2
Editor in Chief:
Sofiya Fedyna
Editorial Staff:
Taras Rad’
Vitaliy Levchenko
Design: Viktor Dudiak
Translation: Lidiya Kalantyrenko
English Editing: Michael Hnatyshyn
Herald of SFULO (c) Official edition of the World Federation of Ukrainian
Lemko Organizations.
Published once a month.
The main goal of the magazine is to dynamically illuminate the activities of all the subjects of SFULO.
You can download issues of the Herald from the SFULO site: www.sfulo.com/biblioteka
Editor’s E-mail: [email protected]
Please send us your materials. The
Editorial Council, however, reserves the final decision as to what to publish.
The World Federation of Ukrainian
Lemko Unions (SFULO) is a nongovernmental international public organization, which unites the Ukrainian Lemko Unions of Ukraine,
Poland, Slovakia, Serbia, Croatia, Canada and the USA.
The main goal of its activity is to
secure and protect the legitimate social, economical, creative, ethnic, national-cultural and other interests of Lemkos; to develop and popularize
Lemko cultural heritage and spirituality according to the principles of legality, democracy, voluntarism and self-government.
Official website:
www.sfulo.com.
CONTENTS
Poltava oblast.............................................4
Priashivshchyna........................................5
The USA......................................................15
Lemkivshchyna and Poland..................20
Zakarpattia oblast...................................22
Canada........................................................25
Ternopil oblast.........................................31
Lviv oblast................................................35
Luhansk oblast........................................39
3 Instead of opening remarks….
A Lemko Vatra is a singular cultural phenomenon, a variation on a festive event which originated in the Lemko homeland and extends beyond its borders with the
purpose of preserving, reviving, and popularizing the distinctive culture and historical memory of Lemkos as the westernmost subethnos of the Ukrainian people. Today the
ethnographic borders of Lemkivshchyna are part of three countries - Ukraine (11%), Poland (48%), and Slovakia (41%). Because of historical circumstances, most of the indigenous population had to leave their native lands.
The decision of the communist authorities of Russia and Poland concerning the so-called “evacuation” and exchange of populations in 1944-46 resulted in the deportation of the majority of Lemkos and they were forcibly resettled to Soviet
Ukraine. Hoping to someday return to their native lands, most of them settled in the area bordering Poland; and today they mainly live in the western oblasts of Ukraine –
in Lviv oblast, Ternopil oblast and Ivano-Frankivsk oblast. Those who managed to avoid the “evacuation” to the Ukrainian SSR, were deported to the northwestern lands near Germany (the so-called “Recovered Territories”) in 1947 during Operation
“Vistula,” as a final solution to the Ukrainian question in Poland.
The Lemkos in Slovakia managed to avoid deportation. Although they remained in
their native land, as a result of the assimilation policy of the communist regime, they nevertheless lost a significant part of their Ukrainian identity.
Long before that, as a consequence of the labor migration at the end of the 19th and
first half of the 20th century, a large number of Lemkos settled in the USA and Canada; and today they are an important part of the Ukrainian Diaspora overseas. For a long time the indigenous Lemko population has also been living in Serbia and
Croatia, where they settled in the 18th century.
Because of these circumstances, with Lemkos scattered around the world and cut off
from their native land, the idea of organizing Lemko festivals arose, with the purpose of consolidating the Lemko community, preserving and reviving its culture and traditions and disseminating them to the public. The festival of Ruthenian-Ukrainian
culture has its longest history in Slovakia (Svidnik), where celebrations began in 1953. The biggest festival of Lemko culture in the world is the Lemko Vatra in Zdynia, Poland, which has occurred there yearly since 1982. In 2007 the Presidents of Ukraine
and Poland took part in it. Since 1985 the Lemko Vatra has occurred in Durham, Canada, and since 2001 – in Ellenville, USA. The biggest festival of Lemko culture in
Ukraine is “Bells of Lemkivshchyna,” which has gathered near the town of Monastyryska in Ternopil oblast since 1999. Lemko festivals occur annually in Ivano-Frankivsk oblast – “Pentecost is calling” in the village of Rivnia, Zakarpattia oblast –
the Lemko Vatra in the village of Kostryno, Poltava oblast – “Colors of Lemkivshchyna” in the village of Liutenski Budyshcha, Luhansk oblast – and “Along the Lemko Paths”
in the village of Peremozhne.
Festivals of Lemko culture in Lviv oblast traditionally take place in the villages of Nahirne, Boryslav and Horodok. The Lemko Vatra in Nahirne, which is in the Sambir
region has been held annually since 2004, with the status of oblast festival of Lemko culture. However, this year, for the first time, it was decided to hold the Lviv Oblast Festival “Buzz of Lemkivshchyna” in the village of Zymna Voda, near Lviv, on a
continuing basis. This decision was made based on the fact that the majority of Lemkos in Lviv oblast live in Pustomyty raion.
4 Poltava oblast
THE LEMKOS OF POLTAVA OBLAST GATHERED FOR AN
ETHNIC FESTIVAL 04.05.2015
In the Zinkiv region the interregional
festival, “Colors of Lemkivshchyna”
took place.
In the village of Liutenski Budyshcha,
Zinkiv raion, the fifth interregional
Festival of Lemko Culture was held.
The program of this national festival
of this ethnographic branch of
Ukrainians included Lemko songs,
dances and folk artists' exhibitions.
The Lemkos made a traditional
bonfire – a Vatra.
The purpose of the Festival of Lemko
Culture “Colors of Lemkivshchyna” is
the preservation and promotion of the
Lemko culture, language, folk art,
traditions and customs, adjustment
and expansion of the ties between
amateur groups, fostering of aesthetic
tastes and promotion of formation of
national consciousness.
