This page is dedicated to my grandparents Michael & Anna Osifchin nee Sokol

Steven M. Osifchin, Editor

NOTE: I maintain the parish films on permanent loan. I am willing to do a LIMITED look-up for those like myself that had ancestors from Ujak. Since I am volunteering my time please keep your request within reason. Send your requests to Steven Osifchin at editors@tccweb.org

Village History 

The old and foreign names of the place:

1427-Wyak, 1773 through 1786-Ujlak, 1808-Ujak, Ujach, 1863—Ujlak, 1888-Uják, 1907-Sárosújlak, 1948-Údol, Hungarian - Sárosújlak.

The administrative structure:

Šariš and Košice county 1923—1928, Šariš-Zemplín county 1940—1945, district Lipany until 10 December 1922, Sabinov until the year 1948, Stará L'ubovna 1948—1960, Prešov 1960—1968. Since 1968 district of Stará L'ubovna.

Local places:

Majer, Poza most.

Population numbers:

In the year 1787—416 inhabitants, 1828—663, 1869—718, 1880—680, 1890—685, 1900—666, 1910—490, 1921—524, 1930—524, 1940—591, 1948—529, 1961—526, 1970—574, 1980—569, 1991—496.

The year 1921—136 houses and 524 inhabitants: 27 of Czechoslovak nationality, 474 Ruthenian, 23 foreigners, 16 Roman-Catholic religion, 508 Greek Catholic.

The year 1991—136 houses and 496 inhabitants: 348 Slovak, 1 Czech, 80 Ruthenian origin, 66 Ukraine, 1 other, 14 Roman Catholic, 379 Greek Catholic, 41 Orthodox, 10 without religion, 52 not identified.

The acreage:

1316 hectares.

History:

The community is first mentioned in the year 1349 in a document in connection with the sale of the šoltýstvo, when Michal, the son of Fabián, šoltýs at that time, sold the local šoltýstvo, which he bought from Mikuláš, to two Spiš townsmen. The field of land, the brewery and the mill belonged to the šoltýstvo. The village existed two-three decades before the year 1349. It was established by settlers with the šoltýstvo according to the purchase right on the estate domain of Plave, at the end of the 13th century and the beginning of the 14^th century. The village was part of the castle estate domain of Plave , continuously between the 14—16th centuries. In the documents between 14—16th centuries the village is mentioned under the name Ujlak. It was the Slovak form of the originally Hungarian name Ujlak, put together from words "uj" which means new and "lak" which means residence, community. The Hungarian name was implemented by village feudals and the domain of Plave.

In the year 1427 in the portal register of Šariš county, the Hungarian name is added under the name Wyak. At that time Ujak households were taxed by a tax to the King from 32 port, so Ujak was a big village. It's legal pertinence was confirmed by the šoltýs, in 1567. Later on peasants gradually moved out and housing development became extinct. In the document about the Plave domain from the second half of the 15th century and beginning of the 16th century the community isn't mentioned. The new housing development was established by Ruthenian settlers with the šoltýs between the years 20—30 of the 16^th century. In the year 1600 the housing development consisted of 17 inhabited serf houses and the house of the šoltýs. In the renewed village in the second half of the 16th century, the village grew to be a middle-sized village in which, except for the family of the šoltýs, lived the serf's population especially of Ruthenian origin.

In the year 1755 the community burned down. In the year 1787 it had 61 houses and in 1828, 88 houses. In the year 1867 the community was affected by an epidemic of cholera. After the Czechoslovak Republic was proclaimed, the community people rebelled against representatives of the old regime. At this revolt the store and pub were robbed. The population was occupied with agriculture, cattle breeding and seasonally by work in the forest.

During the first Czechoslovak Republic many inhabitants emigrated to the U.S.A. and Canada for work. During the time of the second World War the population supported guerrilla groups and many people took part in the Slovak National Uprising. The community was liberated on the 23rd of January, 1945. The revolutionary national committee was created on the 25th of January, 1945— the chairman was Peter Havran and secretary was Štefan Šcerbák. In the 1946 elections, the Communist party won. From the total amount of voices 303, it got 195, the Democratic party 106, the party of work 1 and the party of freedom 1 voice. In the year 1947, 17 families left to the USSR. JRD (Unified Farmer's Cooperative) was established in 1950, in 1971 joined with Hajtovka JRD. The community was given electricity after liberation (1954). The building of Unity SD (consumer cooperative farm) (1953), the cultural house (1977), local communications, new family houses, school (1977), buildings of JRD, local radio, football playground (1990), tennis courts (1992) water pipes (1994) and other buildings were built (in these years).

