After two decades of peace, Europe erupted back into war again in 1939, with Poland being right on the front lines. Germany easily conquered Poland, but an agreement with the Soviet Union gave the Greek Catholic-dominated eastern Galician territory back to the Soviets. The Soviet Union generally had a non-favorable attitude toward the Ukrainian Catholic Church, publishing a number of articles that accused clergy of working with the Polish government. At the same time, many Church properties were seized or heavily taxed, and the region was secularized, with religious organizations dissolved and religious publications ceasing to exist. These restrictions, however, soon came to an end, as Germany took over and annexed Galicia in June 1941. In comparison to the Soviets, the Germans allowed freer worship measures from the Ukrainian Catholic Church, whose help they sought in encouraging citizens to support the Nazi cause. The Germans paid a small monthly sum to clergy, allowed religion to once again be taught in schools and permitted the reopening of seminaries.
While Greek Catholics had more freedom under the Nazi occupation, they also were challenged with the task of how to confront the Nazi-perpetuated genocide occurring all around them. Sheptysky took particular offense to the actions of the new rulers, sending a letter to Nazi leader Heinrich Himmler denouncing the Nazis’ treatment of Jews and issuing a similarly-themed pastoral letter entitled “Thou Shalt Not Kill” in November 1942. Sheptysky followed up on his criticisms by personally taking on the role of providing refuge to Jewish citizens seeking to escape Nazi occupation. One testimonial from the era mentioned that Sheptysky created false baptismal certificates for approximately 200 Jewish children, who were then given shelter in monasteries, convents and even Sheptysky’s residence itself. Resistance against unjust Nazi treatment represented one of the final major accomplishments for the metropolitan, who passed away on November 1, 1944, at the age of 79.
While Greek Catholics had more freedom under the Nazi occupation, they also were challenged with the task of how to confront the Nazi-perpetuated genocide occurring all around them. Sheptysky took particular offense to the actions of the new rulers, sending a letter to Nazi leader Heinrich Himmler denouncing the Nazis’ treatment of Jews and issuing a similarly-themed pastoral letter entitled “Thou Shalt Not Kill” in November 1942. Sheptysky followed up on his criticisms by personally taking on the role of providing refuge to Jewish citizens seeking to escape Nazi occupation. One testimonial from the era mentioned that Sheptysky created false baptismal certificates for approximately 200 Jewish children, who were then given shelter in monasteries, convents and even Sheptysky’s residence itself. Resistance against unjust Nazi treatment represented one of the final major accomplishments for the metropolitan, who passed away on November 1, 1944, at the age of 79.