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The Spiritual Father of Halychyna Is No Longer With Us Archbishop Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky is revered by Ukrainians around the world as a champion of Ukrainian human rights during decades o f war and foreign occupation. When he passed away in 1944, Ukraine suffered the loss of an irreplaceable spiritual leader, a patron of the arts and education, and a guid ing light in a world often darkened by hatred and oppression. Soon after his death, an article celebrating the life o f this remarkable leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Church was published in Our Life. Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky, Father and Patriarch of the Ukrainian people, passed away on November 1, 1944 in Ukraine, at the age of 79. He will be remembered as one of the greatest men in the history of Ukraine. His life and his love for the people he served show us the power of faith in time of suffering. There is no need to say much about his great deeds for these are well known. They were deeds etched in the soul of all Ukrainian people regardless of religious or political affiliation. Metropolitan Sheptytsky excluded no one from his protective care. For those Ukrainian women who chose to be educators or educated, the Metropolitan was a benevolent and progressive guardian of knowledge and understanding. The first women’s gymnasium in Halychyna, adminis tered by the Basilian Sisters in Lviv, was envisioned and created by the Metropolitan. While dealing with critical issues and time-consuming assignments, he found time to visit our gymnasium several times a year. Every year Metropolitan Sheptytsky was present for the Matura, (the final examination), listening for several hours a day or even a week as anxious students responded to their teachers' questions. He encouraged young women to get an education and to work for the church and the nation. He also encouraged young women to go to universities. He painted vivid verbal portraits for these young women of beautiful duties that awaited them, emphasizing that a woman's place was not only in the home but in work that would help an enslaved nation to be free. He told them, "You can’t lock yourself at home and be concerned only with the family matters." Ukrainian women’s organizations, whether they represented rural women or laborers or educated women, found backing and blessing from the Metropolitan. He was especially supportive of the leaders of Soyuz Ukrainok in Lviv, frequently asking for their opinions on many issues. In 1933, when the great assembly of Soyuz Ukrainok members from various Ukrainian regions was held in Stanyslaviv, it was approved and blessed by the Metropolitan. In 1938, Polish authorities dissolved Soyuz Ukrainok in Halychyna and in Volyn. Soyuz Ukrainok leaders formed a women’s political party—Druzhyny Kniahyni Olhy—and rallied to save for Ukrainian women the right to organize. Many voices were raised against the decision these women had made, arguing that forming a political party was a bad choice that would only exacerbate a bad situation. Among supporters of the deci sion was Metropolitan Andrei, who understood that the move, although dangerous, was courageous and im portant. The political party they formed would help women to remain active and achieve success. As a sign of his respect for the women who had taken this bold step, the Archbishop Metropolitan wrote a significant let ter: To our political Ukrainian women’s organization: Greetings from my heart to the newly formed women’s organization. Wishing you success in your work for the church and its people. Let God help you unite those that are not united and convince the unbelievers. Let God bless your work. — Andrei, Metropolitan. We share our grief with our brothers and sisters in the land of our forefathers. 18 НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ЛИСТОПАД 2004 Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
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