On March 7, 2012, Ukraine’s Embassy to the Hellenic Republic, together with the members of the Ukrainian community of Greece and the Greek public at large marked the 198th year anniversary of the birth of Ukraine’s national genius, and exponent of the ideas and aspirations of the Ukrainian people, Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko.

The Embassy’s solemn events began with a ceremony of laying of flowers at the monument of Taras Shevchenko in the Greek capital. Together with the Head of the Ukrainian diplomatic mission, its employees and their family members, chairpersons of the Ukrainian organizationі in Greece, leadership of the Athens Municipality of Zografou, where the monument is located, and former Mayor of this municipality, Mr. Ioannis Kazakos thanks to whose personal support it was installed, as well as representatives of the Ukrainian community in Greece and Greek public at large took part in the ceremony.

In his opening remarks, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Volodymyr Shkurov, underlined the unprecedented role of the literary heritage and personality of Shevchenko in the renaissance of the national conscience of Ukrainians. He further stated that the immortalization of the Kobzar in Greece is a manifestation of the respect for Ukraine, and further evidence of the friendly relationship between the two peoples and countries, with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries being observed in 2012.

Later that day, after the laying of flowers at the bust of Taras Shevchenko at the Ukrainian diplomatic mission, the opening of the exhibition of paintings by the Ukrainian painter Valerian S. Nesterov and a concert performed by the Ukrainian community amateur choir and students of the Ukrainian community schools, devoted to the 198th year anniversary of the birth of Kobzar, took place at the Cultural-Information Center of the Ukrainian Embassy.

A packed Ukrainian-Greek audience warmly welcomed each performance of songs with lyrics based on Taras Shevchenko’s verses, as well as recitations of his poems.

Events devoted to the anniversary of the birth of Taras Shevchenko will also be conducted by the Ukrainian organizations in Greece.