News and Upcoming Events for the Rusyns in Cleveland
Did you know that there are over 40,000 Carpatho-Rusyns in the Cleveland area?
Rusin Garden Clean-Up
Thursday, April 26, 2012
10:00 am - 2:00 p.m.
Rusin Cultural Garden
930 East Boulevard
There will be a spring clean-up at the Rusin Garden on Thursday, April 26, 2012 from 10 am to 2 pm. The rain date is on Friday, April 27.The garden is located on 930 East Blvd in the Cleveland University Circle area. Please bring your own garden tools, trash bags and a water bottle. We will primarily be raking leaves, hoeing and weeding. .f anyone has mulch to donate, we will put it down. We want the garden to look good for the June 24 dedication of the Duchnovich statue.
You may park your car on the street. You need not stay the entire time. We will plant annual flowers after Memorial Day.
If you can help, please call John Krenisky at (216) 398-5027 or Marcia Benko at (440) 331-3856 or e-mail her at mbenko@prodigy.net
A bust of Aleksander Vasylovych Dukhnovych was installed in the Rusin Cultural Garden in Cleveland on November 30, 2011. Dukhnovych was a priest, poet, writer, pedagogue, and social activist of the Rusyn nation. Dukhnovych is regarded to be one of the outstanding Ruthenian humanists and educators.
John Krenisky and Marcia Benko from the Carpatho-Rusyn Society at the new bust of Dukhnovych
In the video below, the Living Traditions Folk Ensemble performs a Carpatho-Rusyn dance number from the SW corner of Ukraine. They are wearing costumes from the Zemplin region of Slovakia at the annual One World Day celebration in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.
Organizations and Resources for Rusyns in Cleveland
Cleveland's Carpatho-Rusyn Folk Ensemble The Karpato-Rus’ Ensemble (KRE) was formed in August 2006. The purpose of the KRE is to promote the culture and values of the Carpatho-Rusyn religious and folk art traditions through dance, music and skits.
Karpato-Rus' Ensemble October 2008 Performance group
The Carpatho-Rusyn Society is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to manifesting Carpatho-Rusyn culture in the United States and supporting Rusyn culture in the Homeland in east central Europe. It works to educate Rusyns and non-Rusyns about Rusyn culture and history, and to support the development of Rusyn culture on both sides of the Atlantic.
As a membership organization, it boasts over 1,800 members worldwide who support the organization's work through their annual contributions of dues as well as voluntary contributions to funds that support Rusyn cultural development abroad as well as humanitarian aid for Rusyn communities in Europe.
Although this site clearly focuses on Carpatho-Rusyn genealogy, it is recognized that the ethnic background of persons from areas where Carpatho-Rusyns lived (primarily where Poland, Slovakia, the Ukraine, and Hungary adjoin or nearly adjoin) is often in doubt. Many other ethnic groups previously lived or now live in this area (Polish, Slovak, Hungarian, Ukrainian, German, Jewish, and others).
Understandably, many persons whose ancestors come from this area are unclear of their ethnic origins. Also, there was intermarriage between such groups before and after immigration. The focus at this web site is on information that may aid those interested in genealogy in tracing their ancestors, all or some of whom may have been Carpatho-Rusyns.
Carpatho-Rusyns have also been known as Rusyns, Rusins, Rusnaks, Ruthenes, Ruthenians, Carpatho-Russians, Carpatho-Ruthenians, Carpatho-Ukrainians and Lemkos.
Rusyn Cultural Garden in Cleveland
Cleveland Cultural Garden president Paul Burik gives a tour of the Rusyn Gardens and tells of plans for a new statue of Oleksandr (Aleksander) Dukhnovych known for his famous patriotic poem Ja Rusyn Byl, Jesm I Budo (I Was, Am, and Will Be a Rusyn)
Most Rusyn immigrants to United States came between 1880 and 1914, to places like New York City, Passaic, New Jersey, Bridgeport, Connecticut, the eastern Pennsylvania anthracite coal regions, Western Pennsylvania (especially Pittsburgh and Johnstown), Cleveland, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Detroit. Assimilation has been high and Rusyn American identity is frequently limited to the churches established by first-wave immigrants.
Today smaller numbers of Rusyns are coming from Slovakia, especially from villages like Litmanová and Jarabina, mostly to metro New York/New Jersey.
Tell us about the music, food, holidays, traditions, costumes, language and other qualities that make the Rusyns so special.
Profiles of Rusyns in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio
Aleksander Vasylovych Dukhnovych
Dukhnovych was a priest, poet, writer, pedagogue, and social activist of the Rusyn nation. Dukhnovych is regarded to be one of the outstanding Ruthenian humanists and educators.
In 1850 Dukhnovych established the first Ruthenian cultural association, the Prešov Literary Society. The society under his guidance published a series of books. His most famous patriotic poem Ja Rusyn byl, jesm i budu (I Was, Am, and Will Be a Ruthenian) was published as part of an anthology in 1851. This poem would later become the national anthem of Carpatho-Rusyns.
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