Ukraine’s story does not begin with modern borders. Long before the word “Europe” took on its current meaning, the rulers of Kyivan Rus – the powerful medieval state centered in Kyiv – were shaping dynasties, ideas, and alliances that reached far beyond their time.
A new educational program, the Ukrainian Heritage Course by Language Laboratory, invites learners to rediscover that world: one of princely courts, visionary rulers, and cross-continental connections that still define Ukraine’s place in Europe today.
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The first in the series of courses – “Games of Thrones, Ukrainian Edition: The World of Kyivan Rus” – begins Saturday, Nov. 1.
Anna of Kyiv: The queen who carried a gospel from Rus’ to France
The course will cover many fascinating personalities, among them is Anna Yaroslavna, daughter of Yaroslav the Wise and granddaughter of Volodymyr the Great. In 1051, Anna left Kyiv for Paris to marry King Henry I of France, becoming Queen of France – and a bridge between two civilizations.
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When she arrived, she brought with her a sacred book – the Reims Gospel, written in the Cyrillic and Glagolitic alphabets of Kyivan Rus. For nearly seven centuries, French monarchs took their coronation oaths upon that very manuscript, a powerful symbol of the spiritual and cultural dialogue between Ukraine and Western Europe.
Anna’s story is more than a royal romance. It is a reminder that Ukrainian heritage has always been intertwined with the broader European narrative – a connection that the Ukrainian Heritage Course explores in detail, from royal diplomacy to the spread of literacy and Christianity across medieval Europe.
Other Topics of Interest
A Visionary Ruler, Saint, and Now the Focus of a Global Lecture
From diplomacy with Byzantium to sainthood, Princess Olha shaped Kyivan Rus. Join a free online lecture by Language Lab in English on Aug. 23 to learn her story.
Monomakh’s vision of leadership
The program also delves into the life of Volodymyr Monomakh, the 12th-century prince revered as a unifier, lawgiver, and thinker. Monomakh’s Instruction – a moral and political treatise addressed to his sons – still reads like a leadership manual for the modern age. He urged compassion for the poor, justice in governance, and unity among princes.
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Such stories, the course’s creator, philologist and cultural sociologist Kateryna Voloshyna explains, are central to understanding how early Ukrainian leaders envisioned a state rooted not just in power, but in ethics and learning.
“Their values and writings remind us that the foundations of Ukrainian identity were always intellectual, spiritual, and deeply humane,” the course description notes.
Bringing history to life
Structured for both international audiences and Ukrainians seeking a deeper connection to their heritage, the Ukrainian Heritage Course combines scholarly insight with vivid storytelling – weaving together archaeology, art, law, and faith to paint a living portrait of Kyivan Rus.
From Anna of Kyiv’s Parisian court to Volodymyr Monomakh’s code of justice, each module traces how medieval Ukraine helped shape the continent’s moral and political fabric. Participants will come away not only with historical knowledge, but with a renewed sense of the cultural continuity linking today’s Ukraine with the Europe it helped to build.
Enrollment open
The Ukrainian Heritage Course is now open for registration on Language Lab’s website, with classes (all lectures and Q&A’s in English) beginning soon.
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