'The world chased me but couldn't catch me', - is one of the most well-known phrases by Hryhoriy Skovoroda, Ukrainian vagabond philosopher from the18 th Century.

Skovoroda was a poet, a teacher and a composer of liturgical music. He studied at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and was fluent in Greek, Latin, German and Hebrew. His nickname was Socrates.

In 2022, numerous events were planned for the 300 years anniversary of the Ukrainian nomad thinker, some with the support of UNESCO. The village of Skovorodynivka (Kharkiv region) – where Skovoroda spent his last years and
was buried – is home to one of the philosopher’s memorials. His favorite oak tree and well can still be found there.
 
On the 7th of May, Russian bombs fell down on the newly renovated museum and burnt it to ashes. Luckily, most of the collection had been moved out to a safe shelter. The lonely sculpture of Skovoroda is still standing among the debris. Just like in his own words, the world chased him but couldn't catch him.

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