kowalyszyn Family

[bmarusia]

I am trying to identify my father's identity. He says his surname is Kowalyszyn and thinks he was born in Janczyn (now Ivanivka) in Lvivska oblast around 1928. We would dearly like to confirm this and piece together my father's family identity. All we know for sure is that he had some connection with the Metropolitan Szeptytski. Can someone offer some advice as to how we may be able to obtain some information as to how we might verify his name and find possible relatives?

[Hannia]

From late 18th century to 1919 wies/village Janczyn (Polish name) was predominantly a
Ruthenian/Ukrainian village w/its own GC Church. Przemyslany was both the powiat and
gmina > Lwowskie Wojiwodstwo > Galcia/ Halyczyna Province, administered by ethnic Poles
for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Filial RC church was in Firlejow. 1919-1939 this region
came under Reconstituted Poland's domain. Post WW2 it came under Soviet domain until
1991 when it became independent.

Today selo/village Ivanivka still exists > Peremyshlyanskij raion/district > Lvivska Oblast/Region >
Ukraine (intl abbr UA), latest zip for village 81262.
___________________________________________________________________

Marusia, I am not sure if it was you or your sister that asked this same question several yrs ago
in another forum.

My theory still holds. Your Grandparents were probably Ukrainian political intellectuals, and were killed
by Poles for their convictions. Metropolitan Sheptytskij w/his brother, Klementij, Head of the Studite Monks
at the time, organized sanctuaries within the Studite monasteries and Basilian nunneries for the orphans left
behind. I suspect that your Father landed up in one of these sanctuaries.

I (still) doubt that the Sheptytskij Brothers, who were born in Prybylchi > Javoriv, were Father's relatives.

Did you ever try writing to Cardinal Lubomyr Husar? He is not only the Chief Hierarch and Spiritual leader
of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, but he is also the Archimandrite of Studite Monks in Ukraine. The Studites
are very close to his heart, since he himself had been one. Ask him where there might be a Metropolitan
Sheptytski List of Orphans from this particular time frame. Cardinal Husar spent many yrs in US and Canada
and speaks English fluently.

Might it be at the Lavra in Univ? At one point during WW2 all records
from the various monasteries were collected and moved to Univ. The
Univ villagers protected/hid these documents & manuscripts during Soviet Era.

Since 2005 and becoming Cardinal, his residence is in Kiev.

MAYBE ONE OF OUR MEMBERS WOULD BE SO KIND AND PROVIDE MARUSIA W/CARDINAL
HUSAR'S CURRENT ADDRESS IN KIEV???

Father's is a very touching story and Cardinal Husar may very well know where the answers
to his questions can be found. And if he doesn't, he certainly has the clout to find out where
the Orphan Lists are.
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I would also obtain a baptismal certificate for Father thru the RAHS (District Archives in Peremyshlyany).
There you will find some additional names, like Grandmother's maiden name, GGrandparents' & Godparents'
names. The Midwife and priest should also be listed. You will need to obtain a PRIVACY RELEASE first, thru
your nearest Ukrainian Embassy or Consulate. The cost is appx $75 USD. With the names you obtain, I
would then write the Village Administrator and ask if there are any surviving relatives of all names above
still residing in the village. One of these relatives may know Father's story in detail ??? My experience has
been that every village remembers its heroes. During Soviet Era these stories were passed on in whispers,
but they were passed on.

RAHS
v. Halyczka, 50
m. Peremyslyany
Ukraina 81200
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Older Family Records.

I did not see any Janycz/Ivanivka > Peremyshlyany GC Metrykal Registers copied by LDS.
Check w/Mark in Canada. Provide him w/village & district name. He stays on top of the
latest LDS releases and filming schedule. Please pass on my regards. mgdusyk@telus.net

[bmarusia]

Thank you Hannia for all your information and contacts. You are right You did suggest a theory to my sister regarding the murder of my father's parents in another forum a few years back. At the present time its the best explanation offered to date. The only thing is, my father has a strong feeling that Russians murdered my grandparents. He also acts very irrational with things Russian. With Poles on the other hand he is OK (he even married one).
We agree with you that there is no familial relationship with the Szeptytski family. But there was a close relationship and with the Metropolitan in particular. He remembers staying with him in the Sw Jura complex in Lwow. His fondness for the Metropolitan is undeniable. However, it has always been a mystery not only why he came under the Metropolitan's care but also why my father had a priest who acted as a minder, who stayed with him day and night and was his constant companion. He was with my father soon after his parents were killed right up to 1942. At this time the Metropolitan sent my father to Kolomea without the priest. This was a period of immense sadness for my father and ended with my father being taken to Germany by the Nazis.
I thank you Hannia for your information regarding Cardinal Husar. I have searched for nearly two years for some useful information about the Studites. Someone I could talk to about my father's background. Thank you Hannia you are a blessing.

[Hannia]

father had a priest who acted as a minder, who stayed with him day and night and was his constant companion

Father was only a little boy, who suffered a terrible trauma and needed constant care.
Who knows what brutality he witnessed.

Father's experience is beyond our comprehension.
_________________________________________________________

Just to doublecheck, I did go looking for Russians in this area in early 30's.
Everything still leads to Polish Pacification Period.

Maybe his parents were teachers? Maybe his father was a priest?
In the last quarter of 1930 teachers and priests were primary targets.

[bmarusia]

Yes Hannia. I have thought of this possibility of my grandfather being a priest. This aspect could also further explain the GC church's involvement in caring for my father. The church may have felt some responsibility for looking after a priest's surviving son. This may also explain his presence in Sw Jura complex in Lviv. My father recalls the Metropolitan taking him for rides in his car (with shiny wheels) in Lviv itself and areas outside of Lviv. He said the Metropolitan had many estates. He also recalls that many dignitaries visited the Metropolitan. On one occasion his minder tried to remove him away from the presence of the visitors and the Metropolitan said to him that my father could stay. This suggests that my father may have been more than just an 'orphan'. Why the interest in this orphan in particular as there were many at that time. Or was it simply that he took a liking to him. Possibly Cardinal Husar might shed some light here.
My father also has mentioned that when he was in the monastery near Janczyn, he was frequently visited by a number of people. One lady (who was always well dressed), in particular visited him fairly often. He sensed that she might have been a relative. A number of men also visited him, they also were well dressed, but did not visit as frequently as the lady. He was not told who they were or why they visited him. He does not recall if he was questioned by them, only that they were concerned about his welfare.
What's your take, Hannia? I'm just brainstorming...

[Hannia]

I have recently been rereading stories told by children in M. Sheptytskij's care in 1942. These kids were Jewish and the Metropolitan himself was personally involved in their care and sanctuary. The children were spread thru/out the entire network of monasteries and convents. It was not unusual for him to have a child hidden in his own residence. He personally created hiding places for them for when the Nazis came calling.

Marusia, no offense but this thing can be beaten to death. The answers lie in documentation somewhere. Getting a copy of Father's baptismal certificate is crucial. Father had Godparents. Father may have had an aunt. He may have had uncles. Father's Metryka is very likely still at the district level. If not you may have to make an inquiry at the oblast level.

Your other option is to hire someone in the immediate area and have them make some personal inquiries in the village. I know someone, who has worked on difficult cases for me and has been successful. He speaks English, has a computer and car AND he has connections w/the police as well. His rates are very reasonable. This is up to you, but do get moving. It's time to help Father chase away some of those demons he has been living with all of his life.

Later today I will see what I can do re Cardinal Husar's new address in Kiev.

PS> The Holy Dormition Monastery is located about 7km NE of Ivanivtsi. Since Ukrainian independence, it has been reopened.