Recently, students of grade 8 from Biotechnological Lyceum "Radowell" visited the place where higher education in Eastern Europe began — Ostroh Academy.

At a time when Western Europe was actively developing universities, education in Eastern Europe had to be consciously defended and promoted. This mission was undertaken by the patrons and intellectual elite of their era — the Princes of Ostroh.

Recognizing the power of knowledge, they invested in the development of education, science, and printing. As early as the 16th century, they laid a foundation that is still felt today, in 2025, as a living thread connecting generations: a belief in education and a responsibility for the future of one's homeland.

During the trip, the students explored the buildings and underground passages of Ostroh Academy, as well as Ostroh Castle, the former residence of the Princes of Ostroh. They listened to the story of the Icon of Saint Stephen, which the Bolsheviks attempted to destroy but which, according to local tradition, “protected itself.”

At the Museum of Books and Printing, the students revisited topics from their history and literature lessons: manuscripts, the first Ukrainian alphabet, and the earliest printed books. They also learned about the creation of the Ostroh Bible — the first complete printed edition of the Bible in Church Slavonic, prepared under the direction of Ivan Fedorov.

The history of the Academy also has a dramatic chapter. Due to difficult historical circumstances, it ceased to exist for many years. However, in 1994, Ostroh Academy was revived and today it holds the status of a National University. Ihor Pasichnyk, the rector who led the institution for many years, once visited our lyceum as well, and we are sincerely proud of that connection.

This journey reminded us once again that Ukraine has its own deep-rooted tradition of higher education. Our shared responsibility is to understand its value, preserve it, and help it flourish.

We sincerely thank Mykhailo Veselskyi for supporting education and giving our students the opportunity to connect with living history. It is thanks to people like him that such educational experiences become possible.