Mikhail Nechay Molfar and healer Date of Birth: 24.02.1930 Country: Ukraine

1. Michael Molfar Nehcai
2. Early Life and Military Service
3. The Molfar Legacy
4. Rise to Prominence
5. Cultural Preservation
6. Official Recognition
7. Tragic Death
8. Legacy and Funeral

Michael Molfar Nehcai

Michael Molfar Nehcai was a renowned healer and the last known master of the ancient Carpathian tradition of Molfar.

Early Life and Military Service

Born into a working-class family, Nehcai graduated from a military school in Uman. He subsequently served two years in the Soviet Army in Armenia and Georgia.

The Molfar Legacy

Residing in the village of Verkhniy Yaseniv, Nehcai claimed descent from the Cossack colonel Danylo Nehai. He believed that his gift for healing manifested at the tender age of eight, enabling him to stop bleeding.

Rise to Prominence

Nehcai gained national recognition in 1989 when he was invited by the government to ensure favorable weather during the "Chervona Ruta" festival in Chernivtsi. His knowledge of Hutsul culture and folkways attracted the attention of film director Sergei Parajanov and actor Ivan Mykolaichuk.

Cultural Preservation

Nehcai was the founder and director of the folklore-ethnographic ensemble "Struny Cheremosha." He crafted traditional musical instruments, including the trembita and drymba, and taught Mykolaichuk to play the latter.

Official Recognition

In March 2010, Nehcai was honored with the title "Merited Worker of Culture of Ukraine" for his four decades as director of "Struny Cheremosha."

Tragic Death

On July 15, 2011, the 81-year-old Nehcai was fatally stabbed in his home while meeting visitors. The perpetrator, 33-year-old Pavlo Syomyonov, was motivated by religious differences, believing that Nehcai practiced paganism and did not respect Christian traditions.

Legacy and Funeral

Nehcai's funeral was conducted according to Zakarpattian customs, with the accompaniment of trembitas and a procession. A православный priest performed the religious ceremony, reflecting the complex religious landscape of the region.