The relics of Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky, a Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishop and martyr, are located in the shrine at the Ukrainian Catholic Church of St. Joseph in Winnipeg, Canada. This church has become a significant center of pilgrimage for the faithful from all over the world.

Vasyl Velychkovsky was born on June 1, 1903, in Stanislaviv (now Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine). He was ordained as a priest in 1925 and served actively in various parishes. In 1963, during the Soviet repression of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, he was secretly ordained as a bishop. Velychkovsky was arrested and imprisoned for his faith and activities. After his release, he continued to serve, but his health had deteriorated significantly.

After his death in 1973, his body was transported to Winnipeg, where he was buried in the crypt of St. Joseph’s Church. In 2001, Pope John Paul II beatified Vasyl Velychkovsky. In 2002, his relics were solemnly transferred to St. Joseph’s Church, where they are now kept in a special sarcophagus.

St. Joseph’s Church has become a place of pilgrimage for many believers who come to pray and seek the intercession of Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky. His life and martyrdom are a testament to steadfast faith and dedication to serving God even in the most challenging times.

For more information about Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky at St. Joseph’s Church, visit  the website.