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.
The delegation was provided with an abundant programme, which started in Prešov with a visit to the headquarters of the Rusyn Revival in Slovakia, followed by a visit to the Prešov Museum of Greek-Catholic Bishopric with an explanation by Father PaedDr. F. Dancák, the vice-chancellor of the Prešov Archbishop Office. The guests then visited the Rusyn village of Chmeľová (in the Bardejov region), where a concert took place as a part of the Songs of My Home festival, where the guests from Serbia also performed. The next day started with a visit to the historical centre of Bardejov, from where the delegation moved to Medzilaborce, where they visited the well-known Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art, followed by a visit paid to a mass in the local Orthodox church. Afterwards, the guests took a stroll around the mini open-air museum of Rusyn architecture. At the end, there was a typical Rusyn feast and some gifts were exchanged.
It was claimed by all the participants that such meetings are really necessary in order to reinforce the unity and international cooperation of Rusyns. Although we are far from each other, our hearts beat for one thing – Rusynity.
S. L.