Thursday, March 28, AD 2024 2:24pm

Saint of the Day Quote: Martyrs of Podlasie

United Christians from Podlasie on 24 January 1874 an extraordinary event took place in Pratulin. The soldiers came to the village to transfer the local church to the Orthodox Church. The believers said “good bye” to their families and friends and took new clothes for, as they said, they were going to fight for the holy things. 
In the beginning the officer tried to make the people go away, but they did not agree. Then he promised some “graces of the tsar” for joining the Orthodox Church, but they did not agree either; then he started to threaten the people with many kinds of punishments, but they remained on their position around the church. The officer understood that in this way he would be not able to do anything, so he ordered his men to prepare the guns. The people knelt down waiting for the death and started to sing the religious hymns. They did not say any wrong words to the soldiers; among themselves they were saying: “it is sweet to die for the faith”. The order was given and the soldiers fired. 
In this way on 24 January 1874 in Pratulin 13 persons gave their lives for the Unity of the Church. They were: 
Wincenty Lewoniuk from the village Woroblin, 25 years old, married; he was very pious. The opinion was that he a very good person; he was killed first, just in the beginning. Daniel Karmasz from the village Legi, 48 years old, married; during the fight he had the cross in his hand. This cross is still in the church in Pratulin. Lukasz Bojko from the village Legi, 22 years old, not married; it was said that he was very pious, he was respected by the people; during the fight he rang the church bell. Konstanty Bojko from the village Zaczopki, 49 years old, married; he was a farmer, he was regarded as a righteous man. Konstanty Lukaszuk from the village Zaczopki, 45 years old, married; he was respected by people, he was wounded during the fight and died next day. He left his wife and seven children. Bartłomiej Osypiuk from the village Bohukały, 30 years old, married, with two children; he was wounded, they transported him home, but he died. He was very pious and honest; before death he prayed for the persecutors. Anicet Hryciuk from the village Zaczopki, 19 years old, not married; he was very close to the Church. Going to the defense of the parish church he said: “perhaps I will be worthy to be killed for the faith?” Filip Geryluk from the village Zaczopki, 44 years old, married; the opinion was that he was a good father of his family. He encouraged the others to stay by the church; he was killed. Ignacy Franczuk from the village Derlo, 50 years old, married. He was father of seven children; the name of his wife was Helena. He educated his children in the spirit of the faith, going to the defense of the church he said “good by” to his family; he was prepared not to come back home. After the death of Daniel he took the cross and encouraged the people to defend the parish church. Jan Andrzejuk from the village Derlo, 26 years old, married; the name of his wife was Marina. They had two children; he was a chanter in the parish church. He was wounded, then transported home, but he quickly died. Maksym Hawryluk from the village Derlo, 34 years old, married; the name of his wife was Dominika. He was wounded and died the next day. Onufry Wasyluk from the village Zaczopki, 21 years old, married; he was known as very good Catholic. Michal Wawryszuk from the village Derlo, 21 years old, not married; he worked on the farm of Mr. Pawel Pikula. He was wounded and died the next day. 
So Wincenty Lewoniuk and his 12 Companions were men ranging in age from 19 to 50 years. They were ordinary people; we do not have much information about their lives. We possess some relation about them from their contemporaries. The general opinion was: they were persons of a deep and strong faith. 
The defense of the parish church is not to be regarded as an accidental event, as effect of an enthusiasm which lasts for a short time; there was no intention to become a hero at any price. The courageous defense of the church was the fruit of mature and deep faith. Those people understood very well the sense of giving their lives for Jesus Christ: to give one’s life away, is to have it in fullness. The Martyrs of Pratulin were buried by the Russian soldiers without any respect; their families were not allowed to take part in the burial. Their bodies were put into earth and the persecutors wanted the martyrs to be forgotten. But the people living in Pratulin did not forget about their martyrs; they kept in memory the place in which they were buried, even if there was no tomb. After the liberation of Poland at 1918 the remains of their bodies were taken to the parish church. 
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BPS
BPS
Monday, January 24, AD 2022 8:01am

Martyrs of Podlasie, pray for us!

Dale Price
Dale Price
Monday, January 24, AD 2022 11:58am

Saints truly–memory eternal.

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