The Carpatho-Rusyn Society (C-RS; rue, Карпато-Русинськоє Общество) is a non-profit cultural organization located in the United States dedicated to promoting

Carpatho-Rusyn Rusyn (; rue, label= Carpathian Rusyn, русиньскый язык, translit=rusîn'skyj jazyk; rue, label=Pannonian Rusyn, руски язик, translit=ruski jazik),http://theses.gla.ac.uk/2781/1/2011BaptieMPhil-1.pdf , p. 8. is an Eas ...

culture and history. It was established in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...

in 1994 and is the largest exclusively Carpatho-Rusyn organization in North America with over 3,000 members. C-RS works to educate those of Rusyn descent as well as others about Carpatho-Rusyn heritage. The society supports the preservation and development of Rusyn culture on both sides of the Atlantic.

Establishment

The impetus for development of C-RS emanated from the Second World Congress of Rusyns held in Krynica, Poland in 1993. The new society built upon the inclusive approaches of other American Carpatho-Rusyn organizations, particularly the Carpatho-Rusyn Research Center founded in 1978 by

Paul Robert Magocsi Paul Robert Magocsi (born January 26, 1945 in Englewood, New Jersey) is an American professor of history, political science, and Chair of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Toronto. He has been with the university since 1980, and became a F ...

and the Rusin Association founded by Larry Goga in 1983. Formed by largely third and fourth-generation Carpatho-Rusyn Americans, C-RS was dedicated to helping others discover their Carpatho-Rusyn heritage at a time when the designation 'Carpatho-Rusyn' was not widely known. Honoring a resilient, stateless people whose homeland changed hands repeatedly over the past centuries, C-RS sought to tell the remarkable story of 'a people from nowhere' – a proverbial phrase coined by the famous American artist of Carpatho-Rusyn ancestry,

Andy Warhol Andy Warhol (; born Andrew Warhola Jr.; August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American visual artist, film director, and producer who was a leading figure in the Art movement, visual art movement known as pop art. His works explore th ...

. The society's logo prominently features the Carpatho-Rusyn national emblem as its symbol, a red bear facing blue and gold stripes. This shield was first adopted as the official emblem of the Czechoslovak province of Subcarpathian Rus' on March 30, 1920. It fell into disuse after

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

's dismembering of

Czechoslovakia , rue, Чеськословеньско, , yi, טשעכאסלאוואקיי, , common_name = Czechoslovakia , life_span = 1918–19391945–1992 , p1 = Austria-Hungary , image_p1 ...

in 1938 but was adopted later as the official symbol of the Transcarpathian oblast of Ukraine on December 18, 1990. The emblem's left field is divided into 7 horizontal blue and gold alternating stripes representing the seven largest rivers of the land: the Tysa, Teresva, Tereblya, Rika, Borzhava,

Latorica Latorica ( hu, Latorca; sk, Latorica, pronounced: ''Latoritsa''; uk, Латориця, translit.: ''Latorytsia'') is a river in the watershed of the Danube. Its source is in the Ukrainian Carpathians (Eastern Carpathian Mountains), near the vil ...

and Uzh. The silver background represents the rich salt mines of the area and the red bear is depicted as the king of the snowy Carpathian Mountains.

Early years

The society expanded rapidly from its eight original founders. This growth necessitated a newsletter for its members, ''The New Rusyn Times''''.'' In addition to promoting self-awareness of Carpatho-Rusyn identity, the mission of C-RS 'holds in high esteem the continuity of life which connects the living Rusyn culture to its treasured and ancient heritage'. Through its growing membership, the society promoted opportunities to learn, express, and enjoy the beauty and life affirming values of a living Carpatho-Rusyn heritage. Carpatho-Rusyn Folk exhibit

C-RS has hosted conferences on Carpatho-Rusyn history and genealogy and has managed the Carpatho-Rusyn cultural display at the

Pittsburgh Folk Festival The Pittsburgh Folk Festival is a large multicultural celebration of diverse international ethnic heritages, which has been held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania since 1956. The festival's early mission statement was described in May 1959, as follows ...

. The society co-sponsored a national Carpatho-Rusyn cultural celebration at the

Andy Warhol Museum The Andy Warhol Museum is located on the North Shore of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is the largest museum in North America dedicated to a single artist. The museum holds an extensive permanent collection of art and arc ...

in Pittsburgh and provides traveling displays of Rusyn culture for church and ethnic festivals. One of C-RS's greatest early successes was in reestablishing relations with the European Carpatho-Rusyn community and supporting their efforts to resurrect and develop Carpatho-Rusyn culture after fifty years of Communist persecution. The society has two European funds – Humanitarian Aid and the Rusyn Homeland Fund. CRS Exhibition of Rusyn Art

