December 12, 2005
The Israeli Holocaust memorial institution Yad Vashem has been asked to grant 'Righteous Gentile' status to a Ukrainian priest. The petition on behalf of Andrei Sheptytsky, who as the head of the Ukrainian church during World War II is credited with saving hundreds of Jews, was submitted by Holocaust survivors, the Israeli newspaper "Ha’aretz" reported on Sunday. According to 'Ha'aretz', Yad Vashem had refused to recognize Sheptytsky as he initially supported the Nazi invasion of Ukraine. But the memorial center said it would reconsider this decision if asked by Holocaust survivors. The title of 'Righteous Gentile' is conferred to people who helped Jews during the Nazi Holocaust.
