Razom nas bahato, nas nye podalaty! Разом нас багато, нас не подолати! Together we are many, we cannot be defeated!

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there were three brothers, Kyy (Kyi), Shchek, and Khoryv, and a sister, Lybid. In those days, the people of their tribe lived separately and were governed by family clans. Kyi, Shchek, and Khoryv each had their own hill, but Shchek, Khoryv, and Lybid decided to honor their big brother Kyi by building him his own city. This was a very fortuitous place to build a city, since it was surrounded by a great forest and thicket in which people hunted beasts, and a river flows through it.

Many historians believe Kyi was a real prince who ruled in the sixth century of the Common Era, not merely a semi-legendary or mythological character in an origin story. He also established another eponymous city in a nearby kingdom in the late fifth century, though he ultimately returned to his native land. His descendants, and his brothers’ descendants, continued to rule for many years.

Many foreign occupiers and invaders have come and gone over the centuries, but that city still proudly stands, a testament to over 1500 years of history and the strength and love of her people. Through everything, they’ve preserved their national identity and withstood attempts to adopt the various host cultures’ customs, languages, and names.

Inspired by the Ukrainian people’s heroic defense of their homeland in the face of unrelenting, unprovoked Russian aggression, my 2022 theme will be Ukrainian history and culture. Though I’ve been a passionate Russophile for almost thirty years, I 100% stand with the Ukrainian people and against Tsar Vladimir’s genocidal rampage. Many ordinary Russians, and even members of the military, are also opposed to this cruel invasion and war. One power-thirsty, violent dictator does not represent an entire people!

My deep dive genealogical research over the last few years also revealed I have some Ukrainian ancestry myself. My three-greats-grandma Helena Mikula’s birth surname was Vaszilyko (though her mother’s surname was Russian, Lukashenkova). At the time, that area of Slovakia was part of Upper Hungary, and so the spellings of names were Magyarized (though others on the very same birth registers were Latinized!).

I also already knew another three-greats-grandma’s birth surname was Zhatko (Zsatko in Hungarian), changed to Sviatko in the U.S.

During April, you’ll learn about people, places, and things including:

The Executed Renaissance, an entire generation of talented writers and artists who were murdered or repressed during the Great Terror of the 1930s.

Taras Shevchenko, Ukraine’s renowned national writer.

The Holodomor, the planned famine of the 1930s which killed about three and a half million people.

Lesya Ukrayinka, one of Ukraine’s finest female writers.

Jewish Ukrainian life, which has a very complicated, painful, and difficult history, but ultimately experienced a great renaissance in the late 20th century as old wounds finally began to heal and interfaith friendship became the norm instead of the rare exception.

Kostyantyn Ushynskyy, a pioneering teacher and writer instrumental in resisting the linguistic Russification of Ukraine.

Aleksey Glagolev, a priest honored by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations for saving many Jews from the Nazis.

The Peresopnytskye Gospels, a beautiful illuminated manuscript from the 16th century and one of the most intricate known surviving East Slavic books.

The National Academy of Visual Arts and Architecture, a renowned art university in Kyiv.

Bila Tserkva, a beautiful, historic city with an important cultural legacy.

And we’ll wrap it up with a modern-day Maccabee, an inspiring hero whom I’m so proud is a member of the tribe.

My secondary blog will feature uniquely Ukrainian names.

If you’re in a position to donate money, please consider these worthy causes and charities!

Razom

Global Giving Ukraine

Tikva Odessa Orphanage

Alumim Children’s Home

Humane Society International