On February 28, 2024, the International Institute of Education, Culture and Diaspora Relations, Lviv Polytechnic National University, presented a new textbook on Ukrainian as a foreign language – «Catch Skovoroda». The authors, university students and foreigners, who are studying Ukrainian, took part in the event. Special guest was Yaroslav Krysko, workshop master of the Lviv Kobzar workshop, member of the Khoreia Kozatska band, laureate of the Shevchenko Prize 2023. The event was moderated by Nazar Danchyshyn, IECDR employee. The event took place in the Student Space «3rd floor» in the Scientific and Technical Library, Lviv Polytechnic.
On the 300th anniversary of Hryhoriy Skovoroda, Moscow targeted the museum of the Ukrainian philosopher in the Kharkiv region. Its goal is obvious – to wipe Ukrainians, and therefore Skovoroda, off the face of the earth. The enemy still has not understood that we are indestructible, and the power of Skovoroda’s thoughts, words and deeds lived and will live on.
The embodiment of this power is, in particular, the new book «Catch Skovoroda», written by IECDR. Its main character Hryhorii Skovoroda enters the present, traveling to the most important places of his memory. The presented edition is designed to bring the figure of the philosopher closer to both foreigners who are loyal to Ukraine and who study our language, and Ukrainians who are eager to learn about the culture of their people. Our mission is to catch and understand Skovoroda.
Jaroszlava Hartyanyi, President of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women Organizations (WFUWO) and the Second Vice-President of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) addressed the audience with a welcome speech. The speaker congratulated IECDR on the new book and talked about Hryhorii Skovoroda’s stay in Tokaj, Hungary, (Fedir Vyshnevskyi’s mission), which is also mentioned in the book.
«I hope that the book will bring us closer to the philosopher. Skovoroda’s philosophy is unattainable for Russians, because it is European», added the President of WFUWO.
Iryna Kliuchkovska, director of IECDR, co-author of «Catch Skovoroda», spoke about modern Ukraine, our endangered culture, and the role of Skovoroda:
«863 cultural objects were totally destroyed – in such a way they [the Russians] want to kill our soul. Almost 500 educational institutions have been damaged – in such a way they want to kill our minds. They want to destroy us and our memory. That is why the Skovoroda museum in Skovorodynivka was ruined with a targeted rocket. Fortunately some exhibits had been saved. But they not only destroy us, but also steal. They stole our history, moved the monument of Volodymyr the Great to Moscow, stole our Skovoroda. If you open a Russian dictionary of philosophy, you will immediately come across an article about Skovoroda. Therefore, we must teach young people to defend their own, because it is ours! Skovoroda wouldn’t burn, he returns with this book as well».
The authors – Oksana Horda, Oksana Trumko and Nazar Danchyshyn – presented the book. They read extracts dedicated to Ukrainian and other cities which Skovoroda had visited. Among them there are Kyiv, Hlukhiv, Pereiaslav, Prešov and Vienna. Video footage from these cities was broadcast on a screen. The final fragment was about Skovorodynivka, the native village of the Ukrainian philosopher, which was targeted by the occupier’s rocket on May 7, 2022.
An important element of the book is its modern and vivid form. It was illustrated by Iryna Ukrainska. Although she was working on the book during a period of cold weather and frequent power outages, Skovoroda’s figure did not allow her to lose heart: «Working on Skovoroda was a light that distracted from disturbing news. She was rethinking Skovoroda and perceiving him as a contemporary who is experiencing all events with us». In addition, the illustrator noted that she chose the graphic format for Skovoroda, because, in her opinion, more Ukrainians will notice how relevant and close to our contemporaries are the philosopher’s thoughts, written in the Baroque period.
Photos by Nataliia Pavlyshyn, Lviv Polytechnic Center for Communication
