Janina Gendulska is a woman who was persecuted and killed by the Soviet regime for refusing to give up the rosary. She was a Ukrainian citizen killed at the age of 30 and was also disabled.
Ukraine was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1917 as part of the Bolchevique Revolution. At that time, the dictator Joseph Stalin began to persecute Christians. During the 1937 period, Janina lived with her mother in Weirsboviec, Ukraine. Like all Christians there, she became a member of the rosary prayer group ‘Living Rosary’.
Communist authorities at the time ordered the closure of all institutions and organizations that professed or taught the Catholic faith. Including seminaries were closed. The priests were arrested. It was at this point that Janina dared to hold a fellowship of her prayer group at her home. She knew it was a very dangerous thing because the communist authorities had imposed strict restrictions.
Eventually, police arrived at Janaina’s home. When she was arrested and brought to court, the prosecutor asked her some questions.
“Are you the leader of the rosary group?”
“Yes, I am the leader of the Living Rosary. But it is not an organization. We are just praying to God.” She replied.
“How many members?”
“Fifteen.”
“Fifteen ?! And you say it’s not an organization? Who gives you prayers and texts?” Despite a long list of questions, the authorities did not take Janaina’s answers at face value.
“There is no God”
She replied with courage, “You may not have God, but we have God”.
“But you ‘re not there, then who’s leading them all?” Asked the prosecutor.
“Someone else who firmly believes in God.” She replied fearlessly.
Soon after, Janaina’s mother received a report that her daughter had died and that she was suffering from liver disease. But I was sure that reason was wrong. Because later she was found with bullet wounds on her head.
A photograph of this girl, who was killed for her faith in God and her devotion to the rosary, still exists in the Catholic Church in Versailles. Many believers stand in front of this image and remember her and pray to the Blessed Virgin.