March 9 is the birth anniversary of Taras Shevchenko

Today we honor the 212th anniversary of the birth of Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko. He was born on March 9, 1814, in the village of Moryntsi, in the region of Cherkasy. Taras entered this world as a serf—within the system of that time, this meant that a person from birth belonged to a landowner as property, deprived of personal freedom and the right to shape one’s own destiny. Yet the path of his life became a symbol of an extraordinary spiritual ascent.

The figure of Shevchenko remains central to Ukrainian culture, for he came to embody the people’s longing for freedom. At a young age, while living in Vilno (modern Vilnius), he found himself in an environment of free thought, influenced by the ideas of the French Revolution and by the uprisings of that era. This intellectual atmosphere strengthened his spirit and laid the foundation for the future defender of human dignity.

Even before beginning his studies at the Imperial Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg, Taras had already achieved notable recognition. His gifts as both painter and poet were highly valued by the intellectual elite. Though he had the opportunity to build a brilliant career in the imperial capital, Shevchenko chose another path—the path of returning to his native land. Consciously, he devoted himself to the revival of the Ukrainian word, laying the literary foundation for an entire nation.

Intellectual circles gathered around him, and his poetry—written in a melodious and vibrant Ukrainian language—was admired by the nobility and by young ladies of high society. In this way, his work contributed to the spread and appreciation of the Ukrainian language across all layers of society.

For every Ukrainian, Shevchenko is the one who awakened national consciousness. His faith in the future was so profound that he addressed all generations in his celebrated epistle:

“To the dead, the living, and the unborn,
My fellow countrymen in Ukraine and beyond Ukraine —
My friendly epistle.”

In this work the poet called for unity:

*Embrace, then, my brothers,
Even the least among you —
Let our Mother smile again,
Our sorrowing Mother.

Let her bless her children
With steadfast hands,
And kiss her little ones
With lips of freedom.

Then the shameful hour
Of the past shall fade away,
And good renown shall live again —
The glory of Ukraine…*

The poet’s life lasted only forty-seven years, ten of which he spent in harsh imprisonment. Yet these trials did not break him; they deepened his spiritual strength. In his early works he called for decisive action:

“Bury me, then rise,
Break your chains.”

Toward the end of his life, however, his philosophy evolved into profound inner dialogues with the Creator. Shevchenko felt that his soul would not leave this world in peace until Ukraine achieved its freedom.

In the difficult years Ukraine has endured since 2014, and especially during the full-scale invasion that began in 2022, Shevchenko’s words sound like a powerful spiritual pillar. Taras Hryhorovych loved Ukraine boundlessly, and this love was confirmed by his actions. For the chance to return home, he sacrificed the material rights to publish Kobzar and the painting Kateryna. His connection to his homeland was so deep that even in his famous poem “Zapovit” (Testament) he asked to find rest among the native Ukrainian steppes.

The poet’s legacy transformed historical memory into a living energy of the nation, giving us a clear awareness of our own freedom. We feel his presence in every line that calls us to love our homeland.

Throughout March, we dedicate a series of publications to the life, artistic legacy, and enduring greatness of Taras Shevchenko.

To be continued.