In Response to the Call of the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Libraries in Cherkasy Receive More Than a Thousand Ukrainian-Language Books
The Cherkasy Centralized Library System has received 1,008 new books as part of the charity campaign “Donate a Ukrainian Book to Cherkasy.” His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, called for this initiative during his pastoral visit to the city. In the nearly three months since the campaign began, benefactors from Ukraine and abroad have donated books for the libraries.
The books were personally delivered by the campaign coordinator, Fr. Ihor Kotenko, rector of the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Cherkasy and director of Caritas-Cherkasy. He thanked Bohdan Bielov, head of the Department of Education and Humanitarian Policy of the Cherkasy City Council, as well as the librarians for their work in updating the library collections and removing Russian-language literature.
“We are glad to have contributed to the intellectual life and its development here in Cherkasy. By its very nature, the Church is not only a place of prayer but also a center of culture, learning, and community life, where faith inspires the search for truth and a deeper understanding of the world,” Fr. Ihor said.
Bohdan Bielov emphasized that this is an important initiative for the city, as books remain the foundation of education, the formation of worldview, and personal development.
“Replenishing library collections with contemporary Ukrainian literature is an investment in the future,” he noted.
The idea behind the campaign
Library staff explain that the campaign arose spontaneously following a meeting with His Beatitude Sviatoslav, during which they discussed the need to update library collections with Ukrainian publications.
Olena Shor, director of the Cherkasy City Centralized Library System, noted that such campaigns are regularly held in Cherkasy, which is why most of the collection consists of books donated by readers.
According to her, the city authorities are also actively involved. In 2024, one million hryvnias were allocated from the city budget to replenish the library collections, and this support continues. However, amid the war, a significant portion of the funds is being directed toward other needs, which makes donor support especially important.
“As professionals, we strive to meet the needs of our readers. The UGCC’s contribution of thousands of books to our collections is a great help in this regard. We are grateful for this support and hope that other denominations and communities will follow this example,” she said.
In the near future, the library plans to set up a separate shelf for books donated through this campaign, with a label indicating that they were a gift from the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. His Beatitude Sviatoslav will also receive an honorary library card as a token of gratitude.
A campaign that united Ukrainians worldwide
Fr. Ihor Kotenko noted that, at first glance, the campaign may seem small, but its meaning is much deeper:
“This campaign has brought together Ukrainians from all over the world. Even in the third year of the full-scale war, it reminds them that Ukraine exists and that Ukraine is fighting. That is why such initiatives may seem small, but in reality they are extremely important, because everyone can contribute in some way. Someone in Rome, Brazil, or elsewhere remembers that they are Ukrainian, that they have a Ukrainian book. Such campaigns foster care and ignite a love for one’s Motherland.”
As part of the campaign, Ukrainian-language books on various topics were collected, ranging from fiction to academic, educational, and children’s literature.
Contributors included:
- His Beatitude Sviatoslav, who donated books from his personal library;
- Ukrainian communities in Germany, Italy, Canada, Sweden, and the United States;
- parishioners of the Pro-Cathedral of St. Sophia in Rome, led by Fr. Mark Semehen, who donated works by Patriarch Josyf Slipyj;
- students of the Ukrainian Catholic University College, together with their director, Fr. Mykola Motruk;
- faithful of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church;
- the Kyiv Three Saints Seminary, led by its rector, Fr. Roman Ostrovsky.
“While carrying the boxes of books, I looked inside and saw many wonderful works by both contemporary and classic Ukrainian authors. I am sure that residents and children will come to read, gain knowledge, and share that these books are a gift from our friends. May every book find its reader,” said Bohdan Bielov.
The campaign continues, and anyone interested can still contribute to expanding the library collections.
“In peacetime, we could allocate funds to both books and other humanitarian needs. Today, however, the priority is supporting our defenders. That is why we welcome all initiatives that help our libraries,” he added.
The campaign is coordinated by Fr. Ihor Kotenko, rector of the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Cherkasy and director of the “Caritas-Cherkasy” Charitable Foundation.
Phone: +38 (097) 210 30 40.
Email: [email protected].
The UGCC Department for Information
