news

• Opening the Summer School of Rusyn Language

  June 12th, 2011 at 6 p.m. at the university canteen on 17. novembra Street No. 13. the Opening ceremony of Studium Carpato-Ruthenorum 2011 – the 2nd year of the International Summer School of Rusyn Language and Culture. Organizes: the Institute of Rusyn Language and Culture at Prešov University and the Slovak Association of Rusyn Organizations.

• Popular Ruthenika in Humenné

  On December 20th, 2009, the Rusyn Revival in Slovakia in cooperation with the Vihorlat Educational Centre in Humenné, the folk group Chemlon Humenné and the Private Leisure Time Centre Ptičie organised a Christmas concert with a performance by the prize winners from the “Songs of my home” festival and the children’s folk group Chemloňáčik – RUTHENIKA. The concert took place on the premises of the above-mentioned educational centre in Humenné.
  The profits from the concert were presented to the family of Miroslav Macko, a deceased singer of the folk group Chemlon – Hačure.
  

  S. L.

• Christmas carols with Hačure

  On December 19th, 2009, the folk group Chemlon Humenné gave a festive concert on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Hačure group. The concert was held on the premises of the Vihorlat Educational Centre in Humenné. The ten fruitful years of its existence has brought the male singing group at the folk group Chemlon a lot of success on home stages as well as abroad. The concert was organised by: the Vihorlat Educational Centre in Humenné, the Private Leisure Time Centre Ptičie and the civic association Let’s join our hearts for health.
  The profits from the concert were presented to the civic association Let’s join our hearts for health.
  

  S. L.

• The sixth seminar on Carpatho-Rusyn studies

  On December 17th, 2009, the Institute of Rusyn Language and Culture organised the sixth Scholarly seminar on Carpatho-Rusyn studies at Prešov University. The focus of the seminar was the Situation of the Rusyn ethnic minority in the context of contemporary social events in Sub-Carpathia, presented by the head of the Research Centre of Carpathian Studies in Uzhhorod – Mgr. Valerij Paďak, CSc. In his hour-long presentation, V. Paďak pointed out the essential internal and external factors which determine the development of the Rusyn movement in the Ukraine at present and influence its outcomes.

• The Christmas time brought A cradle and a cross

  December 10th saw the first premiere, December 12th the second one and December 18th, 2009 witnessed another performance by the Poddukelsky Artistic Folk Group on the second Stage of the Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov.
  On January 5th, 2010, on Holy night according to the Julian calendar, the group will give their fourth performance, which will close the cycle of performances in the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birthday.

• Another book by Š. Smolej presented

  On December 11th, 2009, the newest book by Štefan Smolej “Нагода або судьба“ (Accident or fate) was presented in the Art Café of the Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art in Medzilaborce. The presentation was prepared by the editorial office of Русин і Народны новинкы (Rusyn and Ľudové noviny) in cooperation with the above museum, the Andy Warhol Association and the Association of Rusyn writers in Slovakia.

• A beneficial grouping of teachers in Radvaň

  December 11th, 2009 saw a beneficial grouping of teachers of Rusyn at Michal Sopira Elementary School and Kindergarten in Radvaň nad Laborcom, the Medzilaborce region. The main concern of the event was using the revised workbooks of Rusyn for the 2nd – 5th years of elementary schools and planning the preparation of methodological manuals.

• A. Plišková in WHO’S WHO in Slovakia

  On December 10th, 2009, we came across the sixth issue of the prestigious publication WHO’S WHO IN THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC, published in Switzerland this year, where information on lives of some Rusyn personalities in Slovakia can be found. Among them, the name of PhDr. Anna Plišková, PhD., the Head of the Institute of Rusyn Language and Culture at Prešov University, apperared. She is the author of the first dissertation thesis on the Rusyn language in Rusyn which she successfully defended at Comenius University in Bratislava. She is also the author and co-author of numerous books and textbooks in Rusyn. Her latest book, issued in English, is the monograph Language and National Identity: Rusyn South of Carpathians (New York: Columbia University Press, 2009, 230 pages).

• New Rusyn Calendar is out

  On December 9th, 2009, our editorial house received the new Greek-Catholic Rusyn Calendar/ Ґрекокатолицькый русиньскый календарь (by the Association of St. John the Baptist, 2009, 146 pages), which might be a handy Christmas present. As the title itself suggests, it is a calendar in Rusyn; however, the reader can find articles in Cyrillic as well as Latin.

• Rusyns and their friends meet for the 2nd time in Nitra

  On December 1st, 2009, the members of the organisation Molody Rusyny (Young Rusyns) prepared a nice event “The 2nd meeting of Rusyns and their friends in Nitra” where, apart from a good atmosphere, music, singing and dancing, those in attendance could gain new information on the native people from Rusyn villages living far from their own homes. The main aim of the event was to gather a Rusyn community in Nitra, which, apart from meeting and presenting the Rusyn ethnic minority, would also, by means of various events, form and keep close contacts and, in doing so, its members could better help each other.

• Farewell to Jaromír Hořec

  On November 22nd, 2009 doc. PhDr. Jaromír Hořec, journalist, poet, lyricist, author, paedagogue, the first and long-lasting chair of the Prague-based Association of friends of the Sub-Carpathian Rus passed away. His death came before his 88th birthday, and the publishing of his memoirs, which are being prepared and should be published in the spring of next year.

• Rusyns – also moving in the direction of politics

  On November 20th, 2009 Rusyns met in Bratislava. The event was organised by the Association of Rusyn Intelligentsia in Slovakia lead by doc. MUDr. Michal Šteňe, CSc.

• Exhibition by the Rusyn artist Orest Dubay

  On November 11th, 2009 an exhibition was opened in the Šariš Gallery in Prešov featuring works by the famous graphic artist, illustrator, painter, wood sculptor, paedagogue and the author of several works of monumental-decorative character, Laureate Artist – Orest Dubay.

• The activities of КOZ DK in Kocur (Serbia) branch out

  On November 27th, 2009, a collection of poetry by Alexander Devetak “Тайновити места“ (Mysterious places) was presented in the premises of the National Library and Study Hall of Danyl Kiš in Verbas (Serbia).

