Bishop Sipovich new file

27 The "Chronicle" was brought from Vilna to Rome by Father Hermanovich, who for some time stayed at the Russicum, presumably to get better acquainted with Russian liturgical usage. Sipovich continued the Chronicle till 1943. On 10 February 1939 Pope Pius XI died. He was succeeded by Pius XII, the Pope who was destined to rule over the Catholic Church during the Second World War and the post-war period of confrontation between the Communist world, led by the Soviet Union, and the West. The coronation of the new Pope took place on 12 March. On the same day at the Marian College there was a farewell dinner in honour of Father Hermanovich. Sipovich in the "Chronicle" notes that among the present guests were the Russian Catholic Bishop Alexander Evreinoff and the Jesuit Father Philippe de Régis, Rector of the Russicum. The Superior General, Father Andrew Tsikota, thanked Evreinoff for honouring this "Marian family occasion" with his presence, and also Father Philippe de Régis for taking care of Marian clerics, who are getting ready in the Russicum to become workers in the field of Church Unity. He also promised more Marian students for the Russicum. Evreinoff in his turn thanked the Marian Congregation for the work they were doing for his countrymen (i.e. Russians). Father Hermanovich left Rome for Harbin on 15 March 1939. On 21-23 July the General Chapter of Marian Fathers was held, at which Bishop Buchys was once again elected their Superior General in place of Father Tsikota. Father Abrantovich came from Harbin for the Chapter. After the Chapter he went to Poland, and was there on 1 September when the German-Polish war broke out. On 17 September Soviet troops occupied western Belarus and Ukraine which had formed part of the Polish Republic, and the state of Poland ceased to exist. Father Abrantovich was then in Lviv in Ukraine, visiting Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky. He was arrested some time later while attempting to cross the Soviet-German border. It is not exactly known of what was he accused. Metropolitan Sheptytsky in his report to the Oriental Congregation on the state of the Belarusian Exarchate, written on 14 August 1943, has this to say on the subject: "There are rumours that he (i.e. Abrantovich A.N.) was perhaps imprudent in offering English Pounds to a Jew, which might have aroused suspicions and be the cause of his arrest" 27 . On the other hand the fact that he came from Japanese-occupied Manchuria did not help because of the tense relations which existed between the Soviet Union and Japan. Some eyewitnesses who were also imprisoned with him in Lviv said that he was tortured and suffered very much, but comported himself with dignity. According to the latest news he died on 2 January 1946 in the Butyrki prison in Moscow. Such was the tragic end of this truly talented man and priest. Belarusians had great hopes of him, which remained unfulfilled. With no news of Abrantovich it was decided to send Father Tsikota to Harbin in his place. He left Rome on 3 November, having adopted the Byzantine rite and received the title of Archimandrite literally a few days before his departure. Thus in Rome there remained only two ex-Druia members, Sipovich and Aniskowicz. On Christmas day, 25 December 1939 Bishop Alexander Evreinoff conferred deacons orders on Ceslaus Sipovich. Aniskowicz was not admitted to the diaconate and was expelled from the Russicum and the Marian Congregation for some 27 "On a racconté quil a été peut-être peu prudent en offrant à un Juif des Livres anglaises, ce qui a crée des soup¢ons et a été peut-être la cause des son arrestation". The report, entitled Exarchat de la Russie Blanche, was addressed to the Secretary of the Oriental Congregation, Cardinal Eugene Tisserant.