In the last two weeks it was marked the 120th anniversary since the birth of Yosyf Slipyy, Patriarch, Great Archbishop and Cardinal of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, in Ukrainian cities and abroad.
Yosyf Slipyy was born on February 17th, 1892 in the village Zazdrist in Ternopil region. At first Y. Slipyy finished school in his native village and then Ternopil gimnasium in 1911. Since 1911 he studied in Lviv Greek Catholic Seminary and since 1912 - in Innsbruk University. On September 30th, 1917 Yosyf Slipyy was ordained as a priest by Metropolitan of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Andrey Sheptytskyy in Univ, Lviv region. Y. Slipyy got a doctorate in theology at Innsbruk University in 1918 and continued studying in Rome at the Pontifical Oriental Institute and at the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1920. Y. Slipyy got Master Agregatus at the Pontifical Gregorian University and became a professor of the dogmatic theology. In 1922 he came back in Lviv and teached dogmatic science in Lviv Greek Catholic Seminary, where became a rector in 1926. Yosyf Slipyy was co-founder of Theological Scientific Society in Lviv and editor of the journal "Theology" in 1922-1939. In 1928 Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyy reformed Lviv Greek Catholic Seminary into Lviv Theological Academy and Yosyf Slipyy was appointed Academy's rector in 1929. On December 22th, 1939 Metropolitan A. Sheptytskyy ordained Y. Slipyy as Archbishop with the rights of successor of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church's Head. Yosyf Slipyy became Head of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church after Andrey Sheptytskyy's death on November 1th, 1944.
Yosyf Slipyy was born on February 17th, 1892 in the village Zazdrist in Ternopil region. At first Y. Slipyy finished school in his native village and then Ternopil gimnasium in 1911. Since 1911 he studied in Lviv Greek Catholic Seminary and since 1912 - in Innsbruk University. On September 30th, 1917 Yosyf Slipyy was ordained as a priest by Metropolitan of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Andrey Sheptytskyy in Univ, Lviv region. Y. Slipyy got a doctorate in theology at Innsbruk University in 1918 and continued studying in Rome at the Pontifical Oriental Institute and at the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1920. Y. Slipyy got Master Agregatus at the Pontifical Gregorian University and became a professor of the dogmatic theology. In 1922 he came back in Lviv and teached dogmatic science in Lviv Greek Catholic Seminary, where became a rector in 1926. Yosyf Slipyy was co-founder of Theological Scientific Society in Lviv and editor of the journal "Theology" in 1922-1939. In 1928 Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyy reformed Lviv Greek Catholic Seminary into Lviv Theological Academy and Yosyf Slipyy was appointed Academy's rector in 1929. On December 22th, 1939 Metropolitan A. Sheptytskyy ordained Y. Slipyy as Archbishop with the rights of successor of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church's Head. Yosyf Slipyy became Head of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church after Andrey Sheptytskyy's death on November 1th, 1944.
On April 11th, 1945 Metropolitan Yosyf Slipyy was arrested by NKVS in Lviv and was convicted to 8 years of servitude and hard labour in Siberia. Soviet power wanted to destroy Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and sent Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church's priests in the prisons since 1945. Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) was officially prohibited from 1946 util 1989 in USSR, and Greek Catholic Ukrainians went secretly in some houses, where UGCC secret ordained priests conducted liturgy, married couples, baptized children till 1989.
In 1953 Soviet power continued Yosyf Slipyy's conviction until 1957, and then convicted him again for servitude until 1962. Soviet power decided to continue a term of Slipyy' servitude at the fourth time, but thanks to great efforts of Pope John XXIII Yosyf Slipyy was freed in 1963. After 18 years of Siberian servitude and staying in the prisons Yosyf Slipyy arrived in Grottaferrata monastery in Italy in 1963 and then lived in Rome.
Pope Paul VI proclaimed Yosyf Slipyy Cardinal of Catholic Church on January 25th in 1965. Cardinal Yosyf Slipyy did very much for Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. In Rome he constructed St. Sofiya Greek Catholic Cathedral, founded Ukrainian Catholic University of St. Pope Klyment and male monastery of Studyty order, reconstructed Sts. Serhiy and Vakkh Greek Catholic Church and created Museum of Ukrainian Art nearby this church. Cardinal Yosyf Slipyy united Ukrainian episcopate in Synod of Ukrainian Church, helped to make translated liturgy's books from different languages into Ukrainian, visited Ukrainians around the world to unite them. Yosyf Slipyy hoped for USSR's destruction and for creation of Ukrainian independent state at least. He also wished to be buried near Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyy in Lviv, Ukraine.
Great Archbishop, Patriarch, Cardinal of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church died on September 7th, 1984 in Rome and in 1992 his remains were transported and buried in the crypt of St. Yuriy Greek Catholic Cathedral in Lviv near Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyy's remains.
Yosyf Slipyy was strong person and religious leader of Ukrainian nation, who didn't fear Stalin, repressions, Siberian servitude, who wanted Ukrainian independence, patriarchate of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and all good things for Ukrainian people.
In 1953 Soviet power continued Yosyf Slipyy's conviction until 1957, and then convicted him again for servitude until 1962. Soviet power decided to continue a term of Slipyy' servitude at the fourth time, but thanks to great efforts of Pope John XXIII Yosyf Slipyy was freed in 1963. After 18 years of Siberian servitude and staying in the prisons Yosyf Slipyy arrived in Grottaferrata monastery in Italy in 1963 and then lived in Rome.
Pope Paul VI proclaimed Yosyf Slipyy Cardinal of Catholic Church on January 25th in 1965. Cardinal Yosyf Slipyy did very much for Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. In Rome he constructed St. Sofiya Greek Catholic Cathedral, founded Ukrainian Catholic University of St. Pope Klyment and male monastery of Studyty order, reconstructed Sts. Serhiy and Vakkh Greek Catholic Church and created Museum of Ukrainian Art nearby this church. Cardinal Yosyf Slipyy united Ukrainian episcopate in Synod of Ukrainian Church, helped to make translated liturgy's books from different languages into Ukrainian, visited Ukrainians around the world to unite them. Yosyf Slipyy hoped for USSR's destruction and for creation of Ukrainian independent state at least. He also wished to be buried near Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyy in Lviv, Ukraine.
Great Archbishop, Patriarch, Cardinal of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church died on September 7th, 1984 in Rome and in 1992 his remains were transported and buried in the crypt of St. Yuriy Greek Catholic Cathedral in Lviv near Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyy's remains.
Yosyf Slipyy was strong person and religious leader of Ukrainian nation, who didn't fear Stalin, repressions, Siberian servitude, who wanted Ukrainian independence, patriarchate of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and all good things for Ukrainian people.