Рецепція релігійної проблематики в газеті „Нова Буковина” (1912–1914) в контексті суспільно-історичних процесів
Authors:   Чернівецький національний університет ім. Ю. Федьковича, Украина, Мельничук Юлія 
Published: November 2021

Social and historical circumstances created close ties between the religious life of Bukovina and the political situation in Austro-Hungary at the beginning of the 20th century. The indicated analogy is confirmed by materials published in regional magazines, including „Nowa Bukovina” („Нова Буковина”), 1912–1914. Most religious issues were analyzed through the prism of the socio-political situation in the region, which confirms the topicality of the research issue. Ukrainian researchers of religious issues in the context of historical processes include Alla Boyko (Алла Бойко), Stepan Kostia (Степан Костя), Maria Rozhiła (Марія Рожило), Marian Łozynski (Мар’ланян Лаланане Лаланянасалалане (Альона Ігнатуша) and others. Nevertheless, the research issues defined above require more detailed research. The problem of establishing a separate Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Bukovina, independent of the Romanian one, can be called one of the most relevant for the inhabitants of Chernivtsi at the beginning of the 20th century. The position of the local regional intelligentsia received support from some local media. In 1885, the Ukrainian newspaper „Bukovina” was established in Chernivtsi. Throughout its existence (until 1910), this edition supported the idea of creating a Ukrainian church. The politicians of the region largely contributed to the popularization of the idea of the church for Ukrainians, even though some of them were Greek Catholics. Among others, Omelian Popowycz (Омелян Попович), Jerotej Pigulak (Єротей Пігуляк) and Stepan Smal-Stocki (Степан Смаль-Стоцький) often stressed the need to regulate the religious issue in the pages of „Bukovina”. However, the political turmoil scattered pro-Ukrainian patriotic forces. The conflict between Stepan Smal-Stocki and Mykola Wasylko (Микола Василько) led to the closure of „Bukovina”, and the editors split. Some researchers, including Arkadij Żywotko (Аркадій Животко) and Myrosław Romaniuk (Мирослав Романюк) define „Nowa Bukovina” (1912–1914) as the heir to the idea of „Bukovina”. In fact, it was an attempt by M. Wasylek, who looked after the magazine, to renew the previous newspaper, which, due to the new team of authors and the deterioration of relations with Stapan Smal-Stocki, did not bring success. The first issue of „Nowa Bukovina” was published on January 13, 1912. The news-paper was printed in the printing house of Ivan Zacharek (Іван Захарко), the publisher was Jerotej Pigulak (Єротей Пігуляк), and the responsible editor was Osyp Dik (Осип Дік). The newspaper survived until mid-1914. The not very lasting success of „Nowa Bukovina” in the field of religious topics resulted both from imitating the editorial policy of „Bukovina” (1885–1910), and thanks to the efforts of Jerotej Pigulak. The materials on religious topics in Nowa Bukowina, and even the heroes of the publication, were very similar to materials and characters from the relevant columns of the previous newspaper. In the publications of the journal from 1912–1914, we noted 66 different materials on religious topics. Compared to „Bukovina”, the leader remained the topics of the Romanianization of the church (25 materials), the issue of the division of the Orthodox diocese (17 publications, the topicality increased), the „Ukrainian question” in the church (8 materials), Muscovy (5 materials), religion, state and politics (4 materials), religion on a global scale (4 materials), controversial aspects of religion in the media (3 materials). Religious issues on the front pages of „Nowa Bukowina” were quite varied thematically. A whole range of socio-political factors contributed to this, including national and religious relations in the country, the political situation and the position of the Orthodox consistory. The analysis of the concept of „Nowa Bukovina” shows a clear influence of the precursor, ie the predecessor – the newspaper „Bukowina”, which can also be seen in materials on religious topics, including publications on the Romanianization of the Orthodox Church. The fundamental problem concerned not so much religious diversity as the situation when the consistory forcibly introduced a foreign language and culture. This naturally triggered other topics, namely the division of the diocese (as a necessary agreement for the development of Ukrainians in Bukovina) and the role of Ukrainians in the process of establishing a separate church. It is obvious that similar materials looked like a peculiar appeal of authors writing about Ukrainian national identity, because during this period the church was treated as one of the determinants of identity.