• A. Pavlovič – an undervalued personality of the Rusyn national movement

  November 26th, 2009 saw a scholarly seminar “Legacy of the life and work of Alexander Pavlovič for the present day” in the premises of the Museum of Rusyn Culture in Prešov on the occasion of 190th posthumous birthday anniversary of Alexander Pavlovič, a Rusyn revivalist.

• Ten 90-year olds with Rusyn roots

  On November 25th 2009, the Association of Ukrainists in Slovakia in cooperation with other Ukrainian organisations and institutions prepared a working seminar under the name “Ten 90-year olds” in the Russian House on 62, Hlavná Street in Prešov. The seminar was dedicated to significant personalities in the fields of science and culture, who were originally identified (either by others or themselves) as Ukrainians and, later on, as Rusyns-Ukrainians; however, unambiguously, they all have Rusyn roots and were born in 1919.

• The Council of the Association of Rusyn Writers in Slovakia meets

  On November 18th, 2009, the Council of the Association of Rusyn Writers in Slovakia met in the meeting-hall of the Slovak National Musum – Museum of Rusyn Culture, on 10, Masarykova Street in Prešov. Here, three publications, issued by the association in 2009, were presented: “Жменї родной землї“ (Lumps of fatherland) by Мikuláš Kseňák, “Нагода або судьба“ (Accident or Fate) by Štefan Smolej and “Русиньскый літературный алманах на 2010 рік“ (Rusyn Literary Almanach 2010).

• A first for universities

  November 16th, 2009 (close to the 20th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, which started the renaissance of Rusynicity and Rusyns in our fatherland) saw the publication of the first university textbook of Rusyn for students of Rusyn Language and Literature at Prešov University. The authors of the textbook are doc. PhDr. Vasiľ Jabur, CSc. and PhDr. Anna Plišková, PhD., it was reviewed by prof. Dr. Stеfan Pugh and prof. Dr. Michal Kapraľ, CSc., and edited by doc. PhDr. V. Jabur, CSc.

• Elections and Rusyns

  November 14th, 2009 saw elections of representatives for all self-governing regions in Slovakia. We are mainly interested in the Prešov self-governing region (PSR), as that is where most Rusyns within Slovakia live. Among those elected to the Prešov regional parliament, the following Rusyns are included: Ivan Solej for the Medzilaborce district, Milan Cocuľa and Ján Holodňák for the Svidník district and Nadežda Sirková for the Snina district. We would like to express our congratulations and the hope that they will not forget their Rusyn roots when dealing with cultural-ethnic issues in the parliament. We are sorry that the Prešov district of PSR will not have any Rusyn representatives, although, on the ballot, there were such Rusyn candidates as Fedor Vico, Ing. arch. Slavomír Hirjak, Mário Garbera and Mgr. Peter Krajňák, as well as Bc. Kristián Huňara for the Snina district.

• Poetry in town – ODD AND EVEN

  On November 20th, 2009, the exhibition of photography “Poetry in town – ODD AND EVEN" will be opened at 4.30 pm in the exhibition hall of the Town Centre of Culture in Humenné. Eight well-known photographers from Humenné chose works of eight regional poets and created photographical illustrations to go with them.

• Five works by the most famous Rusyn sold at an auction for 55,780,500 USD

  On November 11th, 2009, Sotheby’s Auction House in New York held one of this year’s most important auctions, where, out of 54 works on offer, 52 were sold for a total of 134,4 million USD. Five works by the king of pop-art Andy Warhol (whose both parents were Rusyns from the village of Miková in north-east Slovakia) caused extraordinary excitement and were sold for a total of 55,780,500 USD.

• An exhibition showing works by the Rusyn photographer L. Cuper

  On October 20th, 2009, the restaurant/cafe “Via Magna” on 27, Hlavná Street, Prešov saw the opening of the 21st self-contained exhibition macroPHOTOGRAPHS showing works by Ladislav Cuper, a Rusyn from Prešov, who was born in the Rusyn village of Nižný Mirošov, the Svidník region.

• On the trail of Rusyn culture

  November 13th, 2009 will be OURS, RUSYNS’! The organisation “Young Rusyns”, the local organisation of Rusyn Revival in Slovakia in Prešov and the Museum of Rusyn Culture in Prešov most heartily invites you to the cultural-social event On the trail of Rusyn culture as part of Days of Rusyn traditions.

• Presentation of a new book in Ňagov

  For the people of Ňagov, November 8th, 2009 (Sunday afternoon) was a minor Rusyn holiday, as this was when Jozef Kudzej, a Ňagov national revivalist, presented his third series of fables entitled A fable-teller contemplates. It is said that you cannot become a prophet at home but the people of Ňagov (at least those who came to the event of the festive release of the book) proved that they respect the author and highly appreciate his activities.

• National Revival of Rusyns in Slovakia in the 19th and 20th century

  On October 23rd, 2009 the above titled scholarly seminar was held in Bardejov. It was attended by renowned Slovak historians, Rusyn museum professionals, officials of the Rusyn Revival in Slovakia, representatives of Slavic organisations, Rusyn writers, Church activists and representatives of Rusyn media.

• Elections for self-governing regions

  November 14th, 2009 is the day of the third election for the bodies of self-governing regions and, to motivate the voters, the local organisation of Prešov “Rusyn Revival in Slovakia (RRS)” has decided to put forward good reasons to make the right decisions. The Prešov self-governing region is a highly important instrument of regional, cultural and social life. Decisions are made by the head of the self-governing region and its representatives. In the words of Michal Kaliňák, the head of the local organisation of RRS in Prešov: “Rusyns living in the self-governing region of Prešov represent a significant ethnic minority, which can substantially influence life in the largest self-governing region in Slovakia. For its 13 districts, we have suggested 13 reasons why voters should come to ballot boxes“.

• New premiere in A. Dukhnovich Theatre

  November 6th, 2009 will see the premiere of a play by Karol Horák Buridan’s Donkey directed by Henryk Rozen at the main stage of the professional Rusyn theatre (one of only two in the world). The second premiere will be held on October 11th, 2009. Next year, the theatre will celebrate the 65th anniversary of its foundation. It has mainly earned its fame within the past twenty years, especially by performing plays in Rusyn directed by homeland, but mainly guest, directors. The theatre has not only contributed to the development of Rusyn culture in Slovakia but has also enriched Slovak culture as such. It has become one of the most prominent theatres in Slovakia. The actors in the ensemble are exceptional, which is also proved by the recent prestigious prize DOSKY 2009 (STAGES 2009) awarded to Eugen Lybezňuk.

