The "Ruska Bursa Annual" is a scholarly Lemko studies journal, mainly in the Lemko language. It has been published since 2005 by the Ruska Bursa Association in Gorlice, Poland. In the four main sections: Documents; Discussion; Inspiration; Reviews and Reports, there is a mix of history, literary studies, linguistics, cultural studies, political science, and other articles, about the Lemko homeland in general and the broader Carpathian Rus’.  The writing is of an international character, from the page publishing authors, known as Lemko and Carpatho-Rusyn studies specialists from Europe and North America, its readership, and above all, its Editorial Board.
Two Sides of a Single Creative Work: The Inseparability of Trauma and Life in the Poetry of Iurko Kharytun
TWO SIDES OF A SINGLE CREATIVE WORK: THE INSEPARABILITY OF TRAUMA AND LIFE IN THE POETRY OF IURKO KHARYTUN This article offers a comprehensive interpretation of the poetry of Iurko Kharytun (1948–2024), one of the most significant figures of modern Rusyn literature. Previous readings of his work have predominantly emphasized the trauma associated with the forced resettlement of the Starina Valley during the construction of the Starina reservoir, and his works can be described as the “lament of the Rusyn nightingale.” The study, however, argues that this image represents only one dimension of his poetry. Drawing on the concepts of collective and cultural memory, trauma theory, the poetics of space, and reflections of nostalgia, it analyzes poems from the collections Мої жалї (My Sorrows) and Мої незабудкы (My Forget-me-nots). The analysis demonstrates that Kharytun’s poetry functions both as a medium of cultural memory and as an affirmation of life: it preserves the images of a lost homeland while simultaneously celebrating the beauty of simple moments and the vitality of everyday existence. Trauma and the love of daily life thus emerge as two inseparable sides of one creative work, which, in the context of Rusyn literature, serves as an act of cultural resistance and an identity-forming legacy.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rocznik Ruskiej Bursy https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
AGAINST WORLD LITERATURE: INTRODUCTION In the introduction to her book Against World Literature, Apter points to the weakness of the philosophical and theoretical foundations underlying the recently revived and increasingly popular project of World Literature—highlighting its opportunistic and even commercial character. The scholar opposes the “global management of literature within corporate education”; notably, she regards the critique of capitalism as one of the essential responsibilities of literary studies. “In a counter-move, I invoke untranslatability as a deflationary gesture towards the expansionism and gargantuan scale of world-literary endeavors,” she writes. Apter does not perceive similar risks in the field of translation studies—which, in her view, constitute a discipline that “relates to a larger public without sacrificing intellectual nuance,” one that is interdisciplinary yet retains its distinctiveness, particularly in relation to comparative literary studies that could benefit from translational experience. For Apter, the ideal form of comparative literature would be one that “recognizes the importance of non-translation, mistranslation, incomparability, and untranslatability,” thereby aligning itself with the emerging paradigm of translational humanities.
A Contribution to the Reconstruction of the Lemkos’ World of Values Based on Teodor Kuziak’s Short Story “This Was My Childhood”
A CONTRIBUTION TO THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE LEMKOS’ WORLD OF VALUES BASED ON TEODOR KUZIAK’S SHORT STORY “THIS WAS MY CHILDHOOD” The article attempts to reconstruct the world of values of the Lemkos based on a single story by Teodor Kuziak. The article is divided into two main parts: the methodological part and the actual analysis of the world of values. The methodological part demonstrates how the research is rooted in phenomenology, with particular emphasis on the categories of lifeworld (Lebenswelt) and values. The source part is a philosophical analysis of Kuziak’s story in terms of identifiable values, combined with an attempt to synthesize the results and define the Lemko view of values. Both the methodological part and the analysis of the story aim to formulate a possible method for reconstructing the specificity of the Lemko axiosphere.
