On a basis of analysis of the archival papers, memoirs, Ukrainian and foreign historiography was made an integrated investigation of social and political, religions activity of Vasyl Romanyuk (1925-1995). It is confirmed, that his outlook formed under difficult social-political conditions of Galychyna which was in the centre of events connected with the process of radyanizaciya of the region and the Second World War. The determinative impact on him had a family upbringing in the spirit of national consciousness, patriotism, love to God, to nature, and respect to folk-customs. In 1944, at the age of 19 he was arrested as OUN's messenger and his family was driven to Siberia. The years spent in Stalin concentration camps did not cause bitterness and disappointment but reinforced his faith in God, and influenced his final decision to become a priest. The peculiarities of his activity as a priest were cleared up. Vasyl Romanyuk tried to save unique colouring of Guzul culture and founded at his house a private museum. The collections enclosed antique things of way of life and art, rarity literary and religions editions. It is known, that his connections with dissidents, active priestly work, appearance on defence of V. Moroz in 1970 caused the arrest of Romanyuk in 1972. A closed lawsuit against him was an evidence of political repression directed by KGB against differently minded. This research made clear the main aspects of his human rights activity, his importance in the opposition movement in 1970-1980. the content of his activity directed to protect the rights of believers and political prisoners is studied here. It is confirmed that V. Romanyuk was the representative of one of the opposition movements - religious desedenstvo. The priest wrote speeches, petitions, statements to different international organizations and to soviet government, political statesmen where he made examples of violent prison terror against political prisoners, terrible conditions of imprisonment, absence of proper medical service,malnutrition, prohibition of appointments and correspondence. The priest's struggle for the improvement of the "conscience prisoners'" conditions came to not only passive resistance but he also informed the western countries of soviet political prisoners' rights violation and even announced starvation, and abdicated the soviet citizenship in 1976, started the political prisoners association, contributed to the prisoners' reconciliation in conflict situations. Vasyl Romanyuk was the only priest in the USSR who proclaimed his belonging to UAOCh (Ukrainian avtokifalna orthodox church) and officially broke up with ROCh. A turning-point in his life was his departure to Canada in 1988.
