acquaint yourselves
With the joyful ones rejoice.
Anger and revenge be forgotten,
Our deadly enemy be forgiven,
No tears shall he shed
No remorse shall gnaw at him
Chorus

Our debt registers be abolished
Reconcile the entire world!
Brothers, over the starry canopy
God judges, as we judge.
Joy bubbles in the cup,
In the grape’s golden blood
Cannibals drink gentleness
The fearful, courage --
Brothers, fly from your perches,
When the full cup is passed,
Let the foam spray to the heavens
This glass to the good spirit
Chorus

He whom the spirals of stars praise,
He whom the seraphim ’s hymn glorifies,
This glass to the good spirit
Above the starry canopy!
Courage firm in great suffering,
Help there, where innocence weeps,
Eternally sworn oaths,
Truth towards friend and foe,
Mens’ pride before kings’ thrones --
Brothers, even if it costs property and blood, --
The crowns to those who earn them,
Defeat to the lying brood!
Chorus

Close the holy circle tighter,
Swear by this golden vine:
Remain true to the vows,
Swear by the judge above the stars!
Escape the tyrants’ chains,
Generosity also to the villain,
Hope upon the deathbeds,
Mercy from the high court!
Also, the dead shall live!
Brothers, drink and chime in,
All sinners shall be forgiven,
And hell shall be no more.
Chorus

A serene departing hour!
Sweet sleep in the shroud!
Brothers—a mild sentence
From the final judge!

ODE "AN DIE FREUDE"


Freude, schöner Götterfunken
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische, dein Heiligtum.
Deine Zauber binden wieder
Was der Mode streng geteilt
alle Menschen werden Brüder
Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt.
Chor

Seid umschlungen, Millionen!
Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt!
Brüder - über'm Sternenzelt
Muss ein lieber Vater wohnen.
Wem der große Wurf gelungen,
Eines Freundes Freund zu sein;
Wer ein holdes Weib errungen,
Mische seinen Jubel ein!
Ja, wer auch nur eine Seele
Sein nennt auf dem Erdenrund!
Und wer's nie gekonnt, der stehle
Weinend sich aus diesem Bund!
Chor

Was den grossen Ring bewohnet,
Huldige der Sympathie!
Zu den Sternen leitet sie,
Wo der Unbekannte thronet.

Freude trinken alle Wesen
An den Brüsten der Natur;
Alle Guten, alle Bösen
Folgen ihrer Rosenspur.
Küsse gab sie uns und Reben,
Einen Freund, geprüft im Tod;
Wollust ward dem Wurm gegeben,
Und der Cherub steht vor Gott.
Chor

Ihr stürzt nieder, Millionen?
Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt?
Such' ihn über'm Sternenzelt!
Über Sternen muss er wohnen.
Freude heisst die starke Feder
In der ewigen Natur.
Freude, Freude treibt die Räder
In der Grossen Weltenuhr.
Blumen lockt sie aus den Keimen,
Sonnen aus dem Firmament,
Sphären rollt sie in den Räumen,
Die des Sehers Rohr nicht kennt.
Chor

Froh, wie seine Sonnen fliegen
Durch des Himmels prächt'gen Plan,
Laufet, Brüder, eure Bahn,
Freudig, wie ein Held zum Siegen.
Aus der Wahrheit Feuerspiegel
Lächelt sie den Forscher an.
Zu der Tugend steilem Hügel
Leitet sie des Dulders Bahn.
Auf des Glaubens Sonnenberge
Sieht man ihre Fahnen wehn,
Durch den Riss gesprengter Särge
Sie im Chor der Engel stehn.
Chor

Duldet mutig, Millionen!
Duldet für die bess're Welt!
Droben über'm Sternzelt
Wird ein grosser Gott belohnen.
Göttern kann man nicht vergelten,
Schön ist's, ihnen gleich zu sein.
Gram und Armut soll sich melden,
Mit den Frohen sich erfreun.
Groll und Rache sei vergessen,
Unserm Todfeind sei verziehn,
Keine Tränen soll ihn pressen,
Keine Reue nage ihn.
Chor

Unser Schuldbuch sei vernichtet!
Ausgesöhnt die ganze Welt!
Brüder, über'm Sternenzelt
Richtet Gott, wie wir gerichtet.
Freude sprudelt in Pokalen,
In der Traube gold'nem Blut
Trinken Sanftmut Kannibalen,
Die Verzweiflung Heldenmut--
Brüder, fliegt von euren Sitzen,
Wenn der volle Römer kreist,
Lasst den Schaum zum Himmel spritzen:
Dieses Glas dem guten Geist.
Chor

Den der Sterne Wirbel loben
Den des Seraphs Hymne preist,
Dieses Glas dem guten Geist
Über'm Sternenzelt dort oben!
Festen Mut in schwerem Leiden,
Hülfe, wo die Unschuld weint,
Ewigkeit geschwornen Eiden,
Wahrheit gegen Freund und Feind,
Männerstolz vor Königsthronen--
Brüder, gält es Gut und Blut.--
Dem Verdienste seine Kronen,
Untergang der Lügenbrut!
Chor

Schliesst den heilgen Zirkel dichter
Schwört bei diesem goldnen Wein:
Dem Gelübde treu zu sein,
Schwört es bei dem Sternenrichter!
Rettung von Tyrannenketten,
Grossmut auch dem Bösewicht,
Hoffnung auf den Sterbebetten,
Gnade auf dem Hochgericht!
Auch die Toten sollen leben!
Brüder, trinkt und stimmet ein,
Allen Sündern soll vergeben,
Und die Hölle nicht mehr sein.
Chor

Eine heit're Abschiedsstunde!
Süssen Schlaf im Leichentuch!
Brüder--einen sanften Spruch
Aus des Totenrichters Mund.

THE EUROPEAN UNION FLAG:

Circle with twelve five-pointed gold stars on a blue background is a symbol of Europe since the 8th of December 1955. This day is also celebrated every year as the anniversary of the acceptance of that example. This flag, as an emblem of the European Community and its establishment, was for the first time solemnly placed in front of the building of the European Commission on the 29th of May 1986. Proportions of the flags sides are determined as 3:2. The source of the inspiration of the artistic appearance of the European emblem was, according to Jean Monnet´s interpretation, Apocalypse of John,

the European Union flag

Then a great sign appeared in heaven:
a woman clothed with the sun,
and with the moon under her feet,
and on her head was a crown of twelve stars.
(Rev 12,1)

Luminous stars on the blue sky of Europe can symbolize its nations, closed circle - their unity. Number (12) remains invariable and may be taken as a symbol of full perfection. Each element of the artistic form of the emblem of Europe (circle, stars, their number, colours) possesses rich symbolical meaning,, deeply rooted in culture. Pythagoras considered circle as the most beautiful form.

EUROPE DAY:

May 9, is considered as the official day of the European Union. Then, in 1950, Robert Schuman announced plan of creating the European Coal and Steel Community.

THE PATRON SAINTS OF EUROPE:

Saint Benedict of Nursia (480-547 AD) was a founder of Benedictine monastic order and the monastery on Monte Cassino. Benedict was canonized in 1220 and in 1964 pope Paul VI announced him the major patron saint of Europe.

Saints Cyril and Methodius, Greeks, living in the 9th century, propagating Christian culture on Slavic land. In 1980 pope John Paul II announced them patron saints of Europe.
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