INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL FOR RUSYN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

PRESOV UNIVERSITY MAIN BUILDING 

 

Are you considering participating in the Studium Carpato-Ruthenorum International Summer School for Rusyn Language and Culture? You may have questions about what the experience is going to offer, what it will be like to live for three weeks in Prešov, what the dorm and the cafeteria food are like, what a typical day offers, what the class sessions will be, what excursions are planned. In the course of two blog texts, we’ll offer some helpful information based on last summer’s experience and on what is in the works for this coming summer.

 Prešov is a small but bustling city, typical for Central Europe with a large main square built on “Main Street” (“Hlavná ulica”) and surrounded by beautiful historical buildings and busy with people shopping, strolling, heading to work or home. An informational souvenir shop right on the square offers free small maps, which last summer’s participants discovered and found useful in identifying streets and sites in the city center, and your Studium organizers will point out this shop on a walking tour of the city early in your stay. The TESCO department store, also located nearby on Hlavná ulica offers all kinds of goods, including groceries, clothes, toiletries, and souvenirs.

ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF ST. ALEXANDER NEVSKY
 

On the main square is the striking Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Nicholas, and just down Hlavná ulica within easy walking distance is the Greek Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Not far from this is the Orthodox Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky, and tucked into the Old Town near the square is the Orthodox Jewish Synagogue. On the street you may hear Slovak, Hungarian, and Rusyn spoken. In Prešov, one quickly begins to understand the wonderfully multicultural nature of eastern Slovakia. And don’t overlook the little side street called Florian Street because here you’ll find the amazing “Croatia” ice cream shop with its shop window open onto the pedestrian-only walkway. You’ll visit there more than once. After ice cream, just cross the street to enjoy a steaming coffee or a cold beer on the outdoor patio and enjoy people-watching. From your university dorm to the main square is a comfortable walk of about 10 minutes—and there is sufficient free time built into the busy Studium schedule for you to enjoy all of this.

 

GREEK CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

 

Just across the street from your dorm is perhaps the most beloved and most frequently visited spot for Studium participants—the Ballada coffee shop. This is a cozy place, with an intimate feel both downstairs and upstairs, its walls lined with bookshelves filled with books, including books about Carpatho-Rusyns. Or sit outside in late afternoon or into the evening and relax with new friends over coffee, tea, or the ubiquitous icy beer. Wireless Internet there also draws students with their laptops. Next to the Ballada is a small grocery store with the basic necessities such as milk, yogurt, juices, fruit, chocolate, and some baked goods, and yet another shop with school supplies. At the university’s main building, you’ll find a small shop with university-related souvenirs, including T-shirts, mugs, caps, and other memorabilia.

In the next piece, we’ll describe the dorm, the cafeteria and what is on the docket for this coming summer’s classes and excursions. 

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.  For more information, please visit www.c-rs.org  Carpatho-Rusyn Society 915 Dickson Street Munhall, PA 15120-1929

RUSYN NEW YEAR POTLUCK MOVED TO ST. MICHAEL'S

The Lake Michigan Chapter of the Carpatho-Rusyn Society's Rusyn New Year Potluck has been moved to St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church, 557 West 57th Ave., Merrillville, IN.  Unfortunately, St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, where the event was originally to take place, has a flooded social hall.

CARPATHO-RUSSIAN CATHEDRAL TO LIVE STREAM NATIVITY SERVICES

The Divine Services of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (January 6-7, 2014) at Christ the Saviour Cathedral will be streamed live on the internet.

The Monday evening Christmas Eve broadcast will begin at 7:45 pm. The Christmas morning Divine Liturgy broadcast will begin at 9:00 am on Tuesday, January 7.

A video of the Divine Liturgy will be available on-line for on-demand viewing later in the day on Christmas.

The services may be viewed live at: http://acrod.org/organizations/cathedral/live/ .

 

Many of the churches of the Carpatho-Rusyn Diocese, including the Cathedral, follow the Julian calendar which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar.

 

THERE'S NO POTLUCK LIKE A RUSYN POTLUCK

 

How could anyone pass up a Rusyn New Year feast like this one from 2012?

Due to the chaos of the holidays and today's over abundance of snow on top of that, the deadline for RSVPing for the Lake Michigan Chapter of the Carpatho-Rusyn Society's Rusyn New Year Potluck has been extended to Wednesday, January 8.  Please RSVP to: lakemichiganrusyns@gmail.com or Ken at 708/895-3074. Additional information is below.

For anyone who has been to one of our chapter’s Rusyn New Year potlucks, that title conjures up pictures of tables loaded with ethnic food—kolbassi and kraut, ham, pirohi, pagach, pickled red beets, nutrolls, kolachi---and American dishes, too—casseroles, jello salads, fruit salads. 

But, more importantly than all of that, friendly people who like to share their culture and who are often anxious to meet someone from the same Old Country village as their own ancestors and who might possibly be related and thus help them learn more about their family’s roots. 

