Philology scholars of Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, together with like-minded people, implemented a large-scale project of the Collection of Works of Olena Pchilka in 12 volumes. The presentation of the 12-volume series took place today, March 3, 2025.
The publication is dedicated to the 175th anniversary of Olena Pchilka's birth. This is the first ever multi-volume edition of the great intellectual and creative work of Olha Kosach, known to the general public under the pseudonym Olena Pchilka. All texts are presented by autographs or first editions. The twelve-volume book preserves the author's style and peculiarities of language.
More than a hundred guests gathered for the event, the representatives of government, culture and science, education, museum work, and others. The presentation was moderated by professors Yuriy Hromyk and Serhii Romanov.
«With this publication, we sincerely hope to be bringing Olena Pchilka, Olha Drahomanova-Kosach, an outstanding writer, intellectual, public figure, the first female academician back to our national space,» Yurii Hromyk summed up. He also mentioned how the philologist scholars of the University managed to implement the 14-volume Complete Academic Collection of Works of Lesya Ukrainka and how, in the end, the idea came about to implement another large-scale project of the Collection of Works of Olena Pchilka in 12 volumes.
Yurii Vasylovych told about the process of work with the sources, and institutions and organisations that had provided copies of Olena Pchilka’s texts. «The search for autographs and first editions continued virtually until the completion of the project. We could not find some materials, and some materials are finally and hopelessly lost,» Yurii Hromyk said.
Professor Serhii Romanov spoke about the content and compilers of all 12 volumes of the collection. «This is a project worth my entire professional life. I thank my colleagues in the project and scholars who have worked in literary studies for decades, everyone who believed in us and supported us,» said Professor Romanov, emphasizing the relevance of Olena Pchilka’s texts.
Serhiy Romanov told about his feelings during the work on the 12-volume Collection of Works by Olena Pchilka. According to him, Olena Pchilka was not a Volyn native by birth, but she became a Volyn native by vocation, so it is quite natural that the 12-volume Collection of Works appeared at Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University.
«The power of the University is determined, in particular, by its achievements,» emphasized acting rector Anatolii Tsos. He told about the emergence of the idea of such a large-scale project. «I am proud of the University and our specialists, professors, who were able to prepare and publish the Collection of Works of Olena Pchilka. Our University is powerful, not regional, but national. Everything depends on us, our professionalism and desire to work,» Anatolii Vasylovich noted.
«Bold, courageous enthusiasts gathered here, who made everyone believe that this was possible. Work on the collection began during the full-scale war. This was the uniqueness of this project: to prove to the whole world that Ukraine is not russia. Ukrainians are courageous warriors defending Ukraine in the east, and in the west publish the Collection of Works of Olena Pchilka in twelve volumes. This publication is a message to both our defenders and those who will continue to live in the rebuilt Ukraine. This publication was created during the war for peace, the establishment of the Ukrainian nation,» said Head of the University’s Supervisory Board, MP Iryna Konstankevych.
Deputy Head of Volyn Regional Council Hryhorii Pustovit, Deputy Mayor of Lutsk Iryna Chebeliuk, Director of Volyn Museum of Local Lore Oksana Vazhatko, and other honored guests, scholars, and publishers were also invited to speak.
15 lecturers from four departments of Faculty of Philology and Journalism, as well as three scholars from other cities, joined the project. The books were published by the «Buk-Druk» Zhytomyr printing house. The presentations of the Collection of Works of Olena Pchilka in 12 volumes are planned to be held in other locations in Volyn and other parts of Ukraine.
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