Ukranian Greek Catholic Church
CV NEWS FEED // Two priests from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) have been released from Russian captivity after almost two years of being kidnapped and tortured by Russian forces.
The UGCC announced that Fathers Ivan Levitsky and Bohfan Geleta were released from Russian detention on June 28, 2024, nearly two years after their arrest on November 16, 2022.
Prior to their release, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, had said that the UGCC had received “extremely alarming signals” that the two priests were being regularly tortured while in Russian captivity.
According to the UGCC, information about the priests had been unavailable “for some time” during their captivity and that it was not until May that His Beatitude Sviatoslav received news that they were both alive and that their potential release was imminent.
“His Beatitude Sviatoslav expressed his deep gratitude to the Apostolic See for the rescue of the UGCC priests,” the UGCC stated, noting that he also “conveyed special thanks to Pope Francis, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the entire Vatican diplomatic corps,” for their role in facilitating the release.
The UGCC also recognised Cardinal Matteo Zuppu and Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas for having “contributed invaluably to making [the release] a reality.”
The Germany based International Charitable organisation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) also released a statement conveying its “immense gratitude” following the Ukrainian priests’ release. The religious freedom non-profit organisation noted that the two clergy had been falsely accused of illegal weapons possession.
Both priests had been members of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, and were among ten prisoners released by Russia in a prisoner exchange according to a Vatican News report.
