"Love your Ukraine,
Love it...
Pray to God for it
In a time of trouble,
In the last painful minute."

"Taras Shevchenko in the national memory" National Conference was held at the History Department of Pavlo Tychyna Uman State Pedagogical University. In the first days of spring USPU traditionally meets the guests – the scientists from Ukrainian Institute of National Memory. This year the conference was held for the fourth time. The History Department students had the opportunity to listen to the reports of experts on the issues of national value and historical memory, memory as a social phenomenon, the specifics of memory formation and so on.

At the beginning of the conference, Natalia Pobirchenko, the Rector of Pavlo Tychyna Uman State Pedagogical University, Professor, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, corresponding member of NAPS of Ukraine said: "This year's meeting is very special. In the days of commemorating the 200th birthday anniversary of our compatriot Taras Shevchenko the question of his place in the national memory and his influence on shaping the national memory is especially relevant".

Volodymyr Kryvosheya, the Deputy Director of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, spoke about the recent developments in Ukraine and offered to honor the heroes of Maidan with a moment of silence.

During the scientific event the following reports of Doctors of Historical Sciences and Professors were presented: "The image of Taras Shevchenko as a socio-cultural code of the nation" by Alla Kyrydon, "The image of Taras Shevchenko on the background of cultural and socio- political transformation" by Larysa Buriak, "The image of Taras Shevchenko in Ukraine 2000s: formal vs public representation" by Bogdan Korolenko, Candidate of Historical Sciences, “The paintings and memorabilia of Shevchenko in the collection of literary and memorial house-museum of Taras Shevchenko in Kiev" by Tetiana Petryk, the Head of sector of the Funds of Literary memorial house-museum of Taras Shevchenko, "Gestalt concept of "Cold Ravine" in art theory nation genesis of the Ukrainians by Shevchenko and Shkliar" by Yevgenia Lebid – Hrebeniuk, the junior researcher of Shevchenko Institute of Literature named after Taras Shevchenko National Academy of Sciences Ukraine, "The discovery" of Shevchenko by the French in the second half of the nineteenth century" by Yevgen Lunyak, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor.

The students were interested to listen to the results of researches and realize the vision of the role and importance of Taras Shevchenko in the national memory. They raised a number of questions that surprised the capital scientists with the deep meaning and professionalism, relevance and patriotism.

Tetiana Kuznets, the Dean of the History Department, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Professor suggested to finish the plenary session with reciting the works by Shevchenko. So student Larysa Sauliak recited "To the dead, the living and the unborn..." to convince the audience about the relevance of Shevchenko's words in our time, revealing the satirical content of the work. The apotheosis of the conference was the presentation of "Kobzar" folk choir (directed by Vasyl Semenchuk, the Honoured Worker of Culture of Ukraine) and their performing the "The wide Dnipro roars and moans" spiritual Ukrainian anthem.