Visiting the Great Kobzar

He returns all that visit him with an open heart to the world of clear moral, aesthetic, and public priorities — and this at a time of virtual political, cultural, and daily values. He puts conscience, truth, and national dignity in the right place, on the altar. We Ukrainians shall always need him, because he is as genuine as the life-giving water of truth. His name is Taras Shevchenko.

It has become traditional to visit Chernecha Hill on May 22, marking the date of his reinterment in Kaniv, to pay homage to the most brilliant Ukrainian. It is not a formal ceremony, but an inner need, and The Day’s delegation, led by Editor-in-Chief Larysa Ivshyna, was instantly aware of the atmosphere that Saturday. Not because there were thousands present, but because of something else, even more important. Shevchenko is perhaps the only force capable of uniting Ukrainians now, regardless of which part of Ukraine they come from, their age or persuasions.

The delegation included our regular contributors, professors Volodymyr Panchenko and Viktor Horobets. They returned filled with strong impressions and The Day will shortly carry their stories.