Dear RichC,

If you don't mind a Boyko answering your question . . .

As I understand it, Bishop Paul's martyrdom, having been established, was what advanced him to the rank of "Blessed" alone as is the case with martyrs.

There are, of course, many locally acclaimed miracles through his intercession and these continue, which could go toward his eventual canonization.

Alex

Dear Andreios and RichC,

You have to forgive me in my clinging to this notion about Bishop Paul being Ukrainian.

It is clear to me that I was brainwashed by years of being in the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

No problem. I am going to write to my bishop and my patriarch and tell them to "get with the program."

I think I am slowly coming out of the nationalist phase of my upbringing . . . Slava Ukrayini! Woops! Did I say that?

Alex

Dear Alex,

Be not troubled. You're always OK in my book. No de-programming required.

Heroyam slava!

RDC

Dear RichC,

Ditto! Ditto!

Heroyam Slava!

Alex

SLAVA ISUSU CHRISTU!
SLAVA NA VIKI BOHU!

My cousins in Presov tell that there will be a giant thanksgiving service in the Sports Palace and then a big procession to St. John's Cathedral in Presov on Saturday.

They're also promising to make video tapes of the ceremonies and to send clippings!

Looking forward to it.

Hope to have a 1st hand account from a priest friend who helped co-ordinate things in Rome and Presov. He's been over there for 4 wks already!

Dear Medved,

Since I've embarrassed myself here already, what could you find out about Blessed Paul's ethnic background?

Not that it matters, really, since he is now at home in our Heavenly homeland!

Ukrainian or not, he is included among the Ukrainian Bishop Martyrs in our churches, as is Blessed Theodore Romzha.

Perhaps our icon-writers could, in future, put Ukrainian flag lapel pins on those martyrs who were Ukrainian etc.

Alex

Slava Isusu Christu!

Alex, you need not to apologize. I personally would agree with the term "Carpathian Ukrainians". But Rusins from Slovakia would not agree.

Short historical note: In 1930 lived in the area of Slovakia about 90.000 Rusins ("Ruthenian" or "Russian nationalities"), nowadays only 24201 (census 2001). But nowadays Ukrainians 10814. In Slovakia, if you say Ukrainian, that means someone from Lvov or Kijev or Doneck. May be, from Mukacevo or Uzhorod, but not Medzilaborce or Svidnik.

During the communist regime it was not allowed to declare the nationality as Rusin, only Ukrainian. Due to this violence, many Rusins declare themselves as Slovaks. Other part of Rusins declared themselves as Ukrainians; there were founded several Ukrainian schools in North-Eastern Slovakia. That is why so few people declared themselves as Rusins in the last census and why many Rusins in Slovakia dont like the term "Ukrainian" - without negative feeling to Ukraine as a country or nation. (Though other declare themselves as Ukrainians.)

In my opinion, this was an sick idea of soviet communist regime - to build one slavonic communistic (atheist) nation.

NOTE: I have to say, I am not Rusin and no one of my ancestors (as far as I know) were Rusins.

I have read in our magazine SLOVO, that the process of beatification was started in 1986 by vladyka Koscisko (may be, the orthography is not right), archbishop of Pittsburgh.

andreios
Byzantine Catholic Church in Slovakia webpage

Dear Andreios,

Thank you, Brother!

Yes, the soviets did a lot of cultural experimentation to "divide and conquer," to be sure.

I remember once meeting a "Kuban Kozak." He spoke flawlessly Ukie, said he was from Ukraine, but defined himself culturally as a Kuban Kozak.

The more the merrier, I say!

Blessed Paul Goydich, Holy Martyr of the Lord, pray unto God for us!

Alex

An interesting article on the nationality of bishop Pavel in Slovak language apeared in Slovak newspaper Sme – http://www.sme.sk/clanok.asp?vyd=20011205&cl=177659

Discusion to this article available on http://www.sme.sk/clanok_koment.asp?cl=177659

In Slovakia the problem is that many Slovaks do not like to declare Gojdic's nationality as Rusin.

andreios
Byzantine Catholic Chuch in Slovakia

Hi Andreios!! Folks, the Byzantine Catholic parish in Bratislava, SK (Andreios's parish) is really great. And the people there are fine ambassadors of Christian hospitality!

[ 12-13-2001: Message edited by: RichC ]

In the December edition of the New Star newspaper (official news of the St. Nicholas Eparchy for Ukrainians in Chicago,) there was a small note that Blessed Paul Gojdic was the hierarch who ordained our dear retired Eparch, Bishop INNOCENT (Lotocky) OSBM to the priesthood.

I'll try to get more info on this.

With best wishes to all for New Calandar Christmas!

Stefan

Dear Stefan-Ivan,

Yes, those Basilians do stick together, don't they?

I almost became one myself . . .

Alex