Religious:

Greek Catholic

The Church of Saint Dimitry, the martyr (Greek-Catholic), built in the year 1866, repaired in 1888 and 1943, Classic style, with a semicircle cap of the Presbyter. The interior is from the year 1888.  Font—chalice shape, stone with the sign, is from the year 1656.  The chalice—Baroque style, from the year 1773, gilded silver.

Prior to 1866 there was a wooden church on a location below the existing church. This church like many of the wooden structures of the day caught fire and burned down.

Orthodox

In 2004 a small Orthodox Church was built by the Orthodox faithful of the village. In September of 2004 Metropolitan Herman of the Orthodox Church in America visited Udol and presented the faithful with a financial gift collected from various OCA parishes.

Personalities:

Irena Nevická (December 10, 1886 Zbudská Belá — November 1966, Prešov), writer, cultural-enlightenment worker, organizer of women's movement between the population of Ukraine, editor of Word of Nation.

Editors Note:

The Greek Catholic parish registers of baptisms, marriages and deaths (1827-1937) for Údol, Slovakia; formerly Uják, Sáros, Hungary are available via the LDS (Family History Center). The film numbers are 1794352 and 1794353.

The parish address is Udol c. 120, 06545 Plavnica, Okres Stara Lubovna. Telephone 0963/4393383.

Eternal Memory...

Note: For those of you who had ancestors from Udol, feel free to submit photographs honoring their memory in this section.

Friends & Neighbors in the Old Country & New

Pilgrimage to Uniontown, Pennsylvania

(Photo Courtesy of Olga Donat)

Mrs. Mary Dornich nee Knap Fedorko, Mrs. Anna Osifchin nee Sokol,

and Mrs. Julia Kravchak nee Fechisin

Mrs. Mary Dornich, Mrs. Anna Osifchin, and Mrs. Julia Kravchak

1973

Church Celebration Circa 1957

(Photocopy of original photograph. Photocopy courtesy of Stefan Gladis)

Church Celebration 1927-1930

(Photo courtesy of Slavomir Gladis)

(if anyone can identify others in the photo please contact editors@tccweb.org)

#1 Nicholas "Kuba" Knap Present day Udol Mayor's son; #2 Maria Kravchak 1912-?; #3 Maria Dornic Kravchak 1883-1946; #4 Helena Kravchak 1910-?; #5 Anna Kravchak 1923-2006; #6 Stefan Kravchak 1908-1988; #7 John Fedorko Dornich 1896-1979#8 John Mikulik 1865

Former Ujak Resident Rev. Father John Dornic greets Pope John Paul II

(Photo courtesy of Slavomir Gladis)

Villagers in front of Kundrat family home

(Photo courtesy of Slavomir Gladis)

(if anyone can identify others in the photo please contact editors@tccweb.org)

Ujak school photo. Circa 1925

Far left tall boy standing Peter Sovik who was born about 1915

(Photo courtesy of Slavomir Gladis)

(if anyone can identify others in the photo please contact editors@tccweb.org)

Members of the Ujak Fire Department 1935

(Photo and Identifications Courtesy of Slavomir Gladis)

From the Left - Stefan Kovalycsik (Rear Left Side, standing, arm on hip), Nicholas Fenda, John Arendacs (arm on Nicholas Kravchak), Michael Miklush, Michael Kokinda (next to Stefan Kovalycsik), Stefan Kravchak alias Adamchin, Nicholas Kravchak, Michael Pruzsinsky, Nicholas Pruzsinsky (to the side of Michael Pruzsinsky), John Dopiryak (standing off to right side feet spread), Peter Kravchak, Jr. (sitting arms on legs), Stefan Hrinya alias Adomajacka, John Kravchak alias Juskiv (John was the captain of the fire department), Stefan Chanda or Nicholas Soroka, Michael Kravchak alias Zmurovanici, left front John Kokinda, John Fedorko.

St. Demetry's Greek Catholic Church Celebration, early 1940s

boy in white shirt John Dornic, boy in grey suit and dark shirt Peter Kokinda, in between is Michael Drabisin

(Photo courtesy of Slavomir Gladis)

(if anyone can identify others in the photo please contact editors@tccweb.org)

Greek Catholic Bishop Gojdic visits Ujak

(Photo courtesy of Slavomir Gladis)

Ujak resident priest Fr. Chromjak. (if anyone can identify others in the photo please contact editors@tccweb.org)

PAVOL GOJDIČ was born on July 17th, 1888 at Ruské Pekľany near Prešov, into the family of the Greek-Catholic priest Štefan Gojdič; his mother’s name was Anna Gerberyová. He received the name of Peter in baptism.

