Friends!

At this day, back in 1722 was born the great Ukrainian activist Gregory Skovoroda. He was recognized as outstanding philosopher, poet, educator and humanist when he was alive, and it is not surprising that even now each Ukrainian knows everything about him and his significant contribution to the history of Ukraine. But according to this prominent day I would like to recall some interesting facts and legends about him.

One of the most famous legends is that Gregory Savich could foresee the destiny. People tell two stories. The first one is about his feasting in Kiev. Once he came to visit a friend Justin. He went out for a walk to Podil - and suddenly felt a cadaverous odor. He came home, collected things and went out of the city, and a few weeks after plague appeared in Kiev, and the city was closed.

According to another legend, Gregory Savich knew the date of his death. According to legend, on the 9th of November, 1794 in the afternoon poet took a shovel, made his own grave, then went into the room, put on clean clothes, put a bag with his own belongings under his head and slept, but never woke up.

By the way, according to the stories, Gregory was a vegetarian. He really believed in the reality of dreams, once in a dream he saw how people ate each other. Then he refused to eat meat.

There is also the story of an acquaintance of Georgy Skovoroda to Catherine II. Once she decided to get acquainted with the famous philosopher and invited him to her palace. Skovoroda was brought to the reception hall. Later came the queen and everyone worshiped her. Only Gregory Savich was flat. Catherine II protested and asked why he did not worship to the queen? To which the philosopher replied: "No, I didn’t want to see you, it is you, who wanted to see me. So how can you see me, when I'm bent double? "

As a master of words, he was well-known by the students of Kharkiv College, where he was a teacher. Gregory Savich had his own system of evaluation. Instead of points, he wrote the original sentences, such as "very dumb", "real nonsense", "very sharp" or "zvyerok vostroye." Nevertheless, he still was a legendary teacher, who gained love of everyone.

Friends, maybe all these stories about Skovoroda are fiction of ages. And I just wanted you to smile, while reading them. Legends are also an extremely important part of Ukrainian history. Especially when they concern such prominent person as Gregory Skovoroda. The only thing you cannot argue is a wisdom of this man. Finally, I want to share with you a quote that will make everyone wonder: "We dream about the future and despise modern: we are committed to what does not exist, and neglect that exists, as if the past will turn back, or perhaps all we hope about will come true."