Lviv Theological Academy's vice-rector visits Kyiv to study needs of Catholic faithful (09/05/99)

Lviv Theological Academy's vice-rector visits Kyiv to study needs of Catholic faithful

by Illya Labunka

KYIV - On the cramped, second floor of a belltower, the Rev. Dr. Borys Gudziak celebrated liturgy this past spring on the premises of St. Mykola the Benevolent Ukrainian Catholic parish in the Podil region of Kyiv. This tiny space inside the belltower is one of only two places in the entire capital city where Ukrainian Catholics can gather to worship.

The Rev. Gudziak, who is vice-rector of the Lviv Theological Academy, visited Kyiv in order to familiarize himself with the needs of the Ukrainian Catholic community in Ukraine's capital, home to thousands of Ukrainian Catholic faithful. Celebrating his first liturgy in Kyiv since being ordained a priest in November 1998 in Lviv, the Rev. Gudziak stated in his sermon that, "On the eve of the third millennium when Ukraine is in transition, in political, cultural and economic crisis, there is a particularly urgent need for clear signs of hope and new incarnations of the Christian tradition that has been the lifeline of Ukraine from the beginning of its history. The social ministry of mercy and the arduous 'podvyh' (task) of creating new visions for the future is what Ukrainian society expects from the Church."

Reflecting on the spiritual and pastoral needs of Ukrainian Christians throughout Ukraine, the Rev. Gudziak proclaimed that, "as a thousand years ago, the Church is called to spread the good news from the hills of Kyiv."

Although work has been initiated to build a cathedral on Kyiv's Left Bank and the Basilian fathers are constructing a church in the center of town, according to the vicar-general, the Rev. Lubomyr Sanotsky, with whom the Rev. Gudziak met with at the parish site following liturgy, "as of today the Ukrainian Catholics of Kyiv still do not have an appropriate house of worship in which to practice their faith."

Frequently, due to limited space, faithful are compelled to stand and pray outdoors at one of two locations: the parish of St. Mykola the Benevolent in the belltower of a destroyed church and the parish of St. Mykola in the small rotunda at Prince Askold's Tomb. "Often, and particularly when the weather cooperates, we see approximately 500-600 faithful here participating in holy liturgy on Sunday," added the Rev. Sanotsky, with the result that most people stand outside.

The Rev. Gudziak was born in Syracuse, N.Y., to Ukrainian emigré parents. In 1980 he received a bachelor's degree from Syracuse University with a double major in philosophy and biology. He then enrolled in the College of St. Sophia of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Rome, under the tutelage of Cardinal Josyf Slipyj. As a student of eastern theological studies, the Rev. Gudziak became inspired by Patriarch Josyf's vision and dream to one day establish a Catholic university in Ukraine. The foundations of this dream were laid in 1994 with the revival of the Lviv Theological Academy, which had been founded originally by Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytsky.

After receiving a licentiate in theology in 1983, Mr. Gudziak entered Harvard University from which he received a doctorate in Slavic and Byzantine Church history in 1992. In autumn of that year, the Rev. Gudziak established permanent residency in Lviv and planted the first seeds of the now-revived Lviv Theological Academy by creating the Institute of Church History. In 1995 Mr. Gudziak became vice-rector of the Lviv Theological Academy.

"I had been preparing myself for the priesthood for 20 years," said the Rev. Gudziak. "I never doubted that the day of my ordination would arrive, however, I always struggled with the question for whom, and who is calling me to this consecration. My association with the students and faculty of the Lviv Theological Academy, our camaraderie and my familiarity with their spiritual needs became the impetus and guiding light that led me towards the decisive moment."

The following day, the Rev. Gudziak participated in a liturgy of Christian burial for human rights activist Vyacheslav Chornovil, member of Parliament and leader of Rukh.

For more information or to make a donation on behalf of the Lviv Theological Academy, contact: The Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation, 2247 West Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60622; telephone (773) 235-8462; fax, (773) 235-8464; e-mail, ucef@ucef.org.

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