The clergy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church of the northwestern part of Hutsul region between 1836 and 1935

Abstract

The chronology of the activities of Ukrainian Greek Catholic pastors in the northwestern part of Hutsul region (within present-day Ivano-Frankivsk oblast) has been found out in the article. There were nine parishes on this territory. The above-mentioned parishes united about 20 churches in 17 settlements. Information on the clergy of the northwestern part of Hutsul region has been taken from schematisms, funds of the Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine (Lviv), and private archives of the Klapchuk family in Deliatyn. The first information on priests dates back to the middle of the XVIIth century. It has been found out that 74 priests (7-9 ineach village) were pastors in the northwestern part of Hutsul region during the century. The average time of pastoral duties in Bili Oslavy, Krasna, Lanchyn, Sadzhavka and Yablunytsia was 11.1 years, in Zarichchia - 12.5 years, and in Deliatyn, Dora and Mykulychyn - 14.3 years. Three priests had been pastors for more than 40 years: O. Hlibovytsky (Yablunytsia, 43 years), E. Gadzinsky (Bili Oslavy, 43 years), and A. Fedorovych (Lanchyn, 41 years). There were priests who had been pastors for more than 30 years - T. Blonsky (Dora, 37 years), Yu. Krasytsky (Sadzhavka, 37 years), I. Harasymovych and T. Galaichuk (Mykulychyn, 35 years), A. Vytoshynsky (Deliatyn, 34 years), and M. Drahomyretsky (Deliatyn, 32 years). Three priests were pastors in two parishes (D. Khomyn, V. Lutsky, I. Bylynkevych).Thus, using the method of historical chronology, the authors of the article have solved a very important issue concerning the history of Hutsul region. They have found out the names of priests in nine parishes within present-day Ivano-Frankivsk oblast. The chronology of the activities of these priests has been studied as well. These pastors are important not only for the history of religion in Ivano-Frankivsk, but also for Ukrainians scattered all over the world and trying to understand their origin. The priests have been forming mental outlook and cultural wealth of local people for about a century.