• Seminar on the Church of the Eastern Rite

  On November 5th, 2009, a scholarly seminar on Christian Churches of the Eastern Rite and the Forming of National Identity of Carpathian Rusyns will be held in the Slovak National Museum – Museum of Rusyn Culture on 10, Masarykova Street in Prešov. The event is organised by the Rusyn Cultural-Educational Association of A. Dukhnovich in Prešov in cooperation with the above museum and the Slovak Association of Rusyn Organisations with its headquarters in Prešov. At the seminar, the following speakers will present their papers: PhDr. Gabriel Székely, PhD., prof. ThDr. Milan Gerka, CSc., PhDr. Anna Plišková, PhD., Mgr. Jaroslav Popovec, Mgr. Gabriel Beskyd, PhDr. Oľga Glosíková, DrSc. and others.

• Rusyns of Croatia have their own symbols

  On October 29th, 2009, national symbols of Rusyns – coat-of-arms, flag and anthem – were officially approved. The flag has three colours: red, white and blue with the Rusyn coat-of-arms in the middle, just like the Rusyn one used around the world; this one is, however, in combination with the Croatian national flag – vertical red and white lines above the coat-of-arms. A modified version of the song “Braca Rusyny“ (“Rusyn Brothers”), will serve as the anthem of Croatian Rusyns. May 25th will be celebrated as the National Rusyn Holiday in Croatia. This day is also associated with the foundation of the Greek-Catholic parish of Petrovce.

• Interesting new books by Rusyns

  In October 2009 three interesting books by Rusyn authors (one in Slovak and two in Rusyn) were published: Daniel in the lions’ den ... or Unshredded memoirs of a nation by ThLic. František Krajňák from Kamienka, 100 significant Rusyns through the eyes of contemporaries, part II (Prešov: World Congress of Rusyns) by PhDr. Mária Maľcovská et al. from Prešov, and Coincidence or destiny (Prešov: Association of Rusyn writers in Slovakia) by Štefan Smolej from Medzilaborce.

• Fifth seminar on Carpathian-Rusyn studies

  On October 21st, 2009 the fifth scholarly seminar on Carpathian-Rusyn studies was held at Prešov University (PU). This time, the Institute of Rusyn Language and Culture at PU, which has been organising seminars on Carpathian-Rusyn Studies since February of this year, hosted Professor Michael Moser from the Institute of Slavic Studies at Vienna University. This expert on Slavic studies, who is, at present, especially known in the area of Ukrainian studies, gave a speech on Ivan Paňkevyč’s Grammar of the “Rus´sian“ language.

• Voices of Rusyns from the Starínska dolina valley could be heard in Snina

  On October 10th, 2009 a social-cultural event Voices of Rusyns from the Starínska dolina Valley was held in Snina as a part of a project by the Slovak Ministry of Culture. The event was organised by the Rusyn Cultural-Educational Association of A. Dukhnovich in Prešov, the regional branch and the Municipal Office, Department of Education, Culture and Sport in Snina. The event took place in the main hall of the Snina Court House.

• Creative Autumn dedicated to B. Antonič

  October 17th and 18th, 2009 saw the 17th year of the Creative Autumn of Lemkos in Gorlice (Poland), dedicated to Bogdan Igor Antonič. The event was organised by the Association of Lemkos and the Association “Ruska Bursa“ (Russian market) in Gorlice.

• Seven hundred in eight years

  On October 17th, 2009, Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov held the gala concert “Songs of my home” which is now in its 8th year.

• Successful accreditation and new study programmes

  It was in the middle of October 2009 that we heard the great news that the Master’s Degree study programme of Rusyn Language and Literature has been accredited.

• Prestigious prize goes to an actor from the Rusyn Theatre

  On October 25th, 2009 the results of the survey DOSKY 2009 (STAGES 2009) were officially announced.

• Open invitation to Rusyns gala concerts

  October 17th, 2009 (Saturday) sees the best interpreters of Rusyn folk songs accompanied by the Chemlon Folk Group from Humenné at 6 pm at the main stage of Jonáš Záborský Theatre in Prešov. The event is held as part of the greatest and most popular national project of the Rusyn Revival in Slovakia “Songs of My Home“.

• Rusyns from Serbia visit Rusyns in Slovakia

  On September 26th and 27th, 2009 Slovakia was visited by a 17-member delegation of Rusyns from Kocur and Ruský Kerestúr in the Vojvodina region in Serbia, lead by Michal Fejsa, a professor of Rusyn language and literature at Novy Sad University.

• Rusyn Culture at Pieniny

  On September 19th, 2009, the Festival of Rusyn Culture was held in the Goral (Highland) town of Spišská Stará Ves as a part of the project “Encounter of Seven Cultures of the Slovak-Polish Border”. The event was organised by the town of Spišská Stará Ves and the Euroregión Tatry Association. The festival was aimed at promotion of Rusyn national minority in Slovakia and in Poland, its customs, traditions and culture.

• He has not even thought about an Oscar

  On October 1st, 2009, Banská Bystrica saw the new premiere of the prize-winning documentary film about the Rusyn village of Osadné and its inhabitants, as well as the Rusyn activist Fedor Vico from Prešov.

• 16th IFA Snina 2009 starts

  The 16th year of the International Art Festival Snina 2009 started on September 27th, 2009 with the arrival of artists to Snina.

• Rusyn songs heard far and wide

  On September 24th – 26th, 2009, the festival of Rusyn folk song SONGS OF MY HOME saw its 8th year, held under the patronage of the head of the Prešov self-governing region, Peter Chudík.

• Beneficial Scholarly Seminar

  On September 24th, 2009 an international scholarly seminar took place in the Slovak National Museum – Museum of Rusyn Culture in Prešov. The seminar, which was named Július Stavrovský – Popradov: life and work analysis, was held on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of his death.

• Festival of Cernina in a New Style

  On September 13th, 2009 the 4th year of the folk festival was held in Cernina, the Svidník region, under the new name “From the heritage of our ancestors” as a part of the “Days of Rusyn traditions”.

• Magura Festival in Stebník

  On September 6th, 2009 the local municipality organized the 16th year of the Magura Festival on the occasion of the 595th anniversary of the first historical mention of the village of Stebník in the Bardejov region.

