Ahatanhel Krymsky
Encounter one of the most prominent Ukrainian scholars and linguists, whose work remains invaluable for the Ukrainian language and the world linguistics
Ahatanhel Krymsky by Last photo of Krymskyi. Photo from open sources.CFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Ahatanhel Krymsky is rightfully regarded as "the greatest Crimean gift to Ukraine", as quoted by his students and another great scholar, Omelyan Pritsak. A prominent linguist, orientalist, and a true Ukrainophile, he is believed to have known from around 60 to 100 languages.
Ahatanhel Krymsky's peculiar journey as a scholar, combining interests in both Eastern and Ukrainian cultures began early on in his career. Born in a Russian-speaking family and having spent a part of his life in Russia, Krymsky decided to finish his studies abroad in Syria and Lebanon. At the same time, he continued exploring the Ukrainian language.
Ahatanhel Krymsky by Agathangel of Crimea. Beirut. Photo from 1898. Photo from open sources.CFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
After his studies in Syria and Lebanon at the age of 25, Krymsky began his pedagogical activity. He wrote enough textbooks to teach a variety of subjects including the history of Islam and peoples of the Near East, as well as the Arabic, Persian, and Turkish languages.
Ahatanhel Krymsky created an entire school of Orientalism in Ukraine. In terms of Ukrainian language studies, he published such works as Ukrainian Grammar, Notes from the History of the Ukrainian Language, and The Dialect of Ancient Kyiv. In addition, he came to the fundamental conclusion that the Ukrainian language was already distinctive in the XI century. In 1918, the scholar became one of the founders of the Ukrainian Science Academy led by Volodymyr Vernadsky.
Ahatanhel Krymsky by Photo from open sources.CFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy
Later on, Ahatanhel Krymsly went on to publish many scholarly works and dictionaries. However, in 1941, Ahatanhel Krymsky was repressed by the Soviet regime, as were many of his talented colleagues from the Ukrainian intelligentsia. He was sent to prison where he died in 1942.
Ahatanhel Krymsky made an invaluable contribution to the studies of both Eastern languages and Ukrainian, having become one of the main Ukrainian linguists in the history of this science. He also translated many literary works into Ukrainian, including The Rubáiyát by Omar Khayyam, A Thousand and One Nights, and Hafiz's songs as well as many European writers' works including poetry by Heinrich Heine, George Byron, and others.
Text: based on text by Kateryna Nosko
Original text from the album of the Prominent Ukrainians project, published jointly by Pictoric Illustrators Club, Pavlo Gudimov Ya Gallery Art Center, Artbook Publishing House and Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
Photo: from open sources
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