Kyryl Studynsky
Encyclopedia
Kyryl StudynskyKyryl Studynsky ( (4 October 1868 – 1941), was a western Ukrainian political and cultural figure from the late-19th to the mid-20th century. One of the principal figures within the Christian Social Movement in Ukraine
, in 1939 Studynsky became head of the People's Assembly of Western Ukraine following the Soviet annexation of Western Ukraine, 1939–1940
, and led the delegation to Moscow that formally requested the inclusion of Western Ukraine to the Soviet Union.
. His grandfather, the priest Stephan Kachala, was a historian and member of the Austrian parliament. Kyryl Studynsky studied philosophy at the University of Lviv, and at the University of Vienna
before switching to Philology
at the latter institution. He the studied Slavonics at the University of Berlin and in 1897 became a lecturer of the Ukrainian language at the Jagiellonian University
in Krakow
. A specialist in Philology
, from 1900 until 1918 he was a professor at the University of Lviv. He knew 6 ancient languages and 10 modern ones, and published over 500 academic works. In addition to such academic pursuits, Studynsky also published poetry and memoirs.
In 1911 Studynsky helped found the Christian Social Party
and played an important role in organizing the educational system of the West Ukrainian National Republic
. Following the annexation of Western Ukraine by Poland, along with many other Ukrainian professors he was released from the University of Lviv by the Polish authorities. Studynsky subsequently became head of the Shevchenko Scientific Society
. A close friend of Mykhailo Hrushevskyi, he made numerous visits to Kiev
and Kharkiv
throughout the 1920's and was a member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in the Ukrainian SSR during the time of Ukrainization
within the Ukrainian SSR. Due to his alleged pro-Soviet sympathies, in 1930 he was assaulted in his office at the Shevchenko Scientific Society
by two members of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists
. In 1932, Studynsky was among the first academics to protest against the Holodomor
and was expelled from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine the following year.
When the Soviet Union annexed western Ukraine in 1939
, Soviet-sponsored elections created a People's Assembly of Western Ukraine. Studynsky became its head, and he led the delegation to Moscow that requested the formal inclusion of Western Ukraine into the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Following western Ukraine's incorporation into the USSR, Studynsky was reinstated in the Academy of Sciences, became a member of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR and became head of the Philology department at the University of Lviv. According to archived personal documents, he had no illusions about the repressive nature of Soviet power but sought compromise with the authorities in order to moderate their activities. During this time he did all he could to protect others from Soviet repression. Through his personal interventions, ten wives of executed academics were spared the death penalty, and the widow and sister of Mykhailo Hrushevskyi weren't denied their pensions. In June 1941, when the USSR was invaded by Germany, he was forcibly evacuated from Lviv by the Soviets and died under mysterious circumstances.
Christian Social Movement in Ukraine
The Christian Social Movement in Ukraine was a political movement that existed in Western Ukraine from the end of the 19th century until the 1930s.-Ideals:...
, in 1939 Studynsky became head of the People's Assembly of Western Ukraine following the Soviet annexation of Western Ukraine, 1939–1940
Soviet annexation of Western Ukraine, 1939–1940
On the basis of a secret clause of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union , the Soviet Union invaded Poland on September 17, 1939, capturing the eastern regions of Poland , with Galicia and Volhynia, facing little Polish opposition and occupying the principal city of...
, and led the delegation to Moscow that formally requested the inclusion of Western Ukraine to the Soviet Union.
Biography
Kyryl Studynsky was born in Ternopil region, at the time a part of Austria–Hungary, into a prominent clerical familyWestern Ukrainian Clergy
The Western Ukrainian clergy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church were a hereditary tight-knit social caste that dominated western Ukrainian society from the late eighteenth until the mid twentieth centuries, following the reforms instituted by Joseph II, Emperor of Austria...
. His grandfather, the priest Stephan Kachala, was a historian and member of the Austrian parliament. Kyryl Studynsky studied philosophy at the University of Lviv, and at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
before switching to Philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
at the latter institution. He the studied Slavonics at the University of Berlin and in 1897 became a lecturer of the Ukrainian language at the Jagiellonian University
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
in Krakow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
. A specialist in Philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
, from 1900 until 1918 he was a professor at the University of Lviv. He knew 6 ancient languages and 10 modern ones, and published over 500 academic works. In addition to such academic pursuits, Studynsky also published poetry and memoirs.
