Priest and political activist: Ivan Kostetskyi in Russophile movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries

Abstract

The biography of Ivan Kostetskyi, a priest, public and political figure, one of the leaders of the Russophile movement, is analyzed. The formation of the personality of I. Kostetskyi is shown on the background of his epoch. His activities as chairman of the Russophile society “Narodnyi Dim” (“The People’s House”), deputy of the Sejm and leader of the conservative wing of the Russophile movement are revealed. It is stated that I. Kostetskyi, like many representatives of the Russophile movement of the 19th century, united his priestly ministry with active political activity. Until 1914 he belonged to the supporters of the old course, and during the First World War, together with representatives of the new сourse of Russophilism, supported the Russian government in Galicia. He remained an zealous defender of Russophilism and in the interwar period.