Mikołaj Ferenc (1894–1944)
Mikołaj Ferenc (born 15 September 1894 in Łomżyca, died 15 January 1944 in Markowa) was a Polish Catholic priest, a Capuchin friar, a victim of crimes committed by Ukrainian nationalists, and posthumously awarded the title of Righteous Among the Nations[1][2]. In 1919, he joined the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, taking the religious name Ignacy. He took his monastic vows in 1923 and was ordained a priest on 8 December 1927[3]. After ordination, he served as a pastor in the Archdiocese of Lwów – first as administrator of the parish in Magierów, and later (between 1939 and 1942) as vicar in the Roman Catholic parish in Zimna Woda[4][5]. From May 1942, he became administrator of the parish of St. John of Nepomuk in Markowa (Podhajce County)[6]. He was known for his pastoral zeal and modest lifestyle, maintaining friendly relations with the local Polish and Ukrainian communities[7]. As a priest, he led an ascetic life and often helped those in need (he used his knowledge of herbal medicine to provide free medical assistance)[8]. After the war, his rescue activities were commemorated with an honorary medal from the Yad Vashem Institute – Righteous Among the Nations[9].
Childhood
Mikołaj Ferenc came from a peasant family from Łomżyca (today a district of Łomża). He was born on 15 September 1894, reportedly in the village of Łomżyca[10]. He had a sister, Helena, and a brother, Stanisław[11]. Little is known about his early education, but he was prepared for the priesthood. Before 1919, he likely completed secondary school and seminary. As a Capuchin, he took the religious name Ignacy and in 1923 made his monastic vows, indicating prior formation and an aspiration for religious life[12]. Growing up on the eve of World War I, Ferenc witnessed the first political and social changes on Polish lands. His family likely struggled with the typical problems faced by rural inhabitants – difficult economic conditions and the dominance of landed estates. As a young man, Mikołaj was very devout and helpful, which determined his choice of the priesthood. After completing seminary and receiving ordination in 1927, he continued his spiritual formation, as evidenced by his continued life in Capuchin communities[13]. He spent his youth studying in Warsaw (according to source accounts, he studied there until 1939)[14].
Mature Years
After being ordained a priest, Ferenc mainly worked in the then Archdiocese of Lwów. In 1939, he became administrator of the parish in Magierów, and later – during the German occupation – he was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Lwów[15]. From 7 September 1939 to 12 May 1942, he was vicar in the parish of Zimna Woda, and then – from May 1942 – he was appointed administrator (pastor) of the parish in Markowa near Stanisławów (Kąkolnik deanery)[16][17]. In his new role, Ferenc quickly gained a reputation as a priest friendly toward the Ukrainian population – both Greek Catholic and Orthodox – with whom he often cooperated[18]. He was interested in nature and folk pharmacology. His knowledge of herbal medicine meant that he willingly helped all the sick without expecting payment, especially Ukrainians[19]. He maintained good relations with local Greek Catholic priests – he was known to be friendly with Father Mychajło Szczurowski, the local Greek Catholic pastor[20]. Active parishioners repeatedly warned him about the danger from regional nationalists. Even his mother encouraged him in correspondence to move to a safer place[21]. However, Fr. Ferenc replied that he saw his mission precisely among those faithful and among the inhabitants of Eastern Subcarpathia[22]. His rectory in Markowa became a home for all in need – both Poles and Ukrainians.
Context of Rescuing Jews
During the German occupation of Poland, the policy of exterminating the Jewish population was carried out with cruelty, and helping Jews was associated with the highest risk. In the territories of the Second Polish Republic, hiding a Jew carried the death penalty not only for the rescuer but often for their entire family[23]. Despite this, it is estimated that around 100,000 Poles tried to help the Jewish population, and of the more than 25,600 "Righteous Among the Nations" medals awarded by Yad Vashem, around 25% were awarded to Poles[24]. The Polish Catholic clergy played a significant role in this aid – Jews were hidden in monasteries and church buildings, false documents were organized, and resources were passed on. The Catholic Church actively supported the rescue efforts. In Eastern Galicia (territories of the then Lwów, Tarnopol, and Stanisławów voivodeships), the situation was particularly tense – intense anti-Jewish actions were carried out, and there were also ethnic conflicts between Poles and Ukrainians. In such conditions, hiding Jews with so-called Aryan papers required immense courage and determination. In the parish of Markowa – located near the border between Poland and the Soviet Union – the Jewish community was almost absent during the war (a large number of Jews had previously been forced to leave the east), but fugitives did appear. In the summer of 1943, several Jews found refuge in the Markowa area – among them Ewa Trauenstein (née Grusz) and her son Leon, who later turned for help to the local pastor, Fr. Ferenc. Mentions of this case appeared years later in historical accounts[25][26].
