The solemn special ceremony for the postal block "Garden of Divine Songs. To the 300th anniversary of the birth of Hryhorii Skovoroda" was held in New York, Skovorodynivka and Kyiv.

On one postage stamp of the postal block graphic artists reproduced Skovoroda's drawing - the fountain "Unequal Equality for All". The image of this fountain was on the 500 hryvnia banknotes of the Ukrainian People's Republic, which were circulating in 1918-1920, and is also on the banknotes of independent Ukraine, put into circulation in 2006. And on the second stamp of the block there is a portrait of Skovoroda, and in the margins of the block there is a facsimile of the philosopher and images of angels.

The ceremony took place in New York during the First Lady's visit to the Ukrainian Museum. It was here that the event was held with the participation of the Ukrainian American community and representatives of the museum community. It was devoted to drawing attention to the war crimes of the Russian Federation against the cultural heritage of Ukraine and fundraising campaign for the preservation of the National Literary Memorial Museum of Skovoroda.

The commemorative stamps "first day of issue" on the envelope and stamp were put by Olena Zelenska, Consul General of Ukraine in New York Oleksiy Golubov, Director General of Ukrposhta Ihor Smelyansky.

Also on the same day, the first day of issue ceremony was held near the museum of the National Literary and Memorial Museum of H. Skovoroda in Kharkiv region with the participation of the Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkachenko, the museum director Natalia Mitsai, representatives of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration.

In Kyiv, the special first day of issue ceremony was attended by one of the authors of the postal issue design, graphic artist Serhii Kharuk, who held an autograph session for philatelic connoisseurs.

"Just as the Armed Forces defend our land, we must defend our culture. Today I announced the launch of a global charitable initiative to revive destroyed monuments. And its first participant will be the National Literary and Memorial Museum of Hryhoriy Skovoroda, the restoration of which will be funded by the sale of a new anniversary stamp "Garden of Divine Songs. To the 300th anniversary of Hryhoriy Skovoroda". Culture has no borders and boundaries. Therefore, it is indestructible. To paraphrase the most famous expression of Skovoroda, we can say for sure: the enemy caught him, but did not catch him," First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska noted.

"In the year of the 300th anniversary of the prominent Ukrainian writer and philosopher Hryhoriy Skovoroda, Russians deliberately targeted his museum. But they will not be able to destroy our memory and our identity - we will restore, build, win. The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy has already started raising funds for the restoration of the museum in Skovorodynivka. Ukrposhta has now joined the fundraising campaign to preserve the National Literary and Memorial Museum of Skovoroda. Our task today is to preserve our memory, to protect our identity, against which the enemy is fighting. Together we can do everything" - Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko.

"Ukrposhta makes its contribution to the restoration of cultural heritage destroyed by the invaders of Russia. We also made this postal issue charitable and part of the proceeds from its sale will go to the restoration of the museum. It is from the USA, where one of the largest Ukrainian diasporas lives, that we start raising funds for the restoration of the Skovoroda Museum in Kharkiv region. I hope for the support of our compatriots abroad, Ukrainians and philatelists from around the world to raise the necessary amount of money. With the active participation of all of us, we will be able to transfer UAH 7.5 million for the restoration of the museum in Skovorodynivka," said Ihor Smelyansky.

Ukrposhta also made this issue a charity one to raise funds for the restoration of the museum building in Skovorodynivka, Kharkiv region, destroyed by a Russian missile on May 6, where the thinker lived and worked in recent years. 15 hryvnias from the sale of each postal block, or 7.5 million hryvnias, which Ukrposhta plans to collect, will be used to restore the National Literary and Memorial Museum named after Hryhorii Skovoroda.

The cost of the postal block is 75 UAH, the circulation is 500 thousand copies.

The design of this postal issue was made by graphic artists Oleksandr and Serhiy Haruky.

The new postal block can be purchased at city post offices, as well as in the official Ukrposhta online store and in official Ukrposhta stores on the PROM, Kasta and Rozetka marketplaces, and sets with the postal block are available in official Ukrposhta stores on Amazon and eBay.

There are restrictions on the sale of stamps and envelopes: in outlets and online, you can buy no more than 5 stamp sheets and 5 art envelopes per order.
For your information.

A postal block is a special variant of the postage stamps issue, consisting of one or more postage stamps, the subjects of which correspond to the same theme. They are printed on a separate sheet with margins containing commemorative texts or pictures.