Home of Postmemory: Lemko Poetry as a Space of Cultural Reconstruction
HOME OF POSTMEMORY: LEMKO POETRY AS A SPACE OF CULTURAL RECONSTRUCTION The article analyzes the image of the home in Lemko poetry of the self-representational movement, represented by the works of Władysław Graban, Helena Duć-Fajfer, and Stefania Trochanowska. These authors, born after the forced resettlements, construct their own vision of Lemkovyna on the basis of intergenerational transmission; thus, in their poetry, the home is not merely a tangible space but above all a postmemory figure—a lost place whose presence is re-created through language, imagination, and affective experience. In this context, the home becomes a symbol of connection with history and community, its image shaped by the tension between the absence of material heritage and the need for rootedness and reconstruction. The sensory dimension plays a crucial role—smells, sounds, and textures activate memory in a bodily mode, deepening the emotional intensity of the narrative. The analysis identifies five temporal frames in which the home is situated: (1) the un-lived home (past), (1½) the un-protected home (moment of resettlement), (2) the un-present home (present), (2½) the un-rooted home (time of searching), and (3) the un-forgotten home (future). Each of these categories reveals a different mode of experiencing loss and envisioning renewal—from inherited remembrance, through the encounter with absence, to the projection of reconstruction. The home in this poetry is therefore not a physical site of memory but a postmemory space, where past and present intersect, and its elements—the threshold, the door, the stove, the window—function as carriers of rootedness, trauma, and cultural continuity. In this way, the images of home perform a reconstructive role: they not only recall a lost world but also actively participate in shaping contemporary Lemko identity, intertwining memory, affect, and literary creation.
The Historical and Cultural Context of the Literary Development of the Carpatho-Rusyn Diaspora in the USA and Questions of Transculturalism
THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT OF THE LITERARY DEVELOPMENT OF THE CARPATHO-RUSYN DIASPORA IN THE USA AND QUESTIONS OF TRANSCULTURALISM Works of Carpatho-Rusyn emigrant literature in the USA that depict the social reality of the Rusyn diaspora reflect themes such as alcoholism, linguistic and cultural assimilation, and generational conflict. These literary texts, which originated in the “New Country,” convey not only aesthetic but also historical, social, and cultural information. They often portray the process of transformation of the ethnic identity of the Rusyn diaspora and the emergence of a new, hybrid culture. In literary studies, there exists a concept that describes both this transformation and the hybridization of cultures, as well as the outcomes of this process, referred to as transculturalism. Transculturalism thus appears as a new and fruitful interpretive framework for the analysis of this body of literature.
What is Lemko/Rusyn Literature and Does It Matter?
WHAT IS LEMKO/RUSYN LITERATURE AND DOES IT MATTER? The article undertakes an intertextual exploration of diverse conceptualizations of Lemko/Rusyn literature, as well as proposals for its study and inclusion within the broader discourse of literary studies. Alongside deconstructive and critical remarks directed against essentialism in literary studies—drawing on Culler’s question, paraphrased in the title—the article assesses the current state of Rusyn literary studies as a domain of internal research and advances methodological approaches capable of accounting for the transformative character and identity of Lemko/Rusyn literature. The vitality and revitalizing agency of this literature are measured by its capacity to respond meaningfully to the political, social, and cultural challenges confronting the community it represents. In relation to the postulates of comparative studies that seek to situate Lemko/Rusyn literature within European literary traditions, the article proposes a model of vertical comparatism: a search for literary figures and imaginaries that are parallel to those abstracted within academic theories, yet are not derived from them. Instead, these figures emerge from an indigenous sensibility, aesthetics, and ethics, shaped by indigenous knowledge and informed by a locally appropriated Eastern Christianity. Instances of such interplay between theoretical reflection and intuitive modes of thought provide a compelling illustration of Lévi-Strauss’s concept of “wild thought.” By identifying the major research challenges facing scholars of Lemko/Rusyn literature while simultaneously emphasizing the dynamic development of internal Rusyn literary studies, the article offers a cautiously optimistic prognosis and suggests drawing on recent trends in the humanities to develop culturally responsive methods for studying—and socially activating—this literature.