5 Priashivshchyna
In Svidnik the 61st Festival of the culture of Ruthenians-Ukrainians of Slovakia
was held
The 61st Feast of the culture of Ruthenians-
Ukrainians of Slovakia in Svidnik started on
Friday, June 19, with: “sidewalk drawings”
(a children's program); a conversation with
Kyiv writer Volodymyr Barna (the
presentation of the book "Epický profil Ivana
Jackanina“ by Yaroslav Dzhohanyk,
published in Uzhhorod, was part of the
event); a school of folk dance on the central
square of Svidnik; an exhibition of the woven
paintings of Anna Boršovská-Nemcová, who
is a resident of Svidnik, at the Museum of
Ukrainian Culture; the play “Matchmaking in Honcharivka” by H. Kvitka-Osnovianenko,
performed by the drama circle of the village of Rzeszów in Bardejov county; and a walk
by the participants in the streets of Svidnik.
The choir “Roland” from Čirč opened the main evening program “Greet us in Svidnik!”
and after the concert the youth enjoyed a dance party till midnight.
Saturday's program began with an evening concert by children's groups, “Hiyo – heta
on horse!” including performances by groups from Svidnik, Snina, Kežmarok and
Prešov and two groups from Ukraine: “Podolianochka” from Khmelnytsky and the
dance group from Zaporizhzhia.
The second concert “My songs” was devoted to the birthday of the most prominent
singer of Priashivshchyna, Mária Mačošková. In addition to the solo singing by Mária,
the hero of the day (whose every song captivated the audience), her guests also
performed: Iveta Svitková with her two daughters, the folk group “Šarišan”, and four
of Mária’s former colleagues from the Pidduklians’ky Ukrainian folk ensemble.
The third program on Saturday, “Where did our guests come from?” was devoted to
four foreign ensembles: “Žatva” from Kocur, two Ruthenian ensembles from Croatia
(from Petrovci and Miklosevci), “Verkhovyna” from Drohobych in Ukraine, and the
ensemble of song and dance “Magura” from Kežmarok.
The fourth program, “You need to know how to talk,” consisted of the storyteller Maria
Trishchak (Arania) from Jarovnice who told humorous stories in the dialect of Šariš.
The crown of Saturday's program should have been the planned performance of the
group “Falcons” from Drohobych, and the solo concert of the singer from Lviv, Sofiya
Fedyna. Since the show dragged on past midnight, and unexpected cold drove away
most of the spectators from the amphitheatre, the duet “Falcons” (Mykhaylo Matsialko
6 and Maria Shalaykevych) was forced to shorten their program, and Sofiya Fedyna did
not perform at all.
On Saturday, at the hotel “Rubin,” a meeting of the Presidium of the World
Federation of Ukrainian Lemko Organizations (SFULO) was held.
The Sunday program started traditionally, with the Liturgy in the churches of Svidnik,
the laying of flowers at the monument to the heroes of the Second World War, and a
concert by a brass band from Prešov.
At two o’clock, the united choir of the participants opened the program (which was
already the sixth one of the day) with “Our Father” in Old Slavonic, and the head of
the Presidium of the Organization of Ruthenian-Ukrainians of the Slovak Republic,
Petro Sokol, delivered a welcome speech. He greeted the honored guests, among whom
were the mayor of the town of Svidnik, Ján Holodňák, the Deputies of the Slovak
People’s Council, delegations of cultural and educational organizations from Lviv,
Uzhhorod, and Rakhiv, Lemkos from Poland, Ruthenians from Serbia and Croatia,
and others. Sofiya Fedyna, as head of the World Federation of Ukrainian Lemko
Organizations, greeted the participants on behalf of this organization (which includes
also the Organization of Ruthenians-Ukrainians of the Slovak Republic.)
After the greetings, a marathon of artistic performances began. The first program was
called “And it was so” (these were performances by local bands and folk groups). The
folklore group from Stakčín, with the staging of the ballad, “The black tillage is plowed
and seeded with bullets” honored the memory of thousands of victims of the First and
Second World Wars, who lost their lives here, in the Svidnik region, below Dukla.
“Karpatianyn” from Prešov presented how migrant workers left for America in the past.
“Porublianka” from Ruská Poruba performed the old song “Vechornytsi” for the
audience. “Makovytsia” from Svidnik presented the songs, dances and customs of
their region. “Fir” from Oľšavica – presented songs and customs during the time for
drying hay. “Kurivchan” from Kurov – performed dozhynky (Slavic harvest festival).
“Šarišan” from Prešov – recreated a public wedding. “Starišan,” also from Prešov
presented – “Fašenki” (Shrove-tide).
This was a wonderful overview of the authentic folklore of the Ruthenians-Ukrainians
of Slovakia. At the end of the program all the groups got on the stage and with a
powerful chorus sang the traditional glorious song, “Many Years.”
The scene of the final Sunday program “The wealth of the native land” was focused on
foreign groups, most of whom also participated in the Saturday evening program,
namely: the children ensemble “Podolianochka” from Khmel’nytsky, the young dancers
from Zaporizhzhia, “Žatva” from Kocur in Serbia, the group from the Palace of Culture
in Petrovci (Croatia) and the Honored Subcarpathian “Žatva” from Kocur in Serbia.
The three-day marathon of concerts and other activities was completed by the
professional ensemble of song and dance “PULS” from Prešov (the former Poddukelsk
ukrajinsk ľudov sbor,) which this year will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its
foundation. During the feast “PULS” presented part of the program “Embraced,” with
which its new leader Yuriy Shvantner proved that the ensemble follows in the
footsteps of its previous leaders: Y. Kostiuk, S. Ladyzhynsky, A. Hnat, V. Liubymov
7 and V. Marushyn. The final item, “Hopak” with its masterly performance, surpassed
all expectations and at the request of the audience (with thunderous applause) the
dancers presented its final part as an encore.
The weather, unfortunately, did not cooperate with this year’s festival, which
influenced the lower attendance compared with previous years. The spectators often
had to pull out their umbrellas. However, on the covered stage, the program went on
without a hitch.
