On March 6, 2003, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law approving the national anthem "Shche Ne Vmerla Ukrainy" with lyrics by Pavlo Chubynsky and music by Mykhailo Verbytsky as the National Anthem of Ukraine. Here's how the Anthem of Ukraine was created, as well as some interesting and little-known facts you should know about the national symbol

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On March 6, 2003, one of the most important events took place - Ukraine received the approved text of the anthem. Thus, exactly 21 years ago, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the law on the National Anthem of Ukraine. 

"The national anthem of Ukraine is the national anthem to the music of M. Verbytsky with the words of the first verse and chorus of the work of P. Chubynsky in the following version," reads Article 1 of this law.

"Shche ne vmerla Ukrayiny i Slava, i Volya (Ukraine's Glory and Freedom are not dead yet)" are the first lines of the approved text.

How the Ukrainian anthem was created: historical background and facts

The history of the anthem begins in Kyiv, in the fall of 1862, in an apartment at 122 Velyka Vasylkivska Street (now 106), when Ukrainian ethnographer, public figure, and poet Pavlo Chubynskyi wrote a poem. It was first published in 1863, in the fourth issue of the Lviv literary and political journal Meta.

The first publication of the poem. Photo: galinfo.com.ua

It is interesting that the work was published among other poems by Taras Shevchenko, which is why, for some time in Galicia, it was considered the work of Kobzar, not Chubynsky.

The music for the poem "Shche Ne Vmerla Ukrainy" was written later, by the priest Mykhailo Verbytskyi. He liked the text because of its patriotic content and easy form. However, at first he presented this song as a solo song and even performed it himself on the steps of the gymnasium "Gromada" in Przemyśl. And later, so that all the members of the Gromada could sing this patriotic song together, he turned it into a choral composition.

The future National Anthem of Ukraine was first performed publicly on March 10, 1865, in Przemysl, during a concert of the first secular "evening parties in memory of Taras Shevchenko" in Galicia. By the way, March 10 was approved as the Day of the National Anthem of Ukraine.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine officially performed this song for the first time in December 1991, during a meeting dedicated to the results of the All-Ukrainian referendum and the presidential election, performed by the Veriovka Choir under the direction of A. Avdiyevsky.

It should be noted that the music of the anthem was approved by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on January 15, 1992, and the lyrics only on March 6, 2003. The line "Shche Ne Vmerla Ukraine" was changed to "Shche Ne Vmerla Ukrainy".

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Interesting facts about the Ukrainian anthem that you should know

First of all, the song "Shche Ne Vmerla Ukrainy" was the national anthem during the times of the Ukrainian People's Republic and the Western Ukrainian People's Republic. In 1939, the Carpathian Ukraine proclaimed the poem "Shche Ne Vmerla Ukrainy" as its anthem. In addition, this song was played during the proclamation of the Act of Unification.

It is also interesting that the Soviet Union did not adopt the song as the anthem of the Ukrainian SSR, in part because the lyrics contradicted communist ideology. And Chubynsky had to pay a high price for writing and making his work very popular, as Prince Dolgorukov ordered him to be expelled "for his harmful influence on the minds of the common people." Chubynsky returned from the Arkhangelsk province only seven years later.

Today, the original text and music, handwritten by the authors, are kept in the Vasyl Stefanyk Scientific Library in Lviv.

Unfortunately, in today's realities, Ukrainians have had to deeply realize every word of the Ukrainian anthem. After all, the words "We will lay down our body and soul for our freedom" have become almost prophetic, and Ukrainians themselves have once again proved that they are ready to fight the enemy for their independence to the end.

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We remind you! The Ukrainian trident is a symbol of strength, independence, and thirst for freedom! Its history dates back to ancient times, and respect for it is deeply rooted in the minds of the Ukrainian people. Read more about the history of the holiday and interesting facts about the State Emblem of Ukraine in our previous article.

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