He attended the elementary school at Cigeľka, Bardejov and Prešov, finishing his primary studies at Prešov, which he concluded with his maturity exam in 1907. Obeying God’s call to the priesthood he began his study of theology at Prešov. Since he obtained excellent results, he was sent a year later to continue his studies in Budapest. Here too he tried to lead a profound spiritual life. While still a seminarian he was directed by his spiritual director on these lines: „Life is not difficult, but it is a serious matter“- words that were to guide him throughout his life. Having finished his studies on August 27th 1911 he was ordained priest at Prešov by Bishop Dr. Ján Valyi. After his ordination he worked for a short period as assistant parish priest with his father. After a year he was appointed prefect of the eparchial seminary and at the same time taught religion in a higher secondary school. Later he was put in charge of protocol and the archives in the diocesan curia. He was also entrusted with the spiritual care of the faithful in Sabinov as assistant parish priest. In 1919 he became director of the episcopal office.

To everyone’s surprise on July 20th, 1922 he joined the Order of St. Basil the Great at Černecia Hora near Mukačevo, where, taking the habit on 27.1.1923 he took the name Pavol. He took this decision as a sign of modesty, humility, and a desire to lead an ascetic life in order to better serve God. But God willed otherwise and had ordered him to a higher office as bishop. On September 14th, 1926 he was nominated Apostolic administrator of the eparchy of Prešov. During his installation as Apostolic Administrator he announced the programme of his apostolate: „With the help of God I want to be a father to orphans, a support for the poor and consoler to the afflicted“.

The first official act of Pavol Gojdič in his office as newly appointed administrator of the eparchy of Prešov was to address a pastoral letter on the occasion of the 1100° anniversary of the birth of St. Cyril, apostle of the Slavs. Thus he begins his activity in the spirit of the aspostle of the Slavs, always faithful to Rome, as they were. He was a Slav and was very fond of his oriental rite.

A short time later, on March 7th, 1927 he was nominated bishop with the title of Harpaš (Church of Harpaš - in Asia Minor). The episcopal consecration took place in the basilica of San Clemente, Rome, on March 25th, 1927, the feast of the Annunciation of Our Lady.

After his episcopal ordination he visited the basilica of St Peter in Rome, where he prayed on the tomb of the Apostle. On March 29th 1927, together with Bishop Nyaradi, he was received in a private audience by the Holy Father Pius XI. The pope gave Bishop Pavol a gold cross saying: „This cross is only a faint symbol of the heavy crosses that God will send you, my son, in your work as bishop“.

For his episcopal programme he chose as a motto the following words: „God is love, let us love Him!“ As bishop he was engaged in the promotion of spiritual life of both clergy and faithful. He insisted on the proper celebration of the liturgy and of church feasts. Following new conditions he erected new parishes, for instance, in Prague, Bratislava, Levoča and elsewhere. Thanks to his hard work the orphanage at Prešov was built, and entrusted to the local sisters. His activity in the scholastic field was outstanding, as is proved by the foundation of the Greek-Catholic school in Prešov in the year 1936. He supported also the teaching academy, the seminary, colleges etc. He was interested in every aspect of spiritual reading, which resulted in the launching of the review Blahovistnik (Messenger of the Gospel), Da prijdet carstvije Tvoje (Thy Kingdom Come) and various prayers etc., published by the PETRA publishing house. For his kindness, caring and charitable relationship with the people he was described as „a man with a heart of gold“.

An important characteristic of the bishop was also his strong affection for the Eucharistic Saviour, which he continually strengthened through his visits to the Blessed Eucharist in the chapel at his residence. Another characteristic, not less evident, of his spiritual life, was his devotion to the Sacred Heart. Already as a Seminarian in Budapest he had consecrated himself to the Sacred Heart and this he confirmed every morninng with the words „All the prayers, sacrifices and crosses I offer to make up for the sins of the whole world!“. One must not forget that the bishop had great devotion to the Mother of God and as as a marian devotee held in his residential chapel a picture of the Virgin of Klokočov, in front of which he prayed every day and to whose protection he entrusted himself and the whole eparchy.

On April 13, 1939 he was appointed apostolic administrator in Slovakia of the Apostolic Administration of Mukačevo. In the difficult situation of the Slovak State he became a „thorn in the flesh“ for the representatives of the government of the time and so offered his resignation from the post - in fact the present Holy Father appreciated his work and not only refused his resignation but also made him residential bishop of Prešov. And so on August 8th, 1940 he was solemnly enthroned at Prešov and then on January 15, 1946 confirmed in his jurisdiction over the Greek-Catholics in the whole of Czecho-Slovakia.

