Friends!

On this day, more than three centuries ago was born the famous traveler-pedestrian Vasily Grigorovich-Barsky. If you do not know his history, you have lost a lot.

Vasily Grigorovich-Barsky was born in a family of merchant. He wanted to learn, so to join the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, he secretly went to the prefect Theophanes Prokopovich. He scored a boy, but then pointed out that in science he was "not good." Vasil wanted to continue studying at the Jesuit Academy, he even came up with new name - Pansky, but there quickly caught the guy, found out that he was Orthodox and kicked him.

Mostly young Vasily desired to see other lands. So, one day in dress of the Roman pilgrim from Kiev he went to journey. It lasted 24 years! He stepped through Kosice, Pest, Vienna, Bari, Rome and Venice. Later - to the island of Corfu, Kefalonia. Through it he reached the island of Chios, and then - Thessalonica and Mount Athos. On the 10th of September, 1726, he sailed from there to Palestine, visited Jerusalem on Mount Sinai, visited the island of Cyprus. Eight months he lived in Egypt, in the court of Alexandria Patriarch Kozma in Cairo. Besides curiosity the reason that pushed Vasil for far long journey was the desire to visit the holy places. Since XV. in Ukraine pilgrimage works, have been very popular. Among them, "The Life of Daniel Abbot n land", "Word of Jerusalem being" by Arseniy Selunskoho, "The Adoration of the Holy City of Jerusalem," "The book talks journey to Jerusalem ..." and others. It is not surprising that Vasil Grigorovich-Barsky decided to survive and write his own "Stranstvovaniya."

About the Dead Sea Vasily Grigorovich-Barsky wrote: "The water is there such solty. that places the salt crystals are collected on the surface, like ice. In this water, no fish or algae are not found. But for the human bodythe water is very helpful it’s treating itching and scabies. "

Vasil learned many different languages. He was a monk, he studied Greek language and literature. He served as a priest at the embassy in Constantinople, and from there went on a trip home when he heard the news of the death of his father. Through Bulgaria, Romania and Poland traveler returned to Kyiv. Even in the way he was invited to occupy the chair at the Kyiv Mohyla Academy. But he could not - because felt ill.

Years of travel did not pass unnoticed. During the trip, the traveler was beaten to death, robbed. Climate change, cold and malnutrition gave its signs. But it did not stop - he still went his way.

Vasily Grigorovich-Barsky died immediately as he returned home. He was buried in Epiphany Cathedral of the Fraternal Kiev Monastery. His travel notes along with interesting pictures were published after his death. The book became very popular and was reprinted seven times.

Friends! The life story of a traveler proves that there is nothing impossible when there is a purpose and desire. After overcoming all difficulties we can find our own happiness.