Baranyk was born in Uhnów in Austrian Galicia (modern-day Uhniv, Ukraine).

Baranyk was known for his preaching, and his life was noted for his special kindness to youth and orphans.

After the Soviets withdrew from the city his mutilated body was found in the prison with signs of torture, including cross-shaped knife slashes across his chest.

Yasyf Lastoviak, in a testimony, recounted finding Stefan Baranyk's corpse: Behind the prison I saw a big hole which has been covered up, filled with sand.

Basilian, with visible marks of his prison tortures; his body had unnaturally swelled black, his face terrible.