The Head of the UGCC Discusses with the Minister of Culture of Ukraine Joint Responsibility for Cultural Heritage and National Unity
On March 25, 2026, on the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Most Holy Lady, a meeting took place at the Patriarchal Center of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church between His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and Tetiana Berezhna, Minister of Culture and Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy of Ukraine.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of a massive Russian missile attack that struck several Ukrainian cities on March 24, including Lviv, where facilities near sites listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List were damaged.
The Church as a Guardian of Cultural Heritage
His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized the centuries-old role of the UGCC in the development and preservation of Ukrainian culture. He specifically highlighted Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky—founder of the National Museum in Lviv, patron of monumental art, and advocate of Ukrainian traditions.
In particular, the Head of the UGCC noted that Metropolitan Andrey’s deed of donation transferred the museum collection to the Ukrainian people—an entity whose existence was officially denied at the time—thus constituting a nation-building legal act.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav also spoke about the work of the UGCC’s Special Commission on Culture and Church Art, established to preserve cultural heritage under the Church’s auspices.
The participants recalled Russia’s targeted attacks on cultural sites in Ukraine. His Beatitude Sviatoslav emphasized that the Church fulfills a dual mission: it fosters a conscious attitude toward cultural heritage and conveys the voice of the Ukrainian people to the international community—one that listens.
Key Proposal: A List of Nationwide Shrines as Symbols of Unity
During the meeting, His Beatitude Sviatoslav proposed that the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine compile a list of nationwide shrines—sites that serve as symbols of the unity of the entire Ukrainian people and cannot be transferred for the exclusive use of any single denomination.
The Head of the UGCC included, in particular, St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv and other sites associated with the era of Kyivan Rus’ and undivided Kyivan Christianity among such shrines.
“There are symbols and shrines that belong to the entire nation. They cannot be transferred for the exclusive use—even on a lease basis—of a single denomination. These shrines must unite, not divide,” emphasized His Beatitude Sviatoslav.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav noted that the UGCC does not claim ownership of these sites, but seeks to ensure equal access to prayer at the shrines of our shared ecclesiastical and cultural heritage. The state, as the owner, is expected to act as an arbiter, guaranteeing equal treatment for all denominations.
State—Church Partnership
The parties reaffirmed their commitment to a partnership model of relations between the state and the Church for the common good. His Beatitude Sviatoslav thanked the Ukrainian government for treating all denominations equally, describing this principle as the cornerstone of social unity.
Minister Berezhna expressed her readiness for open dialogue on issues of cultural heritage and to continue addressing the matters raised during the meeting.
At the conclusion of the meeting, His Beatitude Sviatoslav presented the Minister of Culture with three symbolic gifts: an antique icon of Jesus Christ with a certificate of authenticity; Roman Skakun’s scholarly research on Soviet agents within the Orthodox episcopate of Ukraine; and a commemorative medal from the Mint of Ukraine, issued to mark the 30th anniversary of the restoration of the structures of the Kyiv Metropolia and the 20th anniversary of the transfer of the seat of the Head of the UGCC to Kyiv.
