Grigori Savvich Skovoroda is the person that all philosophers wish to become. He was a mendicant teacher, nomad and Christian humanist, and the exceptional talents he possessed provided him the means for success as he preached his version of Christian humanism. He had a profound mind, phenomenal memory, and played several musical instruments. Along with knowing the Russian and Ukrainian languages, Skovoroda was fluent in Hebrew, German, Latin and Greek, and translated works of Cicero and Plutarch from Greek into Ukrainian. He also had a photographic memory of the Bible. Skovoroda traveled on foot southern Russia and eastern Ukraine for some 30 years, influencing every person he met and household he visited and compiling a library of compositions of his version of Christian humanism. His memory and influence endures to the present. This volume contains a biography, analysis of his philosophy, and a translation into English of several selections of his work.

Hryhory Skovoroda is considered by many as the first great Slavic philosopher and poet. Written over a period stretching from the 1750s until 1785, his The Garden of Divine Songs is a unique collection of 30 poems, featuring a complex system of strophic structures and with only a few of the songs written in a traditional way. Skovoroda never repeats one and the same strophic structure; this being the case, his Garden of Divine Songs according to writer-scholar Valery Shevchuk functions as a “practical guide to the art of poetry”, exemplifying all the meters and strophic patterns that were possible in Ukrainian poetry of that time. The poet makes masterful use of the accomplishments of academic poetry; the so-called “songs of the world” are the most prominent poems in this collection. These songs are an expression of Skovoroda's views in poetic form, and many ideas from The Garden of Divine Songs, such as the search for happiness in the world in song 21, would later form the basis for some of Skovoroda’s philosophical treatises. Skovoroda’s originality, and his ability to approach the most cardinal problems of human existence, stem from his capacity to combine known motifs, borrowed from literary sources such as classical texts, the Bible, and ancient Ukrainian poetic works, with his own system of thinking that focuses on his philosophy of the heart. The complete poems of Skovoroda are appearing in their entirety here in English for the first time, accompanied by a guest introduction by prominent Ukrainian writer Valery Shevchuk. This title has been realised by a team of the following dedicated professionals: Translated by Michael M. Naydan with an introduction by Valery Shevchuk Translations Edited by Olha Tytarenko Maxim Hodak - Максим Ходак (Publisher), Max Mendor - Макс Мендор (Director), Ksenia Papazova (Managing Editor).

The essays in this collection of symposium papers about the eminent Ukrainian philosopher and poet Hryhorij Skovoroda (1722–94) examine this unique figure from a number of perspectives: historical, social, literary, pedagogical, linguistic, theological, and philosophical. Hryhorij Skovoroda is a major figure in the history of Ukrainian and Russian literature and philosophy. Educated at the Kyiv Mohyla Academy, he served variously as music director of the Russian imperial mission in Hungary, private tutor, and instructor of ethics and poetics at the Kharkiv Collegium. The last decades of his life, which he spent wandering about eastern Ukraine, were devoted to writing and contemplation. Skovoroda's writings—verse, fables, philosophical dialogues—are profoundly steeped in biblical tradition and characterized by the striking use of symbol and metaphor, as well as sophisticated linguistic experimentation. His influence on Ukrainian and Russian writers began in his own lifetime and has continued and grown ever since. It is strongly evident in the works of such figures as Taras Shevchenko, Nikolai Gogol, Andrei Belyj, and Vasyl' Barka, among others. Skovoroda is an indelible presence in the realms of philosophy, literature, religion, and linguistics. Yet he is inadequately appreciated, particularly in the West. Contributors include Dmytro Cyzevs'kyj, Karen L. Black, Stephen Scherer, George Y. Shevelov, Bohdan Rubchak, Bohdan Struminski, George Kline, Taras Zakydalsky, Mikhail Weiskopf, Aleksandr Lavrov, and others. This volume also includes an exhaustive bibliography of Skovorodiana compiled by Richard Hantula. See Dmytro Cyzevs'kyj, Nikolai Gogol, Ballad, and Lyceum in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine.

