Yuriy Fedkovych Literary Memorial Museum

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Yuriy Fedkovych Literary Memorial Museum

23.09.2024 16:50

The Yuriy Fedkovych Literary Memorial Museum was established in 1945 as a tribute to our glorious compatriot, a prominent Ukrainian writer and cultural and public figure. He was a pioneer of new Ukrainian literature in the region, a fighter for public education, for a progressive press, and for the development of the literary language based on folk traditions. For this, he is revered as the Bukovynian Kobzar, the Bukovynian Nightingale. The initiator of the museum's creation and its first director was the Ukrainian writer Hryhoriy Mizyun.

 

For a long time, the museum's exhibition was housed in one of the buildings of the residence of the Bukovynian metropolitans, and later in the premises of the regional museum of local lore. In 2004, the newly established Yuriy Fedkovych Literary Memorial Museum cordially opened its doors in the house that became the writer's last refuge. The thematic and exposition plan of the museum was developed by Olha Filipchuk, who served as its head for thirty years.

The museum's exposition is housed in nine halls and has two parts: literary and memorial. Their creation aimed to recreate the historical era in which Yuriy Fedkovych lived and worked – a brilliant writer, a devoted figure in educational and enlightenment efforts in Bukovyna. In the literary part, on separate stands, with embedded lifetime photographs and early printed editions of the writer, the main milestones of the Bukovynian Kobzar's creative activity are revealed through autographs, manuscripts, and documents, as well as multi-plot and multi-genre illustrations for his works. The spirit of the era is conveyed by household items, antique furniture, and examples of festive Hutsul attire displayed on podiums.

 

A highlight of the museum is the diorama 'Yuriy Fedkovych's Estate' by artists R. Batoh and R. Lekalov, which evokes the lofty spirit of the Carpathians and recreates the charming landscape of the writer's family home in Storonets-Putyliv. Visitors also gaze at the smart officer's uniform while listening to the story of Yuriy Fedkovych's years of service as a combat officer in the Austrian army.

The next hall, the memorial one, showcases the interior of the first Ukrainian society in Bukovyna, 'Ruska Besida,' of which Yu. Fedkovych was the initiator and an honorary member. In addition to period books, photographs of the society's organizers, and statutes, rare musical instruments are presented here; our multi-talented writer knew how to play some of them. The adjacent hall features the interior of the editorial office of the first Ukrainian newspaper 'Bukovyna,' edited by Yuriy Fedkovych. The appearance is recreated using household items, period furniture, and office supplies from the late 19th – early 20th centuries. Fedkovych's workplace as the editor of the periodical he founded is also here. On the tables are copies of the first issues of 'Bukovyna' from 1885.

 

The holiest place in the museum is Yuriy Fedkovych's memorial room. Here he lived his final years, worked and created, and from here he passed away on January 11, 1888, at the age of 54. The parquet floor where the writer walked, his desk, armchair, walking stick (kellef), and autographs have been preserved; the bookshelf contains lifetime editions of Yuriy Fedkovych's works and books from his personal library. Visitors' attention is drawn to the lyre, which, besides the violin and guitar, the Bukovynian Nightingale once played… Thus, in the house at Soborna Square, 10, in Chernivtsi, the spirit of Yuriy Fedkovych himself once again lingers.


And currently, a team of sincere admirers of his talent works on updating and enriching the exhibition in the home of their glorious Patron, preserving invaluable achievements, and promoting the creativity of the Bukovynian Kobzar: the museum director Lesia KOLODIY, senior researchers Halyna DUTCHAK and Natalia SLUPSKA.

Чернівецький обласний краєзнавчий музей

Chernivtsi Regional Museum of Local Lore

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