Home » News » Ukrainian Greek Catholic Priests Released from Russian Captivity

Ukrainian Greek Catholic Priests Released from Russian Captivity

It is with immense gratitude that Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) informs about the release from Russian captivity of Fathers Ivan Levitsky and Bohdan Geleta, on June 28, 2024, as has been confirmed by the Information Department of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), to which they belong.

Priests Ivan Levytsky and Bohdan Geleta in Russian detention
Priests Ivan Levytsky and Bohdan Geleta in Russian detention

The priests are members of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer and were arrested in occupied Berdyansk on November 16, 2022. Despite the danger, following the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Fathers Ivan Levitsky and Bohdan Geleta chose to stay in the occupied territories, ministering to both Greek and Roman Catholic communities and providing hope under occupation.

During their captivity, Fathers Levitsky and Geleta were accused of illegal possession of weapons, charges fabricated to justify their imprisonment. Their prolonged detention was marked by a lack of concrete information about their whereabouts and wellbeing, despite reports of torture and abuse. Despite this, their faith and hope persisted.

The released priests greeted by Apostolic Nuncio Visvaldas Kulbokas
The released priests greeted by Apostolic Nuncio Visvaldas Kulbokas

The head of the UGCC, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, expressed profound gratitude to the Holy See, particularly to Pope Francis, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, and Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, for their efforts in securing the priests’ release.

Despite the joy of this news, ACN recalls that many innocent civilians remain in custody, and invites it’s friends and benefactors to continue to pray for their release, and for peace in Ukraine.

 

Don't miss the latest updates!

Pope thanks children who prayed for peace in ACN campaign

This was the 20th edition of ACN’s One Million Children…

Gaza: First step towards peace after 733 days of war

While indirect talks are taking place in Egypt between Israeli…

Rome to host official launch of Religious Freedom Report 2025

Religious and public leaders will be gathering on October 21…

Papal envoy carries solidarity to the Christians of war-torn Sudan

Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan, Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan, has…

In the east of Burkina Faso, still many problems as term starts

While the security situation in Burkina Faso has improved slightly,…

From Angola to Vietnam, enthusiasm with “One million children praying the Rosary” campaign

ACN’s yearly campaign, added to the Holy Father’s appeal to…

Church clings to life amid chaos in Gaza

Aid to the Church in Need echoes Pope Leo XIV’s…

List of News

Pope thanks children who prayed for peace in ACN campaign

This was the 20th edition of ACN’s One Million Children Praying the Rosary campaign. Pope Leo XIV kept up the tradition of his predecessor, Pope Francis, by promoting the One...

Gaza: First step towards peace after 733 days of war

While indirect talks are taking place in Egypt between Israeli envoys and Hamas, the hope for a beginning of peace is cautiously laying roots in the diocese of the Holy...

Fr Hugo Alaniz recounts a night of explosions and fear in Aleppo: “People are very afraid, we don’t know what is going to happen”

In the midst of a new wave of fighting, the Argentine priest describes hours of anguish in Aleppo. His parish has once again become a refuge for dozens of families....