Melnyk, Vasyl

Ukrains'ki Khrestonostsi [Ukrainian Crusaders]

Munich: 1948. Illustrated wrappers. Item #838

64 pages; 21 cm. Text in Ukrainian. Cover design by Mykhailo Mykhalevych. A very good copy.

The author's profound engagement with national concerns and his quest to grasp the tragic reality of the Ukrainian people is evident in his works. Firmly convinced of his nation's divine destiny, his writings overflow with fierce criticism aimed at those who jeopardize its freedom. However, according to the author, contemporary challenges in Ukraine originate not from external threats but from internal spiritual decay and numerous psychological deficiencies. Across its long history, these factors have consistently undermined Ukrainian statehood with devastating consequences.

Vasyl Limnychenko, originally Vasyl Ivanovych Melnyk (1899–1949), was a notable Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest, public figure, writer, journalist, and translator. He immigrated to the West with his family in 1944, initially settling in Slovakia, where he worked in Liberec from 1945 to 1946. Later, he moved to Munich, where he served as a preacher until his passing in 1949.

Mykhailo Mykhalevych (1906–1984) was a versatile artist renowned for his contributions to graphic design, iconography, portraiture, theater design, and illustration. He honed his skills at the Kyiv Art Institute and furthered his education in Prague. As a member of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), he led its Art Section in Lviv and collaborated with the Carpathian Sich Army in Transcarpathia. Amidst World War II, he worked at the Institute of Folk Arts in Lviv before relocating to Germany in 1944. Settling in the United States in 1950, he continued his artistic endeavors, creating linocut portraits, watercolors, and charcoal drawings, and contributing to various print media. Mykhalevych's illustrations adorned children's literature and publications like the “Veselka” [Rainbow] magazine, garnering recognition worldwide.

Price: $150.00