St. Innocent Orthodox Church Z 50th Anniversary:1967-2017 Z Moscow Patriarchal Parishes Z 23300 W. Chicago _ Redford, MI 48239 _ 313-538-1142 _ Fax: 313-538-8126 Church Website: www.stinnocentchurch.com _ E-Mail: [email protected] St. Innocent Monastic Community: 9452 Hazelton, Redford, MI 48239 _ 313-535-9080 PASTOR: Rt. Rev. Mitered Archpriest ROMAN STAR _ Cell: 313-319-0590 Dean, Central States Deanery, Patriarchal Parishes JUNE 18, 2017 ASSISTANT PRIESTS: Rev. DANEIL SHIRAK _ 313-295-3073 Rev. Dr. JOSHUA GENIG EPISTLE: Romans 2:10 – 16 (#81-ctr) DEACON: Dn. Michael Comerford, Attached GOSPEL: Matthew 4:18-23 (#9); 4:25-5:12 (#10) ATTACHED: Sister Ioanna TONE: 1 CHOIR DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Star Hatfield READERS: George Hanoian; William Davis

Z ALL OF N. AMERICA Z 2nd Sunday After Pentecost Z COMMEMORATED TODAY: All Saints of America (All Saints of Russia). Martyr Leontius, and with him Martyrs Hypatius and Theodulus, at Tripoli in Syria (70-79). Ven. Leonty, Canonarch, of the Kiev Caves (Far Caves—14th c.). Ven. Leonty the Hagiorite (1605). The “BOGOLIUBSKAYA” Icon of the Most-holy Theotokos (1157).

FOR THE REPOSE OF: Estelle & Joseph Star; Anna & John Witkowski; Michael Sr. & Margaret Rusko; Mary, Andrew, Daniel, Michael & Lottie Yakuber; Ross & Margaret Falsetti; Helen, John & Carole Andrayko; Peter & Theresa Harvilla; Betty Martell; Frances, Todd & John Smoly; Peter Glover; Irene Adams; Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua deVyver, David Horka; Michael Rusko; Anna Lichagina, Yelena & Zinaïda Korniyevskaya; Joseph Nossal; Michelle Tucker; Todd Comerford, John Manier, Jr. MEMORY Patricia Comerford Suttleman (newly departed, Monday, 29 May), by brother, Deacon Michael Comerford ETERNAL! Mary Kupec, whose anniversary of her repose is Monday, 19 June, by granddaughter, Matushka Rose Marie Margaret Kupec, whose anniversary of her repose is Monday, 19 June, by niece, Matushka Rose Marie & Family Mitchell Shirak, whose anniversary of his repose is Monday, 19 June, by cousin, Fr. Daneil Joseph Nossal, whose anniversary of his repose is Friday, 23 June, by wife, Rose Nossal All our departed fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers & godfathers

FOR THE HEALTH OF: Seraphim; Priest Daneil, Mat. Debra & Corrina Shirak; Priest Joshua, Mat. Abigail, Emma, Clare, Rose & Anna Genig; Deacon Michael, Mat. Mary Ellen & Julius Comerford; Matushka Mary Donahue; Reader Robert Latsko, Reader George & Betty Hanoian, William Basil Davis, Rose Nossal, Mary Glover, Nancy Cupp, Vasiliki Stamoulis, Gerald Martell, Azbehat, Donald Yakuber, Carl deVyver, Jo Anne Nicholas, Joan Rusko, Daria, Joseph Nossal, Ed Manier, Pat Harbut, Mark Hancock (broken hand) ALSO FOR: Iskias Naizghi, who celebrates his birthday on Tuesday, 20 June Kflom Iskias, who celebrates his birthday on Friday, 23 June All our living fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, godfathers & parish spiritual father(s) Š MAY GOD GRANT THEM MANY YEARS! Š

SCHEDULE FOR THE COMING WEEK (THE APOSTLES’ FAST, June 12th – 28th: Abstain from meat, fish, dairy, alcohol) Saturday 6/24 10am DIVINE LITURGY for the NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST FEASTDAY 4pm GREAT VESPERS & CONFESSIONS Sunday 6/25 3rd Sunday After Pentecost 9:15am Hours & Akathist &/or Canon for the Feast 10am DIVINE LITURGY, Followed by Coffee Hour COMING FEAST: Thursday 6/29: Apostles Ss. Peter & Paul (Vespers, Wed. 6/28, 7pm & Liturgy, Thurs. 6/29, 10am)

PROSPHORA FOR TODAY IS OFFERED BY: John Andrayko In Memory Eternal of: sister, Carole Andrayko (6/5); parents, Helen (10/24) & John Andrayko, Sr. (1/28); and all other departed family, friends & loved ones; and for the Health of: John Andrayko, Fr. Roman & Matushka Rose Marie; Rose Nossal; Fr. Daneil & all parishioners.

