In 1919, during the bloody Bolshevik massacre of “whites” in the Crimea, Red Army soldier Ivan Yavorsky rescued a four-year-old girl stunned by the horrors of war. He suspects that the child is the daughter of a white general, so in order to save her life, he decides to hide her in his native village, in his family’s home. But when he gets home, he realizes that he has no village or family left now.

So two strangers – a warrior Ivan and a girl Maria, related by common grief, become a father and a daughter. Fleeing the war, they go to a distant island, where Ivan becomes a lighthouse keeper. The island will become not only their new home, but will give them a new life.

A film from the documentary series Songs of the Heart.

About the song "There is fog in the valley" (Borys Buievskyi - Vasyl Didenko, 1964).

Film from the series The Game of Fate.

Part 1

The outstanding Ukrainian short story writer Vasyl Stefanyk (1871-1936) was born in Pokuttia, in the village of Rusiv, into a wealthy peasant family. His early years of schooling, his first love, his first written lines – all this happened in Rusiv, Sniatyn and Kolomyia.

Part 2

After graduating from high school, Vasyl Stefanyk enrolled at Krakow University to study medicine. However, he was not particularly enthusiastic about his studies. Instead, he became involved in political and social activities. He gained knowledge of European culture. He met Solomiia Krushelnytska. At this time, he began writing short stories that would bring him worldwide fame.

Part 3

Vasyl Stefanyk entered world literature with works such as The Stone Cross. His first collection of short stories was published in Chernivtsi. He saw his characters around him and was deeply moved by their fates when he wrote about them. Olha Kobylianska supported him in his creative work. In his personal life, the young Stefanyk fell in love with a woman who was already married, Yevhenia Kalytovska.

Part 4

The early years of the 20th century brought Vasyl Stefanyk much grief. The woman he loved reciprocated his feelings, but did not accept his hand and heart. Soon after, his mother, with whom Vasyl had a close spiritual bond, passed away. Vasyl was plagued by illness and had to leave university. The only person close to Vasyl Stefanyk was his beloved's sister, Olha Hamorak. She helped Stefanyk overcome his depression and return to life and literature.

Part 5

After marrying Olha Hamorak, Stefanyk's life settles down. But Olha died early, leaving him with three small children. Stefanyk abandoned literature for a long time. Instead, he devoted himself entirely to politics and was elected ambassador to the Vienna Parliament. After surviving World War I, the writer began writing again. He lived in his native Rusov until the last years of his life, devoting himself to his children and fellow villagers. His love for the Hamorak sisters remained with him throughout his life. The final dramatic episode was his farewell to his younger son, who emigrated to Canada.

Movie 16 from the movie Unknown Ukraine. Essays on our history.

Christianity of Kievan Rus. Baptism of Kiev by Prince Vladimir the Great.