On June 27, 2001, during his apostolic visit to Lviv, Pope John Paul II beatified a group of 25 Ukrainian Greek Catholic martyrs, victims of the Soviet regime and the persecutions of the 20th century.
Among them were four Redemptorists: Bishop Mykolay (Nicholas) Charnetsky (1884–1959), Bishop Vasyl (Basil) Vsevolod Velychkovsky (1903–1973), Father Ivan Ziatyk (1899–1952), and Father Zynoviy (Zenon) Kovalyk (1903–1941).
Bishop Nicholas Charnetsky and his twenty-four companions represent a glorious era of martyrdom for the Ukrainian Catholic Church, and their stories bear great testimony to the strength of their Catholic faith.
Taking note of the testimonies of Bishop Mykolay Charnetskyi’s virtuous life, and especially his endurance, courage, and fidelity to the Church of Christ during the period of persecution, the beatification process began in 1960. On March 2, 2001, it was completed at the eparchy level, and the case was forwarded to the Apostolic See. On April 6, 2001, the theological committee recognized the martyrdom of Bishop Charnetskyi; on April 23, his martyrdom was verified by the Assembly of Cardinals, and on April 24, 2001, the Holy Father John Paul II signed the decree of beatification of Bishop Mykolay Charnetskyi, a blessed martyr of the Christian faith.
To read about the life of Blessed Mykolay Charnetsky in Scala News
See also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJH9EcWsRw4
