Researcher of life and creativity of Taras Shevchenko P. Biletsky argues that for all his life Shevchenko spent in Kyiv very little time: "If you add up all the days, weeks and months, it will not be even two years." But the Great Kobzar always dreamed to stay here to become a teacher of drawing at the university.
About how he loved Kyiv, the poet wrote in distant Orenburg steppes: "Most often, I cherish my senile imagination by pictures of golden, twined with gardens and topped with poplars Kyiv. And after a bright, immaculate delight, inspired by the contemplation of your unfading beauty, fall on my heart orphaned melancholy... "
For the first time Taras Shevchenko visited Kyiv in 20 years of XIX century in the retinue of his landlord. All mention of the city in such early works as "Kateryna", "Haydamaky" reflect the exactly youthful representations and impressions of the poet.
The poet lived in Kyiv intermittently from summer 1843 to spring 1847, he painted a lot with a view of creating the album "Picturesque Ukraine" and participated in the activities of Cyril and Methodius Brotherhood, after the defeat of which he was arrested (on crossing the Dnieper River near modern bridge of Paton). Though Shevchenko was not recognized as a member of the Society, but was punished the strictest for his found revolutionary works and in 1857 was in exile. Imprisoned, torn off from native Ukraine, the poet often appeals to favorite Kyiv by thought, to those days that he spent here. In the story "Twins" (1855) the author told of his acquaintance with Lavra - the Christian shrine: "One who, visited Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, and did not rest on the printing porch, about this person we can say that he was in Kyiv and did not see the bell tower of the Kyiv..." It is interesting that having left the city almost a decade ago, Shevchenko in this story describes in detail Kyiv area.
Shevchenko returned to Kyiv up in 1859. He settled on Priorka (popularly - Pryvarok) away from the center. Often attended his longtime friend Ivan Soshenkowith whom he went for a walk on the slopes of the Dnieper, Vladimir Hill. According to the memoirs of contemporaries, he was leaving Ukraine in the entire belief that in the near future he would return forever and buy a house ... However, this dreams did not come true.
... Kyiv farewell to poet 6-7 May 1861 in the Church of the Nativity in Podil during transportation of Shevchenko’s body from St. Petersburg to Kaniv. In front of a huge crowd of people Archbishop P.Lebedyntsiv, together with the abbot of the temple Z. Zheltonyzhsky held a ministering for great poet of Ukraine. After that Kyivites began to call the church "Shevchenko's". The coffin will be carried along the promenade highway to the ship that went towards Kaniv near Mykolayiv bridge. Shevchenko will be buried according to the covenant.
Among the memorable places of Shevchenko in Kiev survived until today: the house in Shevchenko alley № 8 (former street Kozynobolotska), where the poet lived in 1846 - early 1847 (now here located House Museumof T.Shevchenko), the main building of the University of Kyiv, where Shevchenko worked in Archeographic Commission in 1845-1847 (st. Volodymyrska № 60), building on the street. Vyshgorodskaya № 5 (lived here in August 1859 in the family S.Lobody); all these houses have a memorial plaque for the poet.
Prepared by A.Nechyporenko, senior lecturer of the Department of Ukrainian language, literature and culture.