Administratura Apostolska Łemkowszczyzny w świetle schematyzmu na rok 1936. Zagadnienia wstępne

Abstract

The area known as Lemkowszczyzna is a very interesting phenomenon in the national, political and religious aspect. The historical beginings of Lemkowszczyzna go back to the dim past and are now a gordian knot for historians, etnographers and politicians. In the past people of Lemkowszczyzna stressed their separate nationality, the difference from the Ukraine Nation and the similarity to the Russian Nation. They had their own language and the of ten repeated word “lem” - meaning - only became the name of these Carpathian people. At the onest of the XX century under the influence of the Ukrainian nationalism the people of Lemkowszczyzna stressed their Russian ties even more, and became open to propaganda of the Russian Orthodox Church. Lemkowszczyzna was excluded from the jurisdiction of the Greek Catholic bishop of Przemyśl to avoid the conversion of the people of Lemkowszczyzna to the Orthodox Church in 1934 and Lemko Apostolic Administration subordinated to Rome, was formed out of the chosen nine decanates, first Rymanów-Zdrój was the capitol of the Lemko Administration and next Sanok. It encompassed about 120 Greek Catholic parishes Bazyli Maściuch was the first nominated administrator of Lemkowszczyzna. The Lemko Administration took over a well organized parish net from Przemyśl eparchy as well as great number of parishes not all of which/were well maitained. There was an adequte number of priests worhing in Łemkowszczyzna. The people in Administration were very diverse. This area was occupied by Roman Catholics, Greek Catholics, Orthodox and Jews. The nacionalities also, intermixed, the Poles, Ukrainians, Lemkos, Germans and Jews. Besides the oficial Orthodox Church institutions many associations, organizations, societies of religious, educations, political, cultural and national character existed in those parts. Some of them issued their own newspapers. Other forms of newspapers, magazens etc. reached the area from outside even from abroad which had a disintegrating influence on the local society. There was much to be desired from the local education. The small village schools, often bilingual did not fullfil the set educational goal. The developement of the Lemko Apostolic Administration was stopped during the Second World War. After the war political changes the reitovsing of Ukrainians Poles and people of Łemkowszczyzna erased the Lemko Apostolic Administration from the Church map of Poland.