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! Z HE IS NOW & ALWAYS SHALL BE! Z CANDLES FOR LAST SUNDAY, 11 JUNE YEARLY CHURCH VIGIL LAMPS: Royal Doors Lamp: In Memory of Husband, Joseph; Son, Kenneth; parents, Michael & Margaret Rusko, & John & Martha Nossal, by Rose Nossal Altar Candelabra: In Memory of Parents, Nicholas and Susan Yakuber, by son, Donald Yakuber Altar Candles (2): In Memory of Irene Adams, by Goddaughter, Rose Ann Everhardt Iconostasis Lamps: In Memory of departed family & friends; & Health of family & friends, by Fr. Protodeacon Daniel & Mat. Irene Sudol Candles on the Solea: In Memory of Peter & Theresa Harvilla, Norman & Monica Holst, & Ricky Ellis, by Jason & Debra Truskowski Table of Oblation Lamp: In Memory of Parents, Helen & John Andrayko, Sr. & sister, Carole Andrayko, by John Andrayko, Jr. Reliquary-Icon Lamps: Sts. Innocent, Tikhon & Herman: Health of Joseph/Sue; Robert/Diane; Pat/John; Joseph B., Jared, Jay; Rachelle/Aaron, Gabriel; Tricia, Lindsey; & In Memory of sisters, Anna, Margaret, Theresa & Irene; & brothers, John, Edwin & Michael by Rose Nossal Reliquary-Icon Lamps: Sts. Elizabeth & Raphael: Health of the Genig and the Just Families, by Fr. Deacon Joshua & Abigail Genig Reliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Seraphim & St. Alexis: In Memory of Ross & Margaret Falsetti, by daughters, Rose Ann Everhardt & Margie Martell Reliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Nestor & St. Gerontius: In Memory of Rusko Family: Grandparents, Anna, Alexandra, Mike, Margaret, John, Mary, George, Pauline, Pete, Irene, Andrew, Anna, Grandparents Nickolas & Anna Schulik, by Rose Nossal Reliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Hilarion & Sts. Alexandra & Martha: In Memory of Parents, Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua; Robert David H; // IN MEMORY OF (MEMORY ETERNAL!) //& Health of brother, Carl, by Sister Ioanna Joseph & Estelle Star, by son Father Roman and family Paul & Alexandra Yupco, Basil & Ellen Starinshak, by grandson, Father Roman and family John & Anna Witkowski, by daughter, Matushka Rose Marie and family Samuel & Mary Kupec, by granddaughter, Matushka Rose Marie and family Parents, Helen & John Andrayko, and sister, Carole Andrayko, by John Andrayko + + + My husband, Michael Rusko, by Joan Rusko My husband, Joe; my sisters, Margaret & Ross Falsetti, Anna & Mike Elaschat, Theresa & Pete Harvilla, Irene, & brothers, Michael, John & Edwin Rusko; niece, Rose Mary & Dean Hough; Joe’s brothers, Raymond & Walter Nossal, & sisters, Theresa, Florence & Helen Nossal, by Rose Nossal ++ + Pete & Theresa Harvilla, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay Truskowski + + + Jaimie Truskowski, by daughter Kay T. Parents, Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua; David H; Nina I; Marion P; Fr. Photius; Mo. Benedicta; Archm. Roman; Olive; Molly, by Sr.Ioanna John G. Petz, by Frances Roy + + + Eva Marcicky, by Frances Roy + + + Child Lana, Shirley, Betty, Marsha, Paul, by Becky Jurczyszyn Thelma Ratcliff, Louis Pitts, Gloria Robinson, Reginald Bell, Lessie Favor, Lois Hamby, John Manier III, by Manier family FOR THE HEALTH OF: (MANY YEARS!) Elizabeth & Lawrence, Caitlin & Zachary, by parents & grandparents, Father Roman & Matushka Rose Marie Gregory & Tamiko Star, by parents, Father Roman & Matushka Rose Marie Children, Grandchildren & Great-grandchildren; Monk Fr. Sdn. Tikhon (Dade); by Rose Nossal Father Roman & Matushka & family; Sister Ioanna; John Andrayko; Nancy; Mary G; Jo Anne N; Grandson Joey (in the Navy Reserves) & all people in the Armed Forces; & all St. Innocent Church parishioners, by Rose Nossal + + + Family & Friends, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay Brother, Greg & Donna; nephew, Gregory & Liz; & nephew, Alex, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay + + + Ed Manier, by Mary Ann Harvilla&Kay Nafanail, Gregory & Seraphim; Fr. Roman & Mat. Rose Marie; Fr. Lawrence B & fam; Fr. Laurence L & fam; Fr. Daneil & fam; Fr. Joshua & fam; Fr. Dcn. Michael & fam; Mat. Mary D; Carl; Monk Fr. Tikhon; Sdn Andrew; Rdr Robert; Robert M; David Samuel/Sky & Avi; JoAnne/Nick; Athanasius; John A; Ed/Tiffany & fam; Kim/Mark & fam; Frances/Ken; Vasiliki; Rose; Emil; Billy/Fonda; by Sr Ioanna Rose Nossal, by John Andrayko + + + John Andrayko (May God watch over him), by Rose Nossal Alice & Autumn, by Grandmother, Frances Roy + + + Anastasia & Jasiu (John III), by Mother, Frances Roy Daniel Wood, by great-grandparents, Nick & Jo Anne Nicholas + + + Leia, Mike, Reece & Wyatt Wilson; Bob/Joan Jurczyszyn; Toni /Richard Bussen; Pete, Krista, Jacob, Clair, Matt & Paul Stelmaszek; Damon Trestain, Levi Troyer, Briana Saylor, by Becky Jurczyszyn Health & Salvation: Brittany Truitt (mental health issues); Kaitlyn. RJ, Xavier, Story (Protection & health), by Manier family

