The Josyf Slipyj Museum in Ukraine begins expansion (08/27/00)

The Josyf Slipyj Museum in Ukraine begins expansion

CHICAGO - The legacy of Patriarch Josyf Slipyj, the great spiritual leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, is being memorialized in Ukraine for future generations of Ukrainians. The Josyf Slipyj Memorial Museum of the Lviv Theological Academy (LTA) was founded in September 1997 as a tribute to the first rector of the original pre-World War II academy. The museum began through the generosity of Dr. Roman Smyk of Coal City, Ill., and Roman Byshkevych of Lviv, both of whom provided artifacts and materials for exhibits. In addition, Dr. Smyk provided financial support.

Each museum piece depicts Patriarch Slipyj's pastoral activity, beginning with his release from prison in 1963, and continues with related topics concerning today's independent Ukraine. Included in the museum are: philatelic and private publications, commemorative stamps and envelopes, postcards, philatelic seals, medals, pins, ribbons, historic photographs and other memorabilia honoring Patriarch Slipyj.

Among the Ukrainian émigré artists and designers who created these materials are Roman Zavadovych, Edward Kozak, Mykhailo Dmytrenko, Petro Cholodny, Liuboslav Hutsaliuk, and Bohdan Tytla.

The museum displays additional materials relating to the lifelong journey of Patriarch Slipyj. For example, numerous tours to the continents and countries populated by the Ukrainian diaspora are chronicled over a 30-year period, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Smyk.

A portion of the museum's holdings donated by Mr. Byshkevych supplements and honors the post-Soviet period of Patriarch Slipyj's legacy in contemporary Ukraine. These include official commemorative stamps, envelopes, and postmarks issued by the Postal Service of Ukraine.

Prior to making their donations to the museum, the two donors displayed their collection in a traveling exhibition (1992-1994) in 12 Ukrainian cities: Lviv, Kyiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivsti, Drohobych, Ternopil, Berezhany, Kolomyia, Sambir, Stryi, Zarvanytsia and Truskavets.

As a result of Dr. Smyk's initiative and financial support, the museum is currently undergoing renovation and expansion. Previously laminated exhibits will be framed and encased in glass. The central facade will portray a documentary history of the Lviv Theological Academy and St. George Cathedral in the first half of the 20th century. Future work includes refurbishing exposition display stands, placards, and numerous historical photographs, and repairing museum walls.

In addition to serving as an eternal memorial to Patriarch Slipyj, the museum will serve as a venue for holding symposia and conferences, and hosting visiting student delegations. Such events will publicize the museum and specific exhibits.

In the near future, the museum's organizers will display the ecclesiastical vestments the patriarch used while incarcerated. This clothing is symbolic of the Metropolitan Slipyj's exile in Siberia.

In order to become a full-fledged institution that memorializes Patriarch Slipyj's legacy, the museum needs to grow. This requires the acquisition of the patriarch's published works, publications about the Church leader, and archival documents covering his arrest, exile and impisonment.

Is it grows, the museum will serve as the cornerstone for an extensive historical museum complex that will depict the Ukrainian Church in Halychyna from the second half of the 19th century up to today's renewal. Such an undertaking is timely and imperative, particularly because this historical period is in need of more documentation.

Further support for the Josyf Slipyj Memorial Museum will enable this institution to display its acquisitions on a level more congruent with world-class exhibitions.

For further information on this and other LTA projects and programs, and how to make a contribution, please contact: The Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation, 2247 West Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60622; telephone, (773) 235-8462; fax, (773) 235-8464; or e-mail, ucef@ucef.org; website, www.ucef.org.

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