Sarkisian, Aram G. 2025. Orthodoxy on the Line: Russian Orthodox Christians and Labor Migration in the Progressive Era. New York: New York University Press, 336 pp
Рецензиi i справозданя • Reviews and reports
Special Section: Placing Lemko Literature: Debating Helena Duć-Fajfer’s Treading Paths
Our Geographic Truth: Making Lemkovyna and Carpathian Rus’ in Dymytrii Vyslotskii’s Texts and Maps
OUR GEOGRAPHIC TRUTH: MAKING LEMKOVYNA AND CARPATHIAN RUS’ IN DYMYTRII VYSLOTSKII’S TEXTS AND MAPS This article analyzes the process of shaping the Lemko and Carpatho-Rusyn national space in the first half of the 20th century. It focuses on the political and journalistic activities of Dymytrii Vyslotskii and the Lemko Association of the USA and Canada. The study explores how visual elements in maps, as well as geographic and ethnographic arguments in press publications, were used to construct the image of Lemkovyna and Carpathian Rus’ as cohesive and distinct territorial units. The article also examines the evolution of the Lemko Association’s views on their homeland from a local idea of Lemko unity to a broader national project aligned with the Soviet Union. The analysis demonstrates that the spatial imaginations and political strategies of the Lemkos adapted to shifting geopolitical and social contexts. Although modern Carpatho-Rusyns no longer share the Russophile ideological framework of that era, the idea of a shared Carpatho-Rusyn identity articulated by Vyslotskii remains an important element of their historical and cultural narrative.
On the Study of Carpatho-Rusyn Educational Literature for Children:From Manuil Olshavsky’s Elementa puerilis institutionis in lingualatina… (1746) to Andrii Popovych’s A Little Illustrated Bibleof the Old and New Testament for the Use of Rural Children (1864)
ON THE STUDY OF CARPATHO-RUSYN EDUCATIONAL LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN: FROM MANUIL OLSHAVSKY’S ELEMENTA PUERILIS INSTITUTIONIS IN LINGUA LATI­NA… (1746) TO ANDRII POPOVYCH’S A LITTLE ILLUSTRATED BIBLE OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT FOR THE USE OF RURAL CHILDREN (1864) This paper attempts to outline the history of Carpatho-Rusyn educational literature for children. It discusses textbooks intended for children that were used in schools and seminaries in Hungarian Rus’ from the mid-18th to the second half of the 19th century. The study provides an overview of the characteristics of the earliest textbooks and their development over more than a century. It presents information about the first primers, their linguistic features, changes in content (from reprints to original textbooks), as well as the first illustrated Bible for children. The article analyzes the following educational materials: the bilingual primer of Bishop Manuil Olshavsky’s Elementa puerilis institutionis in lingua latina… (Foundations of Elementary Instruction in the Latin Language, 1746); Ioann Kutka’s Букварь языка рускаго съ прочїимъ руководїємъ начинающихъ оучитися (Primer of the Rusyn Language with Additional Guidance for Beginners, 1799); Aleksandr Dukhnovych’s Книжиця читальная для начинающихъ (A Little Reading Book for Beginners, 1847, 1850); and Andrii Popovych’s Новая русская азбука (New Rusyn Alphabet) and Маленькая Образна Библія Ветхаго и Новаго Завѣта въ употребленіе сельскихъ дѣтей (A Little Illustrated Bible of the Old and New Testament for the Use of Rural Children).
karpackorusińska literatura edukacyjna dla dzieci
Reading Carpatho-Rusyn Literature: Aleksander Dukhnovych as a Romantic Writer
ЧЫТАТАИ КАРПАТОРУСИНЬСКУ ЛІТЕРАТУРУ. АЛЕКСАНДЕР ДУХНОВИЧ ЯК РОМАНТЫЧНЫЙ ТВОРЕЦ
Analysis and Classification of the Rusyn Language Using the OpenAI Whisper ASR Model
ANALYSIS AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE RUSYN LANGUAGE USING THE OPENAI WHISPER ASR MODEL The paper presents a linguistic analysis of the Rusyn language, focusing on its complex and dynamic aspects, such as pronunciation and individual, regional, and historical variations. The study employed a neural network based on the OpenAI Whisper automatic speech recognition (ASR) model. While trained on data from a majority of official state languages, the model lacked direct training on Rusyn language samples due to its localized and minority/ethnic nature. Consequently, speech samples were classified using the closest available language labels, enabling the identification of similarities between Rusyn and other Slavic languages. The study encompassed a diverse range of speakers across gender, age, and location (Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Serbia), revealing significant similarities to the dominant languages in these respective countries. Furthermore, the research highlights correlations between the identified linguistic similarities and the age of the speakers.
