Volodymyr Menchyts (1837–1916) Against the Backdrop of the Epoch

Abstract

Purpose of the article is to broaden the knowledge about the Ukrainian national movement, problems of the creation of a nation in 19th – beginning of the 20th century through the prism of life and activities of an individual person – Volodymyr Amvrosiiovych Menchyts, as a cultural and educational figure. The methodology of research is based on a combination of general scientific and special historical methods with the principles of historicism, objectivity and consistency. The application of these methods made it possible to conduct a systematic analysis of the sources that helped to personify the figure of V. Menchyts. Scientific novelty. The role of V. Menchyts against the backdrop of the epoch of the second half of the 19th – early 20th century has been highlighted on the basis of published and archival documents. His role was marked by the intensification of the national movement, the formation of the idea of state formation of Ukraine. Conclusions. Research into the biography of Volodymyr Amvrosiyovych Menchyts and its reproduction showed that he was an outstanding personality, a bright representative of the Ukrainian national movement of the second half of the 19th – beginning 20th century. He entered Ukrainian history as an educator and philosopher, a collector of Ukrainian folklore, and a specialist in literature and publishing. V. Menchyts was a representative of the spiritual elite of the society of that time. Those people contributed to the formation of moral and ethical foundations of the social worldview, national idea and state formation of Ukraine. A significant constellation of figures that developed and acted in this period in society, in particular Volodymyr Menchyts and his company, clearly defined the outlines of the Ukrainophil movement. Along with a cohort of less known but, undoubtedly, sincere patriots, the famous representatives of this movement were able to lay the ideological foundation for the development of the Ukrainian state at the beginning of 20th century.