Ukrainian Archbishop Borys Gudziak Presents Book in Philadelphia

Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and President of the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU), launched his new book "Living Victoriously: The School of Patriarch Josyf Slipyj" at a special event held at the Ukrainian Library in Jenkintown, The Gaze reports, citing Ukrinform

Published by UCU Press, the book serves as both a personal reflection and a profound spiritual guide, inspired by the life and legacy of Patriarch Josyf Slipyj – a significant figure in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church who endured 18 years of imprisonment under Soviet rule for his faith.

The event was moderated by historian Andriy Zhyvachivskyi and featured an in-depth discussion with Archbishop Gudziak. It also commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Patriarch’s arrest by Soviet authorities on April 12, 1945 – an event that initiated nearly two decades of incarceration and exile.

In the book, Gudziak reflects on his personal encounters with the Patriarch, from childhood memories to their time spent together at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Rome. These recollections, intertwined with insights into Slipyj’s leadership, reveal a man who championed universal values and resisted the totalitarian erasure of human dignity.

“Patriarch Josyf was not confined to narrow nationalism,” Gudziak emphasized. “He stood against one of the greatest evils of the 20th century – the attempt to reduce the human person to a Soviet bioproduct, a "homo sovieticus."

"Living Victoriously" builds upon two addresses delivered by Gudziak in Kyiv and Lviv in 2017 during the 125th anniversary of Slipyj’s birth. These talks, titled “Be Yourself” and “Desire Great Things!”, have been expanded and enriched for this publication.

Through this book, readers gain a deeper understanding of Patriarch Slipyj not only as a church leader and scholar but also as a visionary institution builder who inspired generations and strengthened the foundations of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church during times of adversity.

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