The parish of the village of Litynya in the Drohobych county in the 1920s–1930s: demographic characteristics, cultural and religious life, material support

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the functioning of the Greek Catholic parish of Litynia (Drohobych region) in the 1920s–1930s. It examines the demographic characteristics of the parish, including its population size, confessional composition, and their dynamics during the interwar period. It is established that the parish was characterized by relative demographic stability and a predominance of the Greek Catholic population, alongside small groups of Roman Catholics and Jews. The study reconstructs the institutional features of the parish within the structure of the Peremyshl Eparchy, particularly its incorporation into the Medenychi Deanery. Special attention is paid to the role of the parish priest, Fr. Lev Stetsiv, who served as a dean and played an active role in both ecclesiastical and public life. It is demonstrated that the clergy’s activities extended beyond pastoral duties and included participation in national and cultural initiatives, notably support for the «Prosvita» society and involvement in religious and public events. Based on parish reports, the article analyzes the moral and religious condition of the community. It is shown that the overall level of religiosity was assessed as satisfactory, despite certain negative phenomena such as a decline in religious observance among part of the younger generation, instances of criminal activity, and occasional manifestations of freethinking. Religious confraternities played a significant role in strengthening the spiritual life of the parish. Particular attention is given to the material foundations of the parish. Using the parish inventory of 1929, the study reconstructs the economic and material condition of the church, including the church building, liturgical objects, libraries, landholdings, and хозяйственные structures. It is concluded that the parish possessed a relatively stable material base, which ensured its functioning and supported its religious and social activities.

The article concludes that the parish of Litynia functioned as an important center of religious, cultural, and national life for the local Ukrainian community, integrating spiritual, social, and economic dimensions within the context of the interwar Polish state.