• At a programme meeting of the MOST – HID party, the young Rusyn Mgr. Peter Krajňák gave a speech

  On September 12th, 2009 a programme meeting of the new political party МОST – HID was held in Komárno, where, among others, the young Rusyn Mgr. Peter Krajňák, the party’s head for the Prešov region, gave a speech. In order to introduce him on this occasion, we interviewed him briefly.

• The first student from abroad, Milan Paďak, has come to Rusky Kerestur for studies

  It was on September 5th, 2009 when Milan Paďak from Uzhhorod came to Rusky Kerestur (the Vojvodina region in Serbia) to study at the Secondary Comprehensive School of Peter Kuzmjak. He will continue his studies at the Rusyn Department, in the first year of the above school.

• Open Days at Prešov University

  On September 11th and 14th, 2009 the second year of “Open Days – a presentation of Rusyn culture in all areas of their cultural-social life” was held at the campus of Prešov University (PU), No. 1, 17. Novembra Street.

• Film Premiere of “Osadné” in Snina and Prešov

  September 8th and 9th, 2009, were the dates of a premiere of the film “Osadné”, which was awarded the Prize for the Best Documentary Film over 30 Minutes at the 44th year of the International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic. It is a film about the most easterly point of the European Union, the Rusyn village of Osadné, its inhabitants and their views of the political scene.

• Seminar about A. Bačinský in Miskolc

  On August 28th and 29th, 2009 a scholarly seminar was held in Miskolc focused around Andrej Bačinský (1732 – 1809) – the most significant Rusyn Greek-Catholic bishop of Mukhachevo. The seminar was organised by: the Rusyn Ethnic Self-Government, the Rusyn ethnic cultural association Common Force in Miskolc, the Rusyn cultural association Revivalists and the Rusyn Scholarly Institute in Budapest.

• New Oblation Table in Osadné Blessed

  On August 23rd, 2009, a new oblation table in the Orthodox Church of Voznesiňa Hospodňoho in Osadné was blessed by the Most Holy Ján, Archbishop of Prešov. The Holy Blessing took place after the reconstruction of the altar part of the church, which was financed by the congregation. This was inevitable, as the old one was considerably damaged and the oblation table is the most important part of the House of God, since it is where Eucharist is performed and it can only be blessed by the bishop.

• OPEN DAYS

  – presentation of Rusyn culture in all areas of cultural-social life
  
  We would like to invite you to Prešov University’s Open Days, which will be held on September 11th and 14th, 2009 at the university campus, No. 1, 17. novembra Street, in the Assembly Hall (room No. 97 – ground floor).

• Day of Rusyn traditions in Čirč

  On August 30th, 2009, the municipal office of Čirč (the Stará Ľubovňa region) and the Rusyn Revival in Slovakia organised a Day of Rusyn Traditions, which started by a Holly Liturgy, followed by a ceremonial laying of wreaths at a memorial, a requiem mass and a cultural programme in the afternoon.

• Folk Feast in Radnaň nad Laborcom

  On August 30th, 2009 in the village of Radvaň nad Laborcom (the Medzilaborce region), a festive Day of Rusyn Traditions was held, prepared by the local municipal office and the Rusyn Revival in Slovakia.

• Two festivals in Vojvodina

  On August 21st and 23rd, 2009, two festivals took place in Vojvodina (Serbia), where a large number of Rusyns live.

• Would You Like to Study Rusyn?

  September 15th, 2009 is the deadline for submitting applications to study Rusyn language and literature for the academic year 2009/2010 at the University of Prešov.

• Arch-Eparchial Feast in Čirč

  On August 22nd and 23rd, 2009 in the village of Čirč (the Stará Ľubovňa region), a traditional Arch-Eparchial feast took place, which was held in a little church on the Mariánska Hora hill, situated above the village, and in the Byzantine Church of the Most Holy Mother of God.

• Barvinok Folk Group from Kamienka in Serbia

  On August 18th – 23rd, 2009 the cultural-educational association “Ďura Kiš“ from the Rusyn village of Šid (the area of Vojvodina in Serba) invited the well-known folk group Barvinok from the village of Kamienka (the Stará Ľubovňa region) to give several performances.

• Portrait of M. Jackson Sold for Undisclosed Sum

  On August 18th, 2009, the New York gallery, Vered, sold Andy Warhol’s portrait of Michael Jackson; however, it disclosed neither the sale price nor the buyer.

• Tour of Commemorative Places

  On August 16th, 2009, a tour of commemorative places in Slovakia and Hungary was initiated by MO ROS and the Cultural-Educational Association of A. Dukhnovich in Prešov.

• They Came as Far as Slovakia to Get Married

  August 8th, 2009 was the day when a unique wedding was held in Slovakia, in a wooden Rusyn church in the village of Miroľa (the Svidník region), of Cynthia Maria Magocsi, a Canadian bride of Rusyn origin, and Eamon Gerard O´Dea, a member of the Italian Ladin minority in Ireland, who live together in Paris. Why Slovakia?

• 29th Lemko Bonfire Abroad Successful

  On August 7th – 8th, 2009, the Rusyn organisation “Stowarzyszenie Lemków“ prepared an event in the north-west of Poland, where, due to the regrettable operation “Wisla“, many Lemkos/Rusyns were evacuated from the south-east of Poland.

• More Rusyn Summer Camps

  On August 2nd – 8th, 2009, a summer camp for Rusyn children was held in Chmeľova (the Bardejov region) and Červeny Kláštor (the Stará Ľubovňa region).

• Festival in the Spirit of Beloveža’s Celebrated Group

  On August 2nd, 2009, a folk festival took place in Beloveža (the Bardejov region), organised by the local municipal office, ROS and the Regional Association of ROS in Bardejov.

• “Lemkovina Bells” Tolled for the 11th Time

  On August 1st – 2nd, 2009 in the Monastyr area (the Tarnopoľ area in the Ukraine), the 11th Festival of Lemko Culture “Lemkovina Bells” was held.

• International Youth Camp in Hungary

  In July 2009 the National Rusyn Ethnic self-government organised an International Art Camp for children in the well-known tourist resort of Balaton – Balatonfüldvar, where children from the Podkarpatska region in the Ukraine, Romania and Hungary met under the leadership of Ivan Manajl, a fine artist and pedagogue.

