Online Meeting of Basilian Monks Dedicated to Metropolitan Joseph Veliamin Rutsky

On Thursday, January 15, 2026, the first online meeting of monks of the Order of Saint Basil the Great of Saint Josaphat was held. The gathering was devoted to reflecting on the virtuous lives of Basilian confreres whose witness continues to inspire the Order today. Monks from eight countries took part in the meeting, which was moderated by Fr. Illya Bronovskyi, OSBM, a General Councillor of the Order.

The meeting opened with welcoming remarks by the Superior General, Fr. Robert Lisseiko, OSBM. He recalled the origins of this initiative for regular online encounters, rooted in a resolution of the General Chapter that calls the Order to rediscover and deepen its knowledge of monks remembered for their righteous and exemplary lives. The Superior General emphasized that holiness is not synonymous with perfection; rather, it is a faithful and worthy way of life lived in service to God and neighbor — one that becomes a source of encouragement and inspiration for others in religious life.

Fr. Polykarp Martselyuk, OSBM, head of the Mission Postulation Center for Beatification and Canonization of Saints, then offered an overview of the Catholic Church’s process for recognizing holiness. He also shared insights drawn from his experience of studying the lives and ministry of Basilian monks who were renowned for their holiness during the underground period of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Fr. Polycarp highlighted the vital importance of gathering testimonies — whether by individuals or by church communities — about a person’s holy life, noting that such witness is essential for initiating a beatification process that presents the heroic practice of virtue. In this context, he spoke of the “bloodless martyrdom” of monks: a quiet yet profound witness expressed through a virtuous life and faithful perseverance in monastic vows, even amid persecution.

The main presentation was given by Fr. Lazar Hromadskyi, OSBM, a lecturer in ecclesiology at the Basilian Institute of Philosophical and Theological Studies in Briukhovychi. He offered a rich and thoughtful reflection on the marks of holiness in the life of Joseph Veliamin Rutsky, focusing on three key aspects.

First, Fr. Lazar presented Metropolitan Rutsky — co-founder of the Order of Saint Basil the Great — as a tireless champion of holiness within the Union (Greek Catholic) Church. Second, he reflected on Rutsky’s vocation in the Church, marked by profound obedience and unwavering fidelity, virtues evident throughout the many stages of his life. He recalled the historical circumstances that seriously threatened the very existence of the Union Church and showed how Metropolitan Rutsky devoted himself tirelessly to preserving and strengthening it. These efforts bore lasting fruit, supported by the Successor of the Apostle Peter and by many courageous collaborators.

The third dimension of Rutsky’s holiness, Fr. Lazar explained, was his constant exposure to the danger of death — a form of psychological martyrdom. This included dramatic and well-documented attempts on his life, particularly in Lviv and Kyiv, which he endured with faith and perseverance.

In concluding his presentation, Fr. Lazar — drawing on examples from Metropolitan Rutsky’s life and parallels from the history of the universal Church — emphasized the urgent need to study and promote his life and legacy. He suggested that the time is ripe to consider initiating the beatification process of Metropolitan Joseph Veliamin Rutsky. Such an effort, he noted, should be a priority for the entire Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and is also significant for other Eastern Catholic Churches, which owe much to Metropolitan Rutsky’s role in strengthening the Union of Brest and in defending the unique identity of the Byzantine-rite Catholic Church.