Ivan Popel

Ivan Yosyfovych Popel (; 9 May 1850, Halych, Austrian Empire – 18 February 1921, Dovhopole, Second Polish Republic) was a Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest, social and cultural activist. He was the uncle of Mariyka Pidhiryanka.

Biography In 1870 he graduated from the Drohobych Gymnasium, in 1874 from Lviv University, and in 1874 from the Lviv Theological Seminary with ordination to the priesthood in Rome.

Served in parishes in Kalush (1874–1875), Nadorozhna, Tovmach Powiat (1874–1883, employee), Hlyboka (1883–1884), Roztoky (1884–1888, administrator), Zalishchyky, Dovhopole (1888–1921).

Founded cultural, educational, and economic societies in the Hutsul region.

Died on 18 February 1921 in Dovhopole, Verkhovyna Raion. He was buried in the cemetery near the church, the grave has not been preserved.

Honoring the memory Bohdan Lepky dedicated the poem "Khrest na kruchi" to Fr. Popel.

A local school teacher, Mariyka Pidhiryanka, initiated the installation of a granite tombstone on Fr. Popel's grave; she collected exhibits and valuable materials about the parish priest, Fr. Ivan Popel, and his niece, Mariia Pidhirianka, for the school's local history room-museum.