Andriy Ishchak was a Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest who lived from 1887 to 1941. Born in Mykolaiv, he pursued advanced theological studies in both Lviv and Innsbruck, eventually earning a doctorate in theology. He served his community in the village of Sykhiv and also held a teaching position at the Lviv Theological Academy, where he instructed students in Canon Law and Dogmatic Theology.
Life and death
After completing his education in Austria, Ishchak returned to the Lviv region to serve his parishioners. During the onset of war in 1941, he refused to hide from the retreating Soviet military, believing a shepherd must remain with his flock. This decision led to his arrest by soldiers. He was killed in Sykhiv on 26 June 1941, suffering fatal wounds from gunfire and a knife.
Veneration
He is recognized as a martyr for his faith. His status as a blessed figure in the Catholic tradition was officially recognized by Pope John Paul II during a ceremony in 2001. He is commemorated within both Catholic and Orthodox traditions.