IVAN BOBERSKYI'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE PREPARATION AND REALIZATION OF THE SHEVCHENKO CONGRESS, 1914 IN LVIV

Abstract

The article deals with the Shevchenkivskyi congress (other names – II Region congress, Great Memorable Shevchenkivskiy congress, Shevchenko's Jubilee congress, etc.), which took place in Lviv during June 27–29, 1914, on the occasion of the 100th birthday of Taras Shevchenko. The features of the organization and implementation of the congress, the contribution of the head of the Ukrainian gymnastic society «Sokol-Father» Ivan Boberskyi to this task were explored. The author draws attention to the fact that until 1914, Ukrainian «Sokol» and other Galicia companies did not carry out such large-scale events. It was cleared up the value of the congress in the development of national gymnastics and sports, which became the demonstration of a high-level national consciousness and dignity of the Ukrainians, a symbolic national association and a demonstration of political activity. Ivan Boberskyi did everything possible not only for the development of the Ukrainian community «Sokol» on the Ukrainian ethnic lands but also in the diaspora, the association with the Sich centers of Galicia, as well as for the consolidation of the Ukrainian nation. In the history of Galicia and in general the history of Ukraine, the Shevchenkivskiy congress, 1914 in Lviv remains one of the greatest cultural, social, political and sports events of the Galician Ukrainians in the XX century. After its successful conduction, Ivan Boberskyi in 1919 planned to hold the III Region Congress in Lviv. However, the events of World War I and the Ukrainian National Revolution of 1917–1923 prevented this. The prospects for further studies are to examine the course and results of the III Region congress, 1934, and the participation of the Ukrainian organizations in the All-Sokol congress in Prague during the interwar period. Keywords Ivan Boberskyi, Galicia, Lviv, Shevchenkivskyi congress, consolidation of Ukrainians.