On September 1, the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) marked the beginning of a new academic and liturgical year. On the same day, the Church of St. Sophia–Wisdom of God celebrated its 10th anniversary. The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the occasion was celebrated by Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan of Philadelphia of the UGCC.
Rector Taras Dobko, PhD addresses students at the start of the new academic year
The solemn Liturgy opened with the consecration of new icons representing the glorified Church. These icons symbolize the unity of the heavenly and earthly Churches in one eternal Liturgy, as well as the historical continuity of generations of Christians; simultaneously, they illustrate the diverse paths to holiness. The icons depict Fathers and Teachers of the Church, Church poets and singers, saints of Ukraine-Rus, and martyrs and confessors of the faith. These figures emphasize the connection of the “three Holy Sophias”: Constantinople, Kyiv, and Rome.
In his sermon, Archbishop Borys Gudziak addressed the first-year students: “Christ says: ‘I want to free you”. You will not be captive to thoughts and doubts: will you be accepted or not? You do not need a high score to earn God’s love. You will not gain God’s love through points, wealth, or your exploits, because you are already beloved. Despite the circumstances of war, loss, and oppression, you have a God who comes to you—to your soul, heart, and community—and sends saints to help you believe in this. They surround you so that you may hear these significant words of two thousand years of glory: the Lord came to you, came to us.”
Archbishop Borys Gudziak during the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
Archbishop Gudziak called on the youth to turn to God through prayer and song, and to open themselves to Him for blessings and deliverance. “Our prayer is an invitation for God to speak to us, to accept the Gospel—the good news, a good word, a blessing. Our Divine Liturgy has meaning when it is here and now. Our spiritual life takes place here and now. We are called to love, serve, and be with those who are near us. We are called to hear this word of liberation, a word of support for the oppressed, a word of comfort for those who grieve, and a word of hope,” the Archbishop added.
On the occasion of the new academic year, UCU Rector Taras Dobko, PhD addressed students, parents, and guests. He urged everyone to cherish this festive moment and to focus on the people around them, noting that they are the ones who constitute the university.
“The capital you will accumulate during your studies at the university will be not only knowledge or skills but also the ability to build life-giving relationships. The people around you are vital to your academic journey. Look at all these people; it is they, not just these walls, that are the UCU you have come to. The university is not merely buildings or a set of educational programs. The university is, first and foremost, a community of people united by a common cause,” the Rector said to the first-year students. He noted that this year, the focus of the university’s attention and the key topic for reflection will be the question: What is our unifying force as a university, as a people, as a state, and as a global Ukrainian community?
The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
“In the UCU community, there are people with different experiences, characters, views, talents, and vocations. We do not always think alike and do not always agree. Nevertheless, something keeps us united. What is the secret? It is definitely not in our sameness, but in the common good for which we are ready to take responsibility, and in the evangelical principles that stem from the way Jesus Christ lived, acted, and communicated with people,” said UCU Rector Taras Dobko.
At the conclusion of the Liturgy, the university announced the first laureates of the Metropolitan Gudziak Endowed Faculty Fund. This fund aims to foster a community of professors united by the principles of “relationship pedagogy”—a model based on the pedagogical legacy of Archbishop Borys Gudziak.
The laureates are:
- Roman Nazarenko, PhD – Professor of Religious Studies, Director of the Institute of Religion and Society
- Orysia Bila, PhD – Professor of Philosophy, Director of Philosophy Department, researcher
- Oleksandr Avramenko, PhD – Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology, and Head of the Graduate Program in Psychology
- Maria Tytarenko, PhD – Associate Professor of the School of Journalism and Communications, writer, journalist, and founder of the Master’s Program in Media Communications
- Halyna Protsyk, PhD – Professor of Social Sciences, and Deputy Vice-Rector for External Relations and International Cooperation
The inaugural laureates of the Metropolitan Gudziak Endowed Faculty Fund
Archbishop Borys Gudziak personally presented certificates to the laureates and encouraged others to follow their example. Following the Liturgy, students participated in faculty-specific celebrations. Additionally, a traditional meeting with the parents of incoming students, titled “Coffee with the Rectorate,” provided an opportunity for informal connection. Thus, the new academic year at the Ukrainian Catholic University began solemnly—through prayer, community meetings, and the active formation of the university family.
