„Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”(Mt 13:43) Such words from the Holy Scriptures come to mind for those who knew Sr. Maria Tsapulych. Always smiling and cheerful, sister conveyed this joy to others. The Lord took his servant to Himself on July 23, 2022 in the 76th year of her life and the 28th year of her monastic vocation.
Maria was born on September 8, 1946 in the village of Maly Berezny, Zakarpattia Oblast, to the family of Yury Tsapulych and Tereziya Tsoma. On December 6, 1994, Maria entered the community of Basilian Sisters in Prešov (Slovakia), on May 27, 1995. During the ceremony of receiving the habit she kept her baptismal name Maria. Sister was noted for her cheerful disposition, diligence, and hard work. From the memories of the sisters, we know that Sr. Maria “loved and revered the Immaculate Virgin Mary in a special way. She prayed the Akathist to the Mother of God every day.” His first vows took place on May 28, 2000. Her Solemn Profession Sr Maria was witnessed by His Beatitude Lubomyr Huzar on December 4, 2002 in the Cathedral of St. George in Lviv.
In her monastic life, sister worked as a cook in the orphanage in Veliky Berezny, where she was a spiritual mother and mentor to the children who studied there. The sisters remember that when Sr. Maria had a free moment she would go to chapel and before the Eucharist, in silent prayer, would asked for mercy for those who needed her prayer support. With “a rosary in her hands, a prayer on her lips, her eyes filled with tears more than once, she asked the Lord to help her relatives and friends in difficult life situations”. And the Lord listened to her.
Sister Maria will be remembered as a cheerful, self-sacrificing, humble and helpful nun, with a penetrating and clear look that was always turned to heaven.
May the Lord, to whom Sister Maria dedicated her life and kept her faithfulness, reward her heavenly abode!