Hrabar, Konstantyn

Hrabar, Konstantyn [Грабар, Константин], b 15 August 1877 in Uzhhorod, d 21 December 1938 in Uzhhorod. Transcarpathian civic and political leader; priest. From 1901 to 1921, Hrabar served in parishes in Transcarpathia. His political career began in 1919 with his election to the Diet of the Hungarian-organized autonomous province of Ruska Kraina. Disillusioned with Hungarian policies toward Transcarpathia, in May 1919 he became a member of the pro-Czech Uzhhorod Ruthenian People's Council (see Central Ruthenian People's Council) and of the delegation sent to Prague to pledge allegiance to Czechoslovakia. Hrabar served as director of the Subcarpathian Bank (1921–8), and as mayor of Uzhhorod from 1928 to 1935. In 1935 he was appointed governor of Subcarpathian Ruthenia, a position he held until the establishment of the autonomy of Carpatho-Ukraine in October 1938.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 2 (1988).]