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New Martyr

Basil Kłoczko

An Orthodox believer of Szpaki in Podlasie, killed in 1946 together with other villagers.

Reposed
194620th century
Place
Szpaki
Order
Martyrs

Life

Holy New Martyr Basil Kłoczko was an Orthodox believer of the village of Szpaki in Podlasie, Poland, killed in 1946.

On the evening of 1 February 1946 a detachment of the National Military Union (NZW) under Romuald Rajs, known as "Bury", set fire to the village of Szpaki in Podlasie. Five people died there: two men named John Szeszko (aged 21 and 45), Paul Filipczuk (47), Dionysius Szeszko (50) and Basil Kłoczko (58). Maria Pietruczuk and Anthony Szeszko died later in hospital of their wounds.

He was fifty-⁠eight years old when he was killed.

The Council of Bishops of the Polish Church counted the victims of Szpaki among the Podlasie martyrs on 17 March 2020, and the solemn proclamation took place on 25 July 2020 at Zaleszany. They are remembered on the last Saturday of July, and locally on 2 February at the church of Saint Symeon the Stylite in Brańsk.