On May 8, 1861 Taras Shevchenko, the poet soul of Ukraine came home - his exile in St. Petersburg ended. Shevchenko, born to parents who were serfs in the region outside Kiev, had lived most of his life in exile from his beloved Ukraine. Having escaped from one brutal master, Shevchenko found himself apprenticed to a patron of the arts - someone who recognized Shevchenko's artistic abilities. His gift as a painter helped him find his freedom - purchased for him by several artisans. Later in life Shevchenko began to write - capturing the imagination of those who longed for a free Ukraine.

Several times throughout his life he was allowed to return home - only to find himself in opposition to Tsarist Russia, who occupied Ukraine. Still, he longed to find his way home. At 5:30 a.m. on March 10, 1861 Shevchenko died at his home in exile in St. Petersburg. He was buried in Russia, but friends who knew of his love for Ukraine decided to bring his body home.

They brought his coffin by train to Moscow, and then by horse-drawn wagon to Kiev (Kyiv), Ukraine, arriving on May 6. There his body stayed the night at Nativity of Christ Church overlooking the Dnipro River, before being taken by the steamship Kremenchuh to Kaniv (down river from Kiev). Shevechenko was buried atop Chernecha Hill (now called Taras Hill). His burial site is a sacred place for Ukrainians (see a poem about this site and the poet further down on my blog). Ukrainians come to sit among the horse chestnut trees and bluebells.

The church in Kiev where Shevchenko's body lay in state still stands a short distance above the banks of the Dnipro River in Kiev. People will tell you about the funeral procession from St. Petersburg, to Moscow, to Kiev, and on to Kaniv. It is a sacred space for the people of Kiev. And you can see it from the docks - just past the McDonald's!