The Humanitarian Aid Fund was created in 1996 when Carpatho-Rusyn villages in the Transcarpathian oblast of Ukraine experienced an unexpected late fall flood killing 17 and leaving hundreds homeless. Through its members, C-RS worked with the American Red Cross to set up relief for the people of Subcarpathian Rus'. Since then the fund sends primarily medical supplies to healthcare professionals in Transcarpathia for those in need. The society's Rusyn Homeland Fund provided comprehensive support to the Carpatho-Rusyn community in eastern Slovakia at a critical time before the 2001 census to heighten ethnic awareness of those of Carpatho-Rusyn heritage. The fund underwrote the printing of maps showing Carpatho-Rusyn villages, a traveling display of Carpatho-Rusyn culture, and the widespread mailing of Rusyn-language newspapers and magazines to Carpatho-Rusyn households. Consequently, the number of Slovak citizens identifying as Carpatho-Rusyn increased dramatically compared with the previous census of 1991. The fund also provided financial support to help create a network of Rusyn language schools in

Transcarpathia Transcarpathia may refer to: Place * relative term, designating any region beyond the Carpathians (lat. ''trans-'' / beyond, over), depending on a point of observation * Romanian Transcarpathia, designation for Romanian regions on the inner or ...

, Ukraine.

Moving forward

The founding president of C-RS was John Righetti who served until 2012 and is now president emeritus. He was succeeded by Jim Kepchar-Kaminski (2013-2015) and Maryann Sivak (2015–present). The organization currently consists of 7 chapters and 11 branches located throughout the United States. C-RS seeks to collaborate with all Carpatho-Rusyn organizations worldwide to disseminate historical, genealogical, linguistic and ethno-cultural information. In addition to its newsletter, the society created a website, blog and e-mail bulletin, C-RS Connection. Since 2004, the Carpatho-Rusyn Society Heritage Program has broadcast Carpatho-Rusyn music and information on

WPIT WPIT (730 AM) is a commercial radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It carries a Christian talk and teaching radio format. At night, Christian contemporary music is heard. WPIT is licensed to the Salem Communications Holding Corporation ...

in the greater Pittsburgh area and worldwide via the web. The society currently hosts a genealogy forum on its website and is expanding its social media presence. Programs that have served both the Carpatho-Rusyn American and European communities include the highly successful Rusyn Heritage Tour. The society has promoted an annual two- week tour of the Carpatho-Rusyn communities in Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine. The tour experience is one of immersion in contemporary Rusyn culture as well as allowing for visits to ancestral villages and genealogical research. Since 2011, C-RS has supported and offered scholarships to the Studium Carpato-Ruthenorum, an annual international summer school for Rusyn language and culture held at Presov University.

National Cultural Center

Carpatho-Rusyn Cultural and Educational Center and Headquarters of the Carpatho-Rusyn Society (C-RS) in Munhall Pennsylvania

In 2004, C-RS purchased the former St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cathedral at 915 Dickson Street in

Munhall, Pennsylvania Munhall is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, on the west bank of the Monongahela River, south of the confluence of the Monongahela and the Allegheny rivers where the Ohio River begins. It abuts the borough of Homestead ...

and converted it into the Carpatho-Rusyn Cultural and Educational Center. The century-old building holds significance for those of Carpatho-Rusyn heritage. It was designed in 1903 by Hungarian-born architect Titus de Bobula and was patterned after the Carpatho-Rusyn

Greek Catholic The term Greek Catholic Church can refer to a number of Eastern Catholic Churches following the Byzantine (Greek) liturgy, considered collectively or individually. The terms Greek Catholic, Greek Catholic church or Byzantine Catholic, Byzantine Ca ...

Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in

Uzhhorod Uzhhorod ( uk, У́жгород, , ; ) is a city and municipality on the river Uzh in western Ukraine, at the border with Slovakia and near the border with Hungary. The city is approximately equidistant from the Baltic, the Adriatic and the ...

(then Ungvár,

Kingdom of Hungary The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed for nearly a millennium, from the Middle Ages into the 20th century. The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the coronation of the first king Stephen ...

). In 1929, the building was chosen as the cathedral for the Ruthenian (Rusyn) Greek Catholic Exarchate in America. Slavjane Folk Ensemble performing at C-RS 25th Anniversary

Slavjane Folk Ensemble performing at C-RS 25th Anniversary

In May 2019, the society celebrated its 25th anniversary at its renovated cultural center. Professor

, the world's foremost authority on Carpatho-Rusyns, gave the keynote address and received the society's highest honor, the

Michael Strank Michael Strank (November 10, 1919 – March 1, 1945) was a United States Marine Corps sergeant who was killed in action during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. He was one of the Marines who raised the second U.S. flag on Mount Suribach ...

Award, named after the Carpatho-Rusyn-American Marine sergeant who helped raise the US flag at the Battle of Iwo Jima. A native of Orjabyna (

Jarabina Jarabina, also known as Orjabyna ( rue, Орябина; hu, Berkenyéd) is a village and municipality in Stará Ľubovňa District in the Prešov Region of northern Slovakia. U.S. Marine Michael Strank, Flag Raiser at Iwo Jima, was born here. ...

), Czechoslovakia, Strank was awarded US citizenship posthumously in 2008. Prior recipients of the Michael Strank Award were Orestes Mihaly (2009) and John Righetti (2014).

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