Blessed Father Emilian Kovch, beatified by Pope John Paul II in Ukraine, is fast becoming the Eastern patron of married priests.
He had six children and yet hid many Jewish children in his barn and elsewhere on his farm property.
He baptized Jews escaping the Nazi terror, at great risk to his life. He was interrogated by the Gestapo and here I quote, from memory, a portion of the interrogation:
Gestapo: Didn’t you know it is against the law to baptize Jews?
Fr. Kovch: I didn’t know anything.
Gestapo: Do you know it now?
Fr. Kovch: Yes.
Gestapo: Will you continue to baptize Jews?
Fr. Kovch: Of course . . .
Fr. Kovch was sent to a death camp and wrote this to his wife in a letter: “My dear, do not cry or be upset. God has put me here in this place of death and terror. Yesterday, 50 men were executed. Can you imagine? I was able to be with them in their last hours to bring them the consolation of God and Christ. Do not weep, I am here in fulfillment of God’s Will!”
Fr. Kovch was gassed and burned himself later. He was beatified as a martyr by soon to be Blessed Pope John Paul II.
Fr. Kovch’s daughter is a member of my parish which has a stained glass window of Blessed Fr. Emilian Kovch. She is often seen near it, praying to her father.
As for the comment that a married priest needs all the help he can get - he DOES get it from his wife and family.
He has the kind of support a celibate priest will never have.
Alex
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