• Festival in Topol to Celebrate A. Dukhnovich’s Anniversary

  On July 26th, 2009, a traditional festival of Rusyns was held to celebrate Alexander Dukhnovich’s posthumous birthday.

• 15th Festival in Pčoline Successful

  On July 26th, 2009 a Rusyn folk festival was held in Pčoline (the Snina region).

• Spirit of Carpathian Festival of Rusyns

  On July 24th – 26th, 2009, the non-profit association “Rusyn Centre” in Svidník organised a pilot year of the Festival of Carpathian Culture of Rusyns (Festival karpatskej kultúry Rusínov – FEKAKU), which was held in the heart of the stunning countryside at the campus of the Rostoky observatory (the Svidník region).

• Youth Festival “Water Vodova Fest“

  On July 24th – 25th, 2009, the 3rd year of an interesting festival was held at the Rusky Kerestur swimming pool (that is why “water“) in Vojvodina, which was attended by about 200 performers.

• New Rusyn Organisation Founded

  On July 21st, 2009, members of the new Rusyn organisation “Association of Rusyns in Slovakia” (Združenie Rusínov Slovenska – ZRS) met at the Museum of Rusyn Culture in Prešov.

• Feast Celebration at Bukova Hôrka

  On August 1st and 2nd, 2009, an Archbishop Feast celebration took place at Bukova Hôrka in the Stropkov region, which has a long-standing tradition. It started on Saturday afternoon by a prayer to Jesus Christ the Saviour, followed by a Holy Mass, agape, akafist and an evening liturgy, and the day finished with a prayer to Jesus and prayers from the psalms. On Sunday morning, a prayer to the Most Holy Mother of God took place, followed by a morning liturgy, culminating in an Archbishop liturgy officiated by Ján Babjak, SJ, the Archbishop of Prešov and the Metropolitan of the Greek-Catholic Church in Slovakia and was attended by many other priests.

• The village of Žakovce celebrates its jubilee

  On July 25th and 26th, 2009, the village of Žakovce in the Kežmarok region celebrated its 800th anniversary. It was where citizens of the neighbouring Rusyn village of Blažov were moved as a result of the building of a military zone. The two-day programme was interesting. Apart from the presentation of the publication “Eight Hundred Years of Žakovce”, a nice folk programme was prepared for those in attendance, a part of which were the following acts: the Uhľar sisters, the dulcimer band of Andrej Kandráč and the folk group of Jarabina.

• Earl Laborec in Medzilaborce

  On July 19th, 2009 the students of the Elementary Music School of Alexander Ľubimov in Medzilaborce, under the directorship of the school’s principle Mgr. Ľudmila Šteckova, prepared a programme of music, song and artistic recital, by which they presented the legendary Earl Laborec, the ruler of the Carpathian Rusyns, who was imprisoned by imperial Hungarian troops in the very region where Medzilaborce stands today and was hanged directly above the Laborec river. The river, as well as the town, was named after the ruler. This inspired the students to present another significant personality in the hall of the community centre as a part of the 3rd year of the project “Great Rusyns”. This year’s programme was named “Earl Laborec and Medzilaborce”. Apart from the students and their parents, the cultural programme was also enriched by folk songs as well as a performance by the local folk group Kamjana.

• Day of Culture in Klenova

  On July 19th, 2009 a Cultural Celebration in Klenova in the Snina region took place, where the following acts performed as part of a rich cultural programme: the music group of Ján Magura, the female singing groups Starinčanka, Klenovčanka and Duha, the vocal-instrumental group Dukat and the soloist Mikuláš Petrašovský. The programme was not lacking in humour in the interpretations of folk anecdotalist Jožka Jožka. The sixth annual celebration in Klenova was successful and varied in spite of the renovation of the village school, which will cost 370 thousand Euro.

• From Rusaľ to Jan in Poland

  On July 25th – 26th, 2009 at the Museum of Lemko Culture in the Rusyn village of Zyndranova (Poland), an annual celebration of Lemko culture entitled “From Rusaľ to Jan” took place. On the first day, participants lay flowers of respect at commemorative places, then visited an exposition at the museum and, finally, met at an evening bonfire. The second day started with Holy Liturgy, followed by the main programme – performances by the following local folk groups: “Lemkivskij perstenyk“ from Gladyšov, “Terka“ from Vilchovec, “Vylšňja", „Rogowice" from Rogow, “Oslavjany" from Mokré, “Vidymo" from Sanok, as well as performances by the following guest groups: “Na drabyni" from the Ukraine, “Ton” from Medzilaborce and “Makovica” from Svidník in Slovakia. During the celebration, the audience could visit an exposition at the museum, folk crafts and children could enter some interesting competitions. This brought another celebration to an end, which, for decades, has been organised by Teodor Goč, its main organiser and the founder of the Museum of Lemko Culture in Zyndranova, who, on June 28th, 2009 celebrated his 80th birthday.

• PUĽS represents Slovakia in France

  July 23rd, 2009: The Poddukliansky Artistic Folk Group (PUĽS) has recently left for an international festival in Martigues, France, where it is representing Slovakia and, especially, the Prešov self-governing region. It is one of the greatest folk festivals in the region. "The town of Martigues is on the French Riviera and the main stage is placed right on the sea. During the stay, PUĽS will perform their programme “Charmed by a Glance”, which was only recently premiered, several times. There are also other events, such as a march through the town and a dance school for festival visitors," said Jozef Michalčin, the manager of PUĽS. The director of the group Vladimír Marušin said that everything has been alright, the weather is great, as is the organisation of the whole festival, and all 46 members of the group are being well taken care of. The group are coming back to Slovakia in August.

• Rusyn theatre at a festival in Italy

  On July 23rd, 2009 at the international theatrical festival “Mittelfest 2009”, which took place in Cividale del Friuli (in the building of a local church), the theatrical group of the professional Rusyn theatre of Alexander Dukhnovich (DAD) in Prešov presented the play “La Musica” by the Slovak dramatist Karol Horák.
  "It is a prestigious event and our theatre is attending it after a 10 year gap. We offered the organisers three plays and they chose Horák’s La Musica, which was rehearsed by our actors in 2001 and directed by Rastislav Ballek," said Marián Marko, the Director of DAD. It is an original Slovak drama which, through the story of a family, pictures events of almost the whole 20th century, including both world wars as well as the communist totalitarian period. An interesting feature of the play is that music, generally considered a cultivating factor in society, in this case becomes a reason for tragedy for the whole family.
  The play was performed in Rusyn with English and Italian subtitles. The following actors starred in the play: Vasiľ Rusiňák, Ľudmila Lukačíková, Vladimíra Brehová, Eugen Libezňuk and Ľubomír Mindoš. The set was designed by Štefan Hudák and the music composed by Norbert Bodnár.

