Archbishop Borys Gudziak Speaks at Harvard on Russia’s War Against Ukraine
On Thursday, March 27, Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan-Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, delivered a lecture at Harvard University’s Sever Hall titled “What’s at Stake in Russia’s War Against Ukraine?” Organized by the Harvard Catholic Forum and livestreamed, the event explored the war’s humanitarian, geopolitical, and spiritual dimensions.
In his address, Archbishop Gudziak emphasized that the root cause of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is neo-imperial colonialism. He explained how, unlike other historical empires that lost their colonies and reexamined their past, the Russian Empire successfully transformed into the Soviet Union and later into the Russian Federation, maintaining and even expanding its colonial mindset. He highlighted the role of the "Russian World" ideology, which fuels this neo-imperial ambition and is actively promoted by the Russian Orthodox Church. Citing a sermon by Patriarch Kirill in March 2022, where he used jihadist-like rhetoric, the archbishop underscored the religious dimension of the war.
Archbishop Gudziak also addressed religious persecution in Russian-occupied territories, stating: “All religious communities that do not explicitly support the Russian war are severely persecuted. This includes Ukrainian Orthodox and Catholics, Baptists, Pentecostals, Jews, and Muslims.”
During the Q&A session, participants inquired about relations between the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the potential for change in Russia, and prospects for lasting peace. The archbishop also shared memories of his time at Harvard, where he earned his PhD in history. He encouraged American Catholics to take a stand for justice, urging, “Do not be afraid to do your thing. Make a stand for the truth, and the truth will prevail.”
As part of his two-day visit to Boston, Archbishop Gudziak met with the Most Reverend Richard Henning, Archbishop of Boston, and participated in the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts at a Melkite church alongside Bishops Francois Beyrouti of the Melkite Catholic Eparchy of Newton and Mikael Mouradian of the American Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg. He also held a meeting with the leadership and fellows of the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute.