The 61st Festival of the Culture of Ruthenian-Ukrainians of Slovakia proved that this
festival, founded over 60 years ago to promote the folklore of this national minority,
has not lost its value over time. The main thanks for the success of this festival must
go to its screenwriters and producers, Petro Begeni, Ladyslav Bachynsky, Iveta Svitok
(Iveta Svitková), Maria Payzynkova, Evelina Hvat, Myroslav Sopolyha, Ladyslav
Pushkar and others, as well as the moderators – Stepan Hiy, Ivan Rudy, and Rostyslav
Luchyk. The utmost thanks for its success must go to the many heads of the folklore
groups in the villages and towns of eastern Slovakia, who do everything to preserve the
folk culture of our ancestors despite the bad conditions of modern globalization and
lack of finances.
Mykola Mushynka. Photo by author
Some members of the Presidium of SFULO and its guests before the meeting in Svidnik
8
The final part of Saturday's children’s program of the festival
The singer Mária Mačošková and her “student” Iveta Svitková
9
The head, Sofiya Fedyna, greeted the participants on behalf of FSULO
“Vechornytsi” by the folk group from Ruská Poruba и
10
The youngest members of the folk group “Kurivchan”
Admitting “Galicians” to the boys' community of Kurov in the 17th century
11
The rain did not drive the audience out of the amphitheatre
Guests from Zaporizhzhia
12
Women’s group “Žatva” from Kocur (Serbia)
Ensemble “Verkhovyna” from Drohobych
13
Mykhaylo Matsialko and Maria Shalaykevych from the group “Falcons”
The men’s group “PULS” from Prešov
Source: http://zakarpattya.net.ua/Special/141680-U-Svydnyku-vidbulosia-
61-she-Sviato-kultury-rusyniv-ukraintsiv-Slovachchyny-FOTO
14 THE GROUP FROM ZAKARPATTIA OBLAST GAVE A PUBLIC
PERFORMANCE FOR THE FESTIVAL “RUNINSKA VATRA” IN
SLOVAKIA
On Saturday, August
1, in the village of
Runina, Snina
district, Republic of
Slovakia, the folk
creativity festival of
national minorities,
“Runinska Vatra” took
place, which was
organized by the head
of the village Marián
Regula and the
Regional Council of
the Organization of Ruthenian-Ukrainians of the Republic of Slovakia from the town of
Humenné (headed by Michal Ivanco).
Services were held in the morning in the churches of three faiths – Orthodox, Greek
Catholic and Roman Catholic. Groups from different regions of eastern Slovakia,
where Ruthenian-Ukrainians live, took part in the festival.
The vocal duet “Camellia” of Uzhhorod district with its singers, including Myroslava
Shvah-Pekar and Oksana Lenart, who repeatedly and with great success have
performed in public beyond our region, represented Zakarpattia oblast.
There was also an exhibition of folk art crafts for the festival guests.
Overall, this year the festival was quite spectacular; more than a thousand people
came to see the performances of the creative groups.
Source: PMG.ua
http://pmg.ua/culture/35805-zakarpatskyy-kolektyv-vystupyv-na-svyati-
runinska-vatra-u-slovachchyni
15 The USA
On June 27-28, 2015, at the Ukrainian Youth Association headquarters in Ellenville,
the 15th Annual Lemko Vatra in the USA took place! Every summer, since 2001, the
Organization for the Defense of Lemkivshchyna (OOL) holds the Lemko Vatra to
celebrate and preserve Lemko roots, history and culture. For the 16th year in a row,
the starosta of the Vatra was Vasyl Harhay, the head of the third chapter of the OOL
in Passaic, and the co-moderator was Halyna Semeniak, a member of the National
Board.
This year, the festival program consisted of the traditional soccer tournament for the
Vatra Cup, a pig roast, and a contest of Lemko songs for children. At 4 p.m., a great
festive concert began with the participation of the Ukrainian singer, the voice of the
Lviv Euromaidan, Sofiya Fedyna, the legendary group of Ihor Bilozir - VATRA, the
ensemble of folk song and dance “Carpathians” (led by Roman Levkovych), the group
“Roots”, the Pavlyshyn sisters from New York, the duet of Alla Kutsevych and
Liudmyla Hrabovska, the bandura player Oksana Telepko from New Jersey, Pavlo
Doskoch and the band “Mosaic” from Canada, and the band Anna-Maria played for
the evening zabava.
The celebration continued the next day following a Divine Liturgy. At 12:00 noon, the
head of SFULO, Sofiya Fedyna, gave a public lecture on the main problems of the
Lemko community today. After that, the festive concert program continued.
16 During the Vatra, the Lemko History and Heritage Tent worked actively to present the
“We Remember” project and to distribute Lemko literature. Also during the Vatra a
meeting of the Lemko Foundation was held, which discussed the books which had
been submitted for the competition of best publication.
This was one of the most cozy and sincere Vatras, and despite the two days of rain it
still kept the people engaged and allowed them to feel the unity of the Lemko family.
Moreover, during the Vatra they collected money to help Ukraine, and managed to
collect $2000 for the purchase of uniforms and equipment for the defenders of
Ukraine.
Many thanks to all the organizers of the Festival, especially, the leaders of OOL and
the Lemko Foundation. Your inspiring work gives a good example to all the Lemkos in
the world!
Opening of the
Festival.
Greetings by the
head of SFULO
Sofiya Fedyna
The winners of the Vatra Cup
Soccer Tournament for the–
International team from
Kerhonkson, NY
17
The “Karpaty” folk
song and dance
ensemble of from New
York
The New Ukrainian Wave
choir from Passaic, NJ
The folk music group
“Korinya” from New York
18
The duet “Mosaic” from Toronto
VATRA is
singing
The duet of Alla Kutsevych
and Liudmyla Hrabovska
from New Jersey
19
Sofiya Fedyna from Lviv
singing and conducting the
Lemko Zabava
Lighting the Vatra
Below from right to left:
A Lemko child, the head of OOL
Mark Howansky, the Vatra
audience, collecting for the ATO
20 Lemkivshchyna and Poland
Vatra in Zdynia
After World War II, the
Polish communist
authorities forcibly
resettled Ukrainians,
including Lemkos, from
the Beskids to northern
and western Poland,
during the special
operation of Stalin's
regime called "Vistula."
