Shevchuk: Today we no longer of interest as bridge between ROC and Orthodoxy

The head of the UGCC, Svitoslav Shevchuk. Photo: UCU

On September 26, 2025, at a theological forum of the Uniate Church held at the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU), the head of the UGCC, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, stated that the concept of the UGCC as a "bridge between East and West" is outdated, