New Martyr
Alexander Zielinko
An Orthodox believer of Zaleszany in Podlasie, killed in 1946 together with other villagers.
- Reposed
- 194620th century
- Place
- Zaleszany
- Order
- Martyrs
Life
Holy New Martyr Alexander Zielinko was an Orthodox believer of the village of Zaleszany in Podlasie, Poland, killed in 1946.
On 29 January 1946 a detachment of the National Military Union (NZW) under Romuald Rajs, known as "Bury", entered the Orthodox village of Zaleszany in Podlasie. The villagers were called to a house and the buildings were then set on fire; sixteen people died, fourteen of them burned alive, among them seven children.
He came from the village of Suchowolce and was called out of the house where the villagers were gathered and shot, together with the young Peter Demianiuk. Some historical studies call him an activist of the communist party; the canonization caused discussion in the press.
The Council of Bishops of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church counted him among the 79 Podlasie martyrs proclaimed on 25 July 2020 at the monastery of Saint Catherine in Zaleszany. They are remembered on the last Saturday of July, the day of the Zaleszany Icon of the Mother of God.