YUGOSLAVIA. On 13 April, the Rusyn Society of Subotica organized a cultural program in honor of poet Maftej Vinaj.

The festivities began with the laying of a wreath at Vinaj’s grave in Bajski cemetery. A seminar was held at the Society’s headquarters, and a literary evening dedicated to Vinaj was held at the city library.

Vinaj (1898-1981), was born in Ruski Krstur and was educated in Zagreb. After earning his doctorate in law, he taught at many schools throughout the Vojvodina. In 1945 he began teaching at the newly-founded Rusyn-language school in Krstur.

An accomplished poet, he began writing in Croatian but soon switched to Rusyn. Among his major works are the 18-poem cycle Venčik mojomu narodu (Wreath to My Nation) published in Švetlosc in 1966, and Rovnjino moja široka (Oh, My Wide Plain) published in Ruske Slovo in 1973.

Return to the 2002 News Archive index