History of the Bukovinian Diocese

The monograph of Kassian Dimitrievich Bogatyrets (1868-1960), the well-known Orthodox and social-political activist of Bukovina, was the first attempt of a general study of the past of the ecclesiastical-historical life of the land, written by a Bukovinian Rusnak. Prior to this, the study of the history of the Bukovinian Orthodox Diocese was done by Austrian, Rumanian and partly by Russian researchers. The given theme was presented fragmentary in Ukrainian historiography. In his work, K. Bogatyrets utilized the scholarly legacy of his predecessors, referred to published and unpublished documents, material in the press and the oral witness of participants in the events. He began writing the history of the Bukovinian Church after WWII. In 1945 Archpriest K. Bogatyrets wrote 'A Short History of the Bukovinian Diocese" for the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. Afterwards he continued to work on a broader «History of the Bukovinian Diocese». Unfortunately Father Kassian's work was not completed. The main part was written in manuscript form before 1960. The published work is compiled of 5 sections: A short essay of historical events on the territory of the Bukovinian Orthodox Diocese, the founding of the Bukovinian Diocese, the Bukovinian Diocese under Austrian rule (1775-1917), under Rumanian rule (19181940, 1941-1944), and other confessions and sectarians on the territory of Bukovina. Personal recollections of the author presented in the work reconstruct the picture of the church-ecclesiastical and social-political life of Bukovinian Rus', serve as a source to fill the gaps in the biography of the author himself and provide the opportunity of determining his contribution to the history of the Orthodox Church of Bukovina in which he served and dedicated his life. The monograph was prepared for publication by M.K. Chuchko, Doctor of History and S.G. Sulyak, PhD in History. The style, orthography and punctuation of the author was preserved when possible.

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