2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the beatification of a group of Ukrainian Catholic martyrs, beatified by Saint John Paul II during his historic pastoral visit to Ukraine from June 23 to 27, 2001. Among those beatified were four Redemptorists: Bishop Nicholas Charnetsky, Bishop Vasyl Velychkovsky, Father Ivan Ziatyk, and Father Zenon Kovalyk. In Winnipeg, Canada, stands the National Shrine dedicated to Blessed Vasyl, whose relics—found intact—are enshrined in the Ukrainian Catholic Church of St. Joseph.
This year 2026 marks 25 years since Saint John Paul II, Pope of Rome beatified a number of Ukrainian Catholic Martyr’s during his pastoral visit to Ukraine June 23-27, 2001. Among the martyrs were four Redemptorists, Bishop Nicholas Charnetsky, Bishop Vasyl Velychkovsky, Fr. Ivan Ziatyk and Fr. Zenon Kovalyk.
Bishop Vasyl Velychkovsky was permanently exiled after his last imprisonment in 1972, spent some time in Croatia, then Rome and finally settled in Winnipeg Canada, where he died June 30 1973. Upon his beatification a shrine in his honour was built attached to St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, served by the Redemptorists, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Canadian Catholic Bishops Conference has designated his shrine as a National Shrine. There are only six National Shrines in Canada.
The Shrine and Museum were completed in 2002. The transfer of his holy Relics took place September 16-22, 2002. When the coffin had been opened after being buried for 29 years, Blessed Vasyl’s body was found fully intact, as if he was just buried, all muscle mass with some body parts being supple. We knew we were in the presence of holiness. In order to tell his story and make him known to the world a small museum was also established, containing many second class relics from Canada and Ukraine.
Blessed Vasyl was born in 1903 in Stanislaviv Ukraine to a priestly family. His father and both grandfathers were priests and had themselves come from priestly families. He served as a young man in the First World War after which he entered the seminary. As a deacon he entered the Redemptorists in Ukraine in 1924 and ordained a priest in 1925. He was known for his missionary and apostolic spirit, conducting many missions and renewing the peoples’ faith.
From 1939 the Soviet persecution began. He was arrested along with more than 1,700 priests and all the bishops, on August 7, 1945. After months of interrogations, he was sentenced to die by firing squad. This sentence was later changed to 10 years of hard labour in laager camps in the far north of Russia in Vorkuta. While on death row in the laager camps, he continued to exercise his priesthood by secretly confessing and evangelizing the prisoners. He clandestinely celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the mine shafts and in his barracks. In 2014, the Ukrainian Catholic Church proclaimed Blessed Vasyl as Patron of Prison Ministry.
Upon returning to Lviv in 1955, he began what is known as the underground church, celebrating the sacraments late at night in people’s homes, baptizing and performing marriages. He organized secret monasteries, gave closed retreats and prepared seminarians. In 1963 Metropolitan Josyf Slipyj, who was on his way to Vatican II after his imprisonment, secretly ordained him a bishop in a Moscow hotel room. Metropolitan Josyf gave Blessed Vasyl authority over the Church in Ukraine. As a bishop he even increased his underground activity.
In 1969 he was arrested again. This time for the book, he wrote on the “History of the Icon of our Mother of Perpetual Help”. He spent three year in prison where he received poisonous drugs, which eventually caused his death. In 1972, he was exiled and died in Canada a year later.
The Bishop Velychkovsky National Martyr’s Shrine has become a source of hope for the many pilgrims that come to it seeking help. Many graces and miracles have occurred through his intercession. Thousand of pilgrims from around the world have come before Blessed Vasyl. Many send their petitions to the Shrine to be placed before our Blessed. May he soon be proclaimed a Saint for our Congregation and Church.
A Video presentation by Fr. Ivel Mendanha, CSsR:
Bishop Velychkovsky National Martyr’s Shrine
250 Jefferson Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R2V 0M6, Canada
Visit the Website: bvmartyrshrine.com