ANNOUNCEMENTS Today, REGIONAL ALL SAINTS SUNDAY (of North America and Russia), the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost, is the end of the 4½ month Paschal cycle of the Orthodox liturgical year, that began on February 5th. The calendar dates of the Paschal cycle varies each year, because it depends on the date of Pascha, which is determined by the moon, (which is shorter than the solar calendar months), and also based on the Julian calendar. The period prior to Pascha is known by the name of the liturgical book that contains all of the special hymns for the period, called the (LENTEN) TRIODION. And the period from Pascha until today is referred to as the PENTECOSTARION, which is also the name of the liturgical book with the texts of all the special hymns for the season. All of the Sundays between now and January 28th, 2018, when next year’s Lenten Triodion begins, are designated as a certain “Sunday after Pentecost,” and all the feast days are fixed dates according to our standard solar (based on the sun) calendar, and are therefore the same, fixed dates every year.

(1) CATECHUMENS INSTRUCTION for Frances & Ken Roy, on Tuesdays, at 7pm, with Sister Ioanna (2) ST. INNOCENT STUDY GROUP, With Fr. Joshua, on most Wednesdays, at 6:30 – 7:30 pm. (3) PLEASE DONATE AN AD FOR OUR 50th ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE BOOK. See/print PDF form with info on our website, on our Home Page (http://stinnocentchurch.com/) or on the 50th Anniversary page (http://stinnocentchurch.com/50th_anniversary.html). (4) NEEDED: PHOTOS OF LIFE AT ST. INNOCENT, 2008 – 2014. To use in 50th Anniversary Commemorative booklet. See Elizabeth. (5) LISTEN EACH SUNDAY TO THE COCC’S DETROIT’S OWN ORTHODOX RADIO HOUR [DOOR] ON WNZK 690-AM, 4-5pm On your radio, or live on computer at http://www.doorradio.org. After the broadcast, all programs are archived on their website. LIFE OF ST. JOHN OF SAN FRANCISCO “Holiness is not simply righteousness, for which the righteous merit the enjoyment of blessedness in the Kingdom of God, but rather such a height of righteousness that men are filled with the grace of God to the extent that it flows from them upon those who associate with them. Great is their blessedness; it proceeds from personal experience of the Glory of God. Being filled also with love for men, which proceeds from love of God, they are responsive to men’s needs, and upon their supplication they appear also as intercessors and defenders for them before God.” — St. John Maximovitch

