Taras Shevchenko

“ For you is freedom, for you is strength,
And Holy Truth.
TO THE CIRCASSIANS
"OUR bread and home," in your own tongue,
In Tartar words you dare to say.
Nobody gave it you, your world is young,
So far no one has ta'en it away.
Nobody yet has led you in fetters,
But we have wisdom in such matters.
In God's good word we daily read,
But from dungeons where the pris'ners moan,
To Caesar's high-exalted throne
'Tis gilt without, while the soul's in need.
To us for wisdom should you come,
We'll teach you all the tricks of trade.
Good Christians we, with church and Ikon ”

“ Our souls yield not to grievous ills,
To freedom march our stubborn wills.
Though waves of trouble o'er us roll
The waves move not the steadfast soul.
Our living spirit is not in chains,
The word of God in glory reigns. ”

“ The Czars used the Ukrainians as tools in their ambitious projects. A hundred thousand of them perished in the marshes, digging the foundations of Petrograd. As many more died in the attempt to subdue the Circassians—tribes inhabiting the Caucasus mountains—to the imperial will of the Russian autocrat. ”