“The Lemkos did not
forget their native land.
Some of them soon returned to their native mountains, and some of them come to the
Lemko Vatra every year,” – informs Polish Radio.
“In southern Poland, near Slovakia, in the mountains, “the Lemko Vatra,” the festvial
of Lemko culture endures. Thousands of Lemko-Ukrainians from different countries
of Europe come to the village of Zdynia, near Gorlice, to visit their native land and to
pay tribute to their ancestors.
- I was 16, when we were driven away under force of arms. Our family was broken up
all over Poland, some were driven to the North, others – to the West...
- This is a very dramatic event for our parents' generation. I cannot imagine a Sunday
dinner when my mother would not somehow remind us of Operation “Vistula”; it is
just always with us…
- Here, in Zdynia, we pointed out that it is necessary to respect that which is native for
you; it is necessary to remember. In a situation with such strong feelings of
integration, we have to have strength to continue standing firm. If not for the Vatra in
Zdynia, we would not have such strength…
So, the Lemkos did not forget their homeland; some of them soon returned to their
native mountains, and some of them come to the Lemko Vatra every year to listen to
the concerts, take part in sporting competitions, to see exhibitions, plays or movies, to
discuss history, to learn from craftsmen how to decorate a Lemko house or to make a
folk doll and generally to go shopping and drink beer.”
Source– http://www.polradio.pl/5/38/Artykul/214238
21 The 25th Lemko Vatra in Ługi 2015
On July 24-25, 2015 in Ługi Krajeński in the far Northwest of Poland, the 25th Lemko
Vatra took place.
We invite you to the 25th Vatra in Ługi! For the past
quarter of a century we have kindled the bonfire to
meet together, sing, play and have fun with the
traditional Lemko music and even more
According to tradition, on Friday (24.07.2015) the
young and active ensembles had the place at their
disposal: NADIYA, CoolBABA, THE UKRAINIAN
FOLK and DEMAY, who performed during the
zabava.
During the official opening of the Vatra (25.07.2015)
the German orchestra Spielmannszug TuS Esingen
Tornesch performed. LASTIVOCHKA from Przemków
presented its song and dance program; the youngest
music group LEMKO TOWER JUNIOR also
performed. The traditional ensemble HORYTSVIT
came from the western borderlands, and the Lviv instrumental ensemble ROCKOKO
came from the East. There was also a group from Ługi – LEMKO TOWER. VODOHRAY
performed during the zabava.
The Vatra returned to
its old site, which has
been repaired. In
addition to the
concerts, a sea of
entertainment
awaited everyone.
People could paddle
canoes. Khovanets
from the web-site
www.lemkoland.com
entertained the
children, organizing
games and contests
for the youngest.
There was a contest for the adults as well, so that they too would not be bored.
Everybody had fun as a big Lemko family.
22 Zakarpattia oblast
“The Lemko Vatra” burned in Velyky Berezny region (photo)
On August 16, in the village of Kostryno,
in Velyky Berezny region the Oblast
Festival “The Lemko Vatra” took place
for the fifth time, and has traditionally
acquainted its guests with the heritage
of this culturally rich folklife.
Today the Zakarpattia oblast has almost
300,000 Lemkos, who live in more than 200
villages in the Irshava, Svaliava, Mukachevo,
Uzhhorod, Perechyn, and also in the Velyky
Berezny regions, which are among the most
conscientious custodians of the Lemko
traditions.
Both the hosts of the festival and their
guests from other regions and oblasts
presented their tents. Everyone who wanted,
could view an informative book exhibition
devoted to Lemko history, national costumes,
embroidery, the art of pysanka, decorative
and craft products, and paintings.
The local masters Natalia Ivanytsia and
Nadia Mazurenko presented towels and tablecloths with genuine Lemko embroidery –
both colorful and
rich with
geometric and
flower
ornamentation.
The works of the
embroiderers
from out-of-the-
way places were
presented in
Slovakia,
Romania, and
purchased even
by people from
France, Canada,
the USA and
Australia. The
23 official part of the celebration
started with the unfurling of the
national flag 100 meters long.
Representatives of the
authorities of the village, district
and oblast joined the youth in
this honorable mission. By the
way, Vasyl Mulesa, head of the
All-Ukrainian Organization
“Lemkivshchyna” noted that it
was the first time when local
leaders took part in the Festival
showing their support for the
Lemko culture, which
encouraged the Zakarpattia
Lemkos.
The head of the Zakarpattia
Oblast State Administration
solemnly opened the feast in
the local dialect. “Dear
cheliadnyky,” (Dear youth or
fellow house-dwellers),
Hennadiy Moskal addressed the
listeners. H. Moskal noted the
uniqueness of Lemko songs, folk
art and traditional dishes that
were presented at the festival; he
also expressed gratitude to all
the organizers and participants
of the feast, because they have
not neglected their values in
such an unfavorable era, and he
wished health and inspiration to
all present. "And let our enemies
be smashed to hell, and beaten
with a sap!" completed Hennadiy
Moskal in such a colorful colloquial way. After the speeches of the organizers and
benefactors of the festival, the most fervent representatives of Lemko culture were
awarded certificates. After that, the participants symbolically lit the Vatra.
The feast continued with a concert by district groups, reported Закарпаття онлайн
(Zakarpattia online), in a publication by the department of culture of Zakarpattia
Oblast State Administration.
24
Source:
http://zakarpattya.net.ua/News/143951-Na-Velykobereznianshchyni-palala-
Lemkivska-vatra-FOTO
“DEAR CHELIADNYKY AND CHELIADYNI”: HENNADIY
MOSKAL SPEAKS IN THE TRANSCARPATHIAN DIALECT (VIDEO)
Today, on August 16,
in the village of
Kostryno, in Velyky
Berezny region the
Festival “The Lemko
Vatra” was held. The
head of the
Zakarpattia Oblast
State Administration,
Hennadiy Moskal,
visited the picturesque
local event, and gave a
welcoming speech to the guests and the participants of the festival. However, this time
the customary opening remarks were quite different from the usual official speeches
by governmental representatives. The head of Zakarpattia delivered his speech in a
local dialect, which amused the festival visitors.
