"Kobzar, once again I come to you...": Celebrating the 185th Anniversary of the First Edition of Taras Shevchenko’s Genius Work

One hundred eighty-five years ago, in 1840, the first edition of Taras Shevchenko’s Kobzar was published — a book that not only marked the beginning of a new era in Ukrainian literature but also became a symbol of national self-affirmation. This modest volume of eight poems, limited in size but boundless in meaning, elevated the Ukrainian language to the level of profound spiritual struggle.

"This little book immediately opened up what seemed like a new world of poetry; it burst forth like a spring of pure, cold water, shining with a clarity, simplicity, and poetic grace of expression previously unknown in Ukrainian writing," wrote Ivan Franko, Honorary Doctor of Karazin University.

Karazin University proudly joins in commemorating this significant milestone. Kobzar is not merely a book; it is the code of the nation, the moral constitution of the Ukrainian people. Its verses resonate with freedom, dignity, and truth — values that are just as relevant today as they were a century and a half ago.

Taras Shevchenko was not only a poet but a prophet who portrayed Ukraine’s fate through the flames of hope and sorrow. His Kobzar became an intellectual beacon and a source of inexhaustible strength for all who seek truth. We firmly believe: as long as Shevchenko’s words are read, Ukraine will live on.