“A national-scale figure”
His Beatitude Liubomyr (Huzar) is 80 today. In the official 10 (and unofficial 15) years of his patriarchal service, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church became a nationwide, rather than local, institution, having established its parishes well into eastern Ukraine. And His Beatitude himself found such a tonality for a dialogue with our torn society that each of his words really weighs. The Day discusses this with Viktor YELENSKY, president of the Ukrainian Association of Religious Freedom.
“His Beatitude Liubomyr (Huzar) became the Church head in 1996, when he was appointed Assistant Bishop with delegated authority to lead the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC). So he in fact led the Church for 15, not 10, years. Incidentally, in the beginning far from all were in rapture over His Beatitude Liubomyr as Greek Catholic primate. The Lviv intelligentsia even released a statement alleging that, as he was too Western, he would not defend the Church’s Ukrainian identity.
“When Huzar was receiving the insignia of a cardinal, The New York Times published an interesting article. The correspondent noted that he differed even outwardly, with his beard and clothes, from the other prelates who were receiving their ecclesiastical berets and rings. When she saw His Beatitude Liubomyr putting his ring into the pocket, she came to him and asked why he had done so. She heard in reply something like this: ‘It is not our tradition. We feel ourselves part of the Ecumenical Church, but we are a Church of our own right.’ Then he said many things that sounded almost challenging from the viewpoint of a strictly centralized Latin Church. For example, he criticized the Vatican bureaucracy. He said the bureaucracy had no gift of infallibility. I must say that the clergy, the faithful, and the public at large very quickly recognized His Beatitude Liubomyr (Huzar) as UGCC head and a profound personality.”
What did the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church officially manage to achieve during the patriarchal service of His Beatitude Liubomyr?
“His Beatitude Liubomyr’s predecessor Cardinal Myroslav-Ivan (Liubachivsky) used to recall the well-known maxim that saving human souls is the Church’s true mission. But we can say there were also some visible things, such as establishing new parishes, building temples, establishing the Ukrainian Catholic University, radically improving theological education, and moving the UGCC see from Lviv to Kyiv.
“It seems to me that His Beatitude Liubomyr was a figure that eliminated, to a large extent, the anti-Uniate prejudices that had been imposed on Greater Ukraine for two centuries. Besides, he became a national-scale figure. Sociological surveys show that the level of trust in him very much exceeds the share of Greek Catholics in the total population of Ukraine.”
How can you explain this, for he has not been the Church head for two years now?
“First of all, he demonstrated a fair, decent, and unusual for us, way to transfer power. Then His Beatitude Liubomyr began to receive wide coverage in the media, where he ran his own columns. Maybe, not all of them rouse as keen a response as he hopes for. As Fyodor Tyutchev said, ‘We are not to predict what effect our word will have.’ Nevertheless, each of his messages does not remain unnoticed. In essence, his participation in the group ‘December 1,’ political writing, and public activism make the UGCC ex-primate one of Ukraine’s most notable public figures.”
As is known, His Beatitude likes to be surrounded by interesting people, no matter whether or not they are believers. You were in this circle more than once. What impression did you gain from personal contacts with him?
“I’ve met him many times, and I think that some things that I said were also interesting to him. We spoke about the topics which far from all hierarchs will dare discuss – not only on account of church discipline: the point is that far from everybody has something to say. For example, he was once asked a provocative question. It is common knowledge that the prerogative to convene a Vatican Council rests with the Pope only. But I asked: ‘Suppose I would like to convene the 3rd Vatican Council and I am drawing up the agenda. What would you suggest for discussion?’ He answered: ‘Two topics: human dignity and Church in Europe.’ This means he is very much concerned over these issues. Human dignity is an easy-to-understand topic, as well as why the Catholic Church, which dominates in Europe, still remains a minority. Besides, its identity is increasingly shifting to the global south. In other words, it is a person with which you can discuss a lot of diverse questions. Moreover, His Beatitude speaks very simply about very complicated things. And, obviously, you can always feel his charisma of love.”
P.S. His Beatitude Liubomyr once proposed a toast in which he said that we would all meet our death one day and we must be prepared for this. Then he wished those present and himself to be buried in coffins made of a hundred-year-old oak tree. “And I will plant this oak tree tomorrow,” he said with his inherent sense of humor. The Day sincerely wishes His Beatitude good health for many years ahead!
