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Ukraine. V. Antonovych, a graduate student
of Kyiv University, was an ideologist of the
movement. They were interested in
ethnography, the raise of peasant national and
political conscience, dreamt about abolition of
serfdom, tsarism liquidation. V.
Antonovych’s viewpoints were supported by
T. Rylsky, K. Mykhalchuk and P. Zhytetsky.
They spoke Ukrainian, dressed in national
clothes and observed national customs.
1859 The first Community (Hromada) appeared
(half-legal political union) in Petersburg. It
included the former members of the
Brotherhood of Saints Cyril and Methodius,
who came back from the exile after amnesty
(M. Kostomarov, V. Bilozersky, P. Kulish
and T. Shevchenko). Their goals were: to
encourage the development of education, the
freedom of literary word, spread of the
national idea. They initiated publication of
Ukrainian periodical “Osnova” (1861) with
V. Bilozersky being the editor.
The first Community (Hromada) appeared in
Ukraine in Kyiv University originating from
the the secret society of Chlopomania
members (1861). It included 300 members. V.
Antonovych headed it. In spring 1861
Communities existed in Kyiv, Odesa, Poltava
and Chernihiv. In 1862 V. Antonovych
published his article ‘My confession”, where
he vividly outlined the stand of Community
Ukrainians. As a response to the Polish, who
accused him of being a “turncoat” because he

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