Rusyns Celebrate Palm Sunday

Fr. Sam Sherry of St. Michael Orthodox Church in Niles, Illinois, blesses pussy willows on Palm Sunday.

Pussy willows were in abundance this past Sunday as Byzantine Catholic and Orthodox Rusyns celebrated Palm Sunday.  Why pussy willows and not palms on Palm Sunday?  Expediency—spring brought forth pussy willows in the mountains of our ancestors who were converted to Christianity in 862 A.D. by Saints Cyril and Methodios.  The saints were probably two of only a handful of people in all Slav lands they traversed who had ever seen palms.

Karington Clarke is much more interested in having her picture taken than Fr. Sam
and the pussy willows which appear to be just about as tall as she is.

Carrying on the Pysanky Tradition

“Wouldn’t this make a beautiful Easter Sunday?” was heard numerous times as would-be pysanky artists gathered on March 24 at Descent of the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church in Schererville, Indiana for the Carpatho-Rusyn Society/Lake Michigan Chapter’s second pysanky workshop.

“Beautiful” became an overworked word that day as attendees circled the tables displaying the colorful Easter creations of mother-daughter duo Arlene Dremak Gardiner and Karin Gardiner Sandman.  “Beautiful. Just incredibly beautiful.” “I’ll never be able to make anything like that.”  “Gorgeous.  Absolutely gorgeous.”

The two instructors assured the novices that by learning the technique and lots of practice they could also learn to make such Easter treasures to share with family and friends.  During her Power Point presentation, Karin showed the styles, symbols and techniques used by the various Eastern European groups—Rusyns, Poles, Slovaks, Ukrainians and others.  Each attendee received an information packet for future reference so they could continue working on their skills at home.

Art teacher John E. Thomas and his students Meredith Rogers and Kimberly Lord create their pysanky.

After the presentation, each person selected a design and began lightly penciling it on an egg.   The real test was learning how to heat the wax in the kishka or stylus and applying it only to the parts of the design to remain white before submersing it in yellow dye.  Or perhaps the real test is realizing that one must wax the areas to remain yellow and then dip it into the next darker color which then needs to be waxed and then dipped in a darker dye.  It is no wonder that pysanky are treasured by the creator as well as by those gifted with such a delicate piece of art.

C-RS/LMC board member Brendan
Barry concentrates on his creation.

John Glenn High School (Walkerton, Indiana) veteran art teacher John E. Thomas said he was absolutely delighted when senior Meredith Rogers shared information about Lake Michigan Chapter’s upcoming workshop in the bulletin from St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in Munster, Indiana.

“I read an article about pysanky in National Geographic some years ago.  I find it fascinating.  I talked to the kids in our Art Club about it.  They want to learn the technique, too. I’m so glad Meredith told me about the workshop.”

Indiana award-winning art student
Meredith Rogers also wins the door
prize of three pysanky created by
 instructor Karin Gardiner Sandman.

Mr. Thomas also shared the news that Meredith would be going to Carnegie Hall in New York City in June for the second time to accept a national award for high school art students from all over the country.  Her entry was an oil painting of glassware, only the second oil she’s ever done.  In her sophomore year, a charcoal self-portrait garnered her the honor.  Look for a posting on our Lake Michigan Chapter blog about Meredith’s award in late June.

The workshop closed with Meredith winning the door prize of a basket of three pysanky created by Karin and the new pysanky artists showing off their creations.
 

THE LINDEN AND THE OAK:

A Rusyn Novel Comes to Life

    

Author Mark Wansa will discuss the use of genealogy and family memories 

  in writing a historical novel.

               

The Linden and the Oak is a highly acclaimed novel about two Carpatho-Rusyn

families in a village of northeastern Slovakia,

caught up in the tidal waves of World War I, revolution,

and emigration from the Old Country to America.

Books will be available for purchase and signing.

A Joint Presentation of

The Slovak-American Society of Washington

&

The Carpatho-Rusyn Society, National Capital Chapter

Saturday, March 17, 2012 – 2:00 P.M.

Braddock District Governmental Center

9002 Burke Lake Road

Burke, VA 22015

LEMKO HOMELAND TOUR

C-RS LEMKO TOUR TO POLAND - July 20-Aug. 2, 2012

Plus Optional Western Poland for Lemko Vatra - Aug. 2-6, 2012

 There's still time to sign up for this exciting and exceptional tour of the Lemko Homeland.  This year's tour group will be smaller than usual, allowing it to be even more personalized than ever.  

The Lemko Tour is offered only occasionally, and it is not known if or when it might be offered again. So don't miss out on this chance for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  If you or someone you know might be interested, please contact Nancy Revak immediately at lemkotour@c-rs.org or 310-473-8522. 

 The tour will be visiting interesting sites in and near Sanok, the Bieszczady, Zyndranowa, Krosno, Krynica, Nowy Sacz and Krakow.  Learn about Lemko history.  Experience Lemko culture. Enjoy traditional foods.  Sit around a bonfire in the mountains, eating, drinking, and singing along with native Lemkos. Visit the village of your ancestors.  

Extend your trip to include an optional weekend in Western Poland--Wroclaw and Legnica.  Enjoy the  singing and dancing of Lemko folk groups from near and far at the annual Lemko Vatra festival in Michalow.   

 Click or paste in browser to see details:

 http://www.c-rs.org/National/2012 LEMKO TOUR_C-RS Announcement.pdf

Pysanky Workshop

Pysanky Workshop: March 24 in Schererville, IN

A TISKET A TASKET 

WANT PYSANKY IN YOUR BASKET? 

…OR HRUDKA?

If you want a basket full of pysanky that you created to grace your table or hrudka to share with family and friends at Easter, then circle Saturday, March 24 on your calendar. The Carpatho-Rusyn Society/Lake Michigan Chapter’s annual pysanky workshop will take place that afternoon at Descent of the Holy Spirit Orthodox Church in Schererville, IN. Arlene Dremak Gardiner and Karin Gardiner Sandman, our pysanky experts, will demonstrate Rusyn and Ukrainian styles while Fr. John Lucas will demonstrate hrudka (Easter cheese) making. Further details will be posted in 10 days.