Martyrs: Intercessors for the Ukrainian Catholic University

On 24 April, 2001 Ukrainians were for the first time added to the numbers of the new martyrs of the 20th century, 27 Greek Catholics who were murdered during the Bolshevik and Nazi occupations. It is expected that Pope John Paul II will make an official announcement of their names in June of 2001 during his trip to Ukraine. Their cases, documents and the reports of witnesses were carefully assessed in the beatification process which began in Lviv and continued in Rome.

The Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) which was held from 14 to 21 October 1996 established a commission for beatifications and canonizations. The Theological Academy used research which the Institute of Church History (ICH) had conducted to help in the beatification process. As part of its Oral History Project the ICH gathers materials about martyrs of the UGCC, thus taking part in the creation of the martyrology of the 20th century. The LTA's Institute of Canon Law (ICL) took a leading role in solving the organizational and juridical problems of the process and made the process much quicker. Fr. Dr. Mykhailo Dymyd, director of the ICL and coordinator of the Commission for the New Martyrs, is convinced that: "The exit of the Greek Catholic Church from the underground and the renewal of the Theological Academy was possible because of the sacrifices of these martyrs and thanks to their intercession. Under their watchful protection, the Theological Academy and the whole Kyivan Church possesses a priceless spiritual treasure which inevitably has helped its growth and stability."

It is significant that seven of these servants of God were during their lifetime directly involved with the Theological Academy. Today they are considered the Academy's special protectors. Among them were such distinguished figures as Bishop Nicholas Charnetsky, who taught Ethics, the History of Philosophy, Psychology and Moral Theology at the Theological Academy. He died a martyr, his health ruined by 10 years in the Siberian camps. Bishop Basil Velychkovsky was a chaplain at the Academy, a renowned activist and head of the underground UGCC. Professors Fathers Andrew Ishchak and Nicholas Konrad, noted for their scholarly achievements, died on 26 June during the arrival of the Bolshevik army. Fathers Roman Lysko and Oleksa Zarytsky, were graduates of the Academy: the first was tortured to death in Lviv's "Lonskiy Street" prison and the second died after 15 years in exile in a camp in Karaganda, Kazakstan. Father Clement Sheptytsky, archimandrite (abbot) of the Studite monks, director of spiritual matters at the Academy, died in a prison in Volodymyr.

The Kyivan Church in the 20th century has many more new martyrs. As Christians we should learn from the experience of their stories and make the decision to act according to the witness and inheritance of our glorious ancestors.