NUN OF THE ORDER OF SAINT BASIL JOSEPHA (MARYA ISOPENKO): ATTEMPT TO RECREATE EVERYDAY WAY THROUGH A CRIMINAL CASE

Abstract

In the scientific article, the authors analyze the criminal case instituted by the Soviet special services against the nun Yosyfa (in real life – Maria Isopenko) of the order of Saint Basil the Great. For a short time, she was the abbess of the monastery of the Basilian sisters in Stanуslavіv. The authors are particularly interested in the possibility of recreating the everyday life of a nun through the investigation of a criminal case.

The article states sister Yosyfa was arrested by Soviet special agencies on 6 October 1949. On the same day, the first interrogation of the nun took place in the internal prison of the Internal Affairs Office in Stanislav. The specified criminal case details the circumstances of the delay, search and arrest of a clergyman. Scientific interest for studying the everyday life of nun Yosyfa in a certain period present the characteristic components of all criminal cases – the questionnaire of the arrestee аnd a verbal portrait. In the area of studying the history of everyday life great importance has the description property of sister Yosyfa’s, which also appears in the protocol of the search of her residence. February 10, 1950, the investigation in the case of Maria Isopenkо was comple- ted. The nun was accused of committing a crime under Article 54-10 part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Ukrainian SSR (anti-Soviet propaganda and agitation).

The authors of the article believe that criminal cases as a source are not able to fully reproduce the everyday life of any historical person with absolute accuracy, but are important for a more complete reconst- ruction of the biographies of these people. Criminal cases as historical monuments sometimes contain inte- resting factual material from the everyday life of spiritual persons, offer a lot of specific information, important, although at first glance little-known facts. Criminal cases reveal public views, ideological beliefs, interests of sister Yosyfa, well characterize the intimate communicative environment of the religious figure.

At the same time, investigation materials reflect the subjective nature of these interrogations, usually illustrate the tendency in the selection of witnesses, point to numerous facts of psychological pressure on both clergy and secular persons.

Key words: nun Yosyfa (Maria Isopenko), Order of St. Basil the Great, criminal case, Soviet special services, everyday life, primary source, Greek Catholic clergy.