Józef Bilczewski
Encyclopedia
St. Jozef Bilczewski(1860–1923) was a Catholic archbishop
of the city of Lviv, Ukraine
, a professor of theology at the Lviv University
and a rector
of that school. Since 2005 he is venerated by the Roman Catholic Church
as a saint
.
, Bielsko County
, part of the Austrian province of Galicia
. In 1880 he graduated from a local gymnasium
in Wadowice
and joined the theological seminary in nearby Kraków
. After receiving PhD from Theological Faculty of the Jagiellonian University
, on July 6, 1884 he became a priest and was ordained by Cardinal Archbishop of Kraków Albin Dunajewski. In less than 2 years Bilczewski received doctorate
from theology and started his studies on dogmatics and Christian archaeology in Rome
and Vienna and then in Paris
. In 1890 he passed his habilitation
at the Jagiellonian University and the following year he became a professor of dogmatics at the Lviv University
(Lemberg in German). His university career progressed at a very fast pace as in 1893 he became a common professor and in 1896 he became a deacon
of the Theological Faculty. In 1900 he was elected the rector
of that university, but gave up the post later that year as he was ordained the archbishop
of Lviv with the approval of emperor Francis-Joseph.
A supporter of organic work
, Bilczewski started an extensive work on construction of new churches in the area. He initiated the construction of more than 330 churches in the arch-diocese of Lviv alone, including the monumental Saint Elizabeth Church in Lviv
. He also organized courses for the priests wanting to be prepared for social work among the poor and financed several Catholic societies. His support for the students, as well as People's Schools gained him much popularity in his diocese, not only among the Catholics, but also among other denominations. During the World War I
he was one of the people to create committees of relief for the workers of Galicia, severely touched by the war and shortages of food. During the Polish-Ukrainian War
of 1918 and the Siege of Lviv, he was responsible for organization of food convoys for the besieged city. His help for the poor and the homeless was awarded by the homeless themselves with the title of honorary patron of louts in 1917. He died March 20, 1923 in Lviv
and was buried at the Yaniv Cemetery.
In 2001 he was beatified
by Pope John Paul II during his trip to Bilczewski's hometown, after World War II
called L'viv. On October 23, 2005 he was canonized
by Benedict XVI
in Rome
.
Bilczewski was an honorary member of K.D.St. V. Frankonia Czernowitz Erlangen, a Catholic student fraternity that belongs to the Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen
.
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the city of Lviv, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, a professor of theology at the Lviv University
Lviv University
The Lviv University or officially the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv is the oldest continuously operating university in Ukraine...
and a rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of that school. Since 2005 he is venerated by the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
as a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
.
Biography
Jozef Bilczewski was born in WilamowiceWilamowice
Wilamowice is a small town in southern Poland, situated in the Bielsko County, Silesian Voivodeship . The endangered language of Wymysorys is spoken here by about 70 native speakers, the majority of them elderly...
, Bielsko County
Bielsko County
Bielsko County is a unit of territorial administration and local government in Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. It came into being on January 1, 1999, as a result of the Polish local government reforms passed in 1998. Its administrative seat is the city of Bielsko-Biała, although the city...
, part of the Austrian province of Galicia
Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria
The Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria was a crownland of the Habsburg Monarchy, the Austrian Empire, and Austria–Hungary from 1772 to 1918 .This historical region in eastern Central Europe is currently divided between Poland and Ukraine...
. In 1880 he graduated from a local gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Wadowice
Wadowice
Wadowice is a town in southern Poland, 50 km from Kraków with 19,200 inhabitants , situated on the Skawa river, confluence of Vistula, in the eastern part of Silesian Plateau...
and joined the theological seminary in nearby Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
. After receiving PhD from Theological Faculty of the Jagiellonian University
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
, on July 6, 1884 he became a priest and was ordained by Cardinal Archbishop of Kraków Albin Dunajewski. In less than 2 years Bilczewski received doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
from theology and started his studies on dogmatics and Christian archaeology in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and Vienna and then in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In 1890 he passed his habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
at the Jagiellonian University and the following year he became a professor of dogmatics at the Lviv University
Lviv University
The Lviv University or officially the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv is the oldest continuously operating university in Ukraine...
(Lemberg in German). His university career progressed at a very fast pace as in 1893 he became a common professor and in 1896 he became a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
of the Theological Faculty. In 1900 he was elected the rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of that university, but gave up the post later that year as he was ordained the archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Lviv with the approval of emperor Francis-Joseph.
A supporter of organic work
Organic work
Organic work is a term coined by 19th century Polish positivists, denoting an ideology demanding that the vital powers of the nation be spent on labour rather than fruitless national uprisings. The basic principles of the organic work included education of the masses and increase of the economical...
, Bilczewski started an extensive work on construction of new churches in the area. He initiated the construction of more than 330 churches in the arch-diocese of Lviv alone, including the monumental Saint Elizabeth Church in Lviv
Church of St. Olha and Elizabeth, Lviv
The Church of St. Olha and Elizabeth in Lviv, Ukraine is located between the city's main rail station and the Old Town. It was originally built as the Roman Catholic Church of St. Elizabeth and today serves as the Greek Catholic Church of Sts...
. He also organized courses for the priests wanting to be prepared for social work among the poor and financed several Catholic societies. His support for the students, as well as People's Schools gained him much popularity in his diocese, not only among the Catholics, but also among other denominations. During the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was one of the people to create committees of relief for the workers of Galicia, severely touched by the war and shortages of food. During the Polish-Ukrainian War
Polish-Ukrainian War
The Polish–Ukrainian War of 1918 and 1919 was a conflict between the forces of the Second Polish Republic and West Ukrainian People's Republic for the control over Eastern Galicia after the dissolution of Austria-Hungary.-Background:...
of 1918 and the Siege of Lviv, he was responsible for organization of food convoys for the besieged city. His help for the poor and the homeless was awarded by the homeless themselves with the title of honorary patron of louts in 1917. He died March 20, 1923 in Lviv
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
and was buried at the Yaniv Cemetery.
In 2001 he was beatified
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by Pope John Paul II during his trip to Bilczewski's hometown, after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
called L'viv. On October 23, 2005 he was canonized
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
by Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
Bilczewski was an honorary member of K.D.St. V. Frankonia Czernowitz Erlangen, a Catholic student fraternity that belongs to the Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen
Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen
The Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen or Cartellverband is a German umbrella organization of Catholic male student fraternities .-Foundation:...
.
