On December 3, the 303rd anniversary of the birth of Hryhorii Skovoroda, an outstanding Ukrainian philosopher, thinker, poet, educator, translator, and composer, the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine hosted the presentation of a collective illustrated monograph entitled “Forever Modern: The Life, Philosophical, Pedagogical, and Literary Work of Hryhorii Skovoroda,” created by scholars under the auspices of the Educational and Scientific Center for Skovoroda Studies at Hryhorii Skovoroda University in Pereiaslav.
The monograph systematizes more than ten years of research and reveals the key dimensions of Hryhorii Skovoroda's life and intellectual legacy. The project was made possible thanks to the coordinated cooperation of 52 scholars from Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Slovakia, and Italy. The publication shows how the ideas of humanism, freedom, inner dignity, and “congenial labor” are shaping new meanings in Ukrainian humanities and remain relevant to the academic community.
In his welcoming speech, Academy Director Ihor Ostash thanked educators for their significant contribution to spreading knowledge about Hryhorii Skovoroda's creative legacy and shared his own vision of the thinker's role in the modern world:
"I believe that Hryhorii Skovoroda is an ambassador of our cultural diplomacy. In his time, the thinker said: ‘The world tried to catch me, but failed’. Our task today is to ensure that the world does indeed ‘catch’ Hryhorii Skovoroda: to learn about him and accept his ideas as part of the world's heritage."
The importance of understanding Skovoroda's figure in the context of full-scale war was also emphasized by Francesco Pesce, Deputy Head of the Italian Diplomatic Mission in Ukraine. He stressed that during war, philosophy takes on special significance, as it is a force of the soul against barbarism and violence. The Italian diplomat stressed that such projects demonstrate to Europe that Ukraine is a European country and assured his unwavering support for Ukraine's path to European integration.
Vitaliy Kotsur, rector of the Hryhorii Skovoroda University in Pereiaslav, stressed that today Hryhorii Skovoroda is not only a symbol of Ukrainian culture, but also a target of Russian aggression:
"We are well aware of the current state of the Hryhorii Skovoroda Museum, which was hit by Russian missiles. The war is not only being waged against us in a military sense, it is also directed against our memory and our culture. Skovoroda was a Ukrainian and, at the same time, a European philosopher who preached the values of humanism. Reading his works, you understand why Ukrainians made the European choice."
Guests and participants of the event also had the opportunity to watch an excerpt from the documentary film “Hryhorii Skovoroda. World, I am coming to you!" (written by Igor Ostash, directed by Stanislav Litvinov) and listen to musical works dedicated to the thinker's work, performed by bandura player Yaroslav Dzhus.
The celebration of Hryhorii Skovoroda's birthday at the Diplomatic Academy culminated in the opening of the exhibition “Skovoroda in the Works of Ukrainian Artists,” with the participation of the authors themselves—well-known Ukrainian artists and sculptors: Oleksandr Melnyk, Vira Barynova-Kuleba, Vasyl Korchynskyi, Mykola Bilyk, Hanna Lukianenko, and Oksana Poltavets-Huida. The artists presented their unique creative interpretations of Skovoroda's image to the audience, revealing the symbols and motifs that inspired them to rethink the philosopher's persona.
The event at the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine became a platform for dialogue between scholars, diplomats, educators, and cultural figures on how Skovoroda's legacy helps to understand contemporary challenges and build the humanitarian dimension of Ukrainian statehood and European integration.