He created Ukraine's anthem - Legacy of Mykhailo Verbytskyi
What happened to Mykhailo Verbytskyi, the composer of the music for Ukraine's national anthem (Collage by RBC-Ukraine)
Mykhailo Verbytskyi was the composer who wrote the melody for one of the key symbols of Ukrainian statehood, the anthem "Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished." Yet despite this work's national recognition, the name of its author is often overlooked. Who was Verbytskyi, one of the creators of Ukrainian identity, and what was his life?
Modest composer of great cause
Mykhailo Verbytskyi was born in 1815 in the village of Yavirnyk Ruskyi (now on the territory of Poland).
A graduate of a theological seminary and the Lviv Theological Academy, he devoted his life not only to music but also to service in the church as a Greek Catholic priest.
His musical legacy includes over 130 works, including church chants, choral compositions, cantatas, and music for theater.
How the anthem was created
The lyrics to "Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished" were written by poet Pavlo Chubynskyi in 1862. They quickly gained popularity, and soon after, Verbytskyi composed the music.
The anthem was first performed in 1865 in the city of Peremyshl. The melody combined folk emotionality and a march-like rhythm. This is what made it recognizable and unbreakable.
Why Verbytskyi remained in the shadows
Verbytskyi died in poverty in 1870. During his lifetime, he did not receive recognition as a composer of national stature.
Due to political persecution, the fragmentation of Ukrainian lands, and imperial censorship, his name was virtually absent from the public sphere.
Even after the proclamation of independence, he is rarely mentioned. Everyone knows Ukraine’s anthem, but only a few know its author.
When his memory began to be honored again
In 2005, Verbytskyi's remains were reburied in the town of Mlyny (Poland), where he had originally been buried.
In 2015, on the 200th anniversary of his birth, commemorative events were held in Ukraine. Yet his legacy has still not become a required part of school curricula or the national pantheon of prominent figures.
Earlier, we wrote about Anna Yaroslavna and why she is honored in France but unknown in Ukraine.
Sources: Institute of National Memory, Wikipedia, Ukrainska Pravda
