Last night, July 14, 2020 Very Rev. Msgr Milan Šašik, C.M., the eparch bishop of the Mukachevo Greek-Catholic Eparchy (Western Ukraine) suddenly died. He was 68 years old, 49 years of vocation, 44 years of priesthood and 17 years a bishop.
Vladyka Milan was born on September 17, 1952 in Lechina, in diocese of Nitra. In 1971 he entered the Congregation of the Mission in Slovakia. Ordained in 1976 worked in th underground ministry until the collapse of communist regime. On March 17, 2010 Pope Benedict XVI appointed him the the head of the Mukachevo Greek-Catholic Eparchy (diocese). During this time, Bishop Milan consecrated 160 churches and chapels, ordained 154 new diocesan priests. He participated in the Vincentian Symposium in Rome in 2017.
As the Metropolitan Bishop of Orthodox Church Theodor marked in his condolence letter: “Bishop Milan always cared of preserving the interfaith peace in our Silver Land”
May God give eternal piece to the soul of our Confrere Bishop Milan
Read his biography:
Milan Amantius Šašik (Shashik or Sasik) was born on September 17, 1952 in Lechina, in diocese of Nitra, Slovakia of Ruthenian ethnicity. After graduating from elementary and secondary schools he continued education studying philosophy and theology in Major Seminary in Bratislava, then Chechoslovakia. On July 31, 1971 he entered Congregation of the Mission. On September 27, 1973 took his vows and was incorporated to the Congregation. Ordained priest in Bratislava on June 6, 1976. Until collapse of Communist regim he held underground pastoral ministry as chaplain in Leopoldovo, Prešelany, Stup, administrator of parishes in Banska Bela, Banska Štiavnica and Vysoka. Finally he was pastor in Jacovka. All locations in Slovakia.
In the Congregation he was Internal Seminary Director, Assistant of Province of Slovakia and Seminary Director. He graduated from Teresianum University in Rome with Licentiate in Divinity. Since 1992 he collaborated with Apostolic representatives in Ukraine and was transferred to ViceProvince of Cyril and Methodius. He received permission from Holy See to conduct liturgical services in two rites: Latin and Greek-Catholic. For few years he was pastor of Greek-Catholic parish in Perechin, Transcarpatian region in Ukraine. Besides native Slovakian, he speaks fluently Ukrainian, Russian,Italian and Polish.
On November 12, 2002, Apostolic Nuntio in Ukraine announced, that pope John Paul II nominated Fr. Milan to be titular bishop of Bononia and Apostolic Administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedes of Mukochevo Eparchy of Catholic Church of Byzantine-Ruthenian Rite. Ordained bishop on January 6, 2003 by pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Officially introduced to his office in Uzhorod on January 25, 2003.In 2009 he received Ukrainian citizenship and next year, on March 17, 2010 pope Benedict XVI appointed Msgr Šašik Eparchial bishop of Mokachevo.
On April 13, 2011, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Blessed Sacred Martyr Theodore, he moved to the historic residence of the Mukachov bishops in Uzgorod next to the cathedral. During this time, Bishop Milan consecrated 160 churches and chapels, ordained 154 new diocesan priests.
On June 28, 20011, Bishop Milan invited Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches of the Vatican, to lead a solemn Mass to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Blessed Theodore Romgа.
In December 2011, on the initiative of Bishop Milan, a Christmas tree from Velykyi Bychkiv was erected on St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican as a gift from all the Churches of Ukraine.
On June 24, 2012, a copy of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God from the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI, was transferred to the oldest church in Transcarpathia – Goriany. https://famvin.org/wiki/Milan_Shashik_CM
