Lemkos in Poland - Internal divisions

By

Slawomir Roszczenko	Ewelina Graban

Lemkos, who call themselves "Rusyny", "Rusnaky", are a branch of Ruthenian highlanders. The origin of their name is a conjunction of the word "lem" meaning "only". The Lemko Region (where they lived till 1974), called Lemkovyna (native) is located in western part of Karpathian Mountains. Due to the Vistula Operation ^*) in 1947 they were deported to the North and West of Poland. Nowadays about 60 000 Lemkos live in Poland.

In the situation of Lemkos' minority it wasn’t easy at all to cultivate their identity and culture. However, they have managed to save it very well. Lemkos have two sing-dance folklore groups "Kyczera" and "Lemkovyna", they also edit cultural magazines. Each year two big festivals named "Lemkos’ Vatra" are organised , along with many other cultural events.

A significant diversity can be seen in two very important areas of social life of national minorities. These are the areas of identity - self-identification, and of religion.

The identity - that should be an integrating factor in a community - in the case of Lemkos is an object of disputes and internal conflicts. We can observe a significant division of the group to Lemkos of Ukrainian orientation and to Karpatho-Rusyn oriented Lemkos.

The Ukrainian Lemkos consider themselves as an ethnic group of the Ukrainian nation, and the Lemko language as a Ukrainian dialect. These Lemkos gather around the "Union of Lemkos". These Lemkos organize the teaching of Ukrainian language in Polish schools. The second group, Karpatho-Rusyn Lemkos, identify themselves with an organization called "Association of Lemkos", and vote for the establishment of an independent Karpatho-Rusyn nation. The language that they tend to protect at schools is Lemko.

These are the two bodies that organize the cultural life of Lemkos in Poland.

The first wing invites mainly groups singing in Ukrainian to take part in their festivals and Ukrainian flags can be seen among the spectators. This goes further - the festival started to be called Ukrainian Vatra, and people say: there is no Lemko culture any more at the festival. Others tend to say that active members of the Union are more Ukrainian than the Ukrainian themselves.

The other subgroup, on the contrary, wishes that the participants in their festivals do not sing in Ukrainian. The anti-Ukrainian pose is visible also elsewhere than on the stage, like in unofficial meetings and bonfires.

Everyday life is also influenced by this diversity. Members of each organization meet only around their own organization, which strengthens the bipolar character of present situation.
Lemkos are of Greek Catholic and Orthodox faiths. In general,. In general, relations between the confessors of Orthodox and Greek Catholic churches are negative. They build two separate groups, who hardly mix with each other. They organize a variety of cultural events in their parishes, however there are no festivals organized together. Malevolent attitude towards mixed marriages isn't a rare occurrence either.

One can notice that the structure of Lemkos’ community is not homogenous. However, for every Lemko, of whatever identity, the most important values are traditions, culture and the Karpath motherland. The majority of Lemkos tend to preserve the values and pass them on to next generations. Will internal divisions not create an obstacle in this process?

In the conflict of identities the case is enormously difficult. The diversity rises, and often turns into hate of the opposite option followers. A constructive dialogue between them is impossible at the moment. Thus, a solution of the problem cannot be reached.

As far as religion diversities are concerned, negative mutual attitudes seem to play less and less role in Lemkos’ social life. Particularly in families where both the faiths are represented, the division is becoming artificial. The dialogue is possible here. An example of Bielanka village proves it - in one church services of three faiths (Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic and Orthodox) are done.

^*) The Vistula Operation plan was called for the forced deportation of all Ukrainians (including Lemkos) from the eastern regions of Poland to its new or "Recovered Lands" (Ziemie Odzyskane) in the western and northern part of the country that were recently acquired from Germany. Thus, from late April to July 1947, Lemkos were simply told to pack up their belongings and to leave the homes that they and their ancestors had inhabited for centuries. The resettling took place in accordance with strict rules. They were only placed in areas where they did not exceed 10 percent of the total population, in regions located at least 50 km from the state’s land borders and not closer than 30 km to the sea and provincial cities - far from important routes.