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[CATHOLIC WOMEN MOVEMENT OF INTERWAR GALICIA] Propamiatna knyha Pershoho zizdu Mariiskykh druzhyn inteligentnoho zhinotstva z pryvodu 30–littia isnuvannia Mariiskoi druzhyny pan u Lvovi 1904-1934 [Commemorative Book for the First Congress of Educated Women Belonging to Marian Sodality of Ladies, on the Occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Existence of Lviv Mariiska Druzhyna Pan, 1904-1934]

Item #2626

Lviv: Drukarnia Vydavnytstva ChSVV u Zhovkvi for Mariiska druzhyna pan u Lvovi, 1937. 160 pp., 9 tipped–in plates, ills in text. 22.5 х 15.5 cm. Period cloth binding. Magenta owner’s cloth rubbed. Slight discoloration and a single crease in the front board upper right area. Embossed gilt–lettered spine reading Propamiatna Knyha Mar Druzhyn Pan with some wear to the bottom. Rear hinge tender. Publisher’s typographic paper covers are fully preserved. The back cover provides an extensive description of proposed editions by the women’s union. The verso of the title page bears a censor approval mark issued by Yepyskop–pomichnyk [Auxiliary Bishop] Ivan. A Referaty [Meeting reports] section title follows p. 52.

Mariiska druzhyna is more commonly known in the Western World by its original Marian Sodality title. This lay Catholic organization was founded mid—XVI century. By the XVII century it was already active in the Western Ukraine, closely affiliated with the Basilians. After a continuous decline of the movement, it was revived locally by a Galician priest Isydor Dolnytsky (1830—1924), while the Lviv division, responsible for this book, was established as a rather elitist closed group in 1904 by the priest Arystarkh Kryzhanovskyi (1877—1905), as is described in the first part of the present book. The first congress of Ukrainian Congregatio Mariana in Lviv took place in 1927 and saw the attendance reach 10,000 visitors from its 50 territorial unions. By 1937, in just ten years, the number doubled; with the activities spreading into volunteer help, children care, youth care and mentoring involving religious catechization, activated with feasts, marches, choirs. The movement was also notorious for educational activities, including teaching in Ukrainian. It held a relatively strict 3–level territorial organisation.
Being one the most noticeable — but not the only women's movement — of the Western Ukraine, Mariiska druzhyna was of the most heavily relying on the traditional worldview. Sadly, by the end of 1930’s all those movements defining the future of the local society, be it progressive, nationalistic like Soiuz ukrainok or religious, were all dismantled by the Soviet regime. The book consists of two distinctive parts, the first being overview and general information on the union, its history, activities and plans. All those texts propose the version of the modern women as one radically opposing the metropolitan “Neue Frau” style: highly moral, highly family–oriented and in a sense a selfless being devoted to altruistic actions. In Kochkdan’s (2009) system of three–level communication “mother– wife–citizen”, the “citizen” part of the self–identity was possibly the least important to the Mariiska druzhyna members.

The second part illustrates the maturity of the organisation with the ordinary members providing extensive first–hand experience and insights into respective fields of activities. The programs, events and results are described with great care and in detail. Had the union been permitted to continue, it possessed the momentum to transform into a conservative Christian party.
The printing and distribution of Christian literature, ephemera and periodicals, also ones related to the union, was extensive: as an example, the periodicals Postup and Nash Pryiatel achieved circulations in the hundreds of thousands and enjoyed high–profile support from Catholic donors. Some sources mention that Mariiska druzhyna editions were among the most distributed and market–available items. In this regard, it is more interesting to see that this commemorative edition is relatively rare in institutional holdings or in trade.

Rare. Not in WorldCat, not in KVK. According to Ilnytska, 2 copies are held at Ukrainian libraries.

Price: $1,200.00