Scientific Conference on “Common Heritage of Baptism — the Path to Unity” Held in Dnipro
On October 15, in Dnipro, as part of the congress of the chairmen of the ecumenical commissions of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, a scientific conference “St. Volodymyr’s Baptism and Ukrainian Churches: On the Way to Reinterpreting Our Common Heritage” took place. The event was dedicated to the all-Ukrainian pilgrimage of the icon and relics of St. Volodymyr the Great, Equal to the Apostles, which is currently ongoing in Ukraine.
The event was organized by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Commission on Interfaith and Interreligious Relations, the Dnipropetrovsk National Historical Museum named after D. I. Yavornytsky, and the Institute of Ecumenical Studies of the Ukrainian Catholic University.
The conference was attended by representatives of the UGCC eparchies, clergy of various denominations, theologians, scholars, and the faithful. Participants discussed the significance of Volodymyr’s Baptism in the contemporary ecclesiastical and social context, specifically its influence on the formation of Ukrainian spiritual identity and interchurch dialogue.
“The baptism of our homeland by Volodymyr the Great is not only a historical act, but the beginning of a continuous theological journey that leads us to the discovery of a common Christian source,” said Fr. Ihor Shaban, chairman of the UGCC Commission on Interfaith and Interreligious Relations. “On this basis, we are all united—Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants—as in the waters of the Dnipro, from which our common baptism came.”
As the participants emphasized, during wartime, ecumenical cooperation in Ukraine acquires a new dimension—it becomes a testimony of faith, solidarity, and service to human dignity.
During the conference, speakers addressed key aspects of Volodymyr’s Baptism in the light of contemporary ecclesiology, history, and culture. It was noted that Volodymyr’s conversion to Christ was not only a political act but also an existential choice of faith that determined the fate of an entire people.
“The faith that Saint Volodymyr, Prince of Kyiv, embraced is not meant to divide, but to unite. It is a faith that builds and gives life, serves peace, and cares for the dignity of every person. Today, more than ever, we are called to carry it together in the hearts of Ukrainians,” concluded Fr. Ihor Shaban.
Bishop Maksym Ryabukha, Exarch of Donetsk, underscored the spiritual significance of the conference, describing it as a special space for dialogue and encounter: “Looking at our history and the present day, we realize that the common roots of St. Volodymyr are a guide for us and, at the same time, a space for a deeper understanding of our own lives,” said the bishop. “The values that St. Volodymyr brought to Ukrainian soil—above all, an awareness of the dignity of human life—remain relevant today, helping us to view our reality through the prism of faith.”
“In the figure of St. Volodymyr, we discover brotherhood, mutual understanding, and a shared vision of the future of our land, Church, and state,” added Bishop Maksym.
