Hundreds of years ago a Ukrainian monk travelled the world and recorded Cyprus as one of his favourite discoveries. Now his interesting tale is the latest Larnaka Storytelling Statue!

The 18th-century traveller Vasyl Hryhorovych-Barsky, from Kyiv, travelled all over Cyprus on foot; lived on the island, learnt Greek, and described it so precisely that his notes remain one of the most valuable primary sources on early modern Cyprus.

Some of the attractions Barsky loved and documented remain as popular to this day and continue to be enjoyed by travellers to Larnaka, including the Saint Lazarus Church, Larnaka Salt Lake, and Lefkara village. 

With such an inspiring story, it was only fitting that his story be narrated, and opportunity arose on the 300-year anniversary of his travels when a mini sculpture of Barsky was gifted to Larnaka city by the Ukrainian Community in Cyprus and Obiimy Cultural Center. 

Larnaka Storytelling Statues are character narrations of Larnaka’s statues and busts that can be heard by scanning the QR code on the monument. They are always recorded by someone who has a link to the figure or story, and as Barsky learnt Greek, a member of the Ukrainian community narrated both the English and the Greek recordings to preserve authenticity, reflecting how Greek was an acquired language for Barsky himself. 

The sculpture was created by the cultural center Obiimy Cyprus and the family initiative Sushko Philanthropy as a symbol of friendship between Cyprus and Ukraine and was inaugurated outside the premises of Obiimy Cultural Center in Larnaka city on June 14, 2026, with a parallel exhibition held in June. 

You can hear the character narration here, and via the plaque on the statue (end of September), so be sure to pass by and hear the traveller’s tale, along with other Larnaka Storytelling Statues nearby!