The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine Has Returned a Historical Old Printed Book with Metropolitan Sheptytskyi’s Autograph

The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine continues to return to our Motherland the cultural property that was stolen and exported both in the years of World War II, and during the full-scale war unleashed by russia against Ukraine.

The officers of the Service have found and returned to Ukraine a rare old printed book – the “Trebnyk” prayer book of 1844 with marginalia (autograph) of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyi – a prominent religious and public figure of the 20th century, the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

On one of the margins of the book there is an inscription: “Offered during the canonical visitation of 1902, the day 10 of May in the village of Kosteniv”. Signed: Andrey Sheptytskyi. The inscription testifies that the book was used during the canonical visitation in the village of Kosteniv in Lviv region, which was headed by the Metropolitan himself.

According to the local community, the “Trebnyk” was lost during World War II, when the church was looted and part of the church archive was destroyed or dispersed. The fate of the old printed book with A. Sheptytskyi’s marginalia remained unknown for a long time.

The forces and means of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine conducted a long-term multi-stage operation to return the exceptional historical and religious treasure to our country. The old book has now been handed over to the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine.

The return of the copy with Metropolitan Sheptytskyi’s marginalia restores one of the fragments of the country’s lost spiritual heritage. The “Trebnyk” is not only a keepsake of printing and liturgical art, but also a testament to Sheptytskyi’s personal presence in the life of a particular parish.

The Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine’s work aimed at returning our cultural property will continue.