The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) International Committee for the Commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Taras Shevchenko and the UWC International Scholarly Council held an academic conference titled “Taras Shevchenko and the Ukrainian Weltanschauung” on 24 October 2014 at the Ukrainian Museum in New York, U.S.A.
Greetings to conference participants were extended by UWC President Eugene Czolij and Conference Coordinator, Chair of the UWC International Scholarly Council Dr. Walter Zaryckyj.
Two sessions, Divining the Great Bard’s influence and Contemplating the Great Bard’s message, examined the influence of Taras Shevchenko on Ukrainian culture, Ukrainian national and social issues, as well as his significance to the past, present and future of Ukraine.
Conference speakers included Dr. Yuri Shevchuk (Columbia University), Dr. Anya Procyk (City University of New York), Dr. Michael Naydan (Penn State University), Dr. Volodymyr Dibrova (Harvard University), Dr. Taras Hunczak (Rutgers University), and Dr. Ihor Mirchuk (Pennsylvania Council of Ukrainian Studies).
The keynote address during the evening reception was delivered by the UWC President who highlighted the role of Taras Shevchenko as a defender of Ukraine’s statehood and native language, the self‑determination of peoples, human rights and social justice, while focusing on his relevance to the Ukrainian diaspora and the Ukrainian nation that was victorious during the Revolution of Dignity and today defends the eastern borders of Ukraine from Russian aggression.
The evening program also included the recitation of Taras Shevchenko’s poetry by National Artist of Ukraine Ivan Bernatsky.
“I call upon Ukrainians throughout the world to honour our Great Prophet Taras Shevchenko by popularizing his ideas of a fully independent and democratic Ukraine,” commented UWC President Eugene Czolij.
Photo Gallery
In the photo: Participants of the conference.