In 1911 Studynsky helped found the Christian Social Party
Christian Social Movement in Ukraine
The Christian Social Movement in Ukraine was a political movement that existed in Western Ukraine from the end of the 19th century until the 1930s.-Ideals:...
and played an important role in organizing the educational system of the West Ukrainian National Republic
West Ukrainian National Republic
The West Ukrainian People's Republic was a short-lived republic that existed in late 1918 and early 1919 in eastern Galicia, that claimed parts of Bukovina and Carpathian Ruthenia and included the cities of Lviv , Przemyśl , Kolomyia , and Stanislaviv...
. Following the annexation of Western Ukraine by Poland, along with many other Ukrainian professors he was released from the University of Lviv by the Polish authorities. Studynsky subsequently became head of the Shevchenko Scientific Society
Shevchenko Scientific Society
The Shevchenko Scientific Society is a Ukrainian scientific society devoted to the promotion of scholarly research and publication. Unlike the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine the society is a public organization that was reestablished in Ukraine in 1989 after almost 50 years of exile...
. A close friend of Mykhailo Hrushevskyi, he made numerous visits to Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
and Kharkiv
Kharkiv
Kharkiv or Kharkov is the second-largest city in Ukraine.The city was founded in 1654 and was a major centre of Ukrainian culture in the Russian Empire. Kharkiv became the first city in Ukraine where the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed in December 1917 and Soviet government was...
throughout the 1920's and was a member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in the Ukrainian SSR during the time of Ukrainization
Ukrainization
Ukrainization is a policy of increasing the usage and facilitating the development of the Ukrainian language and promoting other elements of Ukrainian culture, in various spheres of public life such as education, publishing, government and religion.The term is used, most prominently, for the...
within the Ukrainian SSR. Due to his alleged pro-Soviet sympathies, in 1930 he was assaulted in his office at the Shevchenko Scientific Society
Shevchenko Scientific Society
The Shevchenko Scientific Society is a Ukrainian scientific society devoted to the promotion of scholarly research and publication. Unlike the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine the society is a public organization that was reestablished in Ukraine in 1989 after almost 50 years of exile...
by two members of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists
Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists
The Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists is a Ukrainian political organization which as a movement originally was created in 1929 in Western Ukraine . The OUN accepted violence as an acceptable tool in the fight against foreign and domestic enemies particularly Poland and Russia...
. In 1932, Studynsky was among the first academics to protest against the Holodomor
Holodomor
The Holodomor was a man-made famine in the Ukrainian SSR between 1932 and 1933. During the famine, which is also known as the "terror-famine in Ukraine" and "famine-genocide in Ukraine", millions of Ukrainians died of starvation in a peacetime catastrophe unprecedented in the history of...
and was expelled from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine the following year.
When the Soviet Union annexed western Ukraine in 1939
Soviet annexation of Western Ukraine, 1939–1940
On the basis of a secret clause of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union , the Soviet Union invaded Poland on September 17, 1939, capturing the eastern regions of Poland , with Galicia and Volhynia, facing little Polish opposition and occupying the principal city of...
, Soviet-sponsored elections created a People's Assembly of Western Ukraine. Studynsky became its head, and he led the delegation to Moscow that requested the formal inclusion of Western Ukraine into the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Following western Ukraine's incorporation into the USSR, Studynsky was reinstated in the Academy of Sciences, became a member of the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR and became head of the Philology department at the University of Lviv. According to archived personal documents, he had no illusions about the repressive nature of Soviet power but sought compromise with the authorities in order to moderate their activities. During this time he did all he could to protect others from Soviet repression. Through his personal interventions, ten wives of executed academics were spared the death penalty, and the widow and sister of Mykhailo Hrushevskyi weren't denied their pensions. In June 1941, when the USSR was invaded by Germany, he was forcibly evacuated from Lviv by the Soviets and died under mysterious circumstances.