Renewed Ukrainian interest in 20th-century Church leader Sheptytsky

November 12, 2010

The research of Ukrainian historians has led to renewed interest in the Servant of God Metropolitan Archbishop Andrey Sheptytsky (1865-1944), who led the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church for over four decades and saved the lives of Jews during World War II.

Venerable John Paul II told Ukrainian bishops in 2001:

I wish to recall with gratitude other Pastors too who also paid dearly for their faithfulness to Christ and for their decision to remain in union with the Successor of Peter. How can we fail to recall, among them, the Servant of God Metropolitan Andrii Sheptytsky? My revered predecessor, Pope Pius XII, declared that his noble life was cut short "not so much by his advanced age, but by the sufferings of his soul as Pastor, struck down with his flock."

 

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Further information:

• New findings break long-held stereotypes about Sheptytsky (Kyiv Post)
• Andrey Sheptytsky (Wikipedia)
• Venerable John Paul II: Meeting And Lunch With The Members Of The Ukrainian Catholic Episcopate (2001)