Yosyf Botsian: The Forgotten Ukrainian Bishop

In memory of 

Bishop 

YOSYF BOTSIAN
on the ninetieth anniversary of his death

Lviv, 21 November 1926

-Born in Busk of Kamienets, 10 March 1879

-seminary companion of Blessed Nykyta Budka, Innsbruck 1902

-ordained priest, Univ, 21 August 1904

-doctor of theology, Vienna 1905

-rector of the Lviv Greek-Catholic Seminary, 9 October 1910

-ordained Bishop of Lutsk, Hotel Continental, Kyiv, 21 September 1914

-arrested by Russian occupiers, Lviv, 18 February 1915

-exiled to Yenissey, Siberia, 28 May 1915

-released by Provisional Government, 3 March 1917

-assisted at recognition of relics of St. Josaphat, Vienna, 31 August 1917

-returned to Lviv and resumed rectorship, 10 September 1917

-appointed vicar for Kholm Eparchy, March 1918

-interned in Lviv Seminary by Polish army, 3 November 1918

-resigned as rector due to ill health, April 1919

-Benedict XV confirmed as Bishop of Lutsk, 23 February 1921

-scholarly work at Pidhirtsi Monastery (old Lutsk Eparchy) 1922

-auxiliary bishop of Lviv, 20 October 1924
-ordained Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky (future Bishop of Lutsk) to the priesthood, 9 October 1925

-presented as archpriest of Lviv Metropolitan Chapter of Canons, July 1926.

longer article to follow

Zofia Fredro Szeptycka - Eternal Memory

†

Le Comte JEAN de Szeptyce SZEPTYCKI, Membre de la Chambre des Paires en Autriche, député à la diète de Galicie, Chambellan de S.M. Apostolique, Chevalier de la Couronne de fer II. cl., Commandeur de l’ordre R. de St. Georges de Bavière, Chevalier de l’ordre souverain de St. Jean de Jérusalem.  Ses fils: Le Comte André Szeptycki, Métropolitain de Halicz, Archevêque de Léopol, Evêque de Kamieniec Podolski, Conseiller intime de S. M. A., Vice-maréchal de la diète de Galicie.  Le Comte Alexandre Szeptycki et sa femme la Comtesse Isa Szeptycka, née de Junosza Sobańska, avec leur enfants MARIE, SOPHIE, THÉRÉSE, ROSE, HEDVIGE.  Le Comte Stanislas Szeptycki, Chambellan de S.M.A., Capitaine de l’Etat major, attaché militaire au quartier général de l’armée russe en Extrême Orient, Chevalier de l’ordre R. de St. Georges de Bavière.  Le Comte Léon Szeptycki et sa femme la Comtesse Hedvige Szeptycka née Comtesse de Słupów Szembek avec leur fille Sophie

ont la douleur de vois faire part de la perte qu’ils viennent de faire en la personne de leur épouse, mère, belle-mère et grand-mère.

LA COMTESSE

SOPHIE SZEPTYCKA

née Comtesse de Pleszowice Fredro,

Dame de l’ordre de la Croix étoilée de la Croix “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice”

munie des Sacrements de l’Eglise, décédée à Przyłbice le 17 Avril 1904

à l’age de 66 ans.

La dépoille mortelle reposera dans les caveaux de famille à Przyłbice.

Przyłbice le 17. Avril, 1904.

Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky to Cardinal Girolamo Maria Gotti:

Sans mors matris etiamsi solatio christianae spei, et dulci memoria Ejus virtutum moderatum sacrificatum gravem tamen dolorem affert filio, qui post Deum matrem summo diligebat amore- Non sine lacrimos dolores cogito, quorum defuncta saepe ipse vel in eius fui causa Ejus patientiam et firmam fidem, cum tamen mors opino malum sit ab optimo Deo datum, cujus sanctissimam voluntatem amare venerari infantem me, ipsa docuit non nisi gratiae Deo hodie agendae sunt mihi ob omnia beneficia in defunctam- easque mediante in nos Ejus filios collata. [...] Leopoli die 21/V 904

Abbé Quoëx and the Liturgy

On 2 January 2007, a man of great virtue, Father Franck Marie Quoëx, passed to his eternal reward in God.   Each year, those who had the great privilege of his friendship observe this day quietly, modestly but religiously.  And so it is fitting, as Abbé Quoëx was a modest man, a hidden soul.  His scholarly works, of great scientific value, are not yet known.  And still, many who did not know him in life have come to admire him and cherish his memory.  The power of his personality, the nobility of his character, the goodness of his heart continue to attract people who never met him.

An worthy reflection on Father Quoëx's life and work has recently appeared on New Liturgical Movement.  To this excellent article, I can only add that, as an authentic Christian liturgist, Abbé Quoëx did not limit his interest to his own rite; he also studied in the Eastern Liturgies, especially the Byzantine Rite and its various usages. He would often attend Byzantine Divine liturgies in Rome and examined the parallels between different rites and their authentic differences.  His scholarship was pure, motivated by the highest human and religious values, devoid of dependence on fashion or conformity based on self-interest.  He cultivated knowledge because it is man's purpose; it belongs to his natural and spiritual destiny. Quoëx's liturgy, whether studied or celebrated, was a participation in God's Beauty and mankind's desire to share and live that beauty.  

Father's Quoëx was not given the consolation to see his work recognized in this life.  He was, however, granted the grace to see the accession of Pope Benedict XVI, who shares his love and appreciation of the liturgy's culture. 

I encourage everyone to read the article in question in order to know him whose memory endures.  May he continue to challenge and encourage us to follow in his footsteps.

In Memory of Father Adrian Ckuj 1970-2009

IN·PIAM·MEMORIAM
REVERENDISSIMI·DOMINI
ADRIANI·CKVI
AETATIS·SVAE·ANNO·TRIGESIMONONO
IN·HAC·LACRIMARVM·VALLE
VITAE·FVNCTI
OPTIME·MERITI·SACERDOTIS
APOSTOLICAE·ROMANAE·SEDIS
VISITATIONIS·PRO·VCRAINIS
IN·ITALIA·DEGENTIBVS
CANCELLARIAE·REGENTIS
DICATVR

" [...] tueri tales viros deberet, nunc vero eo magis, quod tanta penuria est in omni vel honoris vel aetatis gradu, ut tam orba civitas [scil. Ecclesia] tales tutores complecti debeat."

"[...] it would be her duty to protect such men, but all the more at the present time, because so great is the dearth of such men in every official rank, and at every stage of life, that, in her destitution the State [read Church] should make the most of such guardians."

- M. Tulli Ciceronis, Epistularum ad Familiares, Liber III, XI, 3