The history of martyrdom and resurrection is the history of our people: His Beatitude Sviatoslav addresses the world community in his new book
About a month ago, the world saw the first biographical book about His Beatitude Sviatoslav in English, “At the Foot of the Cross: Lessons from Ukraine”, by American journalist John Burger.
In the interviews contained in the book, the Head of the UGCC offers the world community a deep understanding of the direction in which the world is moving today along with the struggle that the Church is facing again, 30 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, in the spotlight of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The idea of the book
In August 2018, John Burger interviewed Patriarch Sviatoslav at the Baltimore Knights of Columbus international convention. As a result, two articles were published, which led to the idea of writing a book of interviews with His Beatitude Sviatoslav. Eventually, in May 2019, John Berger visited Kyiv and talked to the Head of the UGCC for two days. The discussion was supplemented by several subsequent ones, particularly in June 2022, when Ukraine continued to be under Russian shelling.
The author noted that he could not be happy about the prospect that the calamities in Eastern Europe, with all its suffering, would lead to increased sales. But the hero of this book, who was already well known in Ukraine, was gaining international recognition for his wartime leadership of the Church. His Beatitude Sviatoslav’s life story, testimony, and understanding of the many hardships facing the Church and the world make up the bulk of this book.
A testimonial book by the head of the UGCC that can teach a lot to society outside Ukraine
In Soviet times, the Church was ‘underground.’ Now, in wartime, the metaphor has become real. The patriarch describes how priests are forced to serve the Liturgy in shelters while devotees pray daily under fire. Yet, in both eras, the faith was firm. Under challenging circumstances, the faithful watched daily videos from the Head of the Church, then listened to Vatican Radio. His Beatitude Sviatoslav’s memories of his childhood, when the Catholic faith was persecuted, and how people kept their faith alive and their relationship with God was central to their lives are pretty emotional and fascinating.
“Looking back to the invasion a year ago, many Americans may not have noticed that Archbishop Shevchuk was on Russia’s kill list. Some people allege it ‘Putin’s hit list,’” John Burger tells Our Sunday Visitor, “yet he and most of his priests were determined to stay with their people.”
Reviews and feedback
Since the publication of “At the Foot of the Cross: Lessons from Ukraine” by John Berger about His Beatitude, Sviatoslav has gained considerable popularity. The candid and insightful story of the Head of the UGCC has already received many reviews and comments.
“This remarkable book is an invitation to encounter the mind, heart, and soul of one of the greatest Catholic leaders of the twenty-first century, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk. Read it and come away enriched.” — George Weigel, Distinguished Senior Fellow and William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies, Ethics and Public Policy Center, Biographer of Pope St. John Paul II
“Sviatoslav Shevchuk, a man of prayer, has lived through tectonic social and political transformations, experienced unexpected turns in his own life, and is a respected national leader today. This book results from four years of meetings and frank conversations between an American journalist and the Ukrainian Patriarch, who stands with his people at the foot of the Cross. Patriarch Sviatoslav’s candid search for answers to life’s challenges can help you answer yours.” — Borys Gudziak, Archbishop of Philadelphia and Metropolitan for the Ukrainian Catholics in the United States
“This book tells the story of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which was forced to keep its faith secret for decades when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. Told through the testimony of an eyewitness, the Head of this Church, this book provides one of the significant reasons why Ukrainians are fighting against Russian control today.” — Nina Shea, Director, Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom, Former commissioner, U. S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
The UGCC Department for Information
