The first apparition actually occurred two weeks before World War I, on May 12, 1914, in the village of Hrushiv. Twenty-two people, who were mowing fields near the local church of the Holy Trinity, all witnessed an apparition of the Virgin Mary. She said to them, “There will be a war. Russia will become a godless country. The Ukraine, as a nation, will suffer terribly for eighty years – and will have to live through the world wars, but it will be free afterwards.” People gathered from the entire area to see the apparition – which lasted into the next day.
The people of Hrushiv had planted a weeping willow tree at the site many years ago, commemorating an appearance of the Blessed Mother some 350 years earlier. Later, a spring suddenly appeared beneath the tree. During the severe cholera epidemic of 1855, a local person dreamed that the Virgin had instructed the residents to clear and reclaim the ancient spring and hold Mass. Not one cholera death was reported afterwards.
Then, on April 26, 1987, seventy-three years later after 1914 and exactly one year after the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster, a bright light covered this church of the Holy Trinity and the surrounding area. A television program even recorded part of this light phenomenon. From within this “impressive silver dazzle” over the church, the Virgin Mary appeared and floated above the cupola of the church.
She first appeared to Marina Kizyn, age 12, who immediately called her mother and a few neighbors – who then came, and all saw her there, too. Soon, hundreds and then thousands came from all over Russia to see the apparitions which continued every day until August 15, 1987. It is estimated that a total of 500,000 people had seen her by the time these apparitions ended. On most days the crowd might reach as many as 45,000 to 70,000 people at one time. Neither the Soviet militia nor the KGB could begin to manage the crowds. The Virgin Mary was even seen by the KGB agents! Many priests (from underground Catholic churches) came and provided as many as ten Holy masses per day in front of the church. Many messages were documented:
“I have come on purpose to thank the Ukrainian people because you have suffered most for the church of Christ in the last 70 years. I have come to comfort you and to tell you that your suffering will soon come to an end. Ukraine will become an independent state.”
“Teach the children to pray. Teach them to live in truth and live yourselves in truth. Say the Rosary. It is the weapon against Satan. He fears the Rosary. Recite the Rosary at any gathering of people.”
“I have come to comfort you and to tell you that your suffering will end soon. I shall protect you for the glory and the future of God’s kingdom on earth, which will last for a thousand years. The Kingdom of Heaven and Earth is close at hand. It will come only through penance and the repentance of sins.”
“The Eternal God is calling you. This is why I have been sent to you. You in the Ukraine were the first nation to be entrusted to me. (The ruler Yaroslav the Wise dedicated the Ukraine to the Most Holy Mother of God in the year 1037.) Throughout your long persecution you have not lost faith, hope, or love. I always pray for you, my dear children, wherever you are.”
Our Lady predicted that the Ukraine would “suffer terribly for eighty years” before gaining independence. The Ukraine had its declaration of independence ratified in Kiev on August 24, 1991 – some 77 years after Blessed Mary’s prediction in 1914!
Follow
