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Белолипецкий Николай Александрович
Борисов Николай Николаевич
Борзов Федор Иванович
Варавва Иван Федорович
Волков Юрий Николаевич
Глыбенко Людмила Викторовна
Игнатов Пётр Карпович
Иткина Зинаида Аркадьевна
Калинин Иван Егорович
Канаматов Хамит Абулович
Каратыгина Вера Александровна
Каримуллин Абрар Гибадуллович
Кисилюк Иван Владимирович
Клевенский Марк Митрофанович
Клешня Семен Владимирович
Коган Семен Израилевич
Кудряшова Альбина Семёновна
Курская областная универсальная научная библиотека имени Н.Н. Асеева
Лерман Борис Иосифович
Лихачёв Иван Иванович
Лукьянова Кима Евгеньевна
Матвеева Татьяна Зотиковна
Немцев Семён Васильевич
Никитина Нина Ивановна
Обойщиков Кронид Александрович
Патук Иван Иванович
Пахмутова Александра Николаевна
Перкова Татьяна Андреевна
Попов Серафим Алексеевич
Рудомино Маргарита Ивановна
Саньков Василий Федорович
Сергеев Алексей Николаевич
Стрекалов Василий Иванович
Стржельчик Владислав Игнатьевич
Сурдутович Александр Григорьевич
Трапезников Михаил Сергеевич
Усков Владимир Викторович
Фарутин Николай Степанович
Фатьянов Алексей Иванович
Фиников Николай Федорович
Хузе Ольга Фёдоровна
Чаушанский Дмитрий Николаевич
Чумаченко Семён Михайлович
Шипов Александр Павлович
Борисов Николай Николаевич
Борзов Федор Иванович
Варавва Иван Федорович
Волков Юрий Николаевич
Глыбенко Людмила Викторовна
Игнатов Пётр Карпович
Иткина Зинаида Аркадьевна
Калинин Иван Егорович
Канаматов Хамит Абулович
Каратыгина Вера Александровна
Каримуллин Абрар Гибадуллович
Кисилюк Иван Владимирович
Клевенский Марк Митрофанович
Клешня Семен Владимирович
Коган Семен Израилевич
Кудряшова Альбина Семёновна
Курская областная универсальная научная библиотека имени Н.Н. Асеева
Лерман Борис Иосифович
Лихачёв Иван Иванович
Лукьянова Кима Евгеньевна
Матвеева Татьяна Зотиковна
Немцев Семён Васильевич
Никитина Нина Ивановна
Обойщиков Кронид Александрович
Патук Иван Иванович
Пахмутова Александра Николаевна
Перкова Татьяна Андреевна
Попов Серафим Алексеевич
Рудомино Маргарита Ивановна
Саньков Василий Федорович
Сергеев Алексей Николаевич
Стрекалов Василий Иванович
Стржельчик Владислав Игнатьевич
Сурдутович Александр Григорьевич
Трапезников Михаил Сергеевич
Усков Владимир Викторович
Фарутин Николай Степанович
Фатьянов Алексей Иванович
Фиников Николай Федорович
Хузе Ольга Фёдоровна
Чаушанский Дмитрий Николаевич
Чумаченко Семён Михайлович
Шипов Александр Павлович
Беларусь
Russia
Lunkov Petr Yakovlevich
Maksimova Tamara Alexandrovna
Koshkarbayev Rakhimzhan
Zhanybekov Shangerey
Gabdullin Malik
Dospanova Khiuaz
Maksimova Tamara Alexandrovna
Koshkarbayev Rakhimzhan
Zhanybekov Shangerey
Gabdullin Malik
Dospanova Khiuaz
kazakhstan
republic of belarus
Khudyakov Sergey Alexandrovich
Babajanyan Amazasp Khachaturovich
Isakov Ivan Stepanovich
Bagramyan Ivan Khristoforovich
Sarkisyan Mkrtich Divinovich
Babajanyan Amazasp Khachaturovich
Isakov Ivan Stepanovich
Bagramyan Ivan Khristoforovich
Sarkisyan Mkrtich Divinovich
armenia
Turgumbekov Zarif Alimbekovich
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Nureddin Mejidovich Aliyev
Buniyatov Ziya Musaevich
Seidmamedova Zuleikha Gabibovna
Maguerramov Malik Malikovitch
Mamedov Khalil Mamedovich
Kuliyev Abbas Shakhbazovich
Mamedov Israfil Mageramovich
Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
