The Ceremonial Presentation of the Attributes of Honorary Doctor of Karazin University to Svyatoslav Vakarchuk

On October 2nd, a solemn awarding of the attributes of Honorary Doctor of Karazin University took place.

Before the formal gathering, the Karazin community observed a minute of silence for our defenders.

The inauguration of the honorary doctor involved the participation of students. The offline event was held at the "ErmilovCenter," a place that served as a shelter for all Kharkiv residents during the shelling. This modern art center has been the venue for Open Doors Day, graduation ceremonies, and freshman initiation. Today, it hosted an equally significant event - the ceremony of awarding Doctor Honoris Causa. This event provided an opportunity to express respect for the scientific, educational, and civic achievements of outstanding individuals.

Svyatoslav Vakarchuk has now joined the ranks of honorary doctors alongside Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Mykhailo Hrushevskyi, Ivan Franko, and many others. He is a person whose voice represents the voice of Ukrainians heard worldwide. 

The ceremony commenced with a welcoming address from the university's Rector, Tetyana Kaganovska: "Mr. Svyatoslav, your creative work eases our shared path to victory. On behalf of Karazin University, I want to thank you for your relentless work. For inspiring our soldiers, for supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Even today, we were expecting you from the frontlines. Thank you for supporting our indomitable Kharkiv, our university.

We sincerely welcome you to the friendly Karazin family. We wish you new creative achievements, inspiration, and success. And, of course, we hope for the day when the war will end as soon as possible. Our warriors will return home safely, and their families will be able to embrace them gently and never let them go. Glory to Ukraine!" 

The university administration, led by Tetyana Kaganovska, presented Svyatoslav Vakarchuk with a diploma, the insignia of Honorary Doctor, the mantle, the sculpture "Per aspera ad astra!" and a pass to Karazin University. Ukrainian writer Serhiy Zhadan, also an Honorary Doctor of Karazin, came to support the new Honorary Doctor. 

Mr. Vakarchuk commented on the award of the attributes of Honorary Doctor: "I have no words; it is a great honor for me. I dreamt of an academic career in my time. I did a lot for it. But I never thought that choosing a different path than the one I was supposed to take would bring me here, on the other side. I am grateful to my parents, to all these people who are here right now, to the millions of Ukrainians who inspire me. This award is your award!" 

Afterward, Svyatoslav delivered a speech to all Karazin students: "Dear friends, there is so much I want to tell you. Right now, I would like to be in a suit so that we could sit together in the main assembly hall of the university without worrying about air raid sirens. But we are living in such times: times of trials and catharsis. Everything that is imaginary fades away, and what is real comes to the forefront. It seems to me that because Ukrainians are defending their own in this dreadful war, their identity. It is making us purer. It certainly makes me purer.

I want to thank Kharkiv National University, which is perhaps facing the most challenging conditions among all major Ukrainian higher education institutions. I am well aware of this. I was here on February 28 when the economic building still stood, and I was here on the day when it was gone. I was in the city during the shelling, and I felt the terrible mood that people were in. Then we came here from Dnipro by car, and it was the only car moving towards Kharkiv. Thousands were going back. I will never forget that train station. Thousands of people were on the platform. I captured it with my own eyes. And after all that, what Kharkiv has done, what the defenders have done, the residents have done, I consider it a feat.

I thank the professors, the students, and all the staff of Karazin University for your responsibility and your selflessness. And in general, the fact that we are here today, in a university where education continues not far from the front line. This is the essence of what we are fighting for. If we stop education at universities, if we stop going to work, if we stop raising, planning, or having children, it means the enemy succeeded. It means they stopped us, our development. Even if the enemy doesn't set foot here with their dirty boots, they will sow negativity and pessimism in our minds. Don't let them do that. This is why it is crucial to continue doing the things we are doing today. In Kharkiv, and in Zaporizhzhia, and in Dnipro, and in Sloviansk. To the young people who are here today, I want to say that you are fortunate. Yes, these are challenging times. This is a historic time that you will later tell your children and grandchildren about. This is the time when we created a new Ukraine. Value, help, and respect those who enable us to be here today, even in bomb shelters. Without these heroes on the front lines, we wouldn't be sitting here with you. Thank them!

All willing students had the opportunity to ask Svyatoslav questions about education, student life, and the development of education and culture in Ukraine. At the end of the meeting, the Karazin community enjoyed the song 'When We Become Ourselves' performed by Svyatoslav.

Congratulations to Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, and we are proud of our Honorary Doctors!