Head of State Committee Addresses International Conference on Kyivan Church

15-09-2008

Kyiv- On the occasion of the 1020th anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus and at the request of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), the Institute of Church History and Institute of Ecumenical Studies of the Ukrainian Catholic University in cooperation with the National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, the Ukrainian Christian Academic Society, and the National Reserve St. Sophia of Kyiv are holding an international scholarly conference "The Kyivan church: Ecclesial tradition - historiographic problem - ecumenical perspective" from 11 to 14 September 2008 in the Museum of the National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Among the speakers is Oleksandr Sagan, head of the State Committee of Ukraine on Matters of Nationalities and Religions.

Sagan noted that "every nation has its own core around which its historical existence develops and thanks to which it can realize its place in world historical and cultural processes. For Ukrainians, this core is the tradition of Eastern Christianity, the golden intersection of the ideas of holy scripture and the wisdom of the church fathers and the practice of church life in the most diverse historical circumstances. The living connection of times and generations of Ukrainians provided the basis of their tradition and determined the image of the nation and its contribution to the world treasury of spiritual and cultural achievements.

"Modern globalization paves its way for the global community, demonstrating both indisputable advantages and defects of the chosen way. Therefore, while we view social progress as the basis for the material well-being of the people, we should not break away from our national roots, which are the pledge of our originality in the coming ages," reads Sagan's address.

The conference deals with the problems of the historic continuity of the church tradition which was formed as a result of the introduction of Christianity as the state religion in Kyivan Rus. The director of the Institute of Church History, Oleh Turii, stressed that the consideration of problems in church history should help establish the possibility and extent of the necessity of the consensus regarding the historical past of the Kyivan church for the sake of today's agreement and eventual unification of its successors. The closing meeting of the conference will consider the prospects and obstacles in the way of the realization in Ukraine of the idea of "a single national church." It will be attended by representatives of the church hierarchy, state authorities, and public associations.
http://www.risu.org.ua/eng/news/article;24602/