What better description could be found to portray the essence of a man whose love for Christ drew him to such heights of spiritual perfection that he enkindled the faith of thousands from East to West? The life of St. John Maximovitch [of Shanghai and San Francisco] demonstrates more vividly than any words that true Christianity far exceeds the bounds of human “goodness.” Here is a shining reflection of the supernatural love of God which works miracles, a living proof that the burning faith St. John of San Francisco, narthex wall, St. of the early Christian saints still warms the earth at a time when the love of many has Innocent Orthodox Church, Redford, MI grown cold. St. John did not isolate himself from the world, but he was not of this world. First and foremost he was a man of prayer. He completely surrendered himself to God, presenting himself as a “living sacrifice” and he became a true vessel of the Holy Spirit. His work as an apostle, missionary and miracle worker continues even now. This of the latter times was born June 4, 1896 in the province of Kharkov. At baptism he was given the name Michael. As a child he was serious for his years and he later wrote: “From the first days when I began to become aware of myself, I wished to serve righteousness and truth. My parents kindled in me a striving to stand unwaveringly for the truth, and my soul was captivated by the example of those who had given their lives for it.” Following the desire of his parents, he entered law school in Kharkov. He was a naturally gifted student but spent more time reading the Lives of Saints than attending academic lectures. “While studying the worldly sciences,” he wrote, “I went all the more deeply into the study of the science of sciences, into the study of the spiritual life.” After the Revolution, he was evacuated together with his family to Belgrade [Serbia] where he entered the faculty of theology at the University. In 1926, a year after his graduation, he was tonsured a monk and given the name John, after his own distant relative, St. John of Tobolsk. In November of that same year, he was ordained hieromonk. Soon he became a teacher at the Serbian Seminary of St. John the Theologian at Bitol. More than once the bishop there, St. Nikolai Velimirovich, would say, “If you wish to see a living saint, go to Fr. John.” Ascetic It was his own students who first became aware of Vladyka’s great feat of asceticism. At night they noticed that Vladyka would stay up, making the rounds of the dormitories and praying over the sleeping students. Finally, it was discovered that he scarcely slept at all, and never in a bed, allowing himself only an hour or two each night of uncomfortable rest in a sitting position, or bent over on the floor, praying before icons. This ascetic feat he continued for the rest of his life. At the age of 38 he was elevated to the episcopate of the Abroad, and was sent to Shanghai, China. There he restored Church unity, took an active interest in the religious education of youth, encouraged and participated in various charitable organizations, founded an orphanage, and himself gathered sick and starving children off the streets. He always wore clothing of the cheapest Chinese fabric and often went barefoot, sometimes having given his sandals away to some poor man. Vladyka celebrated Divine Liturgy and received Holy Communion daily, as he did for the rest of his life. Wonderworker In Shanghai it became evident that Vladyka was not only a righteous man, but a true ascetic, a man of prayer and a wonderworker. Once in Shanghai Vladyka John was asked to the bed of a dying child, whose case had been called hopeless by the physicians. Entering the apartment, Vladyka John went straight to the room in which the sick boy lay, although no one had managed yet to show him where this was. Without examining the child. Vladyka immediately fell down in front of the icon in the corner, which was very characteristic of him and prayed for a long time. Then, assuring the relatives that the child would recover, he quickly left. And in fact the child became better towards morning and he soon recovered, so that a physician was no longer needed. Vladyka loved to visit the sick and if the condition of a patient would become critical, he would go to him at any hour of the day or night to pray at his bedside. There were cases when patients would cry out to Vladyka in the middle of the night from their hospital beds, and from the other end of the city Vladyka would come. Man of Prayer With the coming of the communists, the Russians in China were forced once again to flee, most through the Philippines. At one time 5,000 of the refugees were living in an International Refugee Organization camp on the island of Tubabao, located in the path of the seasonal typhoons. When the fear of typhoons was mentioned by one Russian to the Filipinos, they replied that there was no reason to worry, because “your holy man blesses your camp from four directions every night.” They referred to Vladyka John, for no typhoon struck the island while he was there. In trying to resettle his flock, Vladyka went to Washington, and through his intervention, almost the whole camp was miraculously able to come to America — including his orphanage. In 1951 Vladyka was sent to Western Europe. Here too his reputation for holiness spread — and not only among the Orthodox. In one of the Catholic churches of Paris, a priest strove to inspire his young people with these words: “you demand proofs, you say that now there are neither miracles nor saints. Why should I give you theoretical proofs, when today there walks in the streets of Paris a saint — Saint Jean Nu-Pieds (St. John the Barefoot).” Finally, in 1962, Vladyka was sent to San Francisco in response to the urgent request of thousands of Russians who had known him in Shanghai. The Russian community was bitterly divided over the building of a new cathedral. Vladyka became embroiled in this dispute and this eventually led to his persecution. But the Truth finally won out and a measure of peace was restored, the paralysis of the community ended, and the cathedral was finished. Alive after Death On June 19/July 2, 1966, during a visit to Seattle with the wonderworking Kursk Icon of the Mother of God, Vladyka peacefully gave his soul to the Lord Whom he had served so faithfully during his earthly life. His un-embalmed body was flown to San Francisco where for six days it lay in the cathedral in an open coffin, while thousands of the faithful came to say their last farewell to the beloved archpastor. Even after the sixth day it was noticed that there was no sign of decay. John was laid to rest in a small basement chapel under the altar of the cathedral after the San Francisco Board of Supervisors amended the City law to permit the burial of prelates in their cathedrals. His sepulchre became a place of pilgrimage for hundreds of people in need of his strong intercession before the throne of God. The many cases of answered prayer only confirm Vladyka’s words to one of his devoted servants when, after his death, he appeared to her in a dream and said: “Tell the people: although I have died, I am alive!” On June 19/July 2, 1994 St. John Maximovitch was canonized in San Francisco and his relics rest today in the Joy of All Who Sorrow Cathedral

