December 03

Hryhorii Skovoroda was born in 1722 in Poltava, in the Cossack Hetmanate of Ukraine. He studied literature, theology, and music at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, where he developed a passion for classical philosophy. Skovoroda traveled extensively through Ukraine and Russia, earning a reputation as a wandering teacher and itinerant philosopher. His poetic works, written in Ukrainian and Church Slavonic, blend folk wisdom with Stoic and Christian ideas. As a composer, he created simple musical settings for his poems and philosophical dialogues. Skovoroda’s thought emphasized inner freedom, self-knowledge, and harmony with nature, earning him lasting reverence. He refused offers of academic positions and luxury, preferring a life of simplicity and teaching in rural communities. Skovoroda died in 1794, leaving a profound influence on Ukrainian cultural and philosophical identity.

Born in 1934 in Arequipa, Guzmán taught philosophy at the National University of San Cristóbal de Huamanga. Influenced by Marxist and Maoist thought, he formed the Communist Party of Peru – Shining Path in 1970. Under his leadership, the group carried out a violent insurgency that aimed to overthrow the Peruvian government. Guzmán was captured in 1992 and sentenced to life imprisonment for terrorism and crimes against humanity. His actions sparked decades of conflict in Peru, leaving a tragic human toll. He died in 2021 while still in custody, remaining a controversial figure in modern Peruvian history.