DepartmentEurope

Козак—Молитовник (The Cossack’s Prayer)

NamePainting on wood

Artist Roman Selivachov (Ukrainian, born 1976)

CultureUkrainian

Date2024

Place madeUkraine, Europe

MediumWooden base from ammunition box, egg tempera, gold leaf

Dimensionsnot including metal hinges: 22 3/4 × 14 1/4 × 1 3/4 in. (57.7851 × 36.1951 × 4.445 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, Gift of Roman Selivachov, IFAF Collection, FA.2025.13.2

Object numberFA.2025.13.2

Collections

New Acquisitions: The Gift of Folk Art

DescriptionThe Cossack’s Prayer features the traditional image of Cossack Mamay, a Ukrainian folk hero. He plays the bandura, a stringed instrument, and maintains a serene demeanor as war surrounds him. The inscription includes the artist’s interpretation of a prayer featured in a Slovenian liturgical text. Everlasting, Merciful God, forbid the Muscovites to come onto Ukrainian land! Drive them away with Thy power, confuse them with Thy anger, fill their faces with disgrace so that they may be ashamed and embarrassed for centuries to come, and may the wicked perish. Crush their weapons, destroy their castles, strike out their names, and extinguish their memory. And let them see that Thy name is the Lord. Uplifting Ukrainian arms, let Thy name be glorified among Thy faithful. We humbly pray, hear us swiftly, and have mercy upon us! Amen!

Selivachov, who is a professional icon painter and artist, began painting ammunition boxes in 2014 at the start of Russia’s military campaign. Friends and volunteers continue to bring back boxes from the front and, in turn, Selivachov provides them with funds to be used for urgent military needs. “It is a sort of soldier-artist symbiosis,” he says.