Mazepa’s Day in Chernihiv region

“Every person has a date of birth, but not every  one’s, even very influential person’s birthday, is commemorated after 300-400 years pass,” researcher of Cossack Hetmanate, a well-known journalist and editor of scientific magazine Siveriansky litopys (Sivershchyna Chronicle) Serhii Pavlenko commented on celebration of Ivan Mazepa’s birthday in Chernihiv region (above all, Chernihiv and Baturyn) on March 20. In the city on the Desna the main events unfolded in its historical center, Val, near the premises of former Collegium. In his time the great hetman supported establishment of a kind of a branch of Kyiv Mohyla Academy and put money in the development of this educational institution. This became one of the crucial arguments in support of erecting a monument namely in this place. This time the patronage activity of the head of Ukrainian Cossack state became the ground for celebrating his birth anniversary.

“There is a ceremony of laying flowers to monuments to Taras Shevchenko, why cannot we do the same for Ivan Mazepa?” Andrii Kurdanov, director-general of the National History-Architecture Preserve “Old-Time Chernihiv” provided arguments for the second action of this kind (the previous one took place last year). The idea focuses on awarding those who take care of historical heritage – journalists, entrepreneurs, and public figures, and also winners of the local lore competition “What do we know about Chernihiv?”

The celebrations took place by and large in the premises of the ancient (early 12th century) Borys and Hlib Cathedral, it began and finished with performance of the Dmytro Borntniansky Academic Choir. They were continued nearby, near the Ivan Mazepa Monument. Incidentally, some corrections were made this year by the monument’s author, sculptor Hennadii Yershov: he inserted a plaque with the hetman’s name, according to the initial idea. So far it has carried only the family coat of arms. As it turned out, it does not say much to the present-day citizens of the Ukrainian state. There have been tourists who asked: “Is this Bohdan Khmelnytsky?” Well, at least these regrettable mistakes are already behind.

Actually such meetings give one more reason to pay attention to the historical personality of the well-known hetman. After mentioning about the contribution the hetman made into the development of Ukrainian culture, in particular, building of churches and spreading of education, Serhii Pavlenko also emphasized that although it was the fate that brought Ivan Mazepa to the high office, but one can use the power in different ways. Having obtained European education and being vastly experienced in diplomacy and management, the leader of the Cossack state was absolutely conscious in his support of culture and art, because he was knowledgeable in it. Otherwise over 200 churches would not have been erected in Cossack Hetmanate (not palaces, for instance), whose construction was funded by the hetman and his milieu, including 43 funded directly by the head of the Cossack state. As for the revolt, one should understand: Cossack Hetmanate was living in the reality of an empire that sought unification, and Ukrainian Cossacks within the area of their possibilities, so it relied on them (in 1708-09 only 40 residents of Cossack Hetmanate supported Mazepa actively, with their lives). At some point of time Moscow offered provinces to Ukraine, now – the Customs Union. The essence remains the same, the desire to make everyone live by the same set of rules, Russian rules, the speaker mentioned.

In the evening political parties organized two separate actions in one and the same place.

Practically simultaneously Baturyn-based National History-Culture Preserve “Hetmanate Capital” held a day of open doors dedicated to Ivan Mazepa’s birth anniversary. On the whole, eight such days are scheduled for 2013 – each one is connected with some historical date or a personality from Ukraine’s past. On these days everyone willing can visit the objects of the preserve free of charge. Senior pupils of Bakhmach raion can also go on free excursions to four most significant objects of the preserve. On that day seven schools took the advantaged of the same opportunity (25 pupils on average), whereas initially three groups had been expected.

Visitors in Baturyn were offered a culture-artistic event “There were no hetmans between Bohdan and Ivan,” which started with laying flowers to the monument “Hetmans. Prayer for Ukraine” and continued in Kyrylo Rozumovsky’s palace by the performance of bandura player Alina Bazalii, a graduate of the Baturyn branch of Bakhmach Raion Art School. Researcher of Ukrainian Cossacks, Ph.D. (History) professor of Kyiv Mohyla Academy Vitalii Shcherbak congratulated everyone present with the anniversary. The organizers presented the new exhibit “Ivan Mazepa via the prism of artist’s brush,” composed of the works of modern masters from the preserve’s funds. The spirit of the epoch was reproduced with the help of the 18th century music, baroque songs, by the performers of the chamber ensemble of the Orthodox Brotherhood of Passion Bearers Borys and Hlib “Transfiguration” (Pyotr Tchaikovsky National Music Academy).

Probably the central event of Mazepa Day in Baturyn was the presentation of Doctor of History, director of the Center of Ukrainian History Studies of Saint Petersburg State University Prof. Tatyana Tairova-Yakovleva’s book Ivan Mazepa and Russian Empire. History of “Betrayal.” This time it was the first Ukrainian-language translation of the book performed by Prof. Yurii Mytsyk and Klio Publishing House. Ms. Tairova-Yakovleva, who maintains friendly relations with the “Hetmanate Capital” said that she plans to publish several more books dedicated to Ivan Mazepa, specifically his private life, tastes, as well the cultural life in Cossack Hetmanate, of course with Ukrainian translations. An interesting feature, namely in Baturyn in 2011 while Ms. Tatyana and her husband’s sojourn there, the idea of translation of the abovementioned work into Ukrainian emerged. Namely the director of the National Historical Preserve “Hetmanate Capital” Natalia Rebrova built a bridge between the researcher and Klio publishers, for which Ms. Tairova-Yakovleva expressed her sincere gratitude at the launch.

In fact, before our eyes, at the initiative of both said state preserves and so far not so numerous public the new tradition connected with commemoration of Ivan Mazepa, as a Ukrainian statesman and a person who understood and consciously and purposefully supported the native culture, has been conceived in Chernihiv region.