Cхід (Feb 2013)
Greek-Catholic Church in Consolidation of Ukrainian Population in East Galizia (1923-1925 yrs)
Abstract
This article describes participation of the Greek Catholic church in stabilization and normalization of social-political situation in Galizia, in supporting the process of creating the conditions for national-cultural and spiritual development of the Ukrainian populous. The article discusses changes in social-political and political condition of the population of Galizia after its occupation by Poland. It analyzes the role of Greek-Catholic church, as a representative of Ukrainian populous, for the stabilization of societal-politicalsituation in the land. It shows the role of the church in supporting the new vision of western-Ukrainian intelligencia for the development of East Galizia, for the base of which is the nationalist idea. It uncovers the position of bishop A. Sheptyzkyi and Stanislavbishop G. Homyshuna in selecting the ways for its realization. The article also discussed the role of Greek-Catholic clergy in the activity of Ukrainian cultural-educational and political organizations with the goal of consolidation of Ukrainian populous for the new political movement. Specific examples form the archive sources are used to draw a conclusion that a great focus of the clergy's activities was on training and educating the young generation in the Christian and patriotic spirit. This work was greatly spread among the rural youth, that is why the catholic clergy conducted specific social-political surveys on the territory encompassed by their religious activities. Those surveys were related to national, political, social-political and spiritual life aspects of the youth in the East Galizia. Specific examples are used to illustrate how thanks to the collaboration with the youth civic organizations, the clergy of GKC received an opportunity to effect the formation of worldview of the youth.
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