Skip to content
Call Us Today! 212-533-4646 | MON-FRI 12PM - 4PM (EST)
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
Search for:
About Us
UNWLA 100
Publications
FAQ
Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
Initiatives
Advocate
Educate
Cultivate
Care
News
Newsletters
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Join UNWLA
Become a Member
Volunteer With Us
Donate to UNWLA
Members Portal
Calendar
Shop to Support Ukraine
Search for:
Print
Print Page
Download
Download Page
Download Right Page
Open
1
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-27
28-29
30-31
32-33
34-35
36
OUR LIFE M ONTHLY, published by Ukrainian National Women’s League of America Vol. XXXI. JUNE, 1974 No. 6 LUBOW WOLYNETZ A n n a Y a r o s la v n a There have been personages whose lives resembled fairy tales. This is mainly true of his toric personages from the far past about whom we know little but throughout centuries many legends and stories developed around them based not so much on fact as on conjecture. Anna Yaroslavna who was born around 1024, the daughter of Prince Yaroslav the Wise and who was later Queen of France surely seemed to the French a princess from a fairy tale. She came to France from a far away land, charmed and enchanted their king and lords with her beauty and wisdom. Kievan Rus, in the days of Ya roslav the Wise was a grand, powerful and highly cultured na tion. The city of Kiev glistened from the many golden domes on churches. Monks in the monas teries were busy translating and rewriting books for their prince who read them day and night and later collected them into the first library at the Cathedral of St. Sophia. In the Podol part of the city throngs of people gath ered daily at the eight markets to look over wares that were brought by tradesmen from the East and West. This internation ality of the markets made it pos sible for the Prince and his chil dren to learn many foreign lan guages without even having to leave the city. At the court by all probability lived and composed his songs the great poet Boyan about whom we know from the epic song “The Lay of the Host of Ihor” where his name is mentioned and where he is called “prophetic/’ “night ingale of the old days,” “grand son of god Veles.” He most likely composed songs glorifying Yaro slav and his wisdom, heroism of Yaroslav’s sons and the beauty of the princesses Elizabeth, Anne and Anastasia. During Yaroslav’s reign for the first time a Ukrainian monk Ilarion became Metropolitan. He had great influence not only on Yaroslav but on his children as well. Anna Yaroslavna must have had many conversations with him before she left for France. In such an atmosphere Anna Yaroslavna grew and acquired knowledge. Small wonder then that she developed into a highly cultured as well as wise and at the same time a very beautiful princess. Metropolitan Ilarion in his ser mon “On Law and Grace” prais ing Kievan princes said: “And they did not reign in a poor and unknown land, but in Ukraine (Rus’), which is known and celebrated by all to the ends of the earth.” Indeed the whole of Europe talked about Kievan Rus’ and about Prince Yaroslav and small wonder then that Henry I of France soon after being widowed sent a group of ambassador's con sisting of three bishops and many lords, to Kiev to ask for the hand of Anna in marriage. The Ambassadors arrived in Kiev in either 1048 or 1049 and were enraptured by the city. French historians writing about this episode said: “This country is more united, happier, mightier, more impor tant and more cultured than France.” Напис на п’єдесталі статуї при вході до церкви св. Вікентія: „Анна з Руси, королева Франції. Вона заснувала цю будівлю імени св. Вікентія Року Бо жого 1060“. Світлив: д-р М. Яримович Statue of A nna Y aroslavna a t the entrance to St. V incent’s Church in Senlis. This inscription reads: Anne of Bus’, Q ueen of France. She found ed this church and dedicated it to St. V incent in the Y ear of O ur Lord 1060.” Photo by Dr. M. Y arem ovych The courting was successful. The French ambassadors re turned to France with Anna, her huge dowry and many rich gifts. The marriage as well as Anna’s coronation took place in all prob ability May 14 1051 in the cathe dral of Reims. In connection with her coronation there devel oped a legend that Anna pledged allegiance on a Slavonic Bible which she brought with her as part of her dowry and later this Bible she bequeasted to the ca-
Page load link
Go to Top
1 
2-3 
4-5 
6-7 
8-9 
10-11 
12-13 
14-15 
16-17 
18-19 
20-21 
22-23 
24-25 
26-27 
28-29 
30-31 
32-33 
34-35 
36 