Source: http://prozahid.com/
To watch the video, follow the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th8SopHTfDc
25 Canada
THE 30TH ANNUAL LEMKO VATRA IN CANADA
The beginning of August
is the time when the
Lemko Vatra, which is a
festival of Lemko culture,
is traditionally held. The
organizers of the festival –
the Canadian Lemko
Association (OLK) – every
year, for the past 30 years,
invite the entire large and
cohesive Lemko
community, as well as all
sincere and good people to their joint commemoration of their traditions, culture and
history.
This year, the 30th Annual Lemko Vatra was held on the 1st-3rd of August 2015, on
the “Lemkivshchyna” oselia. It was special. The organizers of the festival took care to
make it become a real spiritual unifier of the great Ukrainian family. The festival
guests came from Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, the USA and from all the regions of
Canada.
The Annual Lemko Vatra coincided with the 70th anniversary of the great deportation
of Lemkos from their native land. The Lemkos were scattered around the world like
the sparks from a bonfire, and
took their ancient culture,
traditions, spirituality and faith
all around the Earth. The
Canadian land became a
second homeland for tens of
thousands of Lemkivshchyna
natives, who having lost their
primal land, carried in their
26 hearts throughout the years their love and memory of the high mountains, the fast
and cold rivers, the life-giving springs, the mist of the meadows, and the mournful
songs of their native Lemkivshchyna. This love and memory of the generations has lit
thousands of Vatras all over the world, even where there is a small community of
Lemkos. The Lemkos, with inherent tenacity, transformed their pain, compassion,
sadness, anxiety and anguish for their lost homeland into hard and dedicated work for
the sake of future generations; and now they bring joy and hope not only to natives of
Lemkivshchyna, but to all Ukrainians, those who live in Ukraine and to all of us who
are scattered by the winds of history all over the world. Today, the Canadian Lemko
Association supports the war effort in Ukraine by all means possible, helps the
Ukrainian army, its soldiers, and their families, and makes great efforts so that the
Ukrainian nation will be victorious.
On Friday the guests began
arriving at the “Lemkivshchyna”
oselia. The organizers kindly
allowed each of them to pitch
their tents in the middle of a
picturesque landscape and took
care to ensure their serene and
pleasant rest with all the
appropriate comforts.
Starting Saturday morning, the
1st of August, there were many interesting performances – a cheerful clown
entertained the children, there were artistic performances, interested persons could
have a picture taken in a Lemko costume or buy beautiful Ukrainian souvenirs and
books. Meanwhile, tasty and crispy pork was roasting on the spit. Everybody could
eat a piece of the tasty meat with
brown bread.
The official opening of the 30th
Lemko Vatra and the main events
were held at a central location at
the oselia “Lemkivshchyna.” The
head of the Canadian Lemko
27 Association, Roman Kolos, greeted the organizers and participants of the Vatra and
wished them a successful festival. The General Consul of Ukraine in Toronto, the
Honorable Liudmyla Davydovych, and the head of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress
of Toronto, Taras Bahriy, also presented words of greeting. Then the head of the
Canadian Lemko Association, Roman Kolos, invited the starosta of the 30th Lemko
Vatra, Maksym Masley, to solemnly light the Vatra. After a brief greeting, surrounded
by boys and girls wearing Lemko costumes (the participants of the dance ensemble
“Barvinok”), the starosta solemnly lit the fire of the 30th Lemko Vatra. Hot and ardent
flashes of fire rose to the sky, marking the start of the event.
The narrators of the artistic program were the well-known and esteemed community
members – Larysa Baius, an actress and the narrator of the TV program “Forum TV”
and Pavlo Lopata – a painter, well-known in Canada and abroad, and a well-known
OLK member who has been actively working for the organization for more than 40
years, ten years of which he was the head of the first Chapter of OLK and secretary of
the District Council of the Canadian Lemko Association and Chapter for many years.
The narrators mixied their remarks with jokes and introduced the artists inviting them
to perform. This year well-known performers from Ukraine, Canada and throughout
the world, as well as beginning musicians honored the Vatra with their participation.
People could see performances of the group “Demay” from Gromadka (Poland), the
violin virtuoso Vasyl Popadiuk, Honored Artist of Ukraine Marta Shpak, the dance
ensemble “Barvinok” (with artistic director Fedir Danyliak), Oleh Buncha, the Kobeliak
Brothers, singer Yana Bilyk and Crimean Tatar violinist Eskander Bekmambetov,
children’s pop group “Resonance” and the band “Skopa.”
The organizers sincerely thanked the sponsors of the Festival, in particular, the
Buduchnist Credit Union, the Ukrainian Credit Union, and others who helped make
the event successful. The Buduchnist Credit Union, which was represented on the
stage by Bohdan Lyshchyshyn, made a generous donation to the Canadian Lemko
Association in the form of a check for $3,000, to support the organization.
And then there was a zabava with dances and songs by the wonderful band, “Demay.”
The Vatra was ablaze, people sang and conversed heartily, and the stories and
memories lasted until late into the night…
28 Sunday started as expected – with a church
service, held by Archpriest and Dean Father Andriy
Zhurav, who came from Poland at the invitation of
the Canadian Lemko Association of Toronto. In his
sermon, Fr. Zhurav emphasized the need to unite
and believe with certainty in God’s help and mercy.
It is especially necessary for Ukrainians of the
world to unite now – in this time when Ukraine
struggles for its right to liberty with the blood, lives
and work of Her patriots.
Also on Sunday the children competed in an “O-
LEM-piad” and rode horses; the adults tried their
luck in a lottery and silent auction and conversed
with Fr. Andriy Zhurav. In the evening there was a
zabava again accompanied by the music of the
band “Skopa.”
