Captured in November 2022 by the Russian National Guard, the priests were accused of “subversive” and “guerrilla” activities, which included allegedly possessing weapons, ammunition, and books on the history of Ukraine in their parish building.
Levitsky and Geleta, members of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists), were serving at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Berdyansk, a city on the north shore of the Sea of Azov under Russian occupation. Despite the risks, they chose to remain in Berdyansk to provide support and hope to the local communities of Roman Catholics and Greek Catholics during the occupation.
The release, confirmed by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s information department, was publicly announced on June 28 by María Lozano, press officer for ACN International. Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic major archbishop of Kyiv-Halyč, expressed profound gratitude to the Holy See, particularly Pope Francis, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, and Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, apostolic nuncio to Ukraine, for their efforts in securing the priests’ release.
While celebrating this positive development, ACN emphasized the ongoing plight of many innocent civilians still in custody and called for continued prayers for their release and for peace in Ukraine.
Pope Francis has repeatedly called for prayers for “martyred” Ukraine and has urged dialogue as a means to end the conflict. In his latest appeal on June 23, he asked the Holy Spirit to enlighten the minds of world leaders, stressing the necessity of negotiations to resolve conflicts not only in Ukraine and the Holy Land but also in other parts of the world.
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