THE
MORKOV (MARCOV) FAMILY MEETS AGAIN AFTER ALMOST TWO HUNDRED YEARS (2004)
Meeting
and wedding ceremony at the villa of Kukavka (Vinnitsa, Ukraine)
Family
entering Kukavka
May
16th was not only the day for a new wedding ceremony. The religious service
took place in the village of Kukavka in the Ukraine. Two
family lines that have survived separately through two republican periods
and a long period of rule by General Franco on the one side (Spain)
and through the long communist period on the other side (Russia-Ukraine),
met again at the most emblematic church of the village, decorated by the
famous painter Tropinin.
The most recent Morkok wedding at the old family Church in Kukavka
At
the turn of the XVIII century, Tropinin was a serf of Count Irakly
Ivanovich Moðêîâ (Marcov) and produced many of his well known
works in this village. Anna,
7th descendant of the Count, and Nikolay Davydchenko had their union blessed
in a ceremony at which the Spanish Count
Marcov acted as Godfather.
New wedding of Morkov at the old family Church in Kukavka
Marina
Yurievna, Anna's mother and grand-daughter of Count Irakly Dmitrevich
could not retain her emotions during her first visit to this place.
Some
minutes before, Count Marcov and family visited the crypt where members
of both branches of the family have been buried during the XIX
Century.
Remains of the family crypt in Kukavka.
Peasants
received the old family with the traditional offer of bread.
The visit also included two more churches that had been sponsored by the Morkovs: Lomosovo and Nizhnyii-Olchedaev.
The visit also included two more churches that had been sponsored by the Morkovs: Lomosovo and Nizhnyii-Olchedaev.
Lomosovo was sponsored by Irakly Dmitrievich who also donated a very well
equipped meteorological laboratory.
Count's body was buried inside the church but during the Communist revolution, the tomb was violated and the body violently hurled onto the field outside the church.
Count's body was buried inside the church but during the Communist revolution, the tomb was violated and the body violently hurled onto the field outside the church.
The front of Lomosovo church still indicates Sponsorship of the church by Count Irakly Dmitrievich
Traditional bread offer.
The two peasants who have taken care of the tomb for over 50 years, with the Count and family.
In time a cross and a simple tomb were erected. For decades two peasants
voluntarily looked after the church and the tomb. The family, in tears,
thanked them offering an economic reward to alleviate their modest conditions
and that was immediately given to the church by both as (in their own
words) 'we do not need anything else'.
Visit to the tomb of Count Irakly Dmitirevich Morkov
Escorted
by the principal, the family payed a visit to the Tropinin museum at Kukavka’s
School, although none of the artist's original work is kept there.
Mayor of villages in the area came aswell to salute Count Marcov and family.
After visiting the churches and the school the family were invited for a celebration dinner.
Finally a visit to the site of the old Marcov villa took place. Only part of the wall is still standing.
Mayor of villages in the area came aswell to salute Count Marcov and family.
After visiting the churches and the school the family were invited for a celebration dinner.
Finally a visit to the site of the old Marcov villa took place. Only part of the wall is still standing.
The Morkov family visiting Kukavka school and the Tropinin Museum
Peasants
came, in many cases kissing the Count's hands and asking him to buy the
land and revitalize the county again. Obviously and, without mentioning
legal and economic restrictions, it is not now the time to return one
hundred years back in time when the region's economy was dependant on
landlords, but it may be the time to consider how deeply communism has
held back the development and wealth of these rural areas and it is no
doubt time to urge for plans for new development projects to recuperate
the economy of the rural areas. In this regard the Marcov family will
be glad to cooperate as far as they are able.
Villages Mayor, father Ivan and Count Marcov at Kukavka Church entrance
Nizhnyii-Olchedaev
Church is looked after by one old villager alone. Count Marcov thanked
her for her contribution. Father Ivan Oleksiyovich Batsuka takes care
of all three churches.
The Morkov family at the Nizhnyii-Olchedaev Church which is also not in very good condition.
On
this trip, Count Marcov also visited Kiev. See details in the Kiev photo
album.
Count Marcov. Background of one of the remaining Manor Houses near Kukavka.