Canada’s MPs Honour Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Heroic Actions

Ottawa – Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney on April 24, 2012 introduced a motion, that was passed unanimously by Members of Parliament in the House of Commons, expressing “Canada’s recognition of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky’s courageous actions and compassion for his oppressed Jewish Ukrainian countrymen” during World War II.

Metropolitan Sheptytsky (1865-1944) of the Ukrainian Catholic Church was the leader of Western Ukraine’s largest faith group during the Second World War.  Throughout this darkest period of Europe’s history, he spoke out eloquently against anti-Jewish violence and urged his congregants in a famous homily: “Thou Shalt Not Kill”.  He rescued and provided shelter to Jews by allowing them to hide in Ukrainian monasteries, saving over 160 of his compatriots.

“Metropolitan Sheptytsky is an enduring example of commitment to fundamental human rights as humankind’s highest obligation,” said Minister Kenney.

Ted Opitz, MP for Etobicoke Centre, made the following statement in the House of Commons about Metropolitan Sheptytsky: “Mr. Speaker, … as Nazi Germany sought to exterminate Jews in their Eastern European homelands, we learned of those who chose to speak out against the slaughter and do what is righteous. Among them was Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky, the Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church who risked his life and that of his fellow clergy to shelter and rescue Jews from certain death....

“Metropolitan Sheptytsky lived as a model to the world. Let his actions serve as an example to all of us that we should never shrink away from our obligations to stand up against evil and do what is right,” Mr. Opitz commented.

In their statements, both Min. Kenney and Mr. Opitz acknowledged the leaders of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations. These groups, representing the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths, were present in Ottawa to honour Metropolitan Sheptytsky and his courageous actions to save Jews.

The Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies (MASI) at St. Paul University in Ottawa held a symposium on April 25 titled “Honouring Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky and His Legacy” to examine his ethical action in extreme conditions. The event, organized by the Ukrainian Jewish Encounter Initiative (Toronto), in cooperation with the MASI, hosted a delegation of representatives of the Jewish community along with leaders of the Ukrainian Catholic, Ukrainian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Baptist Evangelical and Adventist churches, along with the leader of the Ukrainian Islamic community.

“I am very proud that Christians, Jews and Muslims have come together to honour Metropolitan Sheptytsky,” stated James Temerty C.M., UJE Chairman. “We are encouraged by The Vatican’s consideration of his beatification and urge Israel’s Yad Vashem to recognize him as one of the Righteous among Nations. In the words of one Holocaust survivor, the Metropolitan was a “spiritual giant”. We are privileged to honour and draw moral inspiration from his legacy.”

PHOTOS

1 - L. to R.: Minister Jason Kenney, Sheikh Ahmad Tamim, Bishop Markiyan Trofimyak, Metropolitan Mefodiy, Archbishop Sviatoslav, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Patriarch Filaret, Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich, Berel Rodal, James Temerty, Vyacheslav Nesteruk

2 - L. to R.: Holocaust survivor Leon Chameides, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and UCC National President Paul Grod