The year of 2021 marks the 20th Anniversary of the Beatification of our Ukrainian martyrs. On June 27, 2001 in Lviv, Ukraine, Saint Pope John Paul II proclaimed Nicholas Charnetsky and 24 companions blessed martyrs. Bishop Vasyl Velychkovsky, whose holy relics we venerate here in the Shrine, was one of them. On June 27, 2021, we commemorated this memorable date as Blessed Vasyl`s Feastday.
This year again obeying provincial COVID-19 restrictions, feastday services were not open to the public, but live-streamed on Blessed Vasyl`s YouTube channel and Facebook page. The celebrations began on Saturday evening, June 26th with Great Vespers, followed by a video presentation about our Ukrainian ministry and prayer of intercession. On Sunday, June 27th, we started with the Divine Liturgy. Fr. Dmytro Dnistrian, the pastor from St. Joseph`s Ukrainian Catholic church, had a homily on Blessed Vasyl. The morning program continued with the rosary said in the Shrine led by Fr. John and Shrine staff. This was followed by a video presentation about the Blessed Velychkovsky pilgrimage to Ukraine. The day program ended with intercessory prayer. On Sunday evening, we began with an Acathist hymn and a short video presentation on the life of Blessed Vasyl. Fr. John concluded the celebrations with the intercessory prayer and blessing with the holy relics of Blessed Vasyl.
All of the services are available on Blessed Vasyl YouTube channel and Facebook page for those who missed the celebrations.
