Carpatho-Rusyn Society

09/02/2026

On October 11th, Gabriel Koljesar will be delivering a fascinating presentation titled 'The Rusyns of Vojvodina—Their History and Their Cultural and Spiritual Revival.' The lecture will take place virtually via Zoom from 7 PM to 9PM ET. All are welcome to attend this free virtual event.

Gabriel was born in 1948 in the town of R***i Kerestur in the province of Vojvodina in former Yugoslavia. He has been a prominent journalist and strong advocate for Rusyns and the Rusyn language for several decades. Gabriel has been active in the Society for Rusyn Language, Literature, and Culture since its founding, and has served as the head of the Lexicological Database of the Rusyn Language, editor-in-chief of the Society's yearbook, president, and secretary. He has a number of published books and articles, and he is passionate about strengthening ties between Yugoslav Rusyns and Rusyns in Slovakia, Poland, Transcarpathia, and Hungary.

Since retiring in 2013, Gabriel has dedicated himself to preparing video materials from all areas of work and life of Rusyns in Vojvodina and posting them on YouTube. His presentation will be an exploration into the beautiful history and reviving culture of Rusyns in Vojvodina. To register for the presentation, ⤵️ check the comments below for a link to the C-RS Events Page and then select 'Online - The Rusyns of Vojvodina.'

The below image is courtesy of Gabriel Koljesar and shows Gabriel speaking at the First World Congress of Rusyns in Slovakia in 1991.

08/31/2026

To listen to today's radio program, or any of our archives, please visit our web page:

Rusyn Heritage Radio ProgramHosted by Dean Poloka.The program is now part of the Rusyn.fm family. Rusyn.fm is an Internet-based Rusyn radio station in Slovakia. The broadcast is under the main title of ГОЛОСЫ РУСИНІВ АМЕРИКЫ / HOLOSŶ RUSYNIV AMERYKŶ / VOICE OF RUSYNS IN AMERIC...

08/30/2026

Listen to Rusyn Radio from Pittsburgh at 3:30 pm on Rusyn FM. Don't forget that 3:30 pm in Pittsburgh is 9:30 pm in Prešov and 10:30 pm in Uzhorod. Listen at the website below:

Слухайте Русинське Радио з Пiтсбурґу o 15.30 тепер на Rusyn FM. Незабывайте же 15.30 y Пітсбургу э 21.30 у Пряшові i 22.30 y Ужгородi. Послухайтe на сайті нижже:

To listen live at broadcast time, please click: rusyn.fm/play

On today’s broadcast, we discuss how Rusyns in Ukraine are still fighting for official government recognition 35 years after Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union.

Today’s musical selections include:
Labirskŷ Beťare from Medzilaborce
Zakarpatskyj Narodnyj Chor from Užhorod
Rolland from Čirč
Grupa Rosa from R***i Kerestur
Lemko Recordings from the 1920s
Liana Hutníková from Kamjunka
Slavjane from Pittsburgh
Werchowyna from Poland
Ensemble Užhorod from Ukraine
Harmonia from Cleveland

08/28/2026

On Saturday, September 26th, St. Mary Magdalene Byzantine Catholic Church will be having their 16th Annual European Festival at 5390 W. 220th Street in Fairview Park, Ohio. You are invited to experience the traditions of Europe, through homemade ethnic foods, family recipes passed down through generations, as well as lively music and dance performances. Living Traditions Folk Ensemble will be performing traditional Carpatho-Rusyn dances and songs.

Enjoy the traditional music, colorful costumes, ethnic dancing, and delicious homemade foods and desserts, as attendees celebrate a day of culture and community. Admission is free and all are welcome. For more information, ⤵️ check the comments below for a link to the festival website.

08/24/2026

Carpatho-Rusyns are no strangers to the world of college and professional sports. UCLA's newest head football coach, Bob Chesney, is a Rusyn who grew up in Kulpmont, Pennsylvania—the heart of the Anthracite Coal Region. Chesney boasts a spectacular record at James Madison University and is expected to build a successful and winning football program at UCLA. Read more about Bob's career and Rusyn heritage, ⤵️ check the comments below for a link to the article.

Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel, “Holy Cross head football coach Bob Chesney closeup,” via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

08/23/2026

To listen to today's radio program, or any of our archives, please visit our web page:

Rusyn Heritage Radio ProgramHosted by Dean Poloka.The program is now part of the Rusyn.fm family. Rusyn.fm is an Internet-based Rusyn radio station in Slovakia. The broadcast is under the main title of ГОЛОСЫ РУСИНІВ АМЕРИКЫ / HOLOSŶ RUSYNIV AMERYKŶ / VOICE OF RUSYNS IN AMERIC...

08/23/2026

Listen to Rusyn Radio from Pittsburgh at 3:30 pm on Rusyn FM. Don't forget that 3:30 pm in Pittsburgh is 9:30 pm in Prešov and 10:30 pm in Uzhorod. Listen at the website below:

Слухайте Русинське радіо з Пiтсбурґу o 15.30 на Rusyn FM. Незабывайте же 15.30 y Пітсбургу э 21.30 у Пряшові i 22.30 y Ужгородi. Послухайтe на сайті нижже:

https://www.rusyn.fm/play/

On today’s broadcast, we remember the anniversary of the invasion of Czechoslovakia, which ended the Prague Spring of 1968, as well as one of the most controversial Rusyn figures of the 20th century—the hardline Communist responsible for that invasion, Vasiľ Biľak.

Today’s musical selections include:
Šambriňci from Slovakia
Horpyna from Lemkovyna
Hrzda from Slovakia
Šarišon from Prešov
Picončanka from Slovakia
Czeremszyna from Poland
Juno from Slovakia

08/21/2026

On August 1st, the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Carpatho-Rusyn Society attended 'A Taste of the Pittsburgh Folk Festival' in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Through music, dance, food, and community, cultures and beautiful traditions from around the world were showcased. This year marked the return of the festival after a ten-year hiatus.

The Pittsburgh Chapter of C-RS proudly exhibited their Carpatho-Rusyn heritage with an educational display, merchandise table, and a food booth! The celebration also featured a performance by the recently-revived Slavjane Folk Ensemble, and C-RS President Emeritus John Righetti conducted a cooking demonstration, both of which brought Rusyn, music, dance, and culinary traditions to life!

Attendees were delighted to spend the day sharing their traditions and heritage with friends, old and new. Be on the lookout for more C-RS Events in the near future!

The Slavjane photo is courtesy of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the other photos are courtesy of Alexandra Plummer.

08/17/2026

The 80th Annual One World Day will be held on August 30, 2026 from 11 AM to 6 PM at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens in Cleveland, Ohio. This wonderful event includes numerous cultural displays, performing-arts dancers, singers, musicians, ethnic food, and more! Additionally, there will be activities for children.

Thirty-eight unique cultural gardens support this annual festival, including the Carpatho-Rusyn Garden, which was founded in 1939. Look forward to the colorful Parade of Flags as well as displays at the Carpatho-Rusyn Garden and other cultural gardens. For more information, ⤵️ check the comments below for a link to the festival website.