Over half a thousand young people participated in the Youth Pilgrimage to Majdanek (Poland)

As previously reported, on March 22, 2013, with the blessing of His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the annual Youth Pilgrimage to Majdanek (Lublin, Poland) took place.

This pilgrimage to Majdanek, the place of incarceration and martyrdom of Blessed Priest Omeljan Kovch, due to the fact that this is the Year of Faith in UGCC, was held under the motto: “Strengthen faith through witnesses of martyrs.” More than half a thousand young people from Ukraine joined the pilgrimage, with the largest contingent from UGCC Stryi Eparchy, according to UGCC Stryi Eparchy Press Service.

Commemorations began with Vespers to Blessed Priest Omeljan Kovch;  the Vespers were led by Bishop Taras (Senkiv), Apostolic Administrator of  Stryi Eparchy, with Bishop Venedykt (Aleksiychuk), auxiliary bishop of Lviv Archeparchy as concelebrant, joined by clergy from various UGCC eparchies and exarhcates in Ukraine.

“Let us remember forever,” said the Apostolic Administrator, “that to love means to live for the sake of the other one.  Therefore in responding to the motto of today’s pilgrimage, let us always remain faithful to Christ, and to our Christian calling.”

After Vespers, the clergy held a Requiem Service by the monument of Struggle and Martyrdom and said a prayer to glorify Omeljan Kovch.  Then Rev. Stepan Batrukh, pastor of UGCC Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Mother in Lublin, voiced his gratitude to all present.  Ivan Vasiunyk, the vice-president of the Committee to Commemorate Blessed Priest Martyr Omeljan Kovch, was invited to speak.  Then the participants laid flowers and lighted candles.

In conclusion, the Way of the Cross procession of UGCC youth together with Polish students of Lublin walked the area of Majdanek.  During the procession, the young people carried the Cross, palm leaves and read the Stations of the Cross.

Photo Album

Note:

Omeljan Kovch (20.08.1884-25.03.1944) - a Greek-Catholic priest, long term pastor in Peremyshliany, father of six children, a community and religious activist.

He was incarcerated in the German concentration camp where he secretly attended to the spiritual needs of Ukrainians, Poles, Jews, Estonians, Russians…  For this he became known as the “Pastor of Majdanek.”

On June 27, 2001, Pope John Paul II proclaimed Rev. Kovch as Blessed.

On April 24, 2009, Blessed Priest Martyr Omeljan Kovch was ceremoniously dignified with the status of the “Patron of UGCC Pastors”.

UGCC Department of Information