UKRAINIAN PAST IN THE WORKS OF VADYM PASSEK

Abstract

In the article there is analyzed the works of Vadym Passek (1808–1842), in which the Ukrainian past was popularized. This author was known primarily as a writer, ethnographer, statistician, archaeologist and publisher. However, he was also interested in Ukrainian antiquity, and especially in the past and the cultural heritage of Sloboda Ukraine. And this was not accidental, because he was a descendant of a Cossack-officer family from Slobozhanshchyna, although he was born in Tobolsk, where his father was in exile. Mykola Sumtsov, an expert on Ukrainian folklore, described V. Passek as a soft, sensitive, friendly idealist. He belonged to the circle of Kharkiv romantics, who later became close to Slavophiles in Moscow. Thus, in a letter to Izmail Sreznevsky (September 1839), who was to go on a scientific trip to Europe, V. Passek outlined his dream of uniting all Slavs under the rule of the Russian tsar. In his 5-volume collection “Essays on Russia” (1838–1842) V. Passek published many of his own researches on various issues. In particular, modern researchers emphasize his contribution to Ukrainian folklore, note archaeological and monumental essays. V. Passek’s essays on the historical past of Ukraine were based on his historical and geographical ideas. In particular, in his early works, he emphasized that it was the “Little Russians” who owned the legacy of the princely era. The researcher was proud that they were in the ranks of the victorious army of Prince Svyatoslav. V. Passek emphasized that the Orthodox Christianity was first adopted by Little Russia. In the essay “Little Russia” (1834) the author gave examples of profound differences in the national character and historical development of the “southern Slavic tribes – today’s Little Russians” from the “northern tribes – the Russians”. According to him, from the very spirit of the South Slavs, customs and the very way of life of the Little Russians arose specificity, while the spirit of the northern tribes became its coffin. V. Passek emphasized that Ukraine (Slobozhanshchyna) was a “pure creation” of Little Russia. In his other essays, the young researcher depicted the cultural heritage of Kyiv, the southern borders of the princely state, the historical and geographical image of Slobozhanshchyna, and others.