From late 18th century thru turn of the 20th century, Grodno (Grodnenskaya) Gubernia > Czarist Russia was located in what is BELARUS TODAY. This was/is quite a distance away from Carpathian Mountains.
http://www.angelfire.com/or/yizkor/gubmaps.htmlWhere did GGrandfather settle upon immigration & appx when and what religion did he practice?
The key for your research will be ascertaining EXACT PLACE OF ORIGIN. A gubernia/region contained many counties & districts. An average district might have contained 30/40 villages.