 

 

Heather Domanski really got in the spirit of things by creating her own Rusyn outfit.  From the plates in her hands, it looks like she also got into the spirit of sampling all the creations of her fellow Rusyn cooks. 

 

 

Even if that doesn’t happen, it’s a great opportunity to swap stories of growing up Rusyn in the mining towns of Pennsylvania, in the big cities like Chicago or New York or on the farms of Wisconsin.  And who knows--that relative might show up at the spring gathering of the chapter which hasn’t been set yet.

 

 

One of our attendees was very much interested in our collection of old photographs, especially the gubi or carolers who went to the homes of parishioners and told the story of the Christ Child's coming. 

 

 

Unfortunately, this beloved Christmas tradition of bringing the news of Jesus’ birth to church members is rapidly dying out.  The Lake Michigan Chapter has undertaken the project of preserving the history of Rusyns in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. We will also accept artifacts from other areas.

 

If you have old family photographs, documents or artifacts that you would like to share with us, please make copies of them and bring them to the potluck.  If possible, please include the names of the people, the occasion, the place and the photo date (or approximate) in a separate piece of paper. 

 

 

Bethlehemers or angels in white and gubi resting at their feet from SS. Peter and Paul Carpatho-Rusyn Orthodox Church in Central City, Pennsylvania.   Back row: John "Herbie" Pribish, Steve Evano, Ed Fetsko and Mike Strongosky; front row: John Muha and George Smolen.

 

 

Also, if you have old pictures of Rusyns or Bethlehemers or have a robe or hat that they wore or other artifacts of our people that you no longer want, please consider donating it to our chapter's or National's archives. If you were a  caroler "angel" or gubi, we’d love it if you would share any stories about those Christmas treks to parishioners' homes.  And don't skip the antics that gubi were famous for.  Ah, yes, we who grew up with their visiting our homes and filching our food or other items that interested them know about those things and would like to preserve them.  

 

 

John Sutko, choir director and cantor from St. Peter and St. Paul Orthodox Church in Burr Ridge, Illinois, leads the 66 attendees in singing traditional Rusyn Christmas carols.

  

Other original or copies of photos and/or documents and artifacts from Rusyn culture are also welcome so that we can preserve our customs and traditions for posterity. 

 

You may send your stories, photos or inquires to:  lakemichiganrusyns@gmailcom.  Please include your phone number so that we can call you if we have any questions or need clarification.

 

We look forward to hearing from you! 

 

Now for our potluck details:

  

THE LAKE MICHIGAN CHAPTER

of the CARPATHO-RUSYN SOCIETY

 INVITES YOU TO A

RUSYN NEW YEAR POTLUCK

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2014

12 NOON SOCIALIZING & RUSYN MARKET SHOPPING              

1 P.M.  FEASTING FOLLOWED BY CHRISTMAS CAROLING                        

Please bring your favorite Rusyn or other covered dish, dessert or soft drinks.                          

ST. NICHOLAS BYZANTINE

CATHOLIC CHURCH 

8103 COLUMBIA AVE., MUNSTER, IN

RSVP BY WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8,

WITH THE NUMBER COMING

& WHAT'S IN YOUR POT TO:

lakemichiganrusyns@gmail.com or

Ken at 708/895-3074

                                                       

DIRECTIONS TO ST. NICHOLOS CHURCH:

Via I-80/94:  Take Exit 1/Calumet Ave. South to Broadmoor Ave., turn left on Broadmoor to Columbia Ave.

                        Make a right on Columbia. The church is on the left.

Via Route 30:  From the East, take Indianapolis Blvd/Rt. 41 North to Ridge Rd./Rt. 6.  Turn left   and in 1.5 miles turn right at the light onto Columbia Ave.  Church is a few blocks north on right.  From the West, take Wicker Park/Blvd./Calumet Ave/Rt. 41 North to Ridge Rd.  Make a right onto Ridge Rd.  A few blocks down take a left onto Columbia Ave.  Church will be on right.

 

 

 

CHRISTMAS WISHES

 

Христос раждається! 

Christos Raždajetsja! 

Christ is Born!

The Board of the
Carpatho-Rusyn Society

Lake Michigan Chapter

wishes all its members and friends

a Blessed Christmas

and

a Happy Healthy New Year.

JOIN US FOR A RUSYN NEW YEAR POTLUCK

JOHN STUKO HONORED FOR 60 YEARS AS CHOIR DIRECTOR

 Choir Director John Sutko leads the choir of St. Peter and St. Paul Orthodox Church during the celebration of his 60 years as choir director at the church.

On July 7, 2013, John Sutko was honored for his 60 years of directing the choir of St. Peter and St. Paul Orthodox Church in Burr Ridge, Illinois.  More than 250 people turned out to celebrate the milestone and to thank John for his many years of dedication to the church and preserving the music of the Carpatho-Rusyns.  The celebration was held at the Aviana Banquet Hall in Palos Hills, Illinois.