"A sweeping, intricate description of Russian cultural history, spanning the pre-Romanov era through six centuries to the reign of Joseph Stalin. Flowing with ease through time and topic — from art to music, literature, philosophy, mythology and more — the book provides readers with an alluring portrayal of Russia’s proud heritage. Its impressive scope and lasting insights have made it a foundational text in Russian studies. In fact, it was this book, more than any other, that captured my imagination and propelled me toward the study of Russia and the Soviet Union." --Condoleezza Rice, The New York Times "A rich and readable introduction to the whole sweep of Russian cultural and intellectual history from Kievan times to the post-Khruschev era." - Library Journal Includes Illustrations, references, index.

This comprehensive study of Ukranian literature in English has been expanded to cover literature up to the present time. Cyzevs'kyj's original work, covering periods from prehistoric through to realism, has been slightly revised with additional material, beginning with the emergence of modernism.

Ukraine is a country of diverse charms whose fanciful churches, imposing fortresses and landscape dotted with fields of sunflowers delight off-the-beaten-track travellers. This third edition of Bradt's "Ukraine "is fully revised and updated, combining practical travel essentials with insights into the country's history and culture.

Glory to You and Great Joy! You Are the Absolute Splendor of Your Universe. Who were you before the breathtaking origin and evolution of your world? How do you create the great joy of deep peace, ultimate freedom, fulfillment, and abundance? Advancing beyond the Hubble’s universe, supergravity, quantum mechanics, and beyond the final theory, this landmark book provides answers to the basic questions of life and a pathway to an intimate experience of God. It takes you prior to the big bang. It takes you to the Holy of Holies ‘1’: the observer, where all information and power resides—the mind and heart of God—I AM in you and as you. In Exodus III you learn that your ultimate achievement is not in physics or in mathematics, or in your institutions or religions, but in the direct experience of your Absolute Splendor—the rebirth within you of your Divinity and the most fundamental science of ‘1’, which opens new cosmic doorways for your being. Following a timeline beginning in 1750 BC, Exodus III references 360 enlightened giants of science, industry, the power of the heart, and the spirit from across the globe, corroborating your oneness with all. The author illuminates your cosmic path through education in the ultimate underpinning of the universe, ‘1’, that brings you to the far reaches of your personal world with ultimate freedom, fulfillment, and abundance. You Are the Light of Your Own World. The Peace and Love in Your Heart is the Sun of Suns that Is Creating that Light!

How did such an intellectual giant spring up out of nowhere? Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky was the founder of Russian astrophysics and cosmonautics. He was a self-taught scientist, inventor, philosopher and science fiction writer. He lost his hearing at age 10; he struggled in obscurity, earning a living as a school teacher; while he was in his prime the Soviet Revolution changed his world - but nothing stopped him from achieving his life's purpose. Historian and biographer Dan Shubin presents Tsiolkovsky's life story and a selection of his compositions including autobiographical notes, his cosmic and political philosophy, and his science fiction writings. Tsiolkovsky's most important designs include the jet-propelled engine, the use of rockets for space travel, and dirigibles made with a metallic shield. His scientific studies contributed to the advancement of technology and science in Soviet Russia. As a teacher he became adept at explaining complex problems in vivid ways that were both clear and inspiring. This talent infused his writing, and his prose has been compared to that of Asimov, Clarke and Heinlein. His stories about travel to the moon and throughout the solar system, and his special brand of cosmic philosophy, motivated the Soviet public to dream of reaching the stars.Unique with Tsiolkovsky was his conviction that advanced life existed on other planets and his confidence in man's ability to progress toward the settlement and development of planetary systems throughout outer space.Ever a man ahead of his times, toward the end of his life Tsiolkovsky campaigned for equal rights of all citizens and the abolition of war and violence.This volume includes a biography and a selection of Tsiolkovsky's autobiographical sketches, his cosmic and socialist philosophies, and an example of his science fiction.