We’re very excited to share this timely and thought-provoking conversation with Archbishop Borys Gudziak of Philadelphia. Besides discussing his own life experiences, he also delved into the history of persecution and military aggression in Ukraine, and the horrific realities of the current situation – as well as what we can all do right now to support the Ukrainian people. Ultimately, his message is one of hope and unity.
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Ph.D was born in 1960 in Syracuse, New York, the son of immigrants from Ukraine. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and biology at Syracuse University in 1980 and then studied in Rome, receiving a degree in theology from the Pontifical Urban University in 1983. He returned to the U.S. to pursue a doctorate in Slavic and Byzantine Cultural and Ecclesiastical History at Harvard University in 1992. At Harvard he was a student of Henri Nouwen, who introduced him to the world of L’Arche – which would later have a big impact on Archbishop Gudziak’s life and work. He was ordained as a priest in 1998. Besides authoring a number of scholarly works, Archbishop Gudziak has also participated in over 600 videos, articles and interviews in popular magazines, newspapers and global media outlets. He travels extensively to speak about theology, society, and the current challenges in Ukraine, and is the President of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, Ukraine, where he is an honorary citizen.
Interview by Bill Locke
Length: 34 min.
Images courtesy of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia
Links mentioned in the video:
Ukraine Catholic University
Caritas International
