Searching for relatives-Gereny and Czyhani

[slovakcousin]

I have 3 grandparents who immigrated to the US in late 1800's and early 1900's from Gereny and Czyhani (Ciganovce) . They are surnames Gyurik (Durik or sometimes Yurik spelling), Mikovics, and Vorhanics (perhaps Vohanics). I would like to find out if there are any relatives still living in the area.

Paul and Julianna Vorhanics Gyurik were married in Gereny about 1898 before they came to the US.Their first son Paul was born there in 1899. My great Uncle Istvan (Steven) Gyurik, his wife Julia, and one daughter died about 1916 or 1917 when they returned home, and are buried on a hillside near Gereny. They were all Greek Catholic. My grandmother Maria Mikovics went to Gereny to care for her mother-in-law between 1914-1920.

I am not sure if LDS has GC records microfilmed for the Uzhhorod area, or how I would find out. If anyone can help me find any information, I would appreciate it! Thank you!

[Hannia]

Geren/Gereny = Horyany > Ungvar Megye/county > Kingdom of Hungary

Today your ancestral village/selo Horyany (Горяни), originally called Geren, has been incorporated into the city zone of Uzhorod and is considered to be a micro-district. That would be equivalent to a suburb in our terms. Population appx 1100+.

The village dates back to at least 1332. It was/is predominantly Rusyn/Ruthenian with many Hungarians living there as well. Legend has it that it was the origin of viticulture (grape growing) in all of Zakarpatska region.

Recently there have been some archaeological finds at St. Anna's Greek Catholic Church in Horyany. The newly uncovered murals in the church date back to 11th century. The church itself has had reconstruction in the last 1000 yrs.

http://carpathia.uz.ua/i/200901081639412.jpg
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There are at least 12 Dyuryk, 1 Mikovych, 2 Mykovych and ??? Varhanych listed in telephone directory for Uzhorod.

In selo/village Tsyhanovtse there is 1 Dyuryk listed, but do understand that in the rural areas, telephones are still considered a luxury for some.
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LDS has supposedly filmed some church records for Zakarpatska oblast/region, but they have yet
to be organized...etc etc. You have two choices for now. You can contact the Oblast Archives in
Uzhorod and make an inquiry on your own or you can have a member here, Maxym, Uzhorod resident,
perform the inquiry for you. He is familiar w/both the director and the assistant archivists there. He
comes with exc references and his rates are very fair. You can take the time and think about what
you might like to do, because archives in Ukraine are closed for summer holiday and will reopen in
September.

[slovakcousin]

Thank you so much for the information! I am new to this forum, and having a bit of difficulty replying. I wrote a reply, and it wouldn't allow it to post-I had to log in again.

I will consider what to do next and will contact you. I have US information on all of the grandparents except for Julianna Vorhanich. One aunt told me she was from a neighboring village which sounds like Drowtsic, and I never found any Vorhanich here in the US that seem to be relatives. The spelling must be incorrect.

Thanks again!

[llward3]

Have you ever had any luck with Gereny/Horjany records? I have Greek Catholic ancestors from same place, early 1900's, name Holyinka (now Holinka). I have found only summary records from Uzhorod, no actual GC church registers, thus far.

[slovakcousin]

No, I never had any luck LDS has just posted some GC records online, but they are not indexed.