Explaining who the Ruthenian people are
"Ruthenian" is a Latin-derived exonym, historically used to refer to the East Slavic inhabitants of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, encompassing the ancestors of modern-day Belarusians, Ukrainians, and Rusyns.
While the term often historically referred to Ukrainians, it is now most accurately applied to the Rusyn people of the Carpathian Mountains, an East Slavic group who did not adopt the "Ukrainian" identity in the early 20th century. It is also the name of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church and its associated Byzantine Catholic communities in the Americas.
Historical Usage
To describe East Slavs:
In medieval and early modern Latin sources, the term "Rutheni" was used for the inhabitants of the lands of Rus', particularly within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
To describe Ukrainians and Belarusians:
The term primarily applied to the ancestors of modern-day Ukrainians and, to some extent, Belarusians.
Re-emerging Identity:
The idea of a distinct Ruthenian nation re-emerged, particularly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, as a way for some groups to affirm their separate identity from larger nation-states.
Modern Usage
Rusyns:
In modern times, the term "Ruthenian" often refers to the Rusyns, an East Slavic ethnic group who live in the Carpathian Mountains region of Central Europe.
Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church:
It is also the name of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic church that was established when the Church of Rus' restored ties with Rome. This church has a significant presence, including the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh in North America.
Key Distinction
Exonym vs. Endonym:
"Ruthenian" is an exonym, a name given by outsiders, whereas "Rusyn" is the endonym, the name the people use for themselves.
Historical vs. Modern:
Historically, "Ruthenian" was a broader term for East Slavs; today, it is often used to specifically refer to the Rusyns.
While the term often historically referred to Ukrainians, it is now most accurately applied to the Rusyn people of the Carpathian Mountains, an East Slavic group who did not adopt the "Ukrainian" identity in the early 20th century. It is also the name of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church and its associated Byzantine Catholic communities in the Americas.
Historical Usage
To describe East Slavs:
In medieval and early modern Latin sources, the term "Rutheni" was used for the inhabitants of the lands of Rus', particularly within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
To describe Ukrainians and Belarusians:
The term primarily applied to the ancestors of modern-day Ukrainians and, to some extent, Belarusians.
Re-emerging Identity:
The idea of a distinct Ruthenian nation re-emerged, particularly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, as a way for some groups to affirm their separate identity from larger nation-states.
Modern Usage
Rusyns:
In modern times, the term "Ruthenian" often refers to the Rusyns, an East Slavic ethnic group who live in the Carpathian Mountains region of Central Europe.
Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church:
It is also the name of the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic church that was established when the Church of Rus' restored ties with Rome. This church has a significant presence, including the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh in North America.
Key Distinction
Exonym vs. Endonym:
"Ruthenian" is an exonym, a name given by outsiders, whereas "Rusyn" is the endonym, the name the people use for themselves.
Historical vs. Modern:
Historically, "Ruthenian" was a broader term for East Slavs; today, it is often used to specifically refer to the Rusyns.
