Michele Parvensky’s informative books make perfect holiday gifts.

Christine Hrichak
Published: November 23, 2024

Christine’s Note: In this recurring column I’ll share information about Carpatho-Rusyn books. Some will be books you might already be familiar with, and some you might not. Either way, we hope you enjoy these recommendations.

This month we have a double feature – In the Footsteps of Our Ancestors and Wooden Churches of the Rusyns both by Michele Parvensky.

Michele Parvensky shares perspectives and photos from her travels around the Rusyn homeland in her two books. In Wooden Churches of the Rusyns she shares details of architectural themes and features her own photos of many Rusyn wooden churches. The book also includes resources such as a register of Rusyn villages with wooden churches and another table listing the year each church was built. 

Also nicely illustrated, In the Footsteps of Our Ancestors: Travel Reports and Interviews from Lemkovyna, Preshovshchina, Zakarpattia, Romania, Hungary, and Vojvodina includes her personal insights in essays dated from 2003 through 2012. Both books are written in parallel English and Carpatho-Rusyn, and would make nice Christmas gifts. 

The C-RS Heritage Store offers a special package on Parvensky’s two books—$55 for both. You can also buy them individually: $28 for In the Footsteps of Our Ancestors, and $33 for Wooden Churches.

While purchasing Michele Parvensky’s books, take a look at the other items for sale in the C-RS Heritage Store. Adding a few extra items to your purchase helps us defray the cost of shipping.

Christine Hrichak is a member of the Carpatho-Rusyn Society.