Ihor Kozhan paced restlessly down the hallway, supervising the staff busy packing up the legacies.
Ihor Kozhan is the director of Ukraine's largest art museum - the Andrey Sheptytsky State Museum, but right now, this very position worries him. The doors of the Museum have been closed sincewar between Russia and UkraineThe war began on February 24, and heritage sites across the country are at risk – as long as the fighting continues.
“There were times when we were on the verge of tears, because so much effort had been put in here. Time. Energy. Now there are only empty walls left, it was bitter and sad. We didn’t dare believe that this was really happening, until the very last minute,” said Mr. Kozhan.
Ihor Kozhan sits in his office in the Andrey Sheptytsky Museum.
Cultural cradle of Western Ukraine
Going back 117 years, in 1905, it was first established under the name “Cathedral Museum” as a private institution of the Metropolitan Bishop of the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine - Andrey Sheptytsky. Soon after, due to the rapid development and expansion of the exhibited collections, the museum was renamed “National Museum in Lviv” in 1911.
At the end of 1913, the National Museum in Lviv was opened, and the Bishop solemnly announced its dedication to the Ukrainian people. Many years later, the Museum developed into a famous European scientific and artistic institution.
In December 2005, to celebrate its 100th anniversary, the Museum was renamed after its founder, becoming the Andrey Sheptytsky National Museum in Lviv.
Since its founding in 1905, the Museum has always been the center of Ukrainian cultural and spiritual activities, playing a leading role in the community life of the people in the West of the country. Gradually, this place has also become a place where famous cultural figures, historians, politicians and scientists come to visit.
Across from the Andrey Sheptytsky National Museum.
Behind the doors of the Andrey Sheptytsky National Museum lies a "treasure trove". This place is one of the most unique national cultural and artistic treasures in Ukraine in particular and in the world in general, with more than 170,000 artifacts symbolizing the important achievements of Ukrainian culture. Among the priceless heritages stored here is the collection of Ukrainian Church art from the 14th to the 18th centuries, with more than 4,000 artifacts. The museum also preserves oil paintings by famous Ukrainian artists such as Taras Shevchenko, Kornylo Ustyianovych, Teofil Kopystynsky, ...
Ancient books at the Andrey Sheptytsky Museum
Rare manuscripts dating from the 12th to the 14th centuries
The Andrey Sheptytsky State Museum has a growing number of visitors. Every year, it welcomes about 140,000 visitors from all over the world. The museum also hosts more than 100 regional, national and international exhibitions annually; attracting numerous cultural figures, historians and linguists from all over the world.
Ukraine's biggest heritage "rescue"
At the end of February 2022, the war with Russia broke out and lasted for a long time, and heritage across Ukraine faced the risk of being destroyed by bombs. Especially with the Andrey Sheptytsky National Museum - the largest museum in the country - the authorities did not dare to gamble, and had to really race against time to rescue tens of thousands of priceless heritages.
Staff and volunteers are packing Baroque works into cardboard boxes in preparation for removal.
Workers build metal boxes to house artifacts of the Andrey Sheptytsky Museum.
Small artifacts are carefully packed in cardboard boxes, larger paintings are kept in closed rooms, and large murals are covered with cloth.
"The artworks will be stored in a bomb shelter under the museum. We are doing our best to preserve the nation's heritage," said Ihor Kozhan.
Canvas covers sculptures at the Andrey Sheptytsky Museum.
Empty cupboards in the hallway.
The glass door of the display case of relics from the Vysotska culture is now secured with tape.
More than 12,000 works have been packed up and placed in what is supposed to be a safe place. But with no end in sight to the conflict between the two countries, no one can say for sure. Anna Naurobska, the museum’s curator of rare books and manuscripts, says she is still unsure what will happen to the 12,000 items.
"For us, everything here is very important. This is our story, this is our life."
The Bohorodchany Iconostasis - The Annunciation of the Virgin Mary is being removed by staff.
Sculptures of Lenin are placed on the courtyard of the Andrey Sheptytsky National Museum in Lviv, western Ukraine, March 4, 2022.