[ROCOR] for all the faithful to venerate. St. John’s reliquary in the cathedral in San Francisco Holy Hierarch John, pray to God for us. St. John is commemorated on June 19 (Old Calendar) and on July 2, (New Calendar) http://saintjohnorthodoxchurch.org/about/saint-john-of-shanghai-and-san-francisco/ LIFE OF NEWLY-GLORIFIED ST. MARDARIJE OF LIBERTYVILLE, IL Saint Mardarije [left in icon] was born Ivan Uskokovic in Podgoritsa, Montenegro, in 1889. In 1907, he embraced monasticism at the Studenitsa Monastery and then relocated to Russia to study at the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy. After graduation, he was ordained by the Russian Orthodox Church and sent as a missionary to America. In 1919, he was one of five Serbian Orthodox priests who participated in the Second All-American Sobor, held in Cleveland, OH in February 1919, at which time it was recommended that the Serbian Church in Belgrade advance him to the episcopacy to organize a Serbian Orthodox Diocese in America. Unfortunately, at this most chaotic time in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church, it was impossible to secure the written blessing of Patriarch [now Saint] Tikhon of Moscow. Later in 1919, Archimandrite Mardarije returned to Belgrade, where he was assigned as head of the Rakovitsa Monastery and principal of its monastic school. Subsequently, Bishop [now Saint] Nikolai [Velimirovic] of Ohrid was sent by Patriarch Dimitriye to administer the fledgling diocese. Having likewise returned to America, Archimandrite Mardarije served as Saint Nikolai’s Deputy for two years, and continued to administer the diocese after the latter’s return to Belgrade.

On April 26, 1926, Archimandrite Mardarije was consecrated to the episcopacy in Belgrade. Prior to his episcopal consecration, he had carried out most of the actual work of organizing the Serbian diocese. He also served as parish priest in Chicago and purchased with his personal funds the land for Saint Sava Monastery in suburban Libertyville, [IL].

