His Beatitude Sviatoslav at the Catholic University of America: “Staying in Kyiv During the War Is a Blessing”
On February 18, 2025, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, addressed an audience of students, faculty, and invited guests at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D. C., sharing his reflections on Ukraine’s hope and the pastoral challenges of war.
The event was organized by the Institute for the Study of Eastern Christianity, named after Bishop Basil Losten, at the Catholic University of America and led by Very Rev. Dr. Mark Morozowich. University President Dr. Peter Kilpatrick introduced His Beatitude Sviatoslav and expressed gratitude for his testimony.
According to the Office of Communications of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, His Beatitude Sviatoslav spoke about the root causes of the war in Ukraine, the criminal ideology of the “Russian world,” and the concepts of just peace and hope.
At the outset, he noted the significance of speaking on February 18—the anniversary of the beginning of the executions on the Maidan 11 years ago. He remarked that since then, Ukraine has remained at the center of global attention, though he preferred to focus on the people.
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Speech of His Beatitude Sviatoslav at the Catholic University of America on War, Peace, and Hope
“I am neither a politician nor a public figure; I am a clergyman entrusted with the custody, prayer, and guidance of God’s people—the suffering, yet dignified children of God who seek peace and demand justice,” the Head of the UGCC emphasized.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav identified Russian neo-imperial ambitions as the main cause of the war, fueled by the myth of the Russian world’s special mission—an ideological construct that underpins Russia’s military expansion. “If someone believes that NATO expansion is the cause of the war, they are blindly following Russian narratives and propaganda. NATO did not exist in the seventeenth or eighteenth centuries, nor were security concerns an issue for the Soviet Union during the Holodomor,” he stressed.
In his address, he referenced a letter from the holy martyr Omelian Kovch, who wrote to his family that the Majdanek concentration camp was the only place, apart from heaven, where he wanted to be—because there, he could help people and fulfill his mission. His Beatitude Sviatoslav reflected: “Remaining in Kyiv during the war is not only my duty but also a blessing that strengthens my faith, deepens my sense of purpose, and allows me to stand in solidarity with my people.” This, he said, is what gives him hope.
During the discussion, moderated by Metropolitan Borys Gudziak of Philadelphia, His Beatitude Sviatoslav shared his experience of celebrating Christmas in the crypt of the Cathedral of the Resurrection in Kyiv, which serves as a shelter for residents of the surrounding high-rise buildings: “The Lord chose to be born here, in our shelter.” He also recounted stories of dedicated priests and their families serving amid the war.
The lecture was attended by the bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the United States: Metropolitan Borys Gudziak (Archeparchy of Philadelphia), Bishop Paul Chomnycky (Eparchy of Stamford), Bishop Bohdan Danylo (Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma), and Bishop Venedykt Aleksiychuk (Eparchy of St. Nicholas in Chicago).
The UGCC Department for Information