Buniyatov Ziya Musaevich
Seidmamedova Zuleikha Gabibovna
Maguerramov Malik Malikovitch
Mamedov Khalil Mamedovich
Kuliyev Abbas Shakhbazovich
Mamedov Israfil Mageramovich
Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
azerbaijan
Belolipetsky Nikolay Aleksandrovich
Borisov Nikolaj Nikolaevich
Borzov Fedor Ivanovich
Chaushanskiy Dmitry Nikolaevich
Chumachenko Semyon Mikhailovich
Farutin Nikolai Stepanovich
Fatyanov Aleksei Ivanovich
Finikov Nikolai Fedorovich
Glybenko Lyudmila Viktorovna
Huze Olga Fedorovna
Ignatov Pyotr Karpovich
Itkina Zinaida Arkad’evna
Kalinin Ivan Egorovich
Kanamatov Khamit Abulovich
Karatygina Vera Aleksandrovna
Karimullin Abrar Gibadullovich
Kisilyuk Ivan Vladimirovich
Kleshnya Semyon Vladimirovich
Klevenskij Mark Mitrofanovich
Kogan Semen Izrailevich
Kudryashova Albina Semyonovna
Kurskaja oblastnaja universal’naja nauchnaja biblioteka imeni N.N. Aseeva
Lerman Boris Iossifovich
Lihachjov Ivan Ivanovich
Lukyanova Kima Evgenievna
Matveeva Tatyana Zotikovna
Nemcev Semjon Vasil’evich
Nikitina Nina Ivanovna
Oboyshchikov Kronid Aleksandrovich
Pahmutova Aleksandra Nikolaevna
Patuk Ivan Ivanovich
Perkova Tatyana Andreevna
Popov Serafim Alekseevich
Rudomino Margarita Ivanovna
Sankov Vasiliy Fedorovich
Sergeev Alexey Nikolaevich
Shipov Aleksander Pavlovich
Strekalov Vasily Ivanovich
Strzhelchik Vladislav Ignatyevich
Surdutovich Aleksandr Grigoriyevich
Trapeznikov Mikhail Sergeevich
Ouskov Vladimir Viktorovich
Varavva Ivan Fedorovich
Volkov Yurij Nikolaevich
Borisov Nikolaj Nikolaevich
Borzov Fedor Ivanovich
Chaushanskiy Dmitry Nikolaevich
Chumachenko Semyon Mikhailovich
Farutin Nikolai Stepanovich
Fatyanov Aleksei Ivanovich
Finikov Nikolai Fedorovich
Glybenko Lyudmila Viktorovna
Huze Olga Fedorovna
Ignatov Pyotr Karpovich
Itkina Zinaida Arkad’evna
Kalinin Ivan Egorovich
Kanamatov Khamit Abulovich
Karatygina Vera Aleksandrovna
Karimullin Abrar Gibadullovich
Kisilyuk Ivan Vladimirovich
Kleshnya Semyon Vladimirovich
Klevenskij Mark Mitrofanovich
Kogan Semen Izrailevich
Kudryashova Albina Semyonovna
Kurskaja oblastnaja universal’naja nauchnaja biblioteka imeni N.N. Aseeva
Lerman Boris Iossifovich
Lihachjov Ivan Ivanovich
Lukyanova Kima Evgenievna
Matveeva Tatyana Zotikovna
Nemcev Semjon Vasil’evich
Nikitina Nina Ivanovna
Oboyshchikov Kronid Aleksandrovich
Pahmutova Aleksandra Nikolaevna
Patuk Ivan Ivanovich
Perkova Tatyana Andreevna
Popov Serafim Alekseevich
Rudomino Margarita Ivanovna
Sankov Vasiliy Fedorovich
Sergeev Alexey Nikolaevich
Shipov Aleksander Pavlovich
Strekalov Vasily Ivanovich
Strzhelchik Vladislav Ignatyevich
Surdutovich Aleksandr Grigoriyevich
Trapeznikov Mikhail Sergeevich
Ouskov Vladimir Viktorovich
Varavva Ivan Fedorovich
Volkov Yurij Nikolaevich
List of stories
Ivan Federovich Varavva
The story is Provided by the Krasnodar Regional Youth Library named after I.F. Varavva
Ivan Fedorovich Varavva was a participant in the Great Patriotic War. For his heroic service, Varavva was awarded many military orders and medals, including the Order of the Red Star and the Order «For Courage». He was an honorary citizen of the city of Krasnodar, honorary citizen of the city of Nessebar (Bulgaria), Hero of Labor of Kuban, Honored Worker of Arts of Kuban, People's Poet of the Republic of Adygea, and honorary academician of the Kuban Academy of Culture and Arts.
