“In the figure of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky, in his humanism and deep faith in eternal truths, we Ukrainians find what we now need in order not to get lost or turn bitter, so that we understand that, in our fight, we are defending a just cause, which is a godly work.” Oleh Turiy, Vice-Rector of Ukrainian Catholic University and Director of UCU’s Institute of Church History in an interview on Zhyve Telebachennya (“Live TV”).

In a meeting with Pope Leo XIV in Rome on 9 July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky. “The head of state told the Pope of Rome about Ukrainian society’s respect for Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, his activities, including rescuing Jews during the Second World War and the defense of the Christian faith. The president expressed his hope that the merits of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky receive appropriate acknowledgement,” reported the press service of President Zelenskyy.

Historian Oleh Turiy in an interview with journalist Taras Babenchuk commented on this statement and pondered what this gesture might mean, would it influence the beatification process of the great leader of the UGCC, could the figure of the righteous Metropolitan Andrey become a Ukrainian symbol in the world, and whether it’s worth expecting a visit of Pope Leo to Ukraine.

We offer a few points from Oleh Turiy’s talk:

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s most recent trip to Rome was not accidental. It was connected, clearly, with the war and attempts to put an end to bloodshed. We understand that the Holy See’s position is very important. President Zelenskyy’s visit demonstrates quiet, not always noticed, but fairly important work.

Ukrainian society today has matured to an understanding of the greatness of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky. This has happened thanks to the efforts of scholars, artists, writers, and church activists.

During the first years of the president’s administration, there was not always an understanding of the religious factor. Only after it became clear that religion, in particular the Protestant churches, have a great influence on the policies of the American government and presidents, only then did our authorities understand that we have a very powerful resource, entire structures, in particular of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, throughout the world. I think that this is a point that our politicians and diplomats did not always take into account.

The fact that President Zelenskyy spoke with the Pope about Metropolitan Andrey is an additional signal that this is a unifying cause for society, not a divisive one. This is very important.

Russia today considers itself not only the formal heir of the Soviet Union but, in a strange way, it is also using religion itself, in particular the Russian Orthodox Church, as a justification of this war. I think that President Zelenskyy wanted the Pope to see that the Christian faith is under threat because of the instrumentalization of religion, because it is being used as a weapon to destroy peaceful people, in order to wage this aggressive genocidal war against Ukraine. Often the West does not understand this aspect. Many people believe Russian propaganda and spread reports about the so-called “persecution” of Christians in Ukraine.

Political and economic aspects are important, but spiritual, moral, and ethical ones are no less important. For the violation of these norms leads to catastrophes. If we want to restore peace, if we want it to be stable and just, then we must appeal to principles which are eternal and those truths which our faith proclaims.

Ukrainians have every reason to expect a visit of Pope Leo to Ukraine. My intuition says that serious talks about this are being held. We understand that a visit like this should happen with good news. Most of all, we expect news about the end of bloodshed, a stop to aggression. This can be one of our hopes. The second basis [of the Pope’s visit – editor] could relate to the question of the beatification of Metropolitan Andrey or of Fr. Petro Oros [a Ukrainian Greek-Catholic priest of the Mukachiv Eparchy, a martyr – editor].

Metropolitan Andrey was a person who was able to gather people around him. Thanks to his genius, he could see prospects and build relation based on faith and love of God and neighbor. Exemplary was his ability to find the right words and deeds in circumstances when everything around him was in opposition, when it seemed that there was no hope. Nevertheless, this person built up the community, strove to form it not in a spirit of hatred but in a spirit of love, solidarity, and unity, criticizing those who destroyed this unity.

Despite our tendency to complain, we must admit that today we, as a people and as a nation, are stronger and more resilient because we had predecessors like Metropolitan Sheptytsky.

A video of the full Ukrainian -language interview is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htOW-F13HWw

Source: Zhyve Telebachennya

We note that on 28 July at 17.30 a pre-premiere showing of a film dedicated to the 160th anniversary of the birth of Andrey Sheptytsky will be held at the Sheptytsky Center.

“Sheptytsky: Between war and faith” is a documentary about Greek-Catholic Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky, a spiritual leader who in difficult historical times remained faithful to his convictions and people. The film combines history and the present, revealing a new vision of the role of a spiritual leader in wartime.

The team of Prosto Production worked on its creation at the request of Suspilne Movlennya. Details are available here.