Father Oleksandr “Sashko” Bohomaz, a Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest and Knights of Columbus chaplain, made a courageous decision to remain with his parishioners in Melitopol, Ukraine, in February 2022 despite the onset of war from Russia’s invasion. For nine months, he provided both spiritual and humanitarian care to those under Russian occupation, in many cases working alongside his brother Knights. In December 2022, Father Bohomaz was captured by Russian forces and forcibly deported, narrowly escaping death — something for which he credits the Blessed Virgin.
Father Bohomaz now serves at St. Volodymyr the Great Parish in Zaporizhzhia, continuing his ministry with renewed zeal and Marian devotion. In October 2023, he led a pilgrimage of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima across the Ukrainian Catholic Archiepiscopal Exarchate of Donetsk, along Ukraine’s eastern border. He fervently promotes the praying of the rosary — for peace in Ukraine and for the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. As part of this evangelization mission, he has brought the statue to about 30 parishes in eastern Ukraine.
Father Bohomaz shares more about his profound devotion to Our Lady of Fatima in the interview below.
How did your relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary first develop?
FATHER OLEKSANDR BOHOMAZ: Before I became a Greek Catholic, I belonged to the Orthodox Church — specifically, the Moscow Patriarchate, as there was no other option in our region.
I met Our Lady when I was 21 years old. The priest at the Greek Catholic parish I later attended prayed the rosary often and still does. When I felt the call to priesthood and entered the seminary — which even surprised the priest, as he hadn’t expected me to go — he asked me to pray the rosary every day during my time at the seminary.
I fulfilled this request. I don’t know if there was a single day in those six years when I didn’t pray, and I tried to pray all four sets of mysteries of the rosary.
In 2018, when I was visiting the Holy Land, I went for an evening walk in Nazareth and visited the Basilica of the Annunciation. There I prayed for a long time in front of the Grotto of the Annunciation, where the Archangel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God, Jesus. I was looking into the grotto when the following thought came to me: If the heavenly Father entrusted this simple, poor girl with the mission of saving all mankind, then who am I not to trust Our Lady?
Until that moment, I didn’t have a strong relationship with the Virgin Mary. I was praying the rosary, but more out of habit — because the priest had taught me to. But from that moment on, something changed in me. The Holy Spirit revealed to me that I could trust Our Lady. I remember entrusting myself to her then, in Nazareth: myself, my family and my parishioners.
How did your experience of occupation and deportation affect your relationship with Our Lady and your devotion to the rosary?
FATHER OLEKSANDR BOHOMAZ: When I was serving in Melitopol while under Russian occupation in 2022, I found myself in a state of constant prayer. I prayed 10 rosaries a day — sometimes more, even up to 15 — whether I was driving, walking or in the chapel. Always praying.
The peak of my relationship with Our Lady came when I was forcibly deported by the Russian special services and left in the “gray zone” (between Russian and Ukrainian controlled areas). I had to cross the “gray zone” on foot to reach the positions of the Ukrainian military. I didn’t know if I would make it alive; along the way, I prayed to the Virgin Mary: “If I make it across alive, I promise you that I will tell people they need to pray the rosary.”
I crossed over successfully. The Lord accompanied me with miracles and I am convinced that Our Lady guided me. I could have easily lost my life there.
Soon after, I forgot about my vow. But 10 months later, my bishop appointed me to lead the pilgrimage of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima to the parishes of our Donetsk exarchate — in Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and the Donetsk regions. I didn’t reach the Luhansk region because it was almost completely occupied.
I was already on my way to the first parish with the statue, with a prepared talk and prayer programs, when I suddenly remembered the vow I had made to the Virgin. Only Our Lady and I knew about that vow, no one else — not even my bishop. Of course, I realize that the Lord also knew, but it was something very intimate. Of course, this was the Virgin Mary helping me fulfill my promise.
What fascinates you about Our Lady of Fatima? Why do you want to preach her message with such fervor?
FATHER OLEKSANDR BOHOMAZ: In Fatima, Our Lady called on the children to pray for the conversion of sinners. The Mother of God also revealed to the children that if Russia did not convert and was not consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, great evil and great lies would come through Russia, which would destroy nations. And today, we see the consequences of this evil. But Our Lady promised that her Immaculate Heart would prevail. I live with this hope and expectation — the victory of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I pray for the conversion of Russia. I try to remember this every day at Divine Liturgy.
What do you see as the spiritual fruits of the pilgrimage with the statue of Our Lady of Fatima?
FATHER OLEKSANDR BOHOMAZ: First of all, in places where people hadn’t prayed the rosary before, they have now begun to pray it. I cannot immediately say what the fruits are, because the grain needs time to germinate. But I believe that God works through the rosary.
I have taught many soldiers to pray the rosary — and not only soldiers. Many people have thanked me. I see that this prayer works. People who pray the rosary do not lose hope. They have the strength to endure trials; they do not lose heart.
When I explain how to pray the rosary, I don’t do it as a kind of advertisement. I am deeply convinced that Our Lady works powerfully through this prayer. I am personally certain of this. That’s why I try to teach others to pray the rosary.
To learn more about the Order’s work in Ukraine and to support those efforts, visit kofc.org/ukraine.