Fraternities of Plast
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Kurin' are fraternities within the Ukrainian Plast Scouting organization.
Lisovi Chorty
[edit]| Lisovi Chorty fraternity | |||
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| Founded | July 22, 1922 | ||
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Lisovi Chorty (Ukrainian Лісові Чорти, English Forest Devils) - 3rd Kurin’ (fraternity) for Starshi Plastuny (Rover Scouts) and Senior Scouts in Plast - National Scouting Organization of Ukraine.[1]
Lisovi Chorty known fully as Velyke Plemya Lisovykh Chortiv ("The Great Tribe of Forest Devils") was founded by a troop of Scouts from Lviv, Ukraine in 1922. The official date of founding is July 22, 1922.
Historically, the Plast fraternity "Lisovi Chorty", as Plast itself, was established on the principles of Scouting, and from its founding to the time that Ukrainian Scouting was banned by the Polish government in 1930 which led to the "underground" Scouting movement, "Lisovi Chorty" were active in political and civil organizations, as well as military service.
Lisovi Chorty members took an active role in the attempt to gain Ukrainian independence during the second world war. They subsequently migrated to countries that welcomed the large Ukrainian diaspora : Australia, Argentina, England, United States of America, Canada, France and Germany. There, Lisovi Chorty undertook to community and Plast work, ensuring a viable organization for future generations of Plastuny (Ukrainian Scouts) in the diaspora. After the breakup of the Soviet Union and the formation of an independent Ukraine, there was a rebirth of Plast in Ukraine and the fraternity "Lisovi Chorty" reestablished in the cities of Lviv, Kyiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, as well as others.
Lisovi Chorty have established sections in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Ukraine, United States.[2] Among the most famous members are UPA General Roman Shukhevych, politician Andriy Pyaseckyy, economist Bohdan Hawrylyshyn, last president of UNR in exile Mykola Plavyuk, writer Vasyl Karkhut, Bishop Hlib Lonchyna, and civil and political figure Stepan Okhrymovych.
Order of the Iron Spur
[edit]| Order of the Iron Spur | |||
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| Founded | November 1916 | ||
| Patron | Sviatoslav the Conqueror | ||
| Founder | Ivan Tsiapka | ||
| Komtur | Yaroslav Yurchyshyn | ||
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Order of the Iron Spur (in Ukrainian, Орден Залізної Остроги) is a male troop of the Ukrainian Plast Scouting organization. It is sequentially the 15th kurin' (troop) of 'Rover Scouts' ("starshi plastuny").
History
[edit]It was founded as Order of the Iron Spur Chivalry in November 1916 by group of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen leading by centurion Ivan Tsiapka (who became the first Grand Komtur thereafter), although the factual initiator is considered to be Leo Lepky. The Chivalry was dissolved and afterwards revived by scouts (who were considered by former Order members to be their successors) in 1927 as a part of Plast organization. The aim of the modern Order, revived in 1996, is to develop Plast organization structure and Plast specializations as well as to promote the healthy lifestyle amongst Plast members.
Insignia of the Order
[edit]The composition base is the emblem of Sviatoslav the Conqueror ("bidental") - comes from the spur sign, the symbol of Ukrainian chivalry of princely times. Bidental of Svyatoslav, like a cross or a trident, is the symbol of the main principles of world growth, the combination of the two main life-giving principles (spirit and matter, fire and water, male and female).
The Will of Sviatoslav the Conqueror
[edit]Folk legends preserved the tale about Sviatoslav the Conqueror, who was about to go in the campaign against the Bulgarians. Once during the campaign his faithful horse had suddenly stopped and Sviatoslav refused to go into battle: magi believed if the horse resists to go in the campaign – it is a sign that the soldier would not return alive from the battlefield and predicted a death to the Grand prince. Smith Hysch promised to invent for him a tool that will force a horse to go in the campaign. The Glorious blacksmith forged for Svyatoslav the first pair of iron spurs. The horse went on a campaign and Svyatoslav returned with a victory and glory. Then the prince thanked Hysch and gave him a will to found the Ruthenian Order of Knights in honor of the Iron Spures. Ivan Tsiapka, the future Grand Komtur of the Order, had seen a dream about that and decided to implement the Will of Sviatoslav.