A kitchen with tasty traditional Ukrainian dishes worked throughout the festival. The
firm “Rose Catering” (Anna-Hannusia Romaniuk) ensured that there were enough of
all kinds of dishes – cold and warm, peppered and sweet. The people ate, rested and
enjoyed good company. We should be grateful to the organizers and volunteers for the
success of the 30th Lemko Vatra. With their work, which is often overlooked at first
glance, the organizers provided a safe, well-equipped, cheerful and unforgettable
festival.
The participants of the Festival are heartily grateful to them.
The Lemko Vatra burned and gave warmth and the joy of unity and spiritual
exaltation to everyone.
… the Ukrainian songs did not
stop until the morning; the
people sang them all together,
looking at the starry sky, and
the stars gazed from their
heights at the amazing show
on Earth and peered into the
29 myriad of sparkling stars in the fire which tickled the quiet sky of the August night
with its hot breath.
Oksana Sydorchuk-Sokolyk
30
31 Ternopil oblast
Resettled Ukrainians Gathered For The Second time at the
All-Ukrainian Festival “Bells of Lemkivshchyna-2015.” Photo
Monastyryska region welcomed thousands of Lemkos from different towns of Ukraine
and from abroad. On August 1-2, the Festival “Bells of Lemkivshchyna” occurred,
reported Stanislavske.tv
This year’s festival had a special format. It was
dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the
beginning of the deportation of Ukrainians. The
feast started with a solemn procession from the
town of Monastyryska to the Bychovo natural
landmark, during which the people honored
the memory of the victims of the deportation of
1944 – 1946, the fallen Heroes of the Anti-
Terrorist Operation, and the fallen Heroes of
the Heavenly Hundred, among whom two are
Lemkos. The co-organizer of the event was the
32 head of the Ternopil Oblast State Administration, Stepan Barna.
“The resettlement of 1944 – 1946 was a tragedy for many Lemko families, among
whom was my family. Half a million Ukrainians were forcibly moved from
Lemkivshchyna, Kholmshchyna, Nadsiannia and Liubachivshchyna. But despite the
isolation from their native land, the Lemkos were able to preserve their culture,” said
Stepan Barna. “Today they demonstrate their original customs and traditions. This is
an element of the unity of all ethnic groups in one nation. Moreover, the Lemkos did
not lose their national position. Among them are Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred and
soldiers of the ATO.”
Demobilized soldiers of the ATO – of Lemko origin – brought the flag of the
ethnographic organization “Lemkivshchyna” to the festival. According to one of the
soldiers, it is a symbol of morale for Lemkos. The organizers will pass it to the soldiers
who will go there in the next rotation.
Lemkos who were resettled for the second
time from the occupied territories of the
East also came to the festival.
“There is one person among the visitors
who was resettled from the village of
Peremozhne in Luhansk oblast. In 1945,
his parents were deported from the
territory of Lemkivshchyna, says Oleksandr
Venhrynovych, the head of the All-
Ukrainian Organization “Lemkivshchyna.”
The deportees were often settled in
the eastern lands. Because of
today’s events they have to look for
protection in the west of the
country, experiencing the pain of
migration again. Today we listen
to their stories and follow their
example. There are Lemkos among
the Heroes of the Heavenly
Hundred: Volodymyr Zherebny
from Lviv oblast and Nazar
Voytovych from the Zbarazh raion. We bow our
heads and thank them for their worthy
demonstration of patriotism.” During the
festival, the participants sang Lemko songs,
prepared dishes of ethnic cuisine, held master
33 classes on the creation of household items, and demonstrated ethnic clothing and
architecture.
The organizers thanked everyone who took part in the festival. Among the main
sponsors were representatives of the agricultural corporation group “Dream.”
“We cultivate about 90,000 hectares of land in the Ternopil’ oblast, some of which are
Lemko lands. In addition to dividend payments, we provide social support to the
community. In particular, we restored a church and repaired a school and
kindergarten in Monastyryska region. In previous years a chapel and bell tower were
built on the festival grounds with the support of our agricultural corporation group.
We plan to support this event in the future,” said one of the company managers.
Source: http://stanislavske.tv/vseukrajinskyj-festyval-dzvony-lemkivschyny-
2015-zibrav-vdruhe-pereselenyh-ukrajintsiv-foto/
Source of photos: http://poglyad.te.ua/podii/fotozvit-
iz-festyvalyu-dzvony-lemkivschyny-2015/
34 Lemko Masters from a parish in the Buchach eparchy in
Ternopil oblast presented a carved Patriarchal staff to the
head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
The Eparch of Buchach, Bishop Dmytro
Hryhorak presented the gift at his meeting with the Primate who came to the Festival “Bells of
Lemkivshchyna,” which this year is dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the deportation of the Ukrainians from Polish territory in 1944 –
1946 and 1951.
Memorial services for the victims of the
deportation and fighters for the independence and sovereignty of our state were held on the festival grounds, and were led by His Beatitude, Sviatoslav, with the concelebration of the Reverend Bishops and cathedral
clergy.
In his remarks, His Beatitude Sviatoslav described the long-suffering history of Lemkivshchyna: “Seventy years ago, in the
glorious and God-blessed Lemko land, half a million people were turned out of their homes,
and Ternopil oblast, a hospitable Ukrainian land, accepted almost 200,000 of them…, seventy Greek Catholic priests were killed,
almost 400 churches were burned or destroyed, and the whole spiritual and
national territory vanished.”
He noted that today, when we remember those sad events, we bow our heads before
the power and invincibility of the glorious Lemko men and women. “Somehow the Lord directed modern history in a special way, because the Lemko cry became a particular anthem of the Maidan; today, when people all over the world hear the Lemko song
“Plyve Kacha…” (“The Duck is Swimming”), they stand up, honoring the heroes of our time, who are ready to give their lives for the freedom and independence of Ukraine,”
said the Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
“That is why, when we celebrate the Lemko memory, history and culture at this festival, we become stronger. Today the whole country, honoring the pain of the Lemko
community, is ready for the new struggle. We take to heart the pain of the Lemkos who were resettled for the second time from Donbas and Crimea and assemble to defeat a new enemy and to prevent new ethnic cleansings in this third millennium.
