Ukrainian students from "Process of 59" commemorated in Lviv

Wednesday, 19 January 2011, 23:45

The Ukrainian students convicted by the Soviet regime in 1941 during the trial "Process of 59” were commemorated in Lviv on January 17.

The Ukrainian students convicted by the Soviet regime in 1941 during the trial "Process of 59” were commemorated in Lviv on January 17. The event started with a memorial near the cross at the Lontsky Street Prison Museum, headed by the Most Rev. Benedict Aleksiychuk, auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Lviv UGCC. In the prayer also took part the rector of the Lviv Theological Seminary of the Holy Spirit Fr. Fredyna Mykolay; vice rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University, Fr. Bohdan Prakh, Ph.D.; representatives of the city community; regional authorities; and witnesses and participants of the “Process of 59.” "We gathered together in order to pay tribute, honor, and thank the young men and women who 70 years ago showed their allegiance behind these walls,” said Bishop Benedict. “We should be proud that our Ukrainian nation has such people and that we as a nation can give the world such sons and daughters." The bishop expressed hope that the commemoration would inspire us “to be faithful to the commandments of the Lord, to the rights and ideals of the Fatherland." Such loyalty, according to him, one can draw from life with God. From January 17 to 19, 1941, a show trial was held for 59 students, mostly from Lviv, who were accused of belonging to the OUN and participating in anti-Soviet activities. The 37 boys and 22 girls studied at the Ivan Franko University in Lviv, the medical and polytechnic institutes, and at local high schools. The youngest was 15 years old, and the oldest 30. The investigation continued for four months – it was a time of torture, terror, intimidation, and humiliation of human dignity.

Fr. Paul Drozdyak,
press secretary of the Lviv Archeparchy