Orden Khrestonistsiv
[edit]| Orden Khrestonostsiv fraternity | |||
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| Velikiy Mayster | Oles' Labunka; Lytsar Amadeus | ||
| Patron | Metropolitan Andriy Sheptytsky | ||
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Orden Khrestonistsiv (in Ukrainian, Орден Хрестоносцiв) is a male fraternity of the Ukrainian Plast Scouting organization.[3] It is sequentially the 5th kurin' (fraternity) of 'Older Scouts' ("starshi plastuny") and the 20th kurin' of 'Senior Scouts' ("seniory"). Together, these two "kureny" form the Orden Khrestonostsiv or the "Order of the Crusaders", chosen for Svyatoslav the Conqueror.[3][4]
History
[edit]The Orden was founded in March 1946, in the town of Traunstein in Bavaria, Germany.[5] Its founders were sixteen plastuny (Ukrainian Scouts) who were displaced from Western Ukraine after World War II. Most of them were aged 18 through 20, and either in or entering universities and seminaries.[5]
In 1948, the Orden had spread to include Scouts in the United States, Canada, France and Belgium. Members can also be found in Argentina, Australia, Japan and, since 2002, again in Ukraine.
Structure and organization
[edit]The Orden consists of:
- The 5th Kurin of "starshi plastuny" (Older Scouts) and[5]
- The 20th Kurin of "plastuny seniory" (Senior Scouts).[5]
Each of the Kureni has a leadership that is led by a "Mayster," (master) with a "Skriptor" (scribe) and a "Trezoriy" (Treasurer).[5] Additional functions such as a "Iudex" (magistrate) and a "Prokurator" (procurer, responsible for attracting new converts).
Together, these two "kureny" form the "Orden." The "Orden" has its own leadership that is led by the "Velykiy Mayster" (Grand Master), a "Velikiy Skriptor" (grand scribe), a "Velikiy Trezoriy" (grand treasurer). There are additional posts of "Heral'dist" (herald, or archivist) and "Tseremoniyalmayster" (master of ceremonies and traditions).
Throughout the year, the activities of the members of both "kureny" are conducted both individually and through local chapters or "stezhi," which combine members of both kureny. There are, or have been, "stezhi" in Chicago, Illinois; Buffalo, New York; New York City, New York; Jersey City, New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Ternopil', Ukraine, among others.
Every two years, both kureni of the Orden meet at a "Velyka Rada" and elect new leadership of each "kurin'" and of the Orden itself.. The first Rada was held in Traunstein, Germany. With the growth of the Orden in the United States, most "Rady" have been held in various US and Canadian locations (including East Chatham, New York; Parma, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Buffalo, New York; Fox Chase, Pennsylvania; Princeton, New Jersey; and Lviv, Ukraine). In the 21st century, with the formation of OX "stezhi" in Ukraine, a "Rada" may open in one city in one continent, be suspended and then resume in another city and continent.
In intermediate years, each kurin' of the Orden has a "Mala Rada" ... today, with the "Senior Scouts" being more numerous than the "Older Scouts," a "Mala Rada" often includes members of both organizations.
In addition to the formal "rady" and local activity in the "stezhi," there are also informal and sporadic "Reydy" (raids) that are organized around the world.
Ranks and titles
[edit]The Orden is a fairly egalitarian organization, with only three basic levels of membership:
- "Kandydaty" or "Damski Kavalyery" are candidates for membership and, upon submission of an application for membership, are allowed to wear an emblem consisting of the black-and-white shield.
