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Ihor Stoliarov interviews Sister Volodymyra Maksymiv,
O.S.B.M (Order of St. Basil the Great), Lviv, Ukraine
Ukrainian Archives & News, UK, February 07, 2004
"Pray that our Lord and his blessed Mother protect our unfortunate Ukrainian
nation, which has endured so much the difficult times. May you be strong and
courageous in your faith, and persevere in dedicated service to God our
Lord! My voice will now be silent - until the Last Judgment!"
The final words of Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytskiy
INTRODUCTION:
Faithful of the Ukrainian Catholic Church throughout Ukraine have been
encouraged by the recent news that the year 2004 has been declared the Year
of Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytskiy. Even the darkest years of the recent
past have not been enough to erase the fondness of Ukrainians for
Metropolitan Andrew, who showed himself to be a true pastor by not
abandoning Ukraine in her time of need. He was the head of the Ukrainian
Catholic Church during the Soviet and German occupations of Western Ukraine,
as well as earlier during the Holodomor, when the Ukrainian identity was
destroyed. One can imagine his continued intercession on behalf of Ukraine
even now from heaven.
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Sister Volodymyra Maksymiv
Ukrainian Archives&News photo
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Despite attempts to slander his good name, today we find examples of
Metropolitan Andrew's memory being honoured by having streets named after
him in Ukrainian villages, towns, and cities. Unfortunately, there continue
to be occasions in Eastern and Southern Ukraine where lies are being told
about his legacy, all the more unbelievable because Metropolitan Andrew
made such a vocal defence of villagers during the Holodomor.
SISTER VOLODYMYRA MAKSYMIV:
A dedicated researcher of Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky is found in the
person of Sister Volodymyra Maksymiv, who lives in Lviv. Odesa
correspondent, Ihor Stoliarov, met with her when she was travelling across
Ukraine as part of an expedition visiting locations affected by the 1932-33
famine.
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Ihor Stoliarov: Let's begin with a portrayal of this spiritual leader.
Sister Volodymyra: Last year we commemorated the 70th anniversary of the
Holodomor, 1932-33. This year, in 2004, the Ukrainian Catholic Church marks
the 60th anniversary of the death of Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytskiy. He was
well acquainted with the situation in Ukraine during the 1930s and was vocal
defendant of the famine victims. He could speak the words that were
forbidden in Soviet Ukraine from a unique position of authority. His
criticism of the Bolsheviks is documented in his pastoral letter of 24 July,
1933, "To all people of good will: Ukraine is in agony."
In this letter he writes about people dying from a famine instigated by
enemies of humanity who have abandoned God and a nation's right to freedom.
The Metropolitan refers to the use of famine by the Soviets as a criminal
action.
The head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church spoke out about the consequences
of this crime, namely the deaths of 10 million Ukrainians, just one example
of how the Leninist-Stalinist regime operated.
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Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky
Photo Postcard from the collection of ArtUkraine.com Information Service
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As a Christian faithful to Christ, and as a humanist, the Metropolitan
called upon all people of good will to protest together with the Ukrainian
Greek Catholic Church against the famine and to rescue the Ukrainian
villagers from unbearable circumstances. His voice of clarity was in
contrast to others, even from western democracies who didn't speak out
against the Soviets.
Imagine the contrast between Metropolitan Andrew's efforts on behalf
of the victims of the famine and that of someone like Walter Duranty, the
American journalist who in fact lived in the Soviet Union during that time,
yet covered up the crimes on behalf of Moscow and all those who put
so much effort into eliminating the Ukrainian villager.
Ihor Stoliarov: Did Metropolitan Andrew limit himself to protesting the
famine?
Sister Volodymyra: Not at all. He organised relief efforts of grain and food
items to be sent to famine-stricken areas of Soviet Ukraine. This
humanitarian effort along with his pastoral letter did not go unnoticed
around Europe. For example, the Roman Catholic Cardinal in Vienna, Theodore
Innitzer, convoked an international ecumenical conference on the plight of
the famine victims, with the hope of offering lifesaving relief. The chair
of this conference was Bishop Mykyta Budka, Metropolitan Sheptytskiy's own
ambassador to the gathering. Committees were established with
representatives from many countries, including the participation of the
International Red Cross.
This description of Metropolitan Andrew shows him to be a paradigm of virtue
and one of the twentieth century's true moral authorities. He continues
today to be an example of how the memory of the victims of the Holodomor
can be honoured by all citizens of Ukraine, Christian and non-Christian
alike.
We can sincerely build our future by following his example from our past.
Ihor Stoliarov: How has your participation in this current expedition
visiting locations affected by the 1932-33 famine confirmed this impression?
Sister Volodymyra: The visits we are making to the places where the
Holodomor occurred have strengthened our Christian unity. We have in our
group Ukrainian Greek Catholics, Ukrainian Greek Orthodox-Kyvian
Patriarchate, the Autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Evangelical
Christian Baptist Church, the Lutheran Church, the Anglican, the Ukrainian
Methodist Church, all commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Holodomor in
Ukraine of 1932-33 in a very respectful manner. It has shown us the degree
to which we are in unity with one another, giving us a common bond.
Metropolitan Andrew, during the 60th anniversary of his death, can truly
show us how to value the life and suffering of the Ukrainian villagers who
perished in the crucifixion that was the Holodomor in Ukraine.
Ihor Stoliarov: What do you think the Church should do to properly
commemorate Metropolitan Andrew?
Sister Volodymyra: The best would be for the Universal Church to proclaim
him as Blessed, especially since his beatification process toward sainthood
is already 45 years long. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is hopeful
that this will be the case, and has declared the year 2004 as one during
which to honour the memory of Metropolitan Andrew as well as Patriarch
Joseph Slipiy.
Ihor Stoliarov: Are you collecting information about the life and work of
Metropolitan Andrew? A new book, perhaps?
Sister Volodymyra: In fact I am planning a new book, "Along the Road of
Remembrance", a chronicle of events that have helped popularise the memory
of Metropolitan Sheptytskiy. For example, I describe in the book an
international ecumenical gathering in 2002 in Italy where the life of the
Metropolitan was honoured. Also, the book presents an overview of how
contemporary Ukraine relates to the memory of the Metropolitan.
Ihor Stoliarov: What is your explanation for the lack of information in
Eastern and Southern Ukraine concerning Metropolitan Andrew?
Sister Volodymyra: Well, on the one hand, in some instances (among
laypersons for example) there is an understandable lack of information. On
the other hand, the Soviets did try to erase the memory we have of him being
a great Church leader who made constant attempts to improve our lives in
many spheres. But those negative attempts come from people who are not as
interested as we are in strengthening and building up the Ukrainian nation.
Translated by: Fr. Jeffrey Stephaniuk, Canada
http://odesa.uanews.tv, www.uanews.tv 2001-2004
FOR PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC USE ONLY
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