The progress in religious and spiritual life in the eparchy that followed the personal example and fervour of Bishop Pavol was interrupted by the events of war, and especially with the coming to power of the communistcs in 1948. Their ideological programme made itself felt above all against the Greek-Catholic Church. Bishop P. P. Gojdič resisted any initiative to submit the Greek-Catholics to Russian orthodoxy assisted by the communist party and the power of the State, even though he knew he was risking persecution and arrest; maybe even death. Gradually he was isolated from the clergy and the faithful.

Even though put under severe pressure to renounce the Catholic faith and break unity with the Pope, he refused every attractive offer and exclaimed: „I am already 62 and sacrifice all my goods and residence, but I will not deny my faith in any way because I want to save my soul. Do not even come to me.“

During the events sadly known of Sobor of Prešov, April 28, 1950, when the State outlawed the Greek-Catholic Church and forbade her activity, bishop Pavol Gojdič was arrested and interned. Thus began his via crucis in many prisons of what was Czecho-Slovakia, which ended with his death.

In the days from the 11 to the 15 of January 1951 in a trial set up against the so called high treason bishops (Vojtaššák, Buzalka, and Gojdič) he was given a life sentence; fined two hundred thousand crowns and deprived of all his civic rights. Transfers from one prison to another followed. Bishop P. P. Gojdič suffered physical and psychological punishments, humiliations, was forced to do the most difficult and degrading jobs. Howewer he never complained and never asked to be relieved. He made use of every available time to pray, and celebrated the sacred liturgy in secret. Followyng the amnesty in 1953, given by State President A. Zapotocký, his life sentence was changed to 25 years detention. He was then 66 and his state of health deteriorated continuosly. Yet all further requests for amnesty were refused.

Bishop Pavol Gojdič could only leave prison at the cost of his faithfulness to the Church and to the Holy Father. Various offers were made to him, as is proved by an events that he himself recounts: In the prison of Ruzyň he was received in an office, where he had been brought from his cell, by a high official in uniform. This informed him that from that office he would go straight to Prešov, on condition that he was willing to become patriarch of the Ortodox church in Czecho-Slovakia. The bishop refused this offer excusing himself and explaining that this would be a very grave sin against God, a betrayal of the Holy Father, of his conscience and of his faithful, most of whom were then suffering persecution.

Even in the most difficult situation he abandoned himself to the will of God, as can be seen from these words of his: „I do not really know whether it is a gain to exchange the crown of martrydom with two or three years of life in freedom. But I leave the good Lord to decide“. On the occasion of his 70° birthday even the Holy Father Pius XII sent him a telegram in prision. In it he assured him he would not forget his heroic son. For the bishop this was one of his best days in prison.

A great desire of bishop Gojdič was to die comforted by the sacraments on his birthday. Both desires were fulfilled.

Father Alojz Vrána was transferred to the room of the prison hospital of Leopoldov (Slovakia), where the bishop passed his last days, and could hear his confession. The chalice of suffering of bishop Pavol was about to overflow. An eye witness of the last instants of his life was his fellow prisoner - the nurse František Ondruška, who has given a unique testimony. He confirmed that the desire of the bishop had been fulfilled - he died on July 17th, 1960 that is on the day of his 72nd birthday. He died in the hospital of the prison of Leopoldov as a result of illness resulting from the ill treatment he had suffered. Afterwards he was buried without ceremony in the prison cemetery in a nameless tomb, with the prison number 681.

As a result of the easing of the political situation in Czecho-Slovakia in 1968, the state autorities after many delays gave permission for exhuming the mortal remains of bishop P. P. Gojdič. This happened in the cemetery of Leopoldov on October 29, 1968 and was followed by the transfer of the remains to Prešov. By a decision of the autorities set up after the soviet occupation these were transferred to the crypt of Greek-Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Prešov. From May 15th, 1990 they are to be found in a sarcofagus in the chapel of the cathedral.

Bishop Pavol Gojdič was legally rehabilitated on September 27th, 1990. Subsequently he was decorated posthumously with the Order of T. G. Masaryk - II class, and with the Cross of Pribina - 1st class.

The Holy Father, John Paul II during his historic visit in Slovakia, while visiting Prešov, prayed at the tomb of this bishop-martyr in the chapel of the cathedral.

 

Villagers outside of St. Demetry's Greek Catholic Church, 1950s or 60s

(Photo courtesy of Slavomir Gladis)

(if anyone can identify others in the photo please contact editors@tccweb.org)<