Historical and religious rehabilitation of the figure of Blessed Mykola Tsehelsky in the context of the spiritual heritage of the Ternopil region

Abstract

This article examines the process of historical and religious rehabilitation of Blessed Mykola Tsehelskyi, a hieromartyr of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church who suffered for his faith during the period of Soviet repression. The study analyzes his spiritual legacy within the context of the religious life of Ternopil region (Ternopil Eparchy), and outlines the significance of restoring the memory of persecuted clergy for the formation of national identity and ecclesial self-awareness. Particular attention is devoted to local initiatives aimed at commemorating Blessed Tsehelskyi as an important element of contemporary ecclesiastical and societal discourse. Purpose of the article – to explore the life path and spiritual ministry of Blessed Mykola Tsehelskyi, as well as to shed light on the process of his persecution and posthumous rehabilitation. Scientific novelty. For the first time in Ukrainian historiography, a comprehensive reconstruction of the life of Fr. Mykolai Tsehelskyi (1896–1951) — a hieromartyr of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, a beatified figure, and a victim of Soviet totalitarian repression — has been undertaken. This study fills a significant gap in ecclesiastical historical scholarship concerning the spiritual biography of Fr. Tsehelskyi. Previously inaccessible materials from his archival-investigative file, housed in the holdings of the HDA SBU (State Archive of the Security Service of Ukraine), are analyzed here for the first time in academic circulation. The research reveals the circumstances of his arrest, the course of interrogations, imprisonment, and his martyrdom. Particular attention is devoted to his pastoral, educational, and civic activities within the context of political and ideological pressure exerted by the Soviet regime. The article also proposes a new interpretation of Fr. Mykolai as a symbol of the enduring spiritual identity of the Greek-Catholic community in the Ternopil region. Research methods. The analysis of archival sources (criminal case files, testimonies of contemporaries, and documents from Soviet security services) made it possible to systematize and clarify biographical information about Fr. Tsehelskyi. The historical-biographical method contributed to reconstructing his spiritual journey, while the historical-systemic method enabled an assessment of Tsehelskyi’s role in the religious life of Ternopil region and his fidelity to the UGCC under conditions of repression. Conclusions. Based on an in-depth analysis of the criminal case of Fr. Mykola Tsehelskyi from Fond 6 of the State Archive of the Security Service of Ukraine (Kyiv), it is affirmed that his life path reflects the biography of a true martyr for the Christian faith and for the Ukrainian people. The key stages of Blessed Mykola Tsehelskyi’s life have been identified, the mechanisms of Soviet repression against Greek Catholic clergy have been revealed, and the significance of his martyrdom for the history of Ukrainian Christianity has been confirmed.