On 10–15 January, Lviv hosted the Winter School of Ecumenical Dialogue, organised by the Ukrainian Catholic University’s Institute of Ecumenical Studies.
The event brought together young leaders from different Christian traditions to explore responsible leadership and Christian responses to today’s challenges: war, social exhaustion, community recovery, human dignity, mental health and interdenominational dialogue.
GELCU was represented by Vladyslav Fediuk, secretary of St Martin’s Congregation in Kyiv, and Mykola Kurysh, deacon of Holy Trinity Church in Ivano-Frankivsk.
Participation in such initiatives has particular significance for our Church, for which youth leadership is a pressing concern.
“It was a time of good lectures, good encounters and good coffee. The school offered not only academic knowledge, but real dialogue with Christians from other denominations and traditions. The Church needs renewed Evangelical youth life, both within parishes and nationally. Young parishioners serving today—reading God’s Word in worship or participating in diaconal ministry—are the future bishops, pastors, preachers of the Gospel, diaconal workers and public voices who will represent the Church in society. In this sense, the school was also a place of hope. Perhaps, God willing, its participants will one day work together to bring Christian culture into the life of Ukraine and its people, strengthening society’s spiritual life.”
Vladyslav Fediuk
The first day focused on the identity and mission of young leaders in contemporary Ukraine. Participants learned about the Institute’s vision and the school’s programme. The central event was a lecture by Fr Rostyslav Pendiuk of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on youth leadership during war, combining reflections on faith, moral courage, creativity and responsibility for the community. The day ended with interactive presentations of youth movements, civil society organisations and congregations, revealing the diversity of Christian service in Ukraine and helping participants get to know one another.
The following days explored different dimensions of ministry and solidarity.
Sunday focused on spirituality, unity and interdenominational dialogue through shared prayer, cultural initiatives and a candle-making workshop led by the international L’Arche-Kovcheh community..
Monday addressed mental health and care for the community. Psychotherapist Olha Kitura led practical training in psychological first aid, while Sister Anysiia Sokolova spoke about war trauma and spiritual resources for responding to it. The day concluded with shared reading and discussion of prayer and related religious texts, moderated by Eduard Berdnyk, connecting psychological sensitivity with theological reflection on wartime experience.
Tuesday explored communication and dialogue as means of social unity. Olena Petrushkevych introduced nonviolent communication, while a meeting with Ferenc Millo of the Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary opened up the practical dimensions of interdenominational cooperation.
Wednesday focused on cultural heritage and national identity. Khrystyna Rutar spoke about commemorating the past, and Iryna Starovoit about a generation’s responsibility for the inherited dream of Ukraine.
The day concluded spiritually with Taizé-style prayer at St Sophia’s Church on UCU’s campus.
The final day addressed ethics, human rights and social justice. Myroslav Marynovych’s lecture on human dignity provided a significant concluding reflection. Participants could look back on their experience and see the school as more than a series of lectures: it was a place of deep learning, honest dialogue and a shared search for Christian responses to contemporary challenges.
Mykola Kurysh, deacon of Holy Trinity Church in Ivano-Frankivsk, shared his impressions:
“Participating in this school was an inspiring encounter with Christianity’s many voices. The lectures were not only intellectually engaging; they invited sincere dialogue.”
The German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine has long participated in ecumenical platforms and projects in Ukraine and abroad. Two of GELCU’s official values are “ecumenical openness” and “openness to partnerships”. Our parishioners’ participation in the Winter School showed once again that ecumenism for GELCU is a living practice of cooperation, listening and shared responsibility for Christianity’s future in Ukraine.
