On June 3 at 1 p.m. died prelate Lucian Hmeliovets, one of the oldest priests of Belarus, dean of the parish in the village of Derevnaya.

He was born on May 12, 1914 in a Catholic family.

After finishing the gymnasium in Grodno he entered the Major Seminary in Vilnius, which he graduated from in 1939.

Then he worked in the parishes in Valkalata and Kanstantinava, in 1963 he went to the village of Derevnaya where he had been serving God and people till the last moment of his life. Numerous believers of other parishes (Ivianets, Kamien, Valozhyn, Staubtsy, Niegarelaye, Smilavichy, Minsk, Nalibokau, Hotava, Volma, Rakau…) remember him with infinite gratitude. F. Lucian Hmeliovets performed the functions of the vicar general of the archdiocese of Minsk-Mohilev during a number of years.

According his own words he wanted “to be rich in God’s grace only” and he was indeed granted such grace. His life was long enough: on May 11 he celebrated his 90th anniversary.

During his 65 years of self-denying service the “humble and true servant of God” helped many people to recognize their vocations, to become priests, to choose the way of monastic life. He is teacher and educator of His Excellence Anthony, present Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese of Grodno, F. Vitaly Gajts, Benedictine prioress Imelda Dzemianko, s. Cheslava Novitskaya, s. Olga Grishan.

Let the merciful Christ reward F. Lucian Hmeliovets in His Kingdom.