Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Conducts Memorial Service for Yevhen Konovalets in Kyiv

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) held a memorial service for Yevhen Konovalets on August 16, 2026, at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv. The service, led by UGCC Head Sviatoslav Shevchuk, honored Konovalets, a colonel in the Army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic (UNR) and founder of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN). The event was reported by the Patriarchal Cathedral’s Facebook page.

The ceremony took place following the Divine Liturgy and included a procession with Konovalets’s coffin. High-level officials attended the service, including the Head of the Office of the President, Kyrylo Budanov, his deputy Iryna Vereshchuk, Andrii Yusov from the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, and Oleksandr Alfiorov, Head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory. Their presence underscored the significance of the event in the context of Ukraine’s national memory and historical discourse.

In his sermon, Shevchuk reflected on the historical struggle for Ukrainian statehood, emphasizing Konovalets’s role as a symbol of the nation’s fight for independence. He highlighted the importance of responsibility in safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty and societal unity. Shevchuk also addressed the nature of patriotism, urging it to be rooted in love for one’s country and people rather than in hostility toward others.

Konovalets is remembered as a pivotal figure in Ukraine’s early 20th-century liberation movement and a key architect of the OUN. His legacy continues to resonate in discussions about the country’s historical path and the preservation of its independence. The memorial service thus served as a moment to reflect on these themes within the broader context of Ukraine’s national identity.

The UGCC’s involvement in commemorating historical figures like Konovalets reflects its role in shaping and preserving the nation’s historical consciousness. As a church in communion with Rome, the UGCC has consistently emphasized the importance of unity, justice, and the moral dimensions of national identity. The service provided an opportunity to honor the past while engaging with the present challenges facing Ukraine.

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