<I>The Day</I>’s Chief Editor Presented With Replica of Countess Halshka Ostrozka’s Diamond Ring

The Ostroh Academy has produced replicas of an ancient ring that belonged to Countess Halshka Ostrozka, who established the academy in the 16th century. Archeologist Oleksandr Bondarchuk unearthed the original ring at the bottom of a local stone tower last year. The designer of this gold diamond-set ring is unknown. The academy decided to execute replicas in silver, complete with the engraving of the academy’s emblem in place of the diamond. The copies were produced in the US. Four rings were delivered recently, the first of which was presented to The Day’s Chief Editor Larysa Ivshyna on her birthday last week. Professor Petro Kraliuk, together with Olha Reshetylova and Pavlo Bulhak, the two winners of scholarships from The Day’s chief editor, traveled to Kyiv to present the ring on behalf of the Ostroh Academy faculty and students. According to Petro Kraliuk, this present is a token of the academy’s gratitude for many years of cooperation with the newspaper. The remaining three rings will be presented to the most progressive faculty members when the new academic year begins this September. This initiative is seen as a revival of an ancient tradition. In the 15th and 16th centuries such personalized rings were worn by the most outstanding professors of European universities.

The editors thank the academy for this supreme award.