Maria Berushko
Encyclopedia
Maria Aparecida Berushko (Beruski) was a school teacher
who died saving her students in a school fire in Brazil
. She may become the first Orthodox
saint in Latin America.
Maria, being of Ukrainian
descent, was born in 1959, in Joaquim Távora
, Paraná
, Brazil.
When a school caught fire in 1986, Maria refused a chance to leave the building, instead she stayed inside and assisted her pupils in escaping. Berushko assisted in saving the lives of 5 children, but 8 children died together with the teacher in the fire.
The Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Latin America already placed the issue of Maria's beatification to the agenda. It is expected the final decision to be made within three years.
A street in the Brazilian town of Curitiba
has already been named after Maria Berushko (rua Maria Aparecida Beruski).
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
who died saving her students in a school fire in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. She may become the first Orthodox
Orthodox Christianity
The term Orthodox Christianity may refer to:* the Eastern Orthodox Church and its various geographical subdivisions...
saint in Latin America.
Maria, being of Ukrainian
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
descent, was born in 1959, in Joaquim Távora
Joaquim Távora
Joaquim Távora is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
, Paraná
Paraná (state)
Paraná is one of the states of Brazil, located in the South of the country, bordered on the north by São Paulo state, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Santa Catarina state and the Misiones Province of Argentina, and on the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and the republic of Paraguay,...
, Brazil.
When a school caught fire in 1986, Maria refused a chance to leave the building, instead she stayed inside and assisted her pupils in escaping. Berushko assisted in saving the lives of 5 children, but 8 children died together with the teacher in the fire.
The Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Latin America already placed the issue of Maria's beatification to the agenda. It is expected the final decision to be made within three years.
A street in the Brazilian town of Curitiba
Curitiba
Curitiba is the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná. It is the largest city with the biggest economy of both Paraná and southern Brazil. The population of Curitiba numbers approximately 1.75 million people and the latest GDP figures for the city surpass US$61 billion according to...
has already been named after Maria Berushko (rua Maria Aparecida Beruski).