Your Church is with you, your Church is with Ukrainian Lemkivshchyna, the Church is with the people, and may our merciful God bless all of us,” said His Beatitude
Sviatoslav in conclusion.
Source: inhabitants of Ternopil’
http://strichka.com/article/30131846
35 Lviv oblast
The first Festival “Buzz of Lemkivshchyna” occurred
The last weekend of August, in the village of Zymna Voda, the first Festival “Buzz of Lemkivshchyna” occurred. The main organizers of the Festival, the Lviv Oblast Organization of the All-Ukrainian Organization “Lemkivshchyna” and the Village
Council of Zymna Voda, have been working on the implementation of this idea since last year, because they had planned that the first Lemko buzz would be heard in in
late summer of 2014. The Festival was postponed owing to the tense situation in eastern Ukraine. Therefore, it was not a surprise that the first words from the stage were devoted to those who are fighting for their country, protecting its territorial
integrity and who gave their lives for it. The national flag of Ukraine and the flag of the Lviv Oblast Organization of the All-Ukrainian Organization “Lemkivshchyna” were
raised; and the first Vatra of the Festival was lit.
A lot of people gathered at the scene: some of them came from neighboring Lviv, some arrived here from the remote parts of the Lviv oblast; there were also guests from
Lemkivshchyna here. Everybody closely watched the action which took place in front of them. Each artist tied a ribbon to a sheaf which was brought to the stage, as a symbol of unity. Folk groups, singers and poets with their interesting and original
repertoire showed their talent. The audience understood them, because the subject of deportation was close to everyone's heart. Next to the stage there was an exposition of
old photographs which reflected fragments of the life of the Ukrainians of Zakerzonia in 1944 – 1951, as well as after the deportations.
The attention of numerous visitors was drawn to the humorous songs and anecdotes
which were heard from the stage. At the festival a family atmosphere prevailed, especially in the moments when someone met an acquaintance whom he sees only at
such events. One could also learn how to paint toys in the Yavoriv style, play a few rounds of chess, dance, etc.
At the end of Saturday a youth Vatra blazed. Young Lemkos with their friends
gathered at the fire to sing songs and have fun. They sang both well-known and new songs; everyone could request one he or she wanted to hear. Whether it was the flame
36 of the fire or the huge full moon which rolled over the top of the trees, young people found inspiration for hearty singing and pleasant conversations.
Sunday began with a Liturgical service, and continued with group performances. I
could not have imagined that so many artists have Lemko songs in their repertoire and that they can all sound so different. Different artists sang the same song in completely new styles, as if they were not the same songs.
The Festival “Buzz of Lemkivshchyna” ended with the
words “See you next year!”
Greetings of the head of the Lviv
Oblast State Administration, Oleh
Syniutka
Representatives of the Lemko
Organizations
Raising the flags of Ukraine and the All-Ukrainian
Organization, "Lemkivshchyna"
37
Lviv Lemko Vatra
Above and on the right: Visitors from Lemkivshchyna
Underneath: the head of the Lviv Oblast Organization "Lemkivshcnyna," Stepan
Maykovych
Participants of the Vatra
38
Divine Service is an integral
part of the Vatra
Gathering of Young Lemkivshchyna
at the Vatra
39 Luhansk oblast
The final Vatra of the season usually occurred in the village of Peremozhne in the
Luhansk oblast. For the past two years, people are dying here at the hands of those
who, 70 years ago, drove these people out of their native Lemkivshchyna and threw
them to the steppes of Luhansk without their having any say in the matter, and
without the right to be told the truth… In August, 2014, the village of Peremozhne was
covered with “grad” rockets; several families were shot for helping Ukrainian soldiers;
there are hundreds of wounded and refugees… Forgotten by their state, the victims of
the unrecognized crimes of 70 years ago are forced to search for a new home again…
Lemkos, deported to “Novorossiya”
The “Russian World” first touched
the Lemkos in 1944. Their
deportation from their native
villages to the depths of the
Ukrainian SSR began immediately
after the liberation of western
Ukraine and eastern Poland from
the Nazis. Their latest meeting in
Luhansk oblast was accompanied
with the volleys of “grads.” The
largest Lemko community in the
oblast was located two kilometers away from the Luhansk airport, the defense of
which the Ukrainian troops held for three months.
“Grad” instead of Festival
A bitter irony of fate… First the Lemkos were uprooted
and thrown to the Donbas steppes, but after decades
they have to flee from these steppes because it is
dangerous to be a Ukrainian there.
The Lemkos in the Luhansk oblast were discovered ten
years ago. This is a credit to Zinoviy Huzar, a Deputy of
the "Orange" Governor, Oleksiy Danylov. Local activists
of the People's Movement of Ukraine for Reconstruction
told him about the settlement of Lemkos, and the
Deputy did not believe it at first. But he went there, met
with the people, listened to the stories of the migrants,
and his doubts were dispelled.
Zinoviy Huzar, the Deputy of the Governor of Luhans’k
oblast (2005 – 2008), a native of Lviv, introduced the Luhansk Lemkos to the world.
Photo by Juriy Kryvenko
40 While for him, a resident from Lviv, it was clear, at that time many Luhansk
inhabitants had no idea who Lemkos were.
“Lemkos, Hutsuls, Boykos are Ukrainians, but mountain folk are a little
different,” explained Zinoviy Huzar then.
Till this time they allegedly did not exist. Especially for the local authorities. Former
members of the Union of Communist Youth, who bound Luhansk oblast in iron
chains, promoted nostalgia among the population and did not like remembering the
crimes of the Soviet regime.
According to the estimates of Petro Yasinchak, the head of the Luhansk Oblast
Organization of Ukrainians who were deported from Poland, there lived about 30,000
Lemkos. But the Luhansk delegation first participated in the Congress of Lemkos of
Ukraine in Ternopil only after the “discovery” of Mr. Huzar in 2005.
