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Martyrs

Blessed Sr. Tarsykia (Olga) Matskiw (1919-1944),
U k r a i n e
July 17, 1944

“Our life is a constant battle between crosses, and only under these crosses do heroic and noble souls blossom.”

Olga was born at Chorodje, a village in the Lwow province of the Ukraine. She was the eldest child of Maria and Roman Matskiw, who belonged to the upper middle class. Her father held a responsible position with the railway and her mother took care of the household.

Against the will of her mother, Olga entered the Greek-Catholic convent of the Serving Sisters in Krystynopil, taking on the name “Tarsykia.” From the very beginning she revealed herself as a good, humble and hard-working person. Being a nun she never forgot the ones who were close to her: praying for them, and writing them letters in which she assured them of her love and respect. Sr. Tarsykia worked as a handicrafts teacher, did house work, taught catechism to children, served the poor and hungry in word and deed – as poverty grew greater every day, the longer the war lasted.

The news about the persecution of Catholics (the Bolshewiks dispersed entire congregations of nuns and monks and sent priests to Siberia) reached also Krystynopil. Despite the imminent danger Sr. Tarsykia decided together with 5 other nuns to remain in the convent basement which was prepared as a shelter in case of bomb attacks.

On July 17, 1944 the Bolshewiks reached Krystynopil. On that day the nuns expected the visit of a priest. When the door bell rang, Sr. Tarsykia went to open it because she was concierge that day. A shot was fired and Sr. Tarsykia died at once. The soldier who had shot the 25-year old nun, replied to the sister who asked for a reason: “Because she was a nun.” The confessor, Fr. Wolomir Kowaly, declared that Sr. Tarsykia died in grace and that she had sacrificed her life for the conversion of Russia.

Sr. Tarsykia Matskiw was beatified by John Paul II. on June 27, 2001 during his visit to Lwow.