Культурно-просветительная деятельность А.В. Духновича

Abstract

The author analyzes the multifaceted research, theoretical, and practical activities of A.V. Dukhnovych (1803–1865) – a talented poet, prose writer, publicist, historian, ethnographer, playwright, teacher, publisher, a well-known “Buditel’” (i.e. awakener) of the Carpathian people. The author studies and describes Dukhnovych’s creative heritage to define the main directions of his cultural and educational activities in the fields of philosophy, history, geography, pedagogy, socio-culture, linguistics, theology, ethnography, agriculture, phytotherapy, etc. Dukhnovich was a convinced traditional educator, who sincerely believed that education can significantly alleviate the plight of the masses. He founded educational societies, organized more than 70 elementary schools, published textbooks, almanacs, calendars. He supported several gymnasiums in Subcarpathian Rus, where teaching was conducted in Russian. Dukhnovich established a scholarship fund for poor pupils and students, organized free cafeterias, etc. The analysis of his epistolary, autobiographical materials, and works of fiction provide an insight into the socio-political and cultural life of the Rusins in the middle of the 19th century. Dukhnovich’s creative heritage includes the first “Primer” for public schools (“Reading Book for Beginners” (1847)); the first textbooks on geography (“A Short Landpiece for Young Rusins” (1851)); history (“General History for Young Rusins” (1851), “The True History of the Carpathossians, or Hungarian Rusins” (1853)); the ethnographic work “On the Peoples of the Extreme or Ugric Carpathians, living near the Beskid in the Zemplínska, Uzhhorod and Sharisha capitals” (1848); “Abridged Grammar of the Written Russian language” (1853); “Folk Pedagogy for the Benefit of Rural Teachers” (1857), which was the first textbook on pedagogy in Western Ukraine published in Lvov; “Menology” (1850, 1851, 1854, 1857), other teaching manuals, articles, poetic works, dumas, and plays. His poem “Vruchanie” became the national anthem of Ugrian Rus. As a democratic educator, he convinced many that the active national and cultural life of the Rusins fully depends on the dissimination of education among the people to bring up the younger generation in the vein of virtue and national dignity. By his personal example, Dukhnovich lead people to spiritual dimensions and influences the worldview and patriotism of the intelligentsia in Subcarpathian Rus. He made a significant contribution to the education of the people, laid the foundations for many cultural and educational societies in Subcarpathian Rus in the 19th century and later – not only in his native land, but also far beyond its borders.