At the initiative of the Deputy of the Governor, in the same year, the international
Festival “Along the Lemko Paths” began to be held near Luhans’k, in the village of
Peremozhne. Eighty families from the districts of Kraków province were resettled
there, and one of the largest Lemko enclaves remained in the village.
The fields of Peremozhne end just at the runway of the Luhansk Airport. And from the
outermost houses it is two kilometers as the bird flies to the Airport terminal.
Ukrainian paratroopers held the line of defense at the Luhansk Airport, near the
Lemko village, for three months. During these three months, while the paratroopers
were holding the line, the shells of the “United Armed Forces of Novorossia” hit
41 Peremozhne several times. One of the biggest blows of the “grads” was on August 13,
2014.
Barehanded against a tank
What was the fate of the Lemkos who remained in the territory of the “Luhansk
People’s Republic?”
Traditional Vatra at the Festival "Along the Lemko
Paths." 2009. Photo from the website of the
Ukrainian People’s Party
We managed to contact people from the
leadership of the Luhans’k Oblast Organization
of the Ukrainians Deported from Poland,
“Vatra.” It turns out that some of them are
still in the territory of the self-proclaimed
republic. However, we were unable to carry on
a normal conversation.
“Have you ever been to the occupied
territories?" asked my companion. "I do not
want to say anything to the press now. Here, to
oppose the government is like going
barehanded against a tank.”
“Many residents of Peremozhne, who from the
beginning of the conflict in Donbas helped the
Ukrainian army, were sentenced to the firing squad. When one family who was on the
list to be executed was actually shot, some the people decided to escape from
Peremozhne so as not to share in that fate. Many of them relocated at the invitation of
relatives and friends from Donbas. Some of the Lemkos dared to move to Ternopil
oblast,” wrote "Our Word," the weekly newspaper of the Ukrainians of Poland, on their
Lemko page in February.
Parallels in the fates of the migrants
The current resettlement from the war-torn region calls
us to remember the resettlement of 80 years ago. In one
of the first publications about the Luhansk Lemkos,
Halyna Soroka, who found herself in Donbas at the age
of 19 years, reported a journalist from the newspaper
“Young Ukraine”:
The family of Nadia Terpak (her mother, Julia Antonivna, her father Vasyl Ivanovych, and her brother Mykhaylo) was resettled in 1935 from the village of Desznica, Jasło district, Kraków province, to the village of Trudove.
42 “- They registered us to go to Russia. We registered and went. In May. We were on the
road for two months. We were stopped here and there…
- Were you able to stay?
- We were. But people said that those who were driven out after us could not take
anything with them. We left voluntarily, so we were allowed to take all we had with us.
We took a cow and all the grain that we had… There were two cows. Hay, to feed the
cows. All the food we had we took with us. The cows arrived, everything arrived. Why
did we decide to leave? I do not know, my parents decided. It was voluntary – forcibly.”
At the new place, some settlers obtained as an "inheritance" - the houses of the
German colonists whom the Soviet authorities had resettled in the depths of the
country after the beginning of the war in 1942, before the Nazi occupation. The houses
were in terrible condition, without windows or doors; they went through four years of
war; the front line passed through the region several times. Not everyone had even this
much luck.
Some Lemko families lived in dugouts for a long time. Others had to rent rooms. In
the archives are preserved the protocols and acts of
inspection of the conditions in which the settlers
lived.
Memorial sign, installed in the village of Peremozhne in 2008. The photo is from zakerzon.livejournal.com
It does not exist anymore...
“In the Karl Marx collective farm, three families (19
people) were settled in a place where a person lived
who was sick with tuberculosis (17.5 square meters);
in another house (25 sq. m.) five families were
settled (24 people); in the “Red Fighter” collective
farm, 11 people were settled in a room of 12 sq. m. In
Bilokurakyne raion (the village of Lyzyno) a family, consisting of nine people, seven of
whom were children, were settled in one room of 6 sq. m.” according to Gorky
Scientific Library of Luhansk Oblast in the essay “Lemkos in Luhansk oblast.”
No one received the promised state aid for their resettlement. It was forbidden to leave
their new place of residence. Like other peasants, the Lemkos began obtaining
passports only in the early 1970s.
It was planned that the government would pay compensation for the property left in
their native villages. But it was only partially paid, and this took several years.
Lemkos for Lemkos
The families of the Lemkos – settlers from Kraków province were scattered all over
Luhansk oblast – several dozen families per village, so they could assimilate. This
43 partially happened, but the Soviet authorities could not completely eradicate the
language and customs of the Lemkos.
Lemko wedding in the village of
Peremozhne
- It so happened that we all lived
in the same village and we
became friends. There are
newcomers though. Everybody
always respects our customs and
holidays. We have a wedding rite;
there is no bride here who did not
go through this rite. Nobody
forces anybody, if a person likes
it, he or she will live with these traditions and respect them… - said Vitalia Vansach
from Peremozhne to a correspondent of Radio Liberty (Svoboda).
- In my family my grandfather and grandmother from one side are Lemkos, and on the
other side they are, too. That means that my mother and my father are both Lemkos.
They came from Czarna (a village in Lemkivshchyna). I visited their land, their
Lemkivshchyna. I was in Czarna, too. I attended the “Vatra.” I remembered it very
well; it remained in my mind, when I came to Poland, to an alien land. But when we
gathered at the Vatra, I felt so comfortable, as if I had already been there… As if I was
with my native people there, - said Vita Matuchak from the village of Karl Liebknecht
to a journalist of “Young
Ukraine.”
Christmas presents for the
Lemko refugees from Luhansk
oblast, collected by the
Organization of Lemkos in
Poland
The photo is from the website: nasze-slowo.pl
The Lemkos who now live all
over Ukraine and in Poland find
all Lemkos to be their countrymen. The story of the exile is alive in the memory of
every Lemko family. This is another reason why Lemkos do not remain indifferent to
the refugees from the “Luhansk People’s Republic.” And not only Lemkos…
Source: Aleksey Dobrov,
http://argumentua.com/stati/lemki-deportirovannye-v-novorossiyu