Oleksandr (Khira)

1897-1983

The Structure

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January 17, 1897 Born in the village of Vilkhivtsi (Tiachiv district) to a priest’s family. Completed his initial schooling in his home village. Completed the Maramorosh-Syhetsk Catholic Gymnasium. 1915 Entered the Uzhhorod Seminary. 1916-1920 Sent to study at the Budapest Catholic Institute, School of Theology. December 19, 1920 Ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Anton (Poppom)of the Mukachivo eparchy, 1920-1922 Chaplain of the bishop’s residence. 1922-1923 Priestly ministry in the village of Vilkhivtsi. 1923-1924 Priestly ministry in the village of Ternovo ( Tiachiv district). from 1924 Spiritual Director, Professor of Canon Law and Church History at the Uzhhorod Seminary. 1925 Led the newly formed St. Josaphat Missionary Society. 1930 Appointed papal chaplain. 1933 Given the title of advisor to the Bishop’s Consistory. 1934-1939 Rector of the Uzhhorod Seminary. 1940 Taught Moral and Pastoral Theology at the Uzhhorod Seminary. 1943 Appointed papal domestic prelate by Pope Pius XII. . 1944 Appointed Vicar General of the Mukachivo eparchy by the newly appointed bishop, Theodore (Romzha). December 19, 1944 (1945) Secretly ordained bishop by Bishop Theodore Romzha. February 10, 1949 Arrested. Brought to the Kyiv Central Prison of the USSR located on Korolenka Street. August 6, 1949 Sentenced according to statute 54-4 and 54-10 no. 2 KK USSR for anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda for up to 25 years loss of freedom with the removal of citizen’s rights for 5 years and the confiscation of his possessions. 1949-1956 Served his sentence at the Taisheta and Kemerovo camps, where he worked in construction and mining. September 1956 Released. Returned home, and secretly served the faithful. January 3, 1957 Arrested and sentenced a second time for 5 years of forced labor without the right to return to Ukraine. January 7, 1957 Worked in the mines in the city of Karaganda of the Kazakh SSR. Lived there until his death, served among the faithful in Kazakhstan, ordained priests for the Mukachivo eparchy and ordained and appointed his successor, Rev. Ivan Semedii, in 1978 during a brief visit to Transcarpathia. May 23, 1983 Died in Karaganda, Kazakh SSR. April 28, 1989 Rehabilitated after his death.