• Celebration of P. P. Gojdič, the Blessed in Slovakia

  On July 22nd, 2009 in the St John the Baptist Cathedral in Prešov, an Archbishop Feast Celebration took place in the name of the Blessed Rusyn bishop of Prešov and martyr Pavol Peter Gojdič. The holy archbishop liturgy was officiated by the Prešov Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Greek-Catholic Church in Slovakia, Mons. Ján Babjak and co-officiated by the emeritus Prague Auxiliary Bishop Ján Eugen Kočiš, the protosynkel of the Košice diocese Vladimír Tomko and 50 further priests. The cathedral was filled with pilgrims not only from Prešov, but also other parishes of the Archbishopric. The homily was recited by the rector of the Greek-Catholic seminary of the Blessed bishop P. P. Gojdič in Prešov Marko Rozkoš. "It is necessary to come to the realisation that God is love. The Blessed Pavel Peter Gojdič is a great example, as his life was connected to God’s love, and he expressed that in his motto – God is love, let us love Him," stated M. Rozkoš. At the end of the ceremony, a holy prayer took place to the Blessed P. P. Gojdič in the chapel at his remains. Towards the end, vladyka Ján Babjak also gave a speech and said that it is important that we try to approach our lives as he did his, as he was able to love and forgive. He was not after revenge, he did not judge others and he was humble. This should also be our way, a way for those who admire him. The liturgy was accompanied by the cathedral choir of St John the Baptist from Prešov conducted by Valéria Hricovova.

• Young Greek-Catholics meet in Serbia

  On July 10th – 11th, 2009, a Greek-Catholic parish in Rusky Kerstur (Vojvodina), which is considered the centre of Rusyns in Serbia, organised a meeting of young Greek-Catholics. It was attended by over a hundred people, not only locals, but also youths from Kocur, Kula and Novy Sad, some arrived from the Eastern Church Apostle Exarchy in Macedonia. Speeches were given on the topic of “World Mentality – Gospel Mentality” by the following priests: Michal Malacko, Darko Rac and Vladislav Varga, each of them followed by a lively discussion. After the first day in Rusky Kerestur, the group moved to Vodica, where they were visited by Bishop Georgij Džudžar, who gave Holy Liturgy in their name. As vladyka pointed out, the aim of such meetings is for the young to get to know each other, gain new spiritual experience, which they will take with them to their parishes at home. After last year’s meeting of youth in Macedonia, this year’s meeting, again, enriched the 30-year tradition of spiritual meetings of Greek-Catholic youth.

• The story of Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup

  In July and August 2009 in the Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art in Medzilaborce, a unique exhibition of a major series of pop-art from the complete portfolio Campbell´s Soup is presented, which was created by Andy Warhol in his typical screen-printing technique. The story started 47 years ago on July 9th, 1962, when Warhol’s canvases of Campbell’s soup were exhibited for the very first time. Together with his work Brillo Box, they are considered one of the most revolutionary works in the history of the 20th century.

• Film about Osadne won a prize in Karlsbad

  On July 11th, 2009 at the end of the 44th year of the International Film Festival in Karlsbad in the Czech Republic, the film “Osadne” was awarded the prize of the best documentary film over 30 minutes. It is a film on the most easterly place of the European Union, the Rusyn village of Osadné, its inhabitants and their views on the political situation where three main protagonists dominate: Ladislav Mikuláško, the village’s mayor, Peter Soroka, the local Orthodox priest, and Fedor Vico, a Rusyn activist. The creative team of the director Marko Škop, the cameraman Ján Meliš and the editor František Krähenbiel took the Crystal Globe and 5 thousand American dollars. The film “Iné svety (Other worlds)” by M. Škop, also about Rusyns, won, in Karlsbad in 2006, a Special Prize and also the Audience Prize of the Pravo daily newspaper.

• Hamlet from Ďaďa on Vojvodina television

  July 7th, 2009 in the Dunaj studio, the latest premiere of the Rusyn national theatre Petro Riznič Ďaďa was recorded in Rusky Kerestur (Serbia). It was “Hamlet in a Spicy Sauce” by Alla Nikolaj, directed by Vladimír Naď Ačim. For television, the play was directed by Lazar Brkič, for the Editorial Office for Programmes broadcast in Rusyn of Vojvodina Television.

• Serbian Government approves Law on Ethnic Minorities Committee

  On July 2nd, 2009, at a meeting of the Serbian government, a proposal of the Law on ethnic minority committees was approved, which will now be discussed at the meeting of the national parliament. As Svetozár Čiplič, the Minister for civil and ethnic rights pointed out, by approving the law, constitutional rights of national minorities are finally clearly defined and the procedure of constituting national minorities, their competences, finances and property has also been approved.

• Podvihorlatský Folk Festival not a let-down

  On Juny 27th and 28th, 2009, in the tourist resort of Sninské rybníky, the Podvihorlatský Folk Festival entitled “Pod Beskydom zeleneňkym (Under the Green Beskyd)“ took place. This festival was another activity of the pilot project of friendship at the eastern border, which is co-financed by a Norwegian fund, the Slovak state fund and from finances of the Slovak Ministry of Culture. The following acts performed at the festival: the singing group Duha, the folk groups Starinčanka and Ubľanka and the performances of a girls’ trio from Snina and a duo from Uzhhorod, the dance group Barvinok from Sambor in Sub-Carpathia were also a nice experience. On Sunday, the following acts represented the Slovak side: Šiňava from Snina, Vranovčan from Vranov nad Topľou and the Ukrainian side was represented by groups from Chust, Sambor and Uzhhorod. Groups from Serbia and Poland also performed at the festival.

• Four new Rusyn textbooks published

  At the beginning of the school summer holiday, the editorial office of Rusín and Ľudové noviny newspaper published four new Rusyn textbooks which complete a new series of textbooks for two types of elementary and secondary school: those with Rusyn as the language of education and those where Rusyn is taught; and take into consideration changes in Rusyn orthography valid from September 1st, 2005. The first two textbooks were written by published authors; Ján Hrib, a retired teacher, (Rusyn language for the 5th year of elementary schools), and Mgr. Štefan Suchý (Literary Education for the 5th year of elementary schools). The third book, entitled Rusyn Language Workbook for the 5th year of elementary schools, is by Mgr. Marek Gaj, a young teacher, one of the first graduates of the intensified course in Rusyn Language and Culture at the Pedagogical Faculty, University of Prešov. Furthermore, an interesting and a unique textbook Rusyn Language in Conversation for the second level of elementary schools and for secondary schools by PhDr. Kvetoslava Koporová (Slovak), PhDr. Anna Plišková, Ph.D. (Rusyn) and Mgr. Eva Eddy, Ph.D. (English) was published.

• Oros gives a speech at the meeting with V. Juščenko

  On June 19th, 2009 at the Summit of Central European state presidents, which took place on June 18th – 20th, 2009 in Novy Sad (Serbia), the president of the Ukraine, Viktor Juščenko, initiated a meeting with representatives of the Rusyn and Ukrainian ethnic minorities in Serbia. Among other arrangements, Slavko Oros, the Chairman of the National Council of the Rusyn Ethnic Minority in Serbia pointed out that their ancestors came to these areas over 260 years ago; they came as Ruthens, Rusyns, Greek-Catholics and, thanks to their own efforts as well as those of the church and school, they have preserved their traditions and customs, their language and Rusyn identity.

• The Chairman of the Slovak National Council attends a festival in Medzilaborce

  On June 27th – 28th, 2009, the 47th year of the Culture and Sports Festival was held in Medzilaborce. It was attended by such honoured guests as Pavol Paška, the Chairman of the Slovak National Council, Peter Chudik, the Head of the Prešov Self-governing Region, and others. The main festival organisers – the town of Medzilaborce and the Rusyn Revival in Slovakia prepared a magnificent cultural programme. Performances were given by winners of the national competition entitled Songs of my family: M. Železná, M. Karaš, I. Sivuľková, the Magurová trio, the Kačmarová sisters and others, as well as Rusyn folk groups: Krasnobridčanka, Haburčanka, Voľanka, Porubjanka, the local act Kamjana, the Humenské trio and others. The headline act of the programme was PULS (the Poddukelsky Ukrainian Folk Group) from Prešov which presented highlights of their new performance Charmed by a Glance.

• On the Feast of St John in Jakubiany

  On June 28th, 2009 the 3rd year of the successful event “On the Feast of St John” was held in Jakubiany, where St John’s customs, traditions, songs and dances from the region were presented. This pleasant event was opened by a speech given by PhDr. Jozef Dufala, the Mayor of the village, and was followed by a great cultural programme. Performances were given by the following folk groups: Barvinok from Kamienka, Poľana from Jarabina and others. The fact that a lot of young people were a part of the programme is a sure sign of the continued development of Rusyn culture.

• Rusyn writers meet in Prešov

  On June 30th, 2009 in the boardroom of the Museum of Rusyn Culture in Prešov, a meeting of committee members of the Association of Rusyn Writers in Slovakia, lead by PhDr. Mikuláš Kseňák, was held. The chairman informed the members about tasks that lie ahead for the Association, especially with regard to the realisation of projects approved by the Slovak Ministry of Culture. One of the tasks is to organise a literary competition for Rusyn writers; whereby Jaroslav Sisák, the association’s deputy, was appointed the project’s warrantor. A literary seminar will also be organised and the following publications will be issued: Rusyn Literary Almanac 2009, Pieces of native soil (Жменї родной землї) by Міkuláš Kseňák, Chance or destiny (Нагода ці судьба) by Štefan Smolej and A bridge over the river of time (Міст над ріков часу) by Štefan Suchý.

• “KREMENEC 2009”, 2nd interregional meeting

  On June 28th, 2009 a group of people, mostly Rusyn youth, took a hiking trip to Kremenec hill in the Snina region where the three state borders of Slovakia, Poland and the Ukraine meet. The event went under the slogan “Rusyns – one and inseparable nation!” The event was also attended by the honorary Chairman of the World Council of Rusyns Paul Robert Magocsi who presented diplomas to the first graduates of the 5-year study programme at Rusyn boarding schools in the Zakarpatska region of the Ukraine.

• Fedor Vico exhibits among his own

  On June 26th, 2009 in the village of Čabiny in the Medzilaborce region at the House of Folk Creation’s gallery, the opening of an exhibition by Fedor Vico, the well-known caricaturist was held. It was organised by the Municipal Office of Čabiny, the Rusyn Revival in Slovakia (Rusínska obroda na Slovensku – ROS), the local organisation of ROS in Prešov and the author himself. The exhibition, which the artist named Fedor Vico; in humour and in private, shows humorous and satirical drawings, as well as intimate sketches, paintings and wood reliefs.

• Prešov self-governing region awards a Rusyn

  On June 26th, 2009 the Prešov self-governing region (PSR) rewarded the most successful pedagogues and students of secondary schools within PSR for the first time. Together, 19 teachers from the whole region were awarded the Jan Amos Comenius plaque “Sophista pro regione – Teacher of Wisdom for the Region”. The “Lux Mentium – The Light of Cognition” plaque was presented to 16 students, among them Viera Sidorová, a Rusyn student of the Business Academy at the Secondary Vocational School in Snina, who was declared the most successful contestant in the state computer data processing competition.

• “Rusyns in Serbia” Bulletin presented

  On June 22nd, 2009 the “Rusyns in Serbia” bulletin, which gives historical and contemporary information about the life of Rusyns in Serbia, was presented by the “Culture Works of Rusyn Dukes“ in Novy Sad (Serbia) to the media and general public. The bulletin was presented by Slavko Oros, the Chairman of the National Council of the Rusyn minority in Serbia, Vladimír Palančanin, the director of the publishing house “Ruske slovo“ (Russian word), Jelena Perkovič, the director of the “Ruské slovo“ newspaper, Miroslava Keveždi, the director of the “Culture Works of Rusyn Dukes“ and Tatiana Jakim, the project coordinator.

