CONVERSION TO ISLAM AMONG EMIGRANTS FROM UKRAINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE XIX CENTURY: THE CASE OF MYCHAYLO CZAJKOWSKI (MEHMED SADYK-PASHA)

Abstract

In the middle of the 19th century, the multi-ethnic and multi-religious Ottoman Empire gave refuge to representatives of the national liberation and revolutionary movements in Central and Eastern Europe. The popularity of Orientalism in Western culture has opened up to Europe the riches of Islamic cultural heritage. One of the participants in this process was a popular novelist, politician, military man from Volyn Mychaylo Czajkowski.In 1850, along with many refugees and emigrants, Mychaylo Czajkowski converted to Islam and lived in the Ottoman Empire for almost three decades. His writings and correspondence allow us to trace how he perceived the Islamic Empire from within, how he perceived the Islamic religion from the point of view of a newly converted Muslim. His case is characteristic and unique at the same time, it allows a different look at Ukrainian-Islamic contacts in modern times.The work of Sadyk Pasha, who opened the veil of the Islamic world to the Ukrainian, Polish, French, and Russian readers, should be singled out. The images of the Muslim, the Turk, the Ottoman were humanized by him, the barriers of misunderstandings and accusations were shaken. The past of the relationship is filled with examples of cooperation. The future looks full of joint projects and accomplishments. Sadyk Pasha's personal destiny testifies to understanding, to the tolerance of evaluation - to the expansion of the values of modern times.