BY THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT
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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.”
