Lviv honours the memory of a great European citizen

Organized by several state and public agencies of Poland and Ukraine, among them the publishers "Kamenyar", Ivan Franko Lviv National University, Alliance of Polish Organizations in the East and the Foundation "Aid to Polish in the East", Polish Consulate General in Lviv, Days of Zbigniew Herbert took place in March 16-17 2002 in Lviv.

As a sequent contribution to city`s cultural and spiritual integration with Europe, the public has received a marvelous opportunity to know about various aspects of life of a great Lviv citizen. On this occasion Poet`s sister, Halina Herbert-Zhebrowska, has visited Lviv for the first time after WWII.

Scholarly session dedicated to memory of Z. Herbert organized on March 16 on the premises of Lviv National University has gathered prominent public figures, writers, NGO leaders, scholars and admirers of Herbert`s poetry. Among them Krzysztof Sawicki, Consul General of Rzecz Pospolita in Lviv, and Ivan Vakarchuk, Rector of Lviv National University, welcomed the audience with greeting words, Zdzislaw Najder, Polish poet and Herbert`s friend talked about his viewpoints, life values, dedication to the promotion of European ideas that was exemplified in his cultural and spiritual legacy and love for freedom, Andriy Pavlyshyn, member of Editorial of Independent Cultural magazine "Ji", translator of Herbert`s prosaic works, promoter of the author`s legacy and ideas in Ukraine - who was the only to speak in Ukrainian among all reporters - mentioned Herbert`s relation to multiculturalism and Lviv origins of many of his principles and beliefs.

Later that day the session was followed by the presentation of Z. Herbert`s book "Selected Poems", published by Lviv publishers "Kamenyar".

Days of Zbigniew Herbert in Lviv were marked with notable opening of memorial plates in St. Antoniy church (the one attended by Z. Herbert in his childhood) and on house, Lychakivska 55, where the Herberts settled in the 30-ies of the last century.

Days of Zbigniew Herbert in Lviv caused great interest among Polish-speaking Lviv inhabitants and experts in Polish language and culture. Sadly, his native city does not own the legend of great Poet on the contrary to the rest of Europe. Having gathered little public and no attention of local media actively at that time engaged in parliamentary campaign these cultural events have almost passed unnoticed.

Written by A.V.