• Rusyn TV magazine receives a prize

  On June 19th, 2009 at the regional headquarters of the Slovak Syndicate of Journalists in Košice, a specialist committee met under the direction of Doc. PhDr. Ján Sand, Ph.D. from the Department of Journalism at the Faculty of Arts, Comenius University in Bratislava, to evaluate the works submitted to the 2008 competition for journalists of Eastern Slovakia, which entered its 14th year. It is gratifying that the 2nd place in category D1 (nationally broadcast television channels) was taken by the following authors: Jaroslava Sabolová Sisáková, Ladislav Csiky, Valéria Fürješová, Peter Krajňák Jr., for their National Rusyn Magazine, broadcast on October 14th, 2008 – a “journey“ (lasting almost half an hour) through the civilian and special activities in the regions where Rusyns live.

• Local Organisation of Rusyn Revival in Slovakia elects its new Chairman

  On June 18th, 2009 at the second stage of the Alexander Dukhnovich Theatre in Prešov, an annual meeting of members of the Local Organisation of Rusyn Revival in Slovakia (LO RRS) in Prešov took place. The currect activities of LO RRS in Prešov were honoured and, after a heated discussion, in which the problem of the Russian (understand Rusyn) House in Prešov dominated, PhDr. Michal Kaliňák was elected the new Chairman. Furthermore, a 9-member committee was appointed. As the newly elected Chairman pointed out, the change in LO RRS should contribute to even more efficient work of Prešov and Sabinov Rusyns before the population census in 2011.

• Competition “LITERARY TALENTS 2009” announce its results...

  ...in Slovak and the languages of ethnic minorities
  
  On June 17th, 2009 the results of “Literary Talents 2009”, the 29th year of the competition, were announced. The competition was entered by 408 amateur authors with 478 literary works from the following regions: Humenné, Snina and Medzilaborce. The submitted works were written in Slovak, Rusyn, Ukrainian and Romany. The works in Rusyn were judged by Mgr. Štefan Suchý. In total, the committee awarded 75 prizes and honourable mentions. The fact that no prizes were awarded in some categories shows that the judging was strict. The following authors were among this year’s Rusyn literary talents in individual categories: Petra Roháčová (in poetry and prose), Alena Grundzová, Jozef Kudzej and Peter Piteľ.

• JUNE 12th BECOMES THE “DAY OF RUSYNS”

  June 12th will from now on be celebrated as the Day of Rusyns in Slovakia. The decision was made by means of a poll taken by the readers of „InfoРусина“ (InfoRusyn) аnd „Народных новинок“ (National Newspaper), as well as the visitors to www.rusynacademy.sk This day is connected to the first Slavonic Congress, which took place in Prague on June 12th, 1848, and was also attended by J. M. Hurban. He presented a memorandum in which, for the very first time, the recognition of Slovaks and Rusyns as independent nations was demanded, by which the national revival of Slovaks and Rusyns in Austro-Hungary started. It also relates to June 12th, 1933, when, during the Days of the Rusyn Culture (June 10th – 12th), a memorial to the Rusyn national revivalist Alexander Dukhnovich was unveiled in Prešov. By establishment of this Rusyn holiday, a point in the resolution, which was adopted at the meeting of the World Council of Rusyns, with regard to two membership organisations of the World Congress of Rusyns – the Rusyn Revival in Slovakia and the Slovak Association of Rusyn Organisations – was fulfilled. Next year, the holiday will be celebrated for the very first time.

• A memorial to Juraj Cimbora

  On June 7th, 2009, during a Sunday Holy mass in the St John the Baptist Greek-Catholic Cathedral in Prešov, a memorial to the 90th anniversary of the posthumous birthday of Juraj Cimbora (born June 6th, 1919, died October 1st, 1989); pedagogue, composer and arranger of Rusyn folk songs, the author of a great number of spiritual and liturgical choir pieces, was held. At the moment, the cathedral choir of St John the Baptist, include several of his liturgical compositions in their repertoire and are going to rehearse the complete “Holy Liturgy of St John the Golden Mouthed“, which was composed between 1982 and 1984 and dedicated to the cathedral and its choir.

• Ďura Papuga from Serbia becomes new Head of World Council of Rusyns

  On June 4th – 7th, 2009 in Rusky Kerestur (Serbia) and Petrovce (Croatia), the World Congress of Rusyns held its 10th anniversary meeting, which welcomed delegates, guests and representatives of Rusyn organisations from Slovakia, Serbia, Poland, the Ukraine, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, Croatia and North America (the USA and Canada).

• Resolution

  At the 10th World Congress of Rusyns, which took place on June 4th – 7th, 2009 in Rusky Kerestur (Serbia) and Petrovce (Croatia), a resolution was adopted, in which the delegates set tasks to be accomplished by the next congress.

• Encounters with mother tongue are special

  We need to be thankful for every encounter with our mother tongue, also those taking place outside of usual conditions, as they evoke interest in children as well as adults in a unique way. One of these encounters takes the form of Dukhnovich’s Prešov, which is an event within Rusyn cultural and ethnic life. Here, competitions in reciting of Rusyn poetry and prose, presentations of authors’ own literary works, as well as performances of theatrical groups can be witnessed. On June 12th, 2009 on the main stage of the Alexander Dukhnovich Theatre in Prešov, this annual event took place for the 10th time.

• Blessed remains of Alexander Nevsky in Slovakia

  The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in the Czech Republic and Slovakia was pleased to announce in the media that on Sunday, May 31st, 2009 the blessed remains of Alexander Nevsky were brought to Slovakia.

• 20 years’ work results in TETRAEVANJELIUM (TETRAGOSPEL)

  Under the patronage of the World Congress of Rusyns, an exquisite work has been published, entitled TETRAEVANJELIUM (i.e. complete holy gospels by Mathew, Mark, Luke and John).

• Rusyn language at Vienna University

  On May 19th, 2009 PhDr. A. Plišková, Ph.D. gave a speech before students of The Institute of Slavonic Studies of Vienna University.

• Actor of Rusyn Theatre unexpectedly passes away

  With the deepest sorrow and regret we announce the unexpected death of Sergej HUDÁK, a member of the company of actors at the Alexander Dukhnovich Theatre in Prešov, who passed away on May 29th, 2009 close to his 45th birthday.