Archbishop Lubomyr: Pastoral Care of Patriarch Slipyj Was Most Vividly Expressed in His Suffering

According to Major Archbishop Emeritus Lubomyr Husar, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) survived during the times of persecutions because of the suffering of Patriarch Josyf Slipyj and numerous priests who could not be overcome by the Soviet regime. However, it is not the only merit for which the famous leader of the UGCC should be remembered and honored by Ukrainian Greek Catholics. This opinion was expressed by the archbishop on March 13, during an evening event marking the 120th anniversary of the birth of Patriarch Josyf Slipyj at the Lviv Polytechnic.  

The former head of UGCC called his predecessor a hardworking and strong-willed person and stressed that one can distinguish three moments in the life and activity of Patriarch Slipyj.  

“The first moment is his service to learning. Patriarch Slipyj was a brilliant scholar. He is one of the few Ukrainian theologians quoted abroad today. But the patriarch believed that one should not only work as a scholar but also educate many people who will be able to make a difference in the world. And he dedicated his life to the task of developing the education of intended theologians,” noted the former head of the UGCC.

Archbishop Husar noted that Patriarch Slipyj dedicated the first half of his life completely to the education of priests. In the beginning, in Lviv, in the seminary and academy where he was a rector, and then in Rome during his exile. There he founded a university and trained intended priests.

“The second moment of his life was his pastoral work. This can sound strange as he was busy solely with scholarly work before 1944. After his return to the free world, his pastoral work was limited. He was an a ruling metropolitan only for 5 months, from 1 November, 1944 to 11 April 1945 when he was arrested. He spent 18 years in camps. But it was the time of his pastoral work,” said the archbishop.

Archbishop Husar stressed that pastoral work of a priest is not limited only to services, catechization and preaching. During his imprisonment far away from home, Josyf Slipyj made addresses to his faithful. But, according to the archbishop, his pastoral care was most clearly vividly expressed in his suffering.

“When Blessed Josyf stayed far from home, in different remote places of the USSR, from time to time he wrote pastoral addresses. But it was a very limited activity as it was difficult for him both to write and send them. What was his pastoral activity? This can sound strange to some people. But think about it, his pastoral work was to suffer for his people. To suffer for one’s people is a very important form of pastoral care. Slipyj suffered for 18 years. And this suffering of his and of many other people like him formed the spiritual treasure thanks to which our church survived the persecutions and thanks to which we can dream today about the revival of the church and its further development,” stated the ex-head of UGCC.

“And the third component, which I would like to mention, is connected with the moment when he returned to the free world and tried to ensure that the sense of unity didn't disappear from our church. Our UGCC for various reasons exists not only in Ukraine but in other parts of the world. It is very important to preserve its identity. And Patriarch Josyf Slipyj dedicated 20 years of his life exactly to the work of establishing and preserving the unity of our church and unity of people with the same religious identity,” concluded Major Archbishop Emeritus Lubomyr Husar.