I.F. Varavva rightfully belongs to the ranks of leading poets of Kuban and Russia. His work, bright and unique, has been duly recognized by many literary awards in Russia and Kuban. He is a laureate of the All-Russian Literary Prize named after Alexander Tvardovsky, "Vasily Tyorkin", as well as three regional awards.
The distant ancestors of Ivan Fedorovich were registered Cossacks of the Zaporizhian Sich, who, by a decree of Empress Catherine II in 1792, were resettled to Kuban. During the Civil War, the future poet’s grandfather was wounded in battles on the Don and was sent to recover with relatives in the Ukrainian settlement of Rakovo (now the village of Novobataysk, Rostov Region). At the end of the Civil War, he moved his whole family there, where Ivan Fedorovich Varavva was born on February 5, 1925.
The distant ancestors of Ivan Fedorovich were registered Cossacks of the Zaporizhian Sich, who, by a decree of Empress Catherine II in 1792, were resettled to Kuban. During the Civil War, the future poet’s grandfather was wounded in battles on the Don and was sent to recover with relatives in the Ukrainian settlement of Rakovo (now the village of Novobataysk, Rostov Region). At the end of the Civil War, he moved his whole family there, where Ivan Fedorovich Varavva was born on February 5, 1925.
Varavva with his parents before being sent to the front
During the period of collectivization, the family was dispossessed, and the head of the family was sent to Solovki. In 1932, the poet's father, along with his wife and two children, returned to their native Kuban and settled in the Stanitsa Starominskaya, where Ivan spent his childhood and youth.
It was here that he began writing his first poems. After finishing 10 grades in 1942, he read one of them — "Graduates" — at his graduation ceremony. Today, the original manuscript of this poem, written by the young poet, is kept in the small museum of the Krasnodar Regional Youth Library named after I.F. Varavva. The story of how it came to be in the library is a separate, almost detective-like story.
It was here that he began writing his first poems. After finishing 10 grades in 1942, he read one of them — "Graduates" — at his graduation ceremony. Today, the original manuscript of this poem, written by the young poet, is kept in the small museum of the Krasnodar Regional Youth Library named after I.F. Varavva. The story of how it came to be in the library is a separate, almost detective-like story.
Two months later, the Germans arrived in Kuban, and Ivan volunteered to go to the front with the retreating supply trains of the Red Army. He was still six months short of being drafted. Very young, Ivan Varavva fully experienced the hardships of war. His poem «We are going through the war» is particularly impressive with its deep tragedy.
Varavva liberated Kuban, Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland. In the spring of 1943, during the breakthrough of the «Blue Line» and the assault on the «Sopka Heroes» height, he was wounded and severely shell-shocked. As part of the 290th Novorossiysk Infantry Regiment, he fought on the approaches to Novorossiysk and participated in the battles to liberate the city.
Varavva liberated Kuban, Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland. In the spring of 1943, during the breakthrough of the «Blue Line» and the assault on the «Sopka Heroes» height, he was wounded and severely shell-shocked. As part of the 290th Novorossiysk Infantry Regiment, he fought on the approaches to Novorossiysk and participated in the battles to liberate the city.
"We are going through the war" from the collection "Fires of the Homeland", p. 84
War poems. Collection «Fires of the Homeland»
In just one of his collections, Varavva's «Fires of the Homeland», 216 of his poems about the war are published, one better than the other.
On Victory Day, Ivan Varavva was in Berlin serving as a sergeant of an automatic rifle company.
He left his autograph on the walls of the defeated Reichstag.
He left his autograph on the walls of the defeated Reichstag.
At the walls of the defeated Reichstag. Poet Ivan Varavva is in the bottom row on the right side with an automatic rifle in his lap
Victory Poems. Маy 1945, Berlin
This what Varavva shared about how he celebrated Victory Day with his friend, Professor Ilya Antonovich Petrusenko of the Krasnodar State Institute of Culture:
“
There was a general mood of joy from the victory, the beginning of peaceful life, which people had longed for during the four difficult years. But for our regiment, true joy had not yet arrived. From the ruined Berlin we had to head to Soviet Transcarpathia where, with arms in hand, we had to suppress nationalist formations led by Bandera that had been operating there since 1943…
- You have a famous and passionate autobiographical poem dated 1945, 'Autograph on the Reichstag' which you always end with the ringing phrase:
... On the disgraceful wall, I wrote a historical autograph:
«There is no greater good than the collapse of the Reichstag!»
- I understand, Antonovich, why you brought up that poem... As you know, for the publication I had to replace just one word in that autograph, which sounded even more ringing in our soldier's circle on that day of May '45…
... On the disgraceful wall, I wrote a historical autograph:
«There is no greater good than the collapse of the Reichstag!»
