Vasyl Velychkovsky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BlessedVasyl Vsevolod Velychkovsky CSsR |
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Blessed Vasyl in his normal clothes, panagia, Redemptorist habit, and rosary
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| Martyr | |
| Born | June 1, 1903 Stanislaviv, Austria-Hungary (now Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine) |
| Died | June 30, 1973 (aged 70) Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 27 June 2001, Lviv Hippodrome, Ukraine by Pope John Paul II |
| Major shrine | St. Joseph's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Feast | 27 June, with Nicholas Charnetsky and 24 Companions |
Vasyl Vsevolod Velychkovsky (June 1, 1903 – June 30, 1973) was a Ukrainian Catholic priest. He belonged to a group called the Redemptorists. He is known as a martyr in the Catholic Church. This means he died because of his strong faith. He passed away in 1973 from injuries he got while in prison. The Soviet Union had imprisoned him for his religious beliefs. Pope John Paul II declared him "Blessed" in 2001.
Contents
Vasyl Velychkovsky's Early Life and Calling
Vasyl Velychkovsky was born in 1903 in a city called Stanislaviv. This city was part of Austria-Hungary at the time. Today, it is known as Ivano-Frankivsk in Ukraine.
In 1920, when he was 17, Vasyl decided to study to become a priest. He went to a special school called a seminary in Lviv. In 1925, he joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. This group is also known as the Redemptorists. They are a community of Catholic priests and brothers. That same year, he became a priest.
Serving as a Priest and Monk
As a priest, Vasyl Velychkovsky taught and preached. He worked in a region of Ukraine called Volyn. In 1942, he became the leader, or abbot, of a monastery in Ternopil.
Facing Challenges and Imprisonment
During this time, the Communist government of the Soviet Union was in power. They did not like people practicing their religion. This was a time of religious persecution.
In 1945, Vasyl Velychkovsky was arrested by the NKVD. This was the Soviet secret police. He was taken to the city of Kiev. He was first sentenced to death. However, his sentence was changed. Instead, he had to do 10 years of hard work in prison.
Later Imprisonment and Exile
Vasyl was released from prison in 1955. He returned to Lviv. In 1963, he became a bishop. But his religious activities were still not allowed. In 1969, he was arrested again. He spent another three years in prison.
After his release in 1972, he was forced to leave the Soviet Union. This is called being exiled. He moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He died there on June 30, 1973, at the age of 70. His death was caused by the injuries he suffered in prison.
Remembering Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky
Thirty years after he died, something special happened. Vasyl Velychkovsky's body was found to be almost perfectly preserved. This is sometimes called being "incorrupt."
Today, his body is kept in a special place. It is at St. Joseph's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Winnipeg, Canada. This church is now a shrine. A shrine is a holy place where people can go to pray and remember him. His shrine is located at 250 Jefferson Avenue in Winnipeg.
