Arrest and Death
On 20 December 1940, the Soviet secret police took Fr. Kovalyk from his monastery on account of the sermon he had preached on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (8 December). He was accused of being a spy. For the six months of his incarceration at Brygidki prison, like many others, he was subjected to interrogation and torture. In prison, he continued his ministry by praying with the other prisoners, hearing confessions, giving spiritual exercises, teaching catechism classes, and comforting them with religious tales and stories from the Bible.
On 22 June 1941, German troops began their offensive against the Soviet Union and the city of Lviv fell seven days later. As the German army advanced the Soviets guards executed 7,000 prisoners prior to retreat. Witnesses claim that, rather than simply shoot Father Zynoviy, he was crucified on a corridor wall of the prison, his stomach ripped open and a dead human foetus inserted. Official Soviet statements claim that Father Zynoviy was shot and not crucified.
On 24 April 2001, along with several other Redemptorists, Father Zynoviy Kovalyk was recognised by the Holy See as being a martyr. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 27 June 2001 during that pope’s pastoral visit to Ukraine. June 27 is the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the patroness of the Redemptorists
Read more about this topic: Zynoviy Kovalyk
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