Abstract: A sucker rod lifting apparatus (10) for use with downhole rotary oil well pumps having a pump rotor (42) disposed within a pump stator (44) comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder (16) between a first carrier plate (14) and the ground, a fluid circuit (82, 84) connected to the hydraulic cylinder (16) to raise and lower the first carrier plate (14) with respect to the ground, and a control valve (76) in the fluid circuit to selectively control the flow of fluid. Thus, the control valve (76) is capable of selectively controlling the raising and lowering of the first carrier plate (14) with respect to the ground to thereby selectively raise and lower the sucker rod (40) and the pump rotor (42) with respect to the pump stator (44).