On Thursday evening, the day before the Lemko Vatra Festival in Zdynia, the “Nowica” Foundation hosted an extraordinary theatrical event entitled “Green Gospel,” based on the poetry of Bohdan-Ihor Antonych. The performance was produced by a talented theater group affiliated with the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv (directed by Yevhen Chudzyk).

In the interior of an authentic Lemko chyża, Antonych’s immortal poems about love and creativity, as well as passionate Lemko songs, resounded. The visuals of the event—large-scale cutouts by Daria Aloshkina—also made a profound impression on the audience. All of this transported the audience to the magical world of the Lemko region of the early 20th century.

So many guests gathered at the “Nowica 95” chyża that there were no more seats. This fragrant July evening seemed endless. The event’s participants, who came from various corners of Poland – Szczecin, Gdansk, Krakow, Wroclaw, Przemysl, Poznan, Warsaw, and many other cities – shared their impressions, chatted, and shared the Antonych celebration, which radiated love, light, and hope, long after the performance ended.

We thank the artists and Stefaniya and Mykhailo Markowych, the organizers of this extraordinary event, for an unforgettable experience!