During the forced Conversion of Chelm Eparchy, the Russian authorities forcibly converted all Greek Catholics in Congress Poland and assigned their churches to the Russian Orthodox Church.

In a protest against the Russification and confiscation of the church, the Greek Catholic community gathered in front of the church, but were fired upon by the Russian forces, killing 13 of the protesters.

Sources:[1][2] Died on 24 January during the shooting: Died on 26 January of injuries after the shooting: Died on 27 January of injuries after the shooting: The massacre at Pratulin remains the best documented of the events that took place in the region of South Podlasie, and thus, to also represent the other martyrs of the region who gave their lives for the independence of the Church from control by the State, the Latin Diocese of Siedlce chose to submit their cause for beatification in 1938.

The 13 Martyrs were beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 6, 1996.

In 1998, some of their relics were transferred to the Byzantine-Slavonic Rite church in nearby Kostomłoty, where the Shrine of the Martyrs of Pratulin was established.