Helena Langevych
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Mother Helena Langevych OSBM | |
|---|---|
Олена Лянґевич | |
 | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | January 24, 1881 Zhovkva, Ukraine |
| Died | May 7, 1916 (aged 35) |
| Nationality | Polish-Ukrainian |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Helena Emilia Langevych (Ukrainian: Олена Лянґевич; 1881–1916) was a Ukrainian nun who led a group of Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great to the United States on November 28, 1911.[1] Langevych brought the sisters at the specific request of Soter Ortynsky OSBM, the Philadelphia-based first bishop for all Catholics in America who observed the Byzantine Rite.[2][3] He was concerned about what to do with Ukrainian orphans in the city.[4] Langevych is considered one of the founders of Manor College (originally named St. Macrina College).[5][6] She was also the first abbess of the monastery, which she established.[4][7]
Her work grew to include newly arrived Ukrainian immigrants to the Philadelphia area. Matthew Smalarz calls her "the foundress of the Sisters of St. Basil the Great in America."[8] The Mother Helena Langevych Legacy Society is named in her honor.[9] Many of her papers are in the Falvey Library of Villanova University, mostly in Ukrainian.[10] She is sometimes referred to as Helen, or by her Christian name, Emilia-Helena.Her parents, Katarzyna Dashkevych and Michal Langevych, were Polish but lived in Ukraine.[4]
