PUBLIC AND RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES OF THE GREEK-CATHOLIC CLERGY IN CHERNIVET REGION (1914–1917)

Abstract

In the presented article, the author reveals the position and the activities of the Greek Catholic clergy in the conditions of the Russian occupation regime during 1914 – 1917. This topic has been considered in the

administrative boundaries of the Chernivtsi Governorate. The main purposes of the article were to analyze the geopolitical situation and the regulatory framework of the Russian policy towards the clergy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) in the occupied territories. In addition, the adaptation of the priests to the activities during wartime was analyzed. The research was carried out on the basis of the materials from the funds of the State Archives of the Ivano-Frankivsk Region, the State Archives of the Chernivtsi Region and the State Archives of Ternopil Region.

During the Russian military invasion of Austria-Hungary in 1914, the imperial government had formed the new administrative units in the occupied territory, including the Chernivtsi Governorate. Within the boundaries of the administrative unit were eight deaneries of the Stanyslaviv eparchy of the UGCC. The Russian authorities had established a regime of controlled religious tolerance, but gradually increased the number of priests of the Russian Orthodox Church. It has been established, that despite a noticeable decrease in the number of clergy of the UGCC, in the majority, they managed to maintain the positions in their own parishes. The priests have mastered the Russian regulatory framework and made all efforts to minimize the impact of the war on the lives of the parishioners. The most of the priests were able to return to their usual duties in the religious, the representational and the pedagogical activities.

According to the author, it was the activity of the conscious Ukrainian clergy that had become one of the factors in the failure of the strategic goal of the Russian Empire. The Russians failed the activity to eliminate the Ukrainian identity. In general, the pro-Russian influence has decreased.  Keywords: World War I, UGCC, Chernivtsi Governorate, the Russian occupation regime, the Greek Catholic clergy, the social activity, the religious activity, Hryhoriy  Khomyshyn