Start page

Lesja Ukrainka

Encyclopedia of the life and works

?

People’s house

The People’s house in Chernivtsi

The People’s house in Chernivtsi on the Ukrainska street, 31 (old address – Petrovich Street, 2)

Photos from Google panoramas (June 2015): . In the photo on the left – st. Ukrainian, on the right – street Armenian.

It should be noted that on May 9 (22), 1901, a party of the Ukrainian community took place in this house in honor of the arrival of the poetess Lesja Ukrainka to the city.

The evening was held with the activities of "Bukovynsky Boyan", and mainly of the academic (ie student) society "Young Ukraine". It was opened by prof. of Chernivtsi University S. Smal-Stotsky, who warmly welcomed a dear countrywoman on this piece of Ukrainian land. He praised the Kosach family, one of the few houses in Kyiv, where the native word is highly respected. Lesja Ukrainka was also greeted by K. Trylovsky, who came from Kolomyia.

The report on Lesja Ukrainka’s work was delivered by student Vasyl Simovych. Lesja Ukrainka’s poetry "Comrades in memory" was recited by student Platon Lushpynsky. Then there was the musical part – playing the violin by Mykola Kharzhevsky accompanied by Emmanuel Stratychuk, singing tenor Modest Levitsky and "Mischansky Choir" conducted by Gundych.

After that, Lesja Ukrainka spoke – briefly, in a few words. She sincerely thanked dear compatriots for the sweet hospitality, for the warm words of greeting, for everything that was said for her.

In his memoirs about Lesja Ukrainka, V. Simovych mentions that the evening was really beautiful and very lively. There were many people from the intelligentsia and Chernivtsi burghers, there were people from outside Chernivtsi, mostly teachers. The meeting with Lesja Ukrainka lasted beyond midnight.

[Moroz M. O. Chronicle of the life and work of Lesja Ukrainka. – К.: 1992, № 1479].