Andriy Sheptytsky - Metropolitan of Galicia, Archbishop of Lviv, Bishop of Kamenets
After the death of Metropolitan Julian Sas-Kuilovsky, Andrei Sheptytsky became the Galician metropolitan. His enthronement took place on January 12, 1901 in the Cathedral of St. George in Lviv.
Position demanded an active social activity: he was a deputy of the Galician regional Diet and the Austrian Senate, led the delegation to Franz Joseph I, demanded equal rights for Ukrainian Galicia, reformed theological education, supported Ukrainian private schools and cultural and educational societies, art. In 1914, on the initiative of Sheptytsky, a Ukrainian university was established in Lviv.
During his ministry he greatly expanded the Greek Catholic Church both in Ukraine and abroad. He generously sponsored Ukrainian cultural and educational societies, gave scholarships to young artists.
During the First World War for the adherence of the Habsburg monarchy, Sheptytsky was arrested, was in exile in Novgorod, Kursk, Suzdal and Yaroslavl, where he continued his ecumenical activities. In 1925, Andrei Sheptytsky was elected a full member of the Shevchenko Scientific Society.
He happily welcomed the Act of Restoration of Ukrainian Statehood on June 30, 1941, pinning hopes on the Germans and even wrote a letter to Hitler. But after seeing the essence of the Nazi policy, Sheptytsky actively spoke out against the terror of the German occupying power, and protested against the extermination of the Jews. He himself was saved by more than 150 Jews, among whom was Rabbi of Lviv David Kahane with his wife and daughter.
Position demanded an active social activity: he was a deputy of the Galician regional Diet and the Austrian Senate, led the delegation to Franz Joseph I, demanded equal rights for Ukrainian Galicia, reformed theological education, supported Ukrainian private schools and cultural and educational societies, art. In 1914, on the initiative of Sheptytsky, a Ukrainian university was established in Lviv.
Photo © gazeta.ua
During his ministry he greatly expanded the Greek Catholic Church both in Ukraine and abroad. He generously sponsored Ukrainian cultural and educational societies, gave scholarships to young artists.
During the First World War for the adherence of the Habsburg monarchy, Sheptytsky was arrested, was in exile in Novgorod, Kursk, Suzdal and Yaroslavl, where he continued his ecumenical activities. In 1925, Andrei Sheptytsky was elected a full member of the Shevchenko Scientific Society.
He happily welcomed the Act of Restoration of Ukrainian Statehood on June 30, 1941, pinning hopes on the Germans and even wrote a letter to Hitler. But after seeing the essence of the Nazi policy, Sheptytsky actively spoke out against the terror of the German occupying power, and protested against the extermination of the Jews. He himself was saved by more than 150 Jews, among whom was Rabbi of Lviv David Kahane with his wife and daughter.
