February 25, 2025, a solemn meeting of the Academic Council was held on the occasion of University Day and the 154th anniversary of Lesya Ukrainka's birth.
The event was attended by Chairman of Volyn Regional Council, Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board Hryhorii Nedopad, Deputy Mayor of Lutsk Iryna Chebeliuk, Deputy Chairman of Volyn Regional Military Administration Taras Shkiter, Head of the Department of Education and Science of Volyn Regional Military Administration Nataliia Matviiuk, lecturers and employees of the institution.
At the beginning of the event, the acting rector Anatolii Tsos called on all those present to honor the fallen heroes with a minute of silence.
«Today is the birthday of our glorious Lesya Ukrainka, accordingly, we celebrate University Day. We work, do a lot for the development of education, science, but we work thanks to our defenders. During the three years of full-scale invasion, it is thanks to them that we live and do our work effectively,» said the acting rector Anatolii Tsos, who greeted the audience.
Head of Department of Literary Theory and Foreign Literature Serhii Romanov delivered a lecture on the topic «Olena Pchilka and Lesya Ukrainka in Captivity of Culture». In particular, he shared his own thoughts on the contribution of both of these iconic figures whose fate is closely intertwined with Volyn, to their understanding and perception of culture. «These women were writing in a European manner, like having a state, and the state having an elite. It was not just a literature, but the creation of literary reality, our code of a philological nation. Their activities have a significant impact on the linguistic, ethical, moral, and aesthetic levels. This is the achievement that we have and thanks to which we now know about ourselves and the world.»
Chairman of Regional Council, Hryhorii Nedopad, highly appreciated the contribution of the scientists of Lesya's University to the dissemination of the works of both outstanding compatriots. «It is difficult to overestimate the immense work carried out by scholars and literary critics. You managed to open Lesya Ukrainka in a new way, with even greater depth, and now the works of Olena Pchilka, not only for the Ukrainian reader, but also for the whole world. I thank the pedagogical community for this work, which will once again demonstrate that Volyn is restoring the real Ukraine and the Ukrainian nation. May the University flourish and many more new works be born under the peaceful sky» he emphasized. Hryhorii Viktorovych also awarded the employees of the institution with an honorary diploma of Volyn Regional Council on the occasion of the University Day and Lesya Ukrainka's Days.
Deputy Mayor Iryna Chebeliuk congratulated her native alma mater on the holiday and awarded the employees and lecturers with honorary diplomas. «Happy birthday, dear University, on a special day for every Ukrainian – the birthday of Lesya Ukrainka. She is truly a special woman in the history of our state and beyond. I am glad that we have finally started talking about Lesya neither as a poor, unfortunate woman, nor a person who suffered, we are talking about the elite of our country, an indomitable, strong, and courageous woman. I would like to wish each of us indomitable fate, endurance, inspiration and strength. Let us hold on despite all the hardships that our country is experiencing today,» – Deputy Mayor of Lutsk Iryna Chebeliuk.
Head of Department of Education and Science of Volyn OMA Natalia Matviiuk emphasized the uniqueness of Lesya Ukrainka’s figure, noting that her work is another chance to rethink ourselves and the world. She also presented honorary diplomas to the University employees.
A special atmosphere of the event was created by the performance of Ilona Holovchak, a student of Faculty of Culture and Arts who performed the «Angels» musical composition.
Deputy Head of Volyn Regional Military Administration Taras Shkiter congratulated the community of the Higher Education Institution on the Day of the University and thanked for the invitation.
Additionally, the employees of the institution were awarded honorary diplomas of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and Lesya Ukrainka National University.
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