Venerable Andrey Sheptytsky
Greek Catholic Metropolitan of Lviv, patron of culture and rescuer of Jews
- Rank
- Venerable
- Kind
- Bishop, Religious
- Life
- 1865 – 1944
- Era
- 20th century
- Countries
- Ukraine
Life story
He was born on 29 July 1865 in Prylbychi in Austrian Galicia, into the noble Szeptycki family, with the baptismal name Roman. In 1888 he entered the Basilian Order and took the name Andrey, was ordained a priest in 1892 and consecrated bishop in 1899. From 1901 until his death he was archbishop of Lviv and head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
He was a wide-ranging patron of culture and education. In 1905 he founded the Lviv National Museum, which now bears his name. He also supported the training of clergy, helped found hospitals and schools, and founded the Studite monastic order, based on the rule of Theodore the Studite.
During the Second World War he lived under successive occupations. Historians report that he hid at least 150 to 200 Jews, mostly children, in monasteries and orphanages, and wrote letters protesting the killings. His early stance toward the German authorities is still debated by historians. He died on 1 November 1944 in Lviv. The cause for canonisation opened in 1958, and Pope Francis recognised his heroic virtues on 16 July 2015. He has not been named Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem.
Works and witness
- Archbishop of Lviv from 1901 to 1944
- Founded the Lviv National Museum in 1905
- Founded the Studite monastic order
- Sheltered Jews in Church institutions during the war
- Declared Venerable in 2015
Saints from the same country
References
- Pope Francis, decree on heroic virtues of Andrey Sheptytsky, 2015 (Vatican)
- Lviv National Museum, history of the founder
- Martyrologium Romanum
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.