www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Patriarch Josyf Slipyj (urgent request)

Does anyone know if there exists a picture of both the late Patriarch Josyf Slipy of the UGCC and the American president John F. Kennedy ?

Who in the United States could be considered an expert on the matter of JFK's assistance with the release of Patriarch Josyf from a Soviet hard labour camp ? (please provide details on how to reach this person)

Where can specific information be found relating to the negotiations between JFK, the Holy Father, Mr Cousins, and the Soviets with the above ?

Please respond a.s.a.p. You can also send the information to this e-mail address:

polyfilman@yahoo.com

Thanks for your assistance.

I.F.

The best source on the involvement of President Kennedy and Norman Cousins in seeking the release of then-Metropolitan Joseph from Soviet imprisonment is the book of Cousins: "The Improbable Triumvirate".

I cannot be certain, but it seems highly unlikely that any photograph showing Patriarch Joseph and President Kennedy together exists; I'm not aware of any occasion when they would have met. Still, it's possible. Jaroslav Pelikan (who can probably be reached at Saint Vladimir's Seminary) would be likely to know.

Incognitus

Or you can reach Professor Pelikan @ Yale University:


Jaroslav Pelikan [yale.edu]

e-mail address is at bottom of page

Without holding out much hope, here's a possible avenue to explore: between the time of Patriarch Joseph's (forgive the proleptic title) arrival in Rome and the time of President Kennedy's assassination, did President Kennedy visit Rome? It's not impossible that he did (he may, for instance, have come to Rome for the funeral of Pope John XXIII). Check the biographies of JFK. If he was in Rome at all during those months, it is conceivable that he and Patriarch Joseph met - Patriarch Joseph would have wanted to thank him - and that a photograph was taken to mark the occasion.

Incognitus

J-F,

you could always try the JFK Library. I'd imagine they have thousands of pictures in their archives.

JFK Library [jfklibrary.org]

Jean, I have seen photos with Patriarch Josyp and Norman Cousins, Patriarch Josyp and John XXIII, John XXIII with both Cousins and JFK, but never one with JFK and Patriarch Josyp. I doubt such a thing exists.

Actually the person I would recommend talking to is Fr. Boris Gudziak, an historian par excellence of Ukrainian Greek Catholics. His archives are amazing, and if it exists he would likely know of its location.

Here's a quite practical alternative: have an icon painted of John XXIII (in Byzantine hierarchal vestments, which he wore as pope at least once - for the consecration of Acacius Coussa), showing Blessed John XXIII with Patriarch Joseph to his right and President Kennedy to his left.

Incognitus

Dear Incognitus,

It's an excellent idea - but alas I have only a few days left to put together this project. You know this would be a great suggestion as an icon for the new Patriarchal Cathedral in Kiev.

I.F.

We have come to this conclusion ourselves. The Patriarch was released in January 1963 and sequestered in an Italian monestary so that he could be prepared for the Second Vatican Council which began in October of that same year. JFK was killed several weeks later. The two never met.

I.F.

Dear Deacon John,

Their archives photo specialist has indicated that there is no record of the two together.

Thank you,

I.F.

Dear Deacon John,

Our associate in Boston tried to contact this person through several channels but was not able to get a response.

Thank you for the suggestion, he seems to be very well published.

I.F.

Dear Incognitus,

Thank you for this great information. According to Amazon.com, the movie 'The Shoes of the Fisherman' was based on these 1963 events. I will have to rent it after this project is completed.

I.F.

Dear Diak,

I forgot to ask this question in my last response to you.

Do you have a phone number for Fr. Boris Gudziak and does he speak English ?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I.F.

Dear Everyone,

URGENT REQUEST #2

Could somebody please contact the UGCC office in Lviv, Ukraine and ask them to post IN ENGLISH the announcement they made about a week ago on their official web site that the Church would begin in May of this year to commemoreate 60 th anniversary of the arrest and incarceration of the late Patriarch Josyf Slipyj, and the beginning of the liquidation of the church.

Thank you all for your assistance, and I hope to have a full report about this project next week.

I.F.

Actually the assassination of President Kennedy was several months after the liberation of Patriarch Joseph, so there remains a remote possibility that they may have met in Rome, IF President Kennedy was in Rome at any time during those months. Patriarch Joseph only spent a few weeks at the Greek monastery in Grottaferrata.

Incognitus