- "Aspiranty" have been affiliated with the kurin sufficiently to be steeped in the kurin's traditions, and have proven their mettle through a series of secret ordeals, and are allowed nearly all privileges of membership. They wear an emblem (vidznaka) that consists of the entire OX symbol including the letters "OX," the shield, sword and a globe, albeit without the knight.
- "Lytsari" (or "Knights") are full members of the Orden, and have proven their worth by their deeds and actions over a period of at least two years of being "aspiranty." They are knighted in a ceremony called "pasuvannia" and given their knightly name ("psevdo"). Henceforth, they are known to all members of the Orden as "Lytsar <name>." All Lytsari have the same privileges, but historical seniority and tradition segregates them into "Older Lytsari" and "Younger Lytsari."
At formal gatherings, all members are aligned according to rank and, within rank, in the order of their knighthood or entry into the Orden.
Traditions
[edit]The Orden is rich in traditions and ceremonies. Many of these are secret rituals including the mysterious "kanapa" and the spiritual "pasuvannia" and the arcane "kleynody" and are not disclosed to non-initiates. The membership scarf is black and has the fraternity's a shield with a cross in the corner.[5] Its patron saint is Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyi.[5]
Anthem
[edit]The "Hymn Khrestonostsiv" is solemnly intoned by all members at every formal gathering.[5]
Slogan
[edit]The slogan of the Orden is "Z khrestom i mechem --- za Ukrayinu!" which translates as "With the Cross and the sword, for Ukraine!"[5]
Symbolism
[edit]The shield of the Orden is a Crusader Knight, with a sword and a shield of a cross that is reminiscent of the shield of the Knights Hospitaller.
At most Orden events, the key accoutrements are a "prapor" (flag standard), as well as a "metch" (sword) is present, along with four "kleynody" that symbolize the Plast slogan of "SKOB"="Syl'no, Krasno, Oberezhno, Bystro" ("Strongly, Beautifully, Carefully, Speedily").
Core principles
[edit]The five core principles of the Orden are:[5][3]
- A Christian Worldview
- Active Patriotism
- Adherence to the Core Plast Values and a chivalrous spirit
- Personal intellectual enrichment
- Active participation in the spiritual revitalization of the world
Wedding ceremony
[edit]At weddings of one of their comrades, all members of the kurin' participate in a ritual ("tseremoniyal") that includes:
- Proklamatsiya (proclamation) ... an edict read to all present, announcing, among other facts, that the wife of the member is henceforth admitted as a member of the Orden, with virtually the same privileges.[5]
- Presentatsiya Dariv ... the presentation of gifts, which typically include a bible, a scroll and a sword.[5]
- Aklyamatsiya Molodoho (acclamation of the Groom) ... a celebration of the member, which includes the member being borne atop an OX shield.[5]
- Adoratsiya Molodoyi (the adoration of the Bride) ... each member of the Orden, in order of rank and seniority, is introduced to the bride and dances with the bride, with the finale reserved for the groom.[5]
Vovkulaky
[edit]| Vovkulaky fraternity | |||
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Vovkulaky (Ukrainian: Вовкулаки) is a group of Ukrainian Scouts, members of Plast, with members in Ukraine, Canada, the United States, Germany, Australia and England. The beginning of Plast Vovkulaky Brotherhood dates back to 1946-1947.[6] It was organized as "Wolf", later going by "Forest Wolves" and "Werewolves".[6]
See also
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References
[edit]- ^ "History". Lisovi Chorty (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ "Lisovi Chorty website". Artem Zhukov. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ a b c "Welcome". Orden Khrestonostsiv. 15 May 2001. Archived from the original on 2007-02-14. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ "Орден − Орден Залізної Остроги". Орден Залізної Остроги (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Орден Хрестоносців ЗСА Orden Hrestonotsiv USA - ZXIM". zxim.org. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ a b "Історія Вовкулаків". Vovkulaky. Retrieved 2025-05-16.