From the moment of his return to America, Bishop Mardarije undertook a wide range of ministries. He did not spare himself, nor did he fear work, although he knew that he was gravely ill with an advancing case of tuberculosis. In 1927, he convened the first National Church Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox American-Canadian Diocese to address a variety of organizational issues. At a clergy conference held in Youngstown, OH in 1931, he renewed his appeal for all to work for the unity and good of the diocese. His kindness, patience St. Mardarije of Libertyville and reluctance to use punitive measures resulted in a great measure of unity within the diocese by the time of his repose on December 12, 1935 at the age of 46 years. He was interred at Libertyville’s Saint Sava Monastery. On May 29, 2015, the Holy Assembly of Hierarchs of the Serbian Orthodox Church added the name of Bishop Mardarije (Uskovich), along with Archimandrite Sebastian (Dabovich), to the calendar of saints, at the request of the Serbian Orthodox Church in America. On September 6, 2015, both Serbian-American saints were formally glorified at St. Steven Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Alhambra, CA. His feastday is December 12th. Source: http://oca.org LIFE OF HIEROMARTYR VASILY MARTYSZ (1874-1945); Feast day: May 4th The Holy Hieromartyr Archpriest Vasily Martysz, was a Polish Orthodox priest, who began his career serving as a missionary in North America for 12 years, returning to his homeland not long before WWI. Following the war he was in charge of Orthodox Chaplains in the newly formed Polish army, a position he held for many years. He was martyred in May 1945, in the closing days of World War II by brigands who attacked his family without mercy because he was an Orthodox priest. Today he is the patron saint of Orthodox Christians in the Polish Army. Vasily Martysz was born on February 20, 1874 in Tertyn that today is in the Hrubieszow region of southeastern Poland. His father, Alexander Martysz, was a judge, who after he retired, was ordained an Orthodox priest and served in a local parish. In 1884, when Vasily was ten years old, he accompanied his father on a trip to New York where he met Bishop Vladimir of the Aleutians. Bp. Vladimir, noting Vasily’s singing during a church service, St. Vasily, on vestry door, at St. Innocent predicted Vasily would become a priest and invited him to serve in the American diocese. Orthodox Church, Redford, MI Having decided to follow his father into the priesthood, Vasily attended the seminary in Chelm of which Bp. Tikhon, the future Patriarch of Moscow was rector at that time. Upon graduating from the seminary in July 1899, Vasily married Olga Nowik, and was ordained a deacon. In December 1900, he was ordained a priest, and the couple sailed for New York. Upon reaching the United States, Fr. Vasily was assigned to Afognak parish in the Territory of Alaska, a parish that covered Spruce and Woody islands near Kodiak. At Afognak he built the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Virgin. In order to serve the large area of his parish, he traveled by kayak and was away from home much of the time, although he continued to teach in the parish school. Through these difficult times, his wife, Olga, gave birth to two daughters. Because of the harsh life in Alaska and concern for the education of his daughters, in 1906, Fr. Vasily was transferred back to the lower United States, to Osceola Mills, Pennsylvania, where Fr. Vasily and Olga were blessed with a son. In the following years Fr. Vasily and his family accepted assignments in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, where his youngest child, a daughter, was born, and then in Canada, first in Edmonton, and then in Vostok. In 1912, Fr. Vasily and his family returned to Poland to be with relatives in Sosnowiec. Here, he became the rector of the local parish and a teacher at the girls’ high school. The outbreak of World War I, however, disrupted their lives again. To escape the war front, the Orthodox clergy and their families were moved to safety in Russia. Then in 1919, after the Bolshevik takeover, as Polish refugees, they were allowed to return to their old residences in Poland. Having gained its freedom following WWI, Poland began to organize an army, and in September 1919, Fr. Vasily was placed in charge of the military’s Orthodox Affairs, with the responsibility of forming an Orthodox military chaplaincy, of which he became head in 1921, continuing in this position until he retired from it in 1936. Fr. Vasily was also deeply involved in the affairs of the Church of Poland. He was an advisor and friend of the Metropolitans of Warsaw and All Poland, assisting them in their efforts to obtain autocephaly for the Polish Orthodox Church, which was finally obtained in 1925. Fr. Vasily became the Metropolitans’ closest advisor, acting as the liaison between the Church and the Polish Head of State. At the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination on December 7, 1925, Fr. Vasily received a special award in recognition of his efforts in securing autocephaly for the Church of Poland. As part of his responsibilities as chief military Chaplain during the early 1920's, Fr. Vasily was active in organizing pastoral ministry among the many Ukrainian Orthodox refugees who were settled in camps in Poland. He visited the internees, and arranged for churches in the camps. On July 8, 1921, using his knowledge of the Ukrainian language, he celebrated the Divine Liturgy before 5,000 refugees, greatly improving their morale. After his retirement from government service in 1936, Fr. Vasily and his family returned for a life of retirement to their home region of Hrubieszow. But, the invasion of Poland in 1939 by Germany drastically changed the lives of Fr. Vasily and his family. With the German occupation, naturally, the quality of life in their village declined. The mothers of Fr. Vasily and his wife both died. In 1943, his wife, Olga, died. His youngest daughter, Helen, and her family moved into his home. Then, on May 4, 1945, in the chaos of the last days of World War II in Europe, his household was viciously attacked by lawless bandits, who first beat his pregnant daughter, and then beat and tortured Fr. Vasily before finally murdering him by gun shot. Fr. Vasily was buried, first, in the cemetery in Teratyn, before being re-interred in 1963 in the Orthodox cemetery in Warsaw next to his wife Olga and his mother. Prior to the declaration of his on March 20, 2003, Fr. Vasily’s relics were exhumed and placed in the Church of St. John Climacus in Warsaw. Then, on June 7-8, 2003, the rites of glorification of St. Vasily Martysz were celebrated in Chelm. Adapted by Sister Ioanna from: https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vasily_Martysz