2007 3(26) - UCWLC

had to be personally authorizedby the Metropolitan withan official document.On Monday, September16, 2002 the team gathered atAll Saints Cemetery at 8:00am. It was a crisp, clear morningwith a hint of a morningmist. We began with prayerled by the Metropolitan. Theneveryone, individually, tookan oath to fulfil their office tothe best of their ability. Beforeany exhumation could takeplace, two witnesses—anoriginal pallbearer and a relative—confirmedthat this wasthe spot where Blessed Vasylwas buried. Once establishedand confirmed, at the commandof the Metropolitan, theexhumation began.It took several hours; the faithfulsang a Moleben in BlessedVasyl’s honour and also theAcafist Hymn composed toBlessed Vasyl. After the coffinwas extracted from the grave, itwas placed in a hearse fromCropo’s Funeral Home and in asolemn motor procession all proceededto St. Boniface GeneralHospital, where a room was readyfor the next stage of the process.With great reverence the coffinwas brought into the examinationroom. The long awaited andanticipated moment came—theuncovering of the coffin. Inpreparation the Acafist Hymn wasprayed. As the lid was removed,all those present in the room reverencedthemselves in awe andwonder. Although the coffin itselfwas badly damaged by water andcorruption, the body of BlessedVasyl was fully intact. His facewas covered by the chalice veilthat was placed on it during thefuneral. When it was removed hisface radiated its holiness. Hishands were of flesh colour, hold-Bishop Velychkovsky Martyr’s Shrineing the hand cross, with the episcopalring on his finger. Everyone,including the doctors, wasamazed at the state of the body,which had been in the grave foralmost thirty years. It was fullyintact with all its muscle mass.Although the body was stiffthrough rigor mortis, the armswere pliable and movable. Wewere all filled with awe.With great reverence and carethe vestments were removed fromthe body to allow complete examination.The episcopal vestments,like the coffin, were inpoor shape and fell apart shortlyafter they were removed. Hiswhole body was then washed,cleaned and examined. Since thevery ends of the toes had alreadyfallen off, they were carefullycleaned and preserved to be usedas 1st Class relics and eventuallydistributed to various churches forthe veneration by the faithful.The next day the process continued.His holy body waswrapped with cloth and a preservativecompound in accordancewith Vatican prescriptions.Then it was vested again innew episcopal robes, apanagia and cross, a handcross and episcopal ring anda veil was again placed overhis face. The holy body wasplaced into the newly madestainless steel container,along with official documentssealed in a tube. Thecontainer was welded shut,tied with a silk ribbon andsealed using melted red waxand the episcopal seal ofMetropolitan Lawrence.Although the whole processwas emotionally draining,it was very fulfilling and lifegiving.It can best be describedas having experiencedEaster. After onespends hours in prayer mediatingon the suffering and passion ofChrist and, then, on Easter morningjoyfully sings Easter Matinsand Liturgy proclaiming the greatNews that He is Risen, one experiencesa fullness of life, whichis only a small foretaste of eternityin the presence of the Almighty.A similar experience followedthose days. There was aprofound peace and joy. Therewas a great desire for silence—tobe simply in the presence of theHoly. This sacred presence wasexperienced throughout the weekas people came to venerate therelics, first at the residence of theSister Servants, then at Sts. Vladimirand Olga Cathedral and finallyat St. Joseph’s Church.This same presence now envelopsthe shrine-chapel wherehis Holy Relics are permanentlydisplayed for the veneration of allpilgrims.Rev. John Sianchuk, C.Ss.R. is theProvincial of the Yorkton Provinceof Redemptorists and is theDirector of the Bishop VelychkovskyMartyr’s Shrine. He lives in Winnipeg.Nasha Doroha fall/2007 17