Taras Shevchenko: from the Beginnings to Today

9.3.2017

Teachers, staff and students of LTSNU celebrated the 203rd anniversary of Taras Shevchenko’s birthday.

The outstanding Ukrainian poet, prose writer, playwright, artist, political and public figure Taras Shevchenko was a man of universal talents and interests. The genius directed his aspirations to the struggle for freedom of the Motherland, the development of its language and culture.

Students and teachers of Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University took part in the celebrations dedicated to the 203rd anniversary of the great poet’s birthday. Celebrations began from the march to the monument to Taras Shevchenko, where active citizens of Starobilsk gathered in the central square. Honored guests were present at the event, among them were the Deputy Chairman of Luhansk Regional State Administration for Social and Humanitarian Sphere О.P. Lishyk and the Deputy Chairman of the Starobilsk District State Administration E.A. Grigorenko. They congratulated all those present and noted that the creativity of the great poet does not lose its relevance in difficult modern realities.

The Honorary Professor of Luhansk National Taras Shevchenko University, Dean of the Faculty of Ukrainian Philology and Social Communications Tetyana .S. Pinchuk gave a solemn speech. She noted that the descendants of the outstanding fighter should be aware of the responsibility for preserving the Ukrainian national culture.

On the birthday of the brilliant writer, those present paid a minute of silence to the fallen defenders of our Motherland.

A special flavor was given to the holiday by musical compositions performed by the orchestra of wind instruments of the Starobilsk House of Culture. Legendary poetic lines by Taras Shevchenko inspired to reflect on the fate of our own country and to carry away thoughts to the prophet. At the end of the event, flowers were placed on the monument to the genius poet.

Later the event “I golos tviy, Tarase, nam dushu okrylya” was held at LTSNU. Students and teachers proudly call themselves the name of the great poet and try by their actions to confirm the right to be a Shevchenko University! The Dean of the Faculty of Ukrainian Philology and Social Communications Tetyana S. Pinchuk and a student of the Faculty Marina Chumakova addressed a welcoming speech. They called for continuing Shevchenko’s immortality in their own affairs and deeds.

Students recited the poetry of the brilliant poet. Poetic lines that sounded within the walls of the University have become a symbol of spiritual unity and indestructibility of the spirit of the Ukrainian people.

At the end of the holiday, students released balloons with attached larks into the sky, on the wings of which young people wrote their favorite poems.

The poetry of Taras Shevchenko is the unique monument of Ukrainian national culture. The poet was a prophet, whose words will forever remain in the people’s memory:

Ми чуємо тебе, Кобзарю, крізь століття
І голос твій нам душу окриля.
Встає в новій красі, забувши лихоліття,
Твоя, Тарасе, звільнена земля.

Oleg Chernysh, Press Center of LTSNU