Description of the Hero’s Rescue of Jews
In the summer of 1943, the Jewish woman Ewa Trauenstein-Turzyńska, the wife of a pre-war pharmacist from Rozwadów, came to Fr. Mikołaj Ferenc. She was hiding from the occupiers with her two-year-old son, Leon[27][28]. Fr. Ferenc gave them shelter at the rectory in Markowa, risking his own life. He introduced Ewa to the local community as the wife of his murdered friend, a lieutenant who "died during the war" – this fictional biography was meant to explain her presence in the parish[29][30]. Leon, presented as the son of her “murdered brother,” was baptized and, along with the parish housekeeper Eugenia Stefańska, sat in the front pews during services for safety[31][32]. Although seriously ill, Ewa Turzyńska regularly attended Mass and sat with the housekeeper in the front pew. Leon served as an altar boy and called his mother “aunt” to maintain the pretense[33][34]. Fr. Ferenc publicly taught the boy how to serve at the altar, which further helped conceal his Jewish origin. The priest was well aware of the danger he faced. As one witness recalled, he said: “I know that death threatens me – but I am a messenger of God and I would not find peace if I refused you shelter”[35]. This help was all the more dramatic because, at the time when Ferenc was hiding Jews, news of harsh punishments for such acts was widespread. Nevertheless, he did not hesitate. Even when the local Greek Catholic priest Mychajło Szczurowski repeatedly offered him refuge in his safer rectory, the pastor from Markowa refused, convinced that he could not abandon his faithful. According to later accounts, he firmly responded: “I cannot leave my parishioners. Whatever awaits them, let it not pass me by”[36]. Thanks to Fr. Ferenc’s courage, the mother and child survived the occupation.
His Later Fate
Unfortunately, Fr. Ferenc’s story ended tragically during the so-called Volhynian Massacre and ethnic cleansing carried out by Ukrainian nationalists in Eastern Lesser Poland. On the night of 15 to 16 January 1944, a small armed group from the UPA, referred to by locals as Banderites, entered Markowa. The attackers carried out a mass murder of Polish villagers. According to surviving accounts, between 29 and even 57 Poles were killed[37][38]. Fr. Ferenc was murdered at the rectory on 15 January 1944. The attackers broke into his bedroom and cold-bloodedly shot him in bed. As the then-pastor of a neighboring parish, Fr. Antoni Kania, wrote, Ferenc was hit with three revolver bullets to the chest and a blow with an axe that severed about 8 cm of neck tissue[39]. After the bodies were discovered and a tragic funeral liturgy held, the victims of the massacre were buried in the cemetery in Markowa. Fr. Antoni Kania recalled that the burial was organized in four graves (locals refused a mass grave for the murdered), and about three thousand Poles and eight priests from nearby parishes attended[40]. After Fr. Ferenc’s death, care for Ewa Trauenstein-Turzyńska and her son was taken over by Fr. Antoni Kania from the parish of Nowa Huta near Stanisławów[41][42]. Years later, Ewa Turzyńska succeeded in having both priests honored as Righteous – thanks to her efforts, both Ferenc and Kania were entered in the list of the Righteous by Yad Vashem in Israel[43]. Fr. Ferenc’s body was buried on 19 January 1944 in the cemetery in Markowa[44]. His name is also commemorated on a plaque dedicated to clergy murdered by the OUN-UPA in Czerwona Woda and through the planting of a memorial tree in the Avenue of the Righteous in that town[45].
