BOOK NOTES: Philatelic survey covers history of Christianity in Rus'-Ukraine (07/02/06)

BOOK NOTES

Philatelic survey covers history of Christianity in Rus'-Ukraine

"Christianity in Ukraine: A Philatelic Survey" by Andrij D. Solczanyk, edited by George D. Fedyk. Springfield, Va.: Ukrainian Philatelic Resources, 2005, xiv + 168 pp. ISBN No. 1-889581-17-8. Cost: $25 U.S. plus $3 postage in U.S., $6 postage in Canada or overseas surface; $11 for overseas airmail.

by Ingert Kuzych

Andrij Solczanyk has devoted much of the past four decades to researching Ukrainian connections on stamps and other postal items (stationery and cancellations); he is recognized as being the foremost expert in this field. During all this time, however, the connection that has inspired the greatest interest in him has been Christianity in Ukraine.

With the assistance of editor George D. Fedyk, Mr. Solczanyk has now prepared a book chronicling every stamp, souvenir sheet, special cancellation, envelope, and postal card issue from around the world (through 2004) with a Ukrainian religious connection. There are an amazing number of such items - easily numbering over 1,000.

All pertinent information is presented for each item: in addition to descriptions of all major topics commemorated, catalogue numbers and dates of issue are also spelled out. This beautiful volume is enhanced with well over 500 illustrations throughout its 168 pages.

The book itself is divided into three parts. The first, titled "Journey Through the Ages," provides a review of historical facts connected with Christianity in Ukraine. Descriptions of various stamps, stationery items and discontinuation cancels elucidate this introductory section. It begins with the postal issues depicting St. Andrew; and lists various other saints, popes, and other ecclesiastic and literary figures that in some way had dealings with Ukraine, and concludes with the visit of John Paul II to Ukraine.

The second section, "Christian Faith in Ukraine," is the shortest of the three. It covers stamps dealing with God (the word "God" appears on a couple of Ukraine-related stamps), Christ (many stamps), the Virgin Mary (an amazingly long list, particularly of icons on stamps), and angels (shown on an impressive number of envelopes and postmarks).

The third portion of the book, "Christian Worship in Ukraine," is easily the longest. Included here, first of all, is every Ukrainian church or cathedral from around the world that has ever appeared on any type of postal issue. There are an astonishing number listed - more that 125 - led off by Ukraine's most famous house of worship, St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv.

The next aspect of worship covered in this part of the book are the various church holidays, both stationary and movable. During Soviet times, very few postal releases of any type depicted religious holidays. Since independence, however, Ukraine has sought to make up for lost time and an incredible number of postal items have been created particularly, envelopes, postal cards and postmarks, but also a good number of stamps.

This final section concludes with shorter entries on the Holy Scriptures, crosses, religious songs, church bells and even postal releases relating to benefactors of churches and monasteries.

Mr. Solczanyk is to be congratulated on this very impressive magnum opus. It is a rare individual who can combine such a vast amount of philatelic, historic and religious knowledge to compile such a comprehensive and remarkable catalogue - one that is as fascinating as it is attractive.

Interested readers should order copies promptly since only a limited number of volumes were produced. Order from: Ukrainian Philatelic Resources, P.O. Box 3, Springfield, VA 22150.

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