The terms Carpatho-Russian and Carpatho-Rusyn have been used interchangeably for many years to describe the unique ethnic group identified with the Carpathian Mountain region of Central Europe.
The Carpathian Mountain region and surrounding areas have been called Little Russia, White Russia and Euro-Russia.
Rusyn gained wider acceptance in recent years to distinguish the ethnic group from those of Russia.
Both words are based on a Latin term that also changed usage over time, said the Very. Rev. George Johnson, rector of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in East Conemaugh Borough.
“Rusyn is a term that on the one hand existed for a long time, but was utilized very differently in different places,” Johnson said.
“In a large part, it was rediscovered in this country.
“About 35 years ago, there was a special push among some scholars to make a visible distinction between what was meant by the word Russian and what was meant by something else: Rusyn.”
Others continue to use Carpatho-Russian, in part, because of its importance to the tradition-sensitive people.
“Rusyn is used sometimes by people,” said the Very Rev. Protopresbyter Frank P. Miloro, dean of Christ the Saviour Cathedral in the West End section of Johnstown.
“We have always maintained the terminology Carpatho-Russian that was used by the Greek Catholic Church.”
Home Lands
Identity explained
- Home Lands
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- Homeland series form
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Homelands series: Scottish and other heritage pages
View the PDF pages from The Tribune-Democrat's December 26 edition of Homelands.
- Notables
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Medical programs, scientific research bring new immigrants to area
When Hai Hu was looking for a new opportunity, his expertise in developing computer software to study molecular biology brought him offers from top universities – and Windber Research Institute.
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'I enjoy being here'
Denicia Greaves, 25, found the United States to be a melting pot when she enrolled at St. Francis University in Loretto a handful of years ago.
But not more so than her native Trinidad and Tobago, a Caribbean nation off the coast of Venezuela. - Scottish Recipes
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Immigrants still trekking to region
They may not be the huddled masses coming through the ports at Ellis Island, Philadelphia and Baltimore of yesteryear, but immigrants are still arriving in the Cambria-Somerset region.
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Slang words have basis in Scottish heritage
Growing up in Johnstown, Jane Oleksak thought because of her parents’ lack of formal education, they simply invented words to get a point across. It wasn’t until she was more educated herself that she discovered that many of the words she thought were slang actually have a basis in Scottish heritage.
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Groups of Welsh immigrants settled in Ebensburg
The historic town of Ebensburg, seat of Cambria County government, traces its roots back to a still young American nation when Welsh settlers immigrated here.
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'They really accepted us' | Newcomers find Cambria-Somerset region to be inviting
When Dr. Justin Boccardo and his wife, Dr. Maria Paula Jofre, told family in Argentina they were moving to Johns-town, Jofre’s grandfather went to his map collection.
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