Lemkivshchyna, once densely populated, is currently esteemed by many as a land of silent abandoned valleys, with the lush flora of the Beskid Mountains, where slight traces of villages of the past have been preserved: single roadside stone crosses, old forgotten cemeteries, Orthodox church and house foundations, wild orchards... Yet, the picture is not complete, as displaced Lemkos returned to many villages. For several years, some of localities in the region have started again to use – in addition to Polish names – the Cyrillic alphabet, in accordance with traditional old Lemko names. Also many of those who gave up living in cities settled here, looking for their own place in life in this region. Many of them are actively engaged in enriching local culture and taking care of regional heritage.
The land of the Beskid Mountains, from the Bieszczady Valley of Osława in the east up to the Poprad Valley and areas near Szczawnica in the west, and from the Slovak border in the south to the Carpathian Foothills in the north, used to be inhabited by Lemkos – Orthodox and Greek Catholic Rusyns. This is Lemkivshchyna – the Lemko Republic. Here, in mountain villages, where farming was difficult and required appropriate skills, where shepherding was practiced, Lemkos erected their long wooden huts, called “chyże”. One thatched or shingle roof covered habitable rooms, as well as livestock and farming equipment spaces. Today, individual “chyże” can still be found in many villages.
Almost every village had also its place of worship – many of them, which have been preserved to this day, are wooden Orthodox churches. They are famous for their specific unique trigeminal architecture, with bulbous cupolas towering into the sky and wonderful interior designs, including colourful wall paintings, decorative iconostases and dozens icons surrounded by a mystical sacred aura. These churches include world-famous monuments – four Lemko Orthodox churches are entered in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Lemkivshchyna means also fading traditions of Lemko folk culture which are still alive – original costumes, not seen anywhere else in the Beskid Mountains, regional dances and music, finally the products of local crafts made throughout villages. Although many of these traditions were irretrievably lost, their greater part is still cultivated, as is especially evident at a great festival being a Lemko reunion from around the world, which is held annually in Zdynia under the name of “Lemko Vatra”.
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