Ivan Yosyfovych Popel ( Ukrainian: Іван Йосифович Попель; 9 May 1850, Halych, Austrian Empire – 18 February 1921, Dovhopole, Second Polish Republic) was a Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest, social and cultural activist. He was the uncle of Mariyka Pidhiryanka. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Biography

In 1870 he graduated from the Drohobych Gymnasium, in 1874 from Lviv University, and in 1874 from the Lviv Theological Seminary with ordination to the priesthood in Rome. ^{[3] [4]}

Served in parishes in Kalush (1874–1875), Nadorozhna, Tovmach Powiat (1874–1883, employee), Hlyboka (1883–1884), Roztoky (1884–1888, administrator), Zalishchyky, Dovhopole (1888–1921). ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Founded cultural, educational, and economic societies in the Hutsul region. ^[5] He had a library that was the largest and most informative in the Kosiv region. He ran for the Austrian Parliament. ^{[1] [2]}

In 1904, he opposed the Austrian regime and was imprisoned for a year. ^[4]

Fr. Popel's house was visited by Mariyka Pidhiryanka, Olha Kobylianska, Osyp Makovei, Ivan Franko (who corresponded with him), ^[4] Marko Cheremshyna, Vasyl Stefanyk, Lesya Ukrainka, and Klyment Kvitka. ^[1] Assisted Ivan Franko, Fedir Vovk, Volodymyr Hnatiuk, Volodymyr Shukhevych, E. Zhelikhovskyi, Bohdan Lepky, Osyp Makovei, Ivan Trush in ethnographic, ethnological, archeological, and anthropological research of the Hutsul region. ^{[3] [5] [6]}

Died on 18 February 1921 in Dovhopole, Verkhovyna Raion. He was buried in the cemetery near the church, the grave has not been preserved. ^[5]

Honoring the memory

Bohdan Lepky dedicated the poem "Khrest na kruchi" to Fr. Popel. ^[4]

A local school teacher, Mariyka Pidhiryanka, initiated the installation of a granite tombstone on Fr. Popel's grave; she collected exhibits and valuable materials about the parish priest, Fr. Ivan Popel, and his niece, Mariia Pidhirianka, for the school's local history room-museum. ^[2]

References