The World Council of Rusyns convened in Oradea during an event dedicated to strengthening dialogue among Rusyn communities worldwide and promoting the cultural identity of this historic minority in Central and Eastern Europe.
According to a statement issued by Iulius Marian Firczak, the Member of Parliament representing the Rusyn minority in the Romanian Parliament, the meeting represented an important milestone for dialogue among Rusyn communities around the world.
“We had the pleasure of gathering in Oradea for the meeting of the World Council of Rusyns, an important moment for our community and for the dialogue among Rusyns everywhere,” the MP stated.
Firczak emphasized that the Cultural Union of Rusyns in Romania (UCRR) is represented in the leadership of the World Congress of Rusyns through several members of the community.
“UCRR is represented in the leadership of the World Congress of Rusyns by: Dr. Gheorghe Firczak – Vice President of the World Council, Svetlana Bojcsuk – President of the World Forum of Rusyn Youth, and Svetlana Mureșan – President of the Audit Commission,” Iulius Marian Firczak explained.
Messages from Authorities and Support for the Rusyn Community
The event began with a prayer delivered by Father Vasile Bojcsuk, who offered a blessing for the gathering, according to the Rusyn MP. The meeting also brought together representatives of local authorities and public institutions from Bihor County.
“The Sub-Prefect of Bihor County, Emilian Pavel, expressed his satisfaction that Oradea is hosting this meeting and emphasized that the city respects and supports minorities, congratulating the Rusyn community for preserving its traditions and faith,” Firczak stated.
The Deputy Mayor of Oradea, Teofil Filimon, also delivered a welcoming message to the participants.
“The Deputy Mayor of Oradea, Teofil Filimon, welcomed us and recalled that Oradea is a multicultural, multiethnic, and multiconfessional city, underlining the importance of preserving the identity of every people,” the statement notes.
The Chief School Inspector of Bihor County, Ștefănuț Alin, spoke about the role of education in preserving cultural identity.
“The Chief School Inspector of Bihor County, Ștefănuț Alin, highlighted the role of education in safeguarding cultural identity and assured us of the support of the School Inspectorate and the institutions present for projects dedicated to the Rusyn community,” the MP added.
In addition, Prof. Dr. Sorin Șipoș, University Vice-Rector, emphasized the historical links between Romanians and Rusyns.
He noted that these ties are mentioned in the “Chronicle of Nestor” and “Gesta Hungarorum,” showing that these historical and cultural similarities are not coincidental, Firczak stated.
During the meeting, Dincer Geafer, State Secretary within the Department for Interethnic Relations of the Romanian Government, also addressed the participants.
“The State Secretary from the Department for Interethnic Relations of the Romanian Government, Dincer Geafer, highlighted Romania’s model in protecting minorities and stressed that, beyond the legal framework, the people who put it into practice are essential,” the statement reads.
Message from the President of Romania and Book Launch
According to the Rusyn representative, the event also included the reading of a message sent by the President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, on the occasion of the Day of the Rusyns in Romania.
“During the event, we read the message sent by the President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, on the occasion of the Day of the Rusyns in Romania. At the same time, UCRR launched the novel ‘Apocalipsa rusină,’ written by Oscar Gal and translated into the Rusyn language by Maria Saghin, an important moment for promoting Rusyn culture,” Firczak added.
The meeting of the World Council of Rusyns in Oradea thus highlighted Romania’s role as a space for dialogue and cooperation among ethnic communities in Europe, as well as the importance of preserving cultural identity amid the transformations taking place in the region.
