Stoika, Oleksander

Stoika, Oleksander [Стойка, Олександер; Stojka], b 16 October 1890 in Karachyn, Transcarpathia, d 31 May 1943 in Uzhhorod. Greek Catholic bishop. He studied theology in Budapest and was ordained in 1916, and then worked in the Transcarpathian church administration before being consecrated bishop of Mukachevo (see Mukachevo eparchy) in 1932. He worked to improve the economic situation of his followers and initially patronized the ‘Ruthenian movement’ in culture (see Ruthenians). After the Hungarian occupation of Carpatho-Ukraine in 1938, he moved his see to Uzhhorod and supported Hungarian policies and Magyarization.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 5 (1993).]