In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (GMC0633) wrote: > > > Ever since the rise of the Pan-Slavic movement, which drew popular support > among the Slavs beginning in the 19th century, many people have believed that > the Slavs are united by many aspects of history, culture, and language. Language definitely, but their histories separated over 1000 years ago, when there was not that much in terms of culture to share. The > Slavs are, after all, one of the three largest ethnolinguistic families in > Europe, along with the Romance and Germanic peoples (not to ignore the less > numerous Celts). Though Slavs from Siberia may not physically resemble those > from Macedonia, they do share many linguistic traits. They do, but it is just about the only thing they share. Indeed, the Slavic > langauges are closer to one another, viewed as a group, than the Romance or > Germanic languages. (It has even been suggested in recent decades that all > Slavs should adopt a single Slavic spoken and literary language). Who suggested that :-) > Most Slavs are united by a Christian heritage that dates back to Saints Cyril > (Constantine) and Methodius, who converted Moravia in the year 863. In one > form or another, the Christian Cyrilo-Methodian heritage still unites Slavic > Christians, whether Catholic or Orthodox (or Hussite). I don't see how. The Poles have been Catholic for a thousand years. AFAIK, they were never Orthodox before. This is like grouping the English and Italians, who were both converted within the Roman Empire. The Pan-Slavs of the > 19th century were inspired by this Cyrilo-Methodian heritage and many dreamed > of the day when all Slavs might be united politically and religiously. This was an ideological construct of immature oppressed small nationalities, rather than anything based on cultural or historical facts. The small nations needed a big friend, and believed it would be Russia. They did not really know very much about the country itself. The > Church Slavonic language which is used today in Orthodox and Greek Catholic > liturgies is a modern form of the language devised by Cyril and Methodius. Just like Latin, which is frequently used in Catholic context. It does not really unify the Irish with the Italians. > Ironically, a form of Slavic "unity" was achieved under communism -- one of the > great tragedies of human history. This unity, a form of enslavement, was > drastically different from the romantic notions of the 19th century Pan-Slavs. > And yet, despite the tragedy of communism, there remain individuals even today > who believe in the ideal of Pan-Slavism. One of the foremost Pan-Slavs of > modern time was born in the town of Wadowice beneath the Carpathian mountains > -- Karol Wojtyla, better known as Pope John Paul II. > There are many scholarly works that espouse a Pan-Slavic view of history. One > outstanding scholar who belongs in this group is Francis Dvornik, a Moravian > who taught at Harvard. He authored many books, including The Slavs in European > History and Civilization. I recommend this book highly. > J.Piszczor > There are other prominent intellectuals who do not share this view, such as Milan Kundera. I personally find it strange to infer anything from the fact that our ancestors lived together in the Ukraine almost 2000 years ago. Actually, the idea of Slavic genealogy is particulary strange, since genealogy, more than other forms of historical research, depends heavily on local administration. Slovenian genealogy is definitely more relevant in the context of Austrian laws than anything Slavic. Still, we have to group the genealogy forums somehow. Radek -----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==----- http://www.dejanews.com/ Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading