To Stockholm I took the Return to Tsarhorod book, recently published in Den’s Library series. Reading it here was particularly instructive, because Sweden is a good example of the continuity of their own tradition. The foundation and floors of old Swedish temples are paved with slabs that were parts of earlier sacral buildings, and are carved with ancient runic writing. It is an interesting experience, to enter a church, knowing that it was built on a pre-Christian foundation.
We, in Ukraine, don’t have such foundation – the concrete was hastily poured over it; we had been convinced that we had not received any statehood until 1917, or at least until the Cossack times. Russia has managed to not only steal our history, but also to convince the gullible population that the legacy of Byzantium belongs to Moscow. As if this was not Volodymyr who baptized Rus’, and as if it was not our elite who made a choice in favor of the Eastern Christian rite. One can argue whether this was the right choice or not, but in all certainty it had affected us, and created the basis of our consciousness, mentality, and culture. We came to Byzantium at the time of its prosperity and greatness, seeking to join a developed civilization. And regardless of whether we want it or not, Orient takes a vital place in out nature. By understanding and studying that we will know ourselves better, we will become stronger, because a solid foundation will appear under our feet.
The preface to the publication contains well-chosen words by Larysa Ivshyna, Den’s editor-in-chief: “This is a book for growth.” It is an intelligent outcry to broaden the horizon and deepen the discussions about ourselves. In other countries such ambitious projects are prepared by universities and academies of science; we have it embodied by the best of Ukrainian publishers – the daily Ukrainian newspaper Den.
I hope that Return to Tsarhorod will begin a sustained social and intellectual debate, but one can say with all certainty: this book – is the most important intellectual product of 2015. A must read.
