Historia Łemków na ziemiach polskich

Lemki  people - shepherd's and agicultural folk adapted to leading farms in difficult mountainous ground, produced through ages of its own    history and culture, which distincts from cultures of inhabitants of Carpathians. Tragedy of Lemki land began during the First World War when about two thousand people were arrested and settled in camp in Talerhof. Final drama of Lemki people brought the Second World War and years after its end. In the years 1945 - 46 compulsory deportation to Soviet Union took place  and during the action called "Vistula" they were deported to the west of Poland. Dispersed all over the world and in the country they have never forgotten where their tribe comes from. At present, as they can already acknowledge their own origin and  religion they are seeking for confirmation of their own identity. They try to save from extermination their culture, mother - tonque and tradition. The origin of Lemki is connected with countries baptised by Byzantium. They adhered to the rites of the Eastern Orthodox Church and, since 1692, Greek Catholic (Uniate) Church, accepting the Roman Pope as the    unique head of Catholic Church, yet preserving the old right to the Orthodox liturgy and a separate hierarchy of the Przemyśl diocese. Originally, all Lemki has not accepted the union; internal conflicts and fear of latinization could not be avoided.

Lemki. Polish territory. Second World War.