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
New Trends in the Development of Contemporary Linguistics in Serbia
NEW TRENDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONTEMPORARY LINGUISTICS IN SERBIA Depending on the theory of the origin of the Rusyns/Rusnaks in Bačka and their language, the Bačka-Srem Rusyn language was treated as a dialect of the Russian language, a dialect of the Slovak language, a dialect of the Ukrainian language and as a Rusyn language. In the first part of the paper, the author gives an overview of the Rusyn language research so far, and in the second part, contemporary research is presented, which has been enabled by the acquisition of the ISO-code (RSK). As a result of obtaining this code, conditions were created for the Rusyn language to be assigned a numerical code, according to which librarians in the country and abroad would classify books in the Rusyn language of the Bačka-Srem Rusyns. Havrijil Koljesar devoted himself to providing the necessary number of entries for Wikipedia in the Rusyn language, and Mihajlo Fejsa to providing the necessary lexicographic literature for translation on the English-Rusyn and Rusyn-English relations. Based on his doctoral thesis, in which Fejsa compared the verb structures of the English and Rusyn languages (Фејса 2005), he published the results of the comparison of the sentence constructions of the English and Rusyn languages (Fejsa 2015в), and satisfied the first condition for the realization of machine translation on the relations between English and Rusyn. By publishing the English-Rusyn Dictionary (Фейса, Шлемендер, Чельовски 2022) the second of the three necessary conditions is satisfied. The third condition is the publication of the Rusyn-English Dictionary.
The Main Transformations in the Field of Lemko Studies Discourse Over the Last 25 Years
THE MAIN TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE FIELD OF LEMKO STUDIES DISCOURSE OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS The article provides a broad overview of the processes occurring in Lemko studies in the 21st century, focusing on the most significant changes compared to the state of the field at the end of the 20th century. It is presented as a critical reflection based on formulated opinions grounded in observed publishing and project-related facts. These observations highlight four main tendencies: 1. The emergence of “mass production” of less original texts with weak research methodology, often “copying” a fixed repertoire of information about the Lemkos, and in some cases bordering on outright plagiarism. 2. The blurring of the line between academic and popular or popular-scientific texts. This phenomenon is influenced by both a decline in the quality of academic works and the publishing ambitions of certain social organizations or local publishers, which are unable to meet the standards of original research-based publications. 3. The continuation of ideologically driven publications, although in a somewhat altered form. The publication of politically charged works with ideological theses persists, but a potentially new phenomenon includes a visible rhetoric of “a defense of a threatened fortress,” as communicated in these publications. Institutions in Ukraine are the primary publishers of such works about the Lemkos, but similar publications are also produced in Poland and Slovakia. However, in these cases, ideological messages are often conveyed in a more covert manner. 4. The development of internal Lemko studies grounded in the adoption of a Lemko-centric perspective; this work has resulted in numerous publications in the Lemko language. Spaces for developing and presenting this type of research include the Richnyk Ruskoi Bursŷ and the Center for Engaged Research on Cultural Continuity at the Faculty of “Artes Liberales” at the University of Warsaw. This perspective is also evident in the research and publications of individual scholars. The conclusion explains the author’s research positionality and its role in developing the critical reflection with regard to the phenomena observed and in shaping her opinions.
History and Historiography in Relation to Lemko Studies in Poland over the Last Three Decades
HISTORY AND HISTORIOGRAPHY IN RELATION TO LEMKO STUDIES IN POLAND OVER THE LAST THREE DECADES The article discusses the progress of research on the history of Lemkos and the Lemko Region (Lemkovyna) in Poland over the past three decades, that is, since the previous overview presented by the author during the conference “The Lemkos and Lemko Studies in Poland” (Kraków 1995), whose text was published in a volume of the same title (Zięba 1997a). The review encompasses contributions created or published in Poland, including works by foreign authors. In addition to the work of historians, the article also addresses the analytical contributions to understanding and remembering the past of this region made by researchers from other disciplines, such as cultural anthropologists, literary scholars, sociologists, and political scientists. The author reflects on the prospects for institutionalizing and stabilizing Lemko historiography (the Lemko historical school) as an independent trend in the debate on the history of Lemko Region, currently conducted primarily either from the perspective of Polish and Ukrainian national historiographies or within Carpatho-Rusyn studies.
Literature Review on the State of Research on Church Architecture in the Lemko Region from 1989 to 2024
LITERATURE REVIEW ON THE STATE OF RESEARCH ON CHURCH ARCHITECTURE IN THE LEMKO REGION FROM 1989 TO 2024 This paper focuses on discussing the body of research on church architecture in the Lemko Region (Lemkovyna). The earliest publications in this field appeared during the interwar period, as exemplified by the works of Franciszek Strzałka and Mykhailo Dragan. After World War II and the displacement of the Lemko population, the subject became more difficult to explore. Nevertheless, research was continued by scholars such as Ryszard Brykowski, Jerzy Tur, Barbara Tondos, Marian Kornecki, and Zofia Szanter. A particular revival of interest in church architecture occurred in the 1980s, reflected by the publication of a groundbreaking monograph by Ryszard Brykowski. After 1989, a new generation of researchers, including Piotr Krasny, Jarosław Giemza and Eugeniusz Zawałeń, joined the field, and numerous conferences and academic sessions led to additional publications. The works cited here represent only a fraction of the extensive body of literature devoted to the sacred architectural heritage of the Lemko region. Despite growing scholarly attention, many aspects remain unexplained. Currently, multi-layered research projects utilize the latest, often digital, analytical methods, which open up new avenues of inquiry. At the same time, the contribution of earlier generations of scholars – who had more limited resources at their disposal – continues to serve as a foundation for ongoing studies into the history and architectural form of Lemko churches.
The Golden Age of Lemko Literature: Helena Duć-Fajfer’s Treading Paths (in Lemko)
Reflections on the 30th Anniversary of the Codification of the Rusyn Language in Slovakia
REFLECTIONS ON THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CODIFICATION OF THE RUSYN LANGUAGE IN SLOVAKIA It has been 30 years since the moment when the Rusyns in Slovakia, in the capital of their country – Bratislava, performed a historic act by solemnly proclaiming the codification of the Rusyn language in Slovakia. They were the in the Carpathian region to achieve the main goal of the First Congress of the Rusyn Language, which took place in 1992. This article attempts to assess the progress made by Rusyns in Slovakia, as well as by Rusyns in general, in achieving their goals, with reference to the demands of the aforementioned linguistic congress, the status of the Rusyn language and its presence in Slovakia, and studies concerning its codification.
The Golden Age of Lemko Literature: Helena Duć-Fajfer’s Treading Paths
The Carpatho-Ruthenica Collection of Paul Robert Magocsi
Archive, Land, Nation, Text: The Lives of the Carpatho-Ruthenica Library
Archive, Land, Nation, Text: The Lives of the Carpatho-Ruthenica Library (in Lemko)
Imagogy: On the Application of Ethnicity to Making Sense of the World
IMAGOLOGY: ON USING ETHNICITY TO MAKE SENSE OF THE WORLD This article outlines the theory and method of imagology, the discursive study of ethnotypes (stereotypical attributions of national character). Imagology has a respectable history and academic presence, but adjustments are needed in the light of recent developments. These include: (a) the replacement of the national-modular categorization of literary traditions by a polysystemic approach; (b) the decline of print fiction as a the premier narrative medium, and the rise of film, TV, and other media; (c) the realization that ethnotypes are often encountered in occluded form (deployed ironically or as “meta-images”; or in a “banal” or latent background presence, as dormant frames); (d) new, “intersectional” notions of identity formation; (e) the demise of Eurocentrism and the rise of postnationalism. While these emerging challenges call for an adjustment of imagological analysis, the present climate of identity politics also demonstrates an ongoing, indeed urgent need to address what remains the core business of imagology: deconstructing the discourse of national and ethnic essentialism.
Critical (Self)Reflections on Conducting Quantitative Research in the Lemko Community