Lemkos

The Oak Deep rest house is located on Lemko's homeland. It is worth to know about that national minority, their interesting culture and history.

Lemko is an ethnographic, east-slavonic group of people, which has its distinct culture and language, living in the region called "Lemkovyna" (Lemko's land). They also called themselves Rusyns or Rusnaks. In Poland, Lemko region, according to the well-known ethnographer Roman Reinfuss, covers Beskid Niski from the valley Osława river on the east to the valley of Poprad river on the west.

Lemko culture is very well conected with  the ethnic groups inhabiting the Carpathian Mountains. Their language is described as a Lemko language, which was developed as  a dialect of the Ukrainian language with influence of Polish and Slovak language. An important aspect of Lemko culture is their deep commitment to Eastern Christianity. Most Lemkos today are Eastern rite or Byzantine-rite Catholics. In Poland they belong to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, or the Polish Orthodox Church.

Many Lemkos became notable and well-known  in the world like Thomas Bell - American novelist, Andy Warhol- pop-art performer or Nikifor - painter from Krynica.