- I understand, Antonovich, why you brought up that poem... As you know, for the publication I had to replace just one word in that autograph, which sounded even more ringing in our soldier's circle on that day of May '45…
But the best words about Victory Day are spoken in Ivan Fedorovich’s poems. During one of his conversations with the poet, the professor asked him:
Let’s now quote an excerpt from the book «Earthly Paths» by Petrusenko, which tells the story of that Victory Day, memorable to Ivan Varavva not only for its joy.
"Ivan Varavva left his unique poetic autograph high on the wall of the Reichstag.
Why so high? Because at human height, the wall had already been covered with writtings. Ivan Varavva, who started printing his first poems in wartime newspapers as a sergeant-automatic rifleman, was lifted over their heads by his friends."
Why so high? Because at human height, the wall had already been covered with writtings. Ivan Varavva, who started printing his first poems in wartime newspapers as a sergeant-automatic rifleman, was lifted over their heads by his friends."
After reviewing Ivan Varavva's wartime newspaper publications, after his successful completion of entrance exams, the rectorate of Kyiv State University named after T.G. Shevchenko personally allowed Varavva who was serving in the Soviet Army to take exams without attending classes.
In 1948, in Kyiv, at the Second Republican Congress of the Union of Writers of Ukraine, Ivan Fedorovich met the author of the famous «A Book about a Soldier» Alexander Tvardovsky. By the petition of poets Vladimir Sosyura and Alexander Tvardovsky he was transferred to the M.A. Gorky Literary Institute.
At thesis defense in 1953 at the Literary Institute Alexander Tvardovsky was part of the state commission. In his closing speech he particularly noted the works of Konstantin Vanshenkin and Ivan Varavva. The graduated poet from Kuban received a number of flattering offers from editorial offices of major city journals and publishing houses, but Varavva did not want to settle in Moscow for the rest of his life. He longed for his native land, which had always been his main source of inspiration.
Ivan Fedorovich forever remembered a phrase from Tvardovsky, which the poet entrusted to him when he was about to leave Moscow for Kuban:
In 1948, in Kyiv, at the Second Republican Congress of the Union of Writers of Ukraine, Ivan Fedorovich met the author of the famous «A Book about a Soldier» Alexander Tvardovsky. By the petition of poets Vladimir Sosyura and Alexander Tvardovsky he was transferred to the M.A. Gorky Literary Institute.
At thesis defense in 1953 at the Literary Institute Alexander Tvardovsky was part of the state commission. In his closing speech he particularly noted the works of Konstantin Vanshenkin and Ivan Varavva. The graduated poet from Kuban received a number of flattering offers from editorial offices of major city journals and publishing houses, but Varavva did not want to settle in Moscow for the rest of his life. He longed for his native land, which had always been his main source of inspiration.
Ivan Fedorovich forever remembered a phrase from Tvardovsky, which the poet entrusted to him when he was about to leave Moscow for Kuban:
"…Don’t hurry. Don’t make noise! A good song is born in secrecy and silence, like the most precious gift to a beloved woman — without the sound of fanfare and drumroll"
Ivan Varavva’s art is unique. It represents an entire era in the history of Kuban and Kuban literature. In 1954, his first poetry collection «Wind from Kuban» was published by the «Sovetsky Pisatel» (Soviet Writer) publishing house. In 1956, Varavva became a student at the Higher Screenwriting Courses of the Main Directorate for Film Production of the Ministry of Culture of the RSFSR led by Alexander Dovzhenko. Varavva even wrote two screenplays but soon Dovzhenko passed away and with his death Varavva’s screenwriting career came to an end.
There were repeated offers for the curly-haired, blue-eyed young man to try his hand at cinema but the poet rejected all of them. In the screenwriting studio alongside Varavva worked Boris Vasilyev. Upon learning that Ivan was a Cossack from Kuban Vasilyev became very interested in him, asking about the life of Cossacks. Ivan Fedorovich shared much about his ancestors, his family, and himself. Some of the stories were later used by Vasilyev in the screenplay for the film «Officers», and one of the main characters in the movie was even named after Ivan Varavva.
Ivan Fedorovich was acquainted with actor Vasily Lanovoy. During one of their meetings, a poetry collection «Eagle Flocks» was autographed by the People's Artist of the USSR with the following inscription: «To Ivan Varavva—from Varavva-Lanovoy from «Officers»'—with friendly greetings and affection. Vasily Lanovoy» This collection is now housed in the Literary Museum of Kuban.
There were repeated offers for the curly-haired, blue-eyed young man to try his hand at cinema but the poet rejected all of them. In the screenwriting studio alongside Varavva worked Boris Vasilyev. Upon learning that Ivan was a Cossack from Kuban Vasilyev became very interested in him, asking about the life of Cossacks. Ivan Fedorovich shared much about his ancestors, his family, and himself. Some of the stories were later used by Vasilyev in the screenplay for the film «Officers», and one of the main characters in the movie was even named after Ivan Varavva.
Ivan Fedorovich was acquainted with actor Vasily Lanovoy. During one of their meetings, a poetry collection «Eagle Flocks» was autographed by the People's Artist of the USSR with the following inscription: «To Ivan Varavva—from Varavva-Lanovoy from «Officers»'—with friendly greetings and affection. Vasily Lanovoy» This collection is now housed in the Literary Museum of Kuban.
Since the 1950s Ivan Varavva’s name has been intrinsically linked to the musical works of many Russian and Kuban composers. Hundreds of songs have been written to the poems of Varavva by professional and amateur composers and bards. We invite you to listen to a new song based on Varavva’s poem «Song in a White Coat», composed by Moscow composer Alexey Rybakov:
Song in a White Coat.
Music by A. Rybakov, video by Marina Mikhailova (the poet’s niece)
In 1958 Varavva was accepted into the Union of Writers of the USSR, membership in which corresponded in terms of benefits to those given to Heroes, however Ivan Fyodorovich did not enjoy the benefits. His admission to the Union was recommended by one of the favorite poets of Soviet youth, Mikhail Svetlov.
Over the years, dozens of new editions appeared: "Golden Bandura", "Cossack Land", "Youth of the Saber", "Cossack Path", "Cossack Kobzar", "The Murmur of the Wild Field", and more. In total, more than 30 poetry collections by the talented Kuban poet were published.
Over the years, dozens of new editions appeared: "Golden Bandura", "Cossack Land", "Youth of the Saber", "Cossack Path", "Cossack Kobzar", "The Murmur of the Wild Field", and more. In total, more than 30 poetry collections by the talented Kuban poet were published.
Ivan Varavva's poetry collections
Varavva considered Kuban Cossack songs his first poetic school. Starting in 1950, the poet spent 15 years systematically recording folk works in the villages of the region. This was a true literary feat. In total, the poet collected and recorded more than 2,000 songs in the villages of Kuban. In 1966 the collection «Songs of the Cossacks of Kuban» was published, featuring 350 folk songs. Varavva considered this work to be greater than all of his other creations.
Varavva’s talent was multifaceted. He wrote in a variety of genres: poems, legends, sagas, ballads, elegies, epitaphs, songs, fables, and more. It is hard to name a genre in which Ivan Fedorovich did not write.
Among his best works, a special place is attributed to the translation of the «The Tale of Igor's Campaign» from Old Slavonic into modern Russian.
Varavva also translated the works of his fellow poets from Adyghe, Bashkir, Bulgarian, Buryat, Yakut, and other languages. He even translated six poems by Serafim Alekseevich Popov, a participant in the Great Patriotic War and the People’s Poet of the Komi ASSR, about whom information is also available on this site. It’s amazing how after all these years, these two poets have virtually met within the same project—Libraries as Witnesses of the Great Victory!
Among his best works, a special place is attributed to the translation of the «The Tale of Igor's Campaign» from Old Slavonic into modern Russian.
Varavva also translated the works of his fellow poets from Adyghe, Bashkir, Bulgarian, Buryat, Yakut, and other languages. He even translated six poems by Serafim Alekseevich Popov, a participant in the Great Patriotic War and the People’s Poet of the Komi ASSR, about whom information is also available on this site. It’s amazing how after all these years, these two poets have virtually met within the same project—Libraries as Witnesses of the Great Victory!
Serafim Popov, Stars of the North
In Kuban, the name of Varavva is remembered and honored. In January 2008, the name of the poet was given to the Krasnodar Regional Youth Library (Order of the Head of the Krasnodar Territory Administration, January 18, 2008, No. 22r). Today there is a Varavva Street in Krasnodar, and a classroom named after Varavva at Gymnasium No. 18 in Krasnodar. In the Starominsk district, the central district library and one of the electoral districts bears his name. During the search and educational expedition «The Name of Kuban» dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Krasnodar Territory in 2017 the name Varavva was given the nomination «Spiritual Name».
In 2025, Ivan Fedorovich Varavva celebrated his 100th birthday on February 5.
In 2025, Ivan Fedorovich Varavva celebrated his 100th birthday on February 5.
The Tree of Varavva