Exhibition about Josyph Slipyy’s life open at Ukrainian Parliament
On Tuesday, April 11, the exhibition devoted to the life and ministry of Patriarch Josyp Slipyy of the UGCC entitled “Patriarch Josyph Slipyy: Be yourself” was opened in the sidelines of the Ukrainian Parliament.
The exhibition was prepared by the Institute of Church History, together with the Parliamentary Committee on Culture and Spirituality on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the birth of the famous church leader and an outstanding son of the Ukrainian people. The exhibition was opened on the 72nd anniversary of the arrest of Metropolitan Josyph Slipyy and Greek Catholic bishops.
According to the website of Ukrainian Parliament, the exhibition reveals the main stages of the life and work of Josyph Slipyy: childhood in the village of Zazdrist in Ternopil and his education, priesthood vocation and research activities, long rectorship in Lviv Theological Seminary, election as a successor of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky, persecution by the Soviet authorities, two arrests and an 18-year detention in the Gulag, circumstances of his custody and release, his moving to Rome. The archival photos published reflect its participation in the meetings of the Second Vatican Council. The exhibition highlights the work of Blessed Iosyp on development of the spiritual, cultural and educational life of Ukrainians in Rome: the creation of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Rome, the construction of Saint Sophia, his numerous trips for unity and support of “the dispersed” Ukrainians. Texts on banners were chosen thematically, these are words of Patriarch Iosyp’s “Testament” that best reflect his stance and his prophetic vision about the future of Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian Church.
The words of greeting were said by Mykola Knyazhytskyy, chairman of the parliamentary committee on culture and spirituality, and Victor Yelenskyy, deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee on culture and spirituality and chairman of the parliamentary subcommittee on government policy on freedom of conscience and religious organizations.
UCU Vice Rector Oleg Turiy told all present about the thorny life path of the blessed patriarch. After a spiritual blessing by Administrator of the Patriarchal Curia of the UGCC – His Eminence Bishop Bohdan (Dzyurakh), a choir of seminarians of the Three Holy Hierarchs Seminary performed in the parliament the spiritual anthem of Ukraine “God the Great and One.” It was reported by the RISU journalist.
As previously reported, the exhibition is operating as part of the announced year of memory of Josyph Slipyy, in the context of which the UCU conducts educational activities and acquaints Ukraine with the life and legacy of the Patriarch.
