STAMFORD—Bishop Basil Losten, a leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States who played a crucial role in revitalizing the Church in Ukraine after the collapse of Soviet rule, died on September 15, 2024, at Stamford Hospital in Connecticut. He was 94.
His death was announced by the Eparchy of Stamford, which he led for nearly three decades. Bishop Losten, who served as a priest for 67 years and as a bishop for 53, was instrumental in supporting the resurgence of the Ukrainian Catholic Church following decades of Communist repression.
Basil Harry Losten was born on May 11, 1930, in Chesapeake City, Maryland, the youngest of ten children in a family of Ukrainian immigrants. His parents, Ivan (John) Losten and Julia Petryshyn, operated a dairy farm where young Basil earned the nickname “milkman,” a term of endearment he carried from his time at St. Basil’s Prep School in Stamford, Connecticut, where he graduated in 1949.
Bishop Losten’s path to the priesthood led him to St. Basil’s College Seminary, where he graduated with in 1953 with a B.A. in Philosophy, and later to St. Josaphat Major Seminary in Washington, D.C., where he earned a Licentiate in Sacred Theology in 1957 from The Catholic University of America. He was ordained that same year by Bishop Constantine Bohachevsky and soon became known for his dedication to pastoral service, holding various positions in the Archeparchy of Philadelphia.
Rising swiftly through the ranks of the Ukrainian Catholic hierarchy, Bishop Losten was named Papal Chamberlain in 1968 and ordained as Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia in 1971. In 1977, he was appointed Bishop of Stamford, where he would remain until his retirement at age 75 in 2006.
Bishop Losten was a tireless advocate for education and priestly vocations, establishing a diocesan newspaper and supporting numerous publications. His work extended beyond the Stamford Eparchy, reaching into Ukraine, where he was an indefatigable fundraiser for the Church’s post-Soviet revival. His efforts helped rebuild churches, including the Holy Resurrection Sobor in Kyiv, and he channeled millions of dollars toward restoring Ukrainian Catholic institutions that had been suppressed for nearly half a century.
In addition to his pastoral duties, Bishop Losten was deeply involved in Catholic-Jewish dialogue as part of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). After his retirement, he continued to support numerous Ukrainian cultural and religious institutions, including the Ukrainian Museum and Library of Stamford and the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv.
Bishop Losten’s episcopal motto, “Fortitude,” encapsulated his lifelong commitment to the Church and his unyielding dedication to his mission. He is survived by his nieces, Michelle, Jan, Anna Jean, and nephews, Michael, Albert, Dr. William, and their families, along with many friends and members of the Ukrainian Catholic faithful.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Basil Ukrainian Catholic Seminary for the education of priests.
The funeral schedule includes the following:
Saturday, September 21
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm Viewing – St. Basil Seminary Chapel
5:00 pm Funeral Parastas – St. Basil Seminary Chapel
Sunday, September 22
10:00 am – 8:00 pm Viewing – St. Basil Seminary Chapel
11:00 am Divine Liturgy – St. Basil Seminary Chapel
5:00 pm Funeral Parastas – St. Basil Seminary Chapel
Monday, September 23
11:00 am Funeral Divine Liturgy – St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Catholic Church
Procession to burial site at Holy Spirit Cemetery
St. Basil Seminary
195 Glenbrook Road
Stamford, CT 06902
203-324-4578
St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church/Holy Spirit Cemetery
141 Sarah Wells Trail
Campbell Hall, NY 10916
845-496-4156
