Poniatyshyn, Petro

Poniatyshyn, Petro [Понятишин, Петро; Ponjatyšyn], b 15 July 1877 in Semeniv, Terebovlia county, Galicia, d 4 February 1960 in Skokie, Illinois. Ukrainian Catholic church and community leader in the United States of America. Upon ordination (1902) he emigrated to the United States and became involved in Ukrainian religious and civic life there. After the death of Bishop Soter Ortynsky he was appointed administrator of the Greek Catholic diocese in the United States (1916–24). During the First World War he chaired the Ukrainian National Committee (United States) (1918–22) and organized support for Ukraine’s struggle for independence (1917–20) and relief for Ukrainian war victims. His articles appeared in almanacs and collections published by the Ukrainian National Association.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 4 (1993).]