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abundant in cultural and religious resources, boasting 40 churches, two monasteries, and a college for diplo mats and government officials. In 1708, Baturyn’s glo rious development came to a sudden and violent end during the Northern War between Russia and Sweden. Since Hetman Mazepa sided with the Swedes, Baturyn was ravaged by the Russians; the majority of the city's population was massacred. Following this tragedy, Ba turyn was deserted for about 40 years, recovered for a brief time, and gradually declined again. It is currently a small town with a population of approximately 4,000. After providing this historical overview of the city, Dr. Mezentsev shared with the audience high lights of excavations conducted in Baturyn during 2001 and 2002. A slide and video presentation of some of the findings at Baturyn showed remnants of a pow erful artillery arsenal and ammunition, a very decora tive Hetman crest with religious symbols, ruins of tile heated stoves, and a 19th century portrait of Hetman Mazepa. Dr. Mezentsev also presented slide images of the archaeological dig site itself. Among the remnants found during the archeological excavations were mili tary offices and private offices that serve as examples of Ukrainian Kozak baroque architectural style; also found was the site of the official residence of the Hetman. There were also grim reminders of Russian destruction of the once glorious city-skeletal remains of men (mostly elderly), women and children buried in shallow graves near burned buildings which had been their homes-sobering evidence of the event that has been termed the “pogrom of Baturyn.” Dr. Mezentsev’s insightful and interesting lec ture left a lasting impression on those in attendance and a definite renewed interest in the historical value of Ba turyn to Ukraine. Officially closing the program, Dr. Hryhorczuk thanked Professor Mezentsev for his visit to Detroit and the evening ended with animated conversa tions around beautifully decorated sweet tables prepared by Mrs. Katya Beswerchij, a member of Detroit Branch 115. (The author thanks Mrs. Switlana Korduba for her advice in preparing the material for this article). Chumak by Jakiv Shchoholiv** (1824-1898) The night is nearly gone, it’s beginning to dawn, A gentle morning wind refreshes the air; Into the heavens joyfully soars the lark, Flapping its wings and pouring out a song, From beneath a mountain in the morning fog, A valley stretches out. And in that valley, a caravan of oxcarts Driven by salt carters, was passing through. But why has this caravan stopped in its tracks? Why have the carters stopped singing their song? This caravan has stopped because One of the poor fellows has taken ill. This is his hour of death; He calls to his friends: “My brothers! My friends! I am dying! I am leaving behind everything dear to me. My love kept me from joining you for a long time; ‘Will you ever return?’ - She asked me once. I did not want to stay with her and said: 'Plant black-eyed Susans in the garden. When they sprout and begin to bloom, You can expect me to come home soon.’ Now my darling will have to wait long For her carter to come back from the road! So, my brothers, please, when you return home, Tell my darling: ‘Pull out the black-eyed Susans from the bits of black earth. And decorate the icons in the house with them.’ At once she’ll be able to understand That I am still here, in godforsaken land, Leaving behind my seven pairs of honey-brown oxen! Please feed them and give them water, And when you return home - leave them for my father May he enjoy them in this life and take care of them long.” Having said this to them, he grew silent forever. They dug a hole for the fallen carter; At the bottom they placed a plank made of ash; They carefully lowered him into the ground, Covered his body with whatever they could find; When the grave was finished, they prayed to God And silently readied for the road again. The caravan of ох-carts, and the salt carters went on; The meadow was green, green was the valley, All was green but the crossless grave That stood there sadly, growing black by the side of the road ... Enough! There are enough of you, little graves in the wide open steppes, As many as there are pine needles in the forest. (1877) Copyright Helene N. Turkewicz-Sanko, Ph.D., Nadia S. Sanko, M.A., and Michael M. Naydan, Ph.D., translators. July 2003. * Poem from: Balady. S.A. Kryzhanivs’kyi , editor. Kyiv: Dnipro. 1981 : 66-67. ** A native of Okhtypky, he graduated from Kharkiv Univer sity in 1848. He was inspired by Taras Shevchenko and Ukrainian folklore. He is one of the members of the Kharkiv Romantic School. Many of his poems were adapted to music. “НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ЖОВТЕНЬ 2003 11
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