The journey of our team in Ukraine continues, and today we had the honor of meeting with the esteemed artist and restorer Mikhail Bendyuk at the historic Ostrog Academy in Volyn. Located in the ancient European city of Ostroh, the Ostrog Academy is one of Europe’s oldest educational institutions, famed for printing the first books with the pioneer printer Fedorov.
Mikhail Bendyuk shared with us numerous unique artifacts, including:
– A rare icon of the Virgin Mary in an embroidered shirt, was discovered in the attic of an abandoned house.
– Works by Nil Khasevich, found in 2022 in the attic of a house that belonged to a UPA fighter exiled to Kolyma in 1948. These works date back to 1949, hidden to avoid searches.
– An icon from Volchansk, Kharkov region, now nearly destroyed by the ongoing conflict. The dust on this icon is the dust of Volchansk, bearing witness to the Russian-Ukrainian war.
We also saw the well into which a UPA liaison officer threw herself to avoid torture during interrogation. Realizing she wouldn’t withstand the torture, she asked to stop for water and was found dead in the well.
These incredible pieces of history and resilience serve as a poignant reminder of Ukraine’s rich cultural heritage and the enduring spirit of its people.
