Olena Pchilka
(Olha Kosach)
June 7 (29), 1849, Hadiach, Poltava Province – †October 4, 1930, Kyiv
Known by her pen name, Olena Pchilka, Olha Kosach was a distinguished writer, translator, folklorist, editor, philanthropist, and civic activist. She was also the mother of the renowned poet Lesya Ukrainka and the sister of the prominent intellectual Mykhailo Drahomanov.
Now, as the life of the entire state is being reshaped, as new legal relations are established, the time is ripe to hear the strong voice of our citizenry about equal rights for women...it is time for Ukrainian women and all of Ukraine to make their voices heard.
Portrait of Olena Pchilka, 2023
Artist: Vera Mukhina
Raised in a noble family that instilled a love for freedom and Ukrainian culture, Olena Pchilka dedicated her life to preserving and promoting her heritage. She collected ethnographic materials, translated children’s literature into Ukrainian, and published her own works. Her celebrated album ‘Ukrainian Patterns’ preserved traditional embroidery designs for generations. As co-editor and patron of ‘Pershyi Vinok’ (“The First Wreath”, 1887), the first women’s almanac, she became a pioneering voice for women in literature.A fierce advocate for her nation, she actively campaigned for the repeal of restrictions on Ukrainian publishing, proudly wore traditional dress, and spoke exclusively in Ukrainian. Believing that an independent Ukraine would be built by its youth, Olena organised an amateur children’s theatre, edited, and published ‘Ridnyi Krai’ (‘Native Land’), a children’s magazine.