Lemkovyna: A History of the Lemko Region published October 17, 2012 by: webmaster. Published in 1969, Father Ioann Polianskii’s Istoriia Lemkovyny is the largest and most comprehensive history of Lemkos and their native region ever written po-nashomu- in the Lemko language. But it has never been available in English- until now! Thanks to years of effort by members, the Lemko Association has published Lemkovyna: A History of the Lemko Region of the Carpathian Mountains in Central Europe, a complete English translation of Father Polianskii’s book. Lemkovyna: A History of the Lemko Region of the Carpathian Mountains in Central Europe is both a celebration of the Lemko Region, which the author calls a “foretaste of paradise,” and a lament over its suffering, especially the ethnic cleansing of its inhabitants after WW II. Polianskii traces the social, political, and religious history of Lemkos and neighboring Carpatho-Rusyns, chronicling early Slavic tribes and the introduction of Christianity, how villagers earned their living and worked against long odds to improve their circumstances, including emigration to America, and how the Lemko world in the Carpathians was shattered by forced resettlements after the Second World War, including the infamous Operation “Vistula”. His passion for his native region brings his subjects to life, from indentured servants in medieval manors to outlaws raiding noblemen’s carriages. His eye for detail and access to source material are evident in the detailed histories of Lemko towns such as Sanok, Gorlice, Krynica, Nowy Sącz, and many more. The 574-page English edition contains a great deal of new material, including detailed explanatory notes and updates; Polianskii’s own autobiography, published for the first time; and appendices by Lemko Association members Paul Best, Walter Maksimovich, and Bogdan Horbal, as well as scholars Mykhailo Almashii and Stanislaw Stepien. This book is recommended not just for anyone with Lemko roots, but also for anyone looking for a unique perspective on a nearly forgotten corner of Central Europe.