Context of Being Awarded the Title “Righteous Among the Nations”
The title "Righteous Among the Nations" is the highest civilian honor awarded by the State of Israel, granted by the Yad Vashem Institute in Jerusalem to individuals who helped Jews during the Holocaust. Fr. Mikołaj Ferenc was posthumously awarded this title at the request of Berta Turzyńska (née Grus), the wife of Leon – the surviving son of Ewa[46][47]. The award ceremony took place on 10 June 2014 during the plenary assembly of the Polish Episcopal Conference in Warsaw, in the presence of the Israeli ambassador Zvi Rav-Ner and the honorees’ relatives[48]. At the ceremony, the medal and diploma were presented to four families, representing a total of five Polish clergy members – two nuns and three priests: Fr. Ferenc, Fr. Antoni Kania, and Fr. Jan Raczkowski[49]. In attendance was the great-niece of the Ferenc family (the priest’s niece), who received the award on behalf of the family[50]. The name of the Righteous from Markowa was inscribed on the plaques in the Garden of the Righteous in Jerusalem, alongside the name of Fr. Kania and other heroes of the Holocaust period[51][52]. This recognition of Fr. Ferenc serves as proof that his heroic stance and ultimate sacrifice have not been forgotten – the title of Righteous pays tribute not only to him, but to all Poles who rescued Jews during World War II.
Footnotes
[1][3][4][6][7][8][12][13][15][16][18][19][20][44][45] Mikołaj Ferens; https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miko%C5%82aj_Ferens
[2][5][10][11][14][17][21][22][29][31][33][35][36][38][39][40][43][51] MARKOWA kościół p.w. św. Jana Nepomucena; https://ksi.btx.pl/index.php/publikacje/1564-markowa-kosciol-p-w-sw-jana-nepomucena
[9][30][32][34][50][52] Duchowny z Łomży pośmiertnie odznaczony najważniejszym tytułem izraelskim; https://mylomza.pl/artykul/duchowny-z-lomzy-posmiertnie-n582952
[23][26][28][47] Duchowni uhonorowani za ratowanie Żydów; https://deon.pl/kosciol/duchowni-uhonorowani-za-ratowanie-zydow,301896
[24] "Zabij Żyda" - głos z ambony; https://www.portalwrona.com/single-post/2016/11/18/zabij-%C5%BCyda-g%C5%82os-z-ambony
[25][27][42][46][48][49] Mamy moralny dług wobec Polaków, którzy ratowali Żydów; https://www.ekai.pl/mamy-moralny-dlug-wobec-polakow-ktorzy-ratowali-zydow/
[37][41] Zbrodnia w Markowej (powiat podhajecki); https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zbrodnia_w_Markowej_(powiat_podhajecki)
External links
Mikołaj Ferens; https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miko%C5%82aj_Ferens
MARKOWA kościół p.w. św. Jana Nepomucena; https://ksi.btx.pl/index.php/publikacje/1564-markowa-kosciol-p-w-sw-jana-nepomucena
Duchowny z Łomży pośmiertnie odznaczony najważniejszym tytułem izraelskim; https://mylomza.pl/artykul/duchowny-z-lomzy-posmiertnie-n582952
Duchowni uhonorowani za ratowanie Żydów; https://deon.pl/kosciol/duchowni-uhonorowani-za-ratowanie-zydow,301896
"Zabij Żyda" - głos z ambony; https://www.portalwrona.com/single-post/2016/11/18/zabij-%C5%BCyda-g%C5%82os-z-ambony
Mamy moralny dług wobec Polaków, którzy ratowali Żydów; https://www.ekai.pl/mamy-moralny-dlug-wobec-polakow-ktorzy-ratowali-zydow/
Zbrodnia w Markowej (powiat podhajecki); https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zbrodnia_w_Markowej_(powiat_podhajecki)
Illustration sources
https://ksi.btx.pl/index.php/publikacje/1564-markowa-kosciol-p-w-sw-jana-nepomucena
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zbrodnia_w_Markowej_(powiat_podhajecki)