The honoree is the son of the late John and Mary Miskovsky Sutko of Chicago and the grandson of Michael and Anna Derba Sutko and John and Helen Miskovsky of Nankovo, Ukraine (former Hungarian county of Marammaros and now part of Chust).

In 1949 at age 14, John Sutko began singing in the choir when there were two Liturgies at St. Peter and St. Paul Orthodox Church, then at 5300 South Western Avenue in Chicago.  He was an altar boy for the first Liturgy then sang in the choir for the second.  He also sang in the Lindblom High School A Capella Choir and his senior year was chosen as its student conductor.  He was the soloist for his class’ graduation in1953.

At 17, John went to Wilson Junior College, majoring in business and minoring in music.  Two people encouraged him to focus his studies on music.  His pastor Fr. Nicholas Semkoff asked him to direct the second Liturgy which was in Church Slavonic on Sundays and encouraged him to concentrate on church music in addition to his other studies.  Professor Lela Hamner, who taught at the Conservatory of Music and Wilson Junior College, encouraged John to change his major to music and voice.

When he enrolled in the conservatory, he also took education courses at Chicago Teachers College.  In addition to his music courses, John was involved in oratorio, opera workshops, voice recitals as well being a soloist for churches and other occasions.  As a 20-year-old, he took over directing both Liturgies at the church.

John and Alice Gabrysiak Sutko

 In 1957, John was awarded a bachelor of music education degree and on August 1, he married Alice Theresa Gabrysiak.  That year he also began teaching music at McClure Junior High School in Western Springs, Illinois, a position he held for 35 years.  Son David Alexander Sutko arrived on the scene in 1958 followed by his sister Cynthia Ann Sutko in 1961.  In 1968, the music teacher became assistant principal at the school and began working on his second master’s degree in school administration.  John was nominated twice for the Illinois Golden Apple Award in teaching.  He retired from teaching in 1992.

 During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Liturgical Commission of the Orthodox Church in America created official English texts for feast day vespers and liturgies.  For 10 years, John worked on adapting all the major and minor feast day vesper stikhera, Litija and apostikha verses for four parts and in their proper tones.  During this time period, many high schools and colleges initiated Russian language courses.  Several language arts teachers asked him to present sacred and secular music at high schools and for special events.

Into the 1980s and 1990s, requests kept coming for John share his musical knowledge and talents with others at a wide variety of events both here and abroad.  They include the consecration of His Grace Bishop Boris, the commemoration of the Millennium of Orthodoxy in Russia in 1988 and the wedding of Prince Arnold and Princess Renate of Germany.  During the 1990s, he made three patriarchal visits to His Holiness Patriarch Demetrious of Greece, His Holiness Patriarch Aleksy II of Russia and His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of Serbia.  In addition, John conducted benefit concerts at several churches as well as one hosted by the Templar Knights which raised $20,000 for the new Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow.  The original one had been dynamited by the Communists.  

Between 1996 and 2012, John helped plan and directed building fund concerts and projects the raised over $100,000 for the construction of a new St. Peter and St. Paul Church in Burr Ridge.  The first Divine Liturgy was celebrated there on February 14, 1998.

The Bach Society of St. Louis, Missouri invited John to be the lead soloist and chanter for its presentation of Rachmaninoff’s Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.  Both the University of Chicago and Northwestern University invited him to take the basso profundo parts during their presentation of the vigils of Rachmaninoff, Gretchaninov and Kalinnikov.

Though John teaches the church choir many different arrangements of hymns, he also stresses the importance of maintaining the traditional hymns as an important part of Carpatho-Rusyn heritage which need to be kept and sung so that they are not forgotten.  To help preserve the music of his ancestors, in 1999 he began putting all his music into a computerized format.  

Through the years he has published books of Eastern European Christmas carols (koljadij), Panikhida (memorial service), children’s choir music and Prostopinije (plain chant) of the Carpatho-Rusyn people.

On March 13, 2010, John along with Rev. Fr. William and Charlotte Pribish Conjelko, Tim and Ken Cuprisin, Arlene Gardiner, Jim Kaminski, Rev. Fr. John Lucas, Ron Pyke, Mary Sedor, Tom Sedor, Ivan Skala, Lisa Terlecki, Andrea Valasek and Richard Garbera-Trojanowski came together at the Polish Museum of American in Chicago to found the Lake Michigan Chapter of the Carpatho-Rusyn Society.  John currently serves on the board and delights attendees at the chapter gatherings by leading them in singing Rusyn songs. 

In 2002, he and Alice celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary. The following year John celebrated 50 years as St. Peter and St. Paul’s choir director.  Now in 2013, he has been honored for his 60 years of service to his home parish as well as his dedication to Orthodoxy throughout the world.