Dina Listopad, an employee of the local lore museum, moved to Kropyvnytskyi from Izium, Kharkiv region. Before leaving her hometown, the woman hid the most valuable thing that was exhibited in the museum – the 300-year-old Gospel. She told Suspilne how she hid the book.
According to the National Security and Defense Council, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Izium suffered the largest number of airstrikes — 476. The city was under occupation from April to September. The woman was able to leave town in March. She currently works in the local history museum of Kropyvnytskyi.
“The part of the city, which was under the protection of Ukrainian soldiers, was subjected to devastating shelling by the Russians –aircraft, artillery, and Grads. The orcs began massive shelling and no transport could get into this area. And one day a small minivan was driving there, so I jumped out onto the road, started waving my hands. The guys shouted: “Quick, quick.” My son, his fiancée, my mother, and the dog ran out of the basement. I hid the cat and five rats under my jacket. That’s how we escaped.”
In Izium, together with colleagues from the museum of local lore, a printed Gospel in silver and gilt of 1707, issued by Hetman Ivan Mazepa, was saved from looting.
“The cover deserves special attention – it is silver with gilding, made in the Ukrainian Baroque style. We were hiding the most valuable items First – precious metals, then such items that have a special value, including the Gospel. In the entire history of book printing, it was published only twice.”
She tells what tricks she resorted to so that the Russians would not find the Gospel. “Many people knew about this book, so if this information reached the orcs, they could look for it in the museum. That’s why we put a book that looked a bit like it in the circular view window. I believe that looters and Russians did not notice the difference and thus the exhibit was saved.”
Currently, the saved Gospel is in a warehouse under the protection of the military.
After the liberation of Izium from the Russian occupation, Dina Listopad visited the site to pick up family photos. She plans to live in Kropyvnytskyi.
