New Martyr
John Szeszko
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 John Szeszko 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.
Two men of this name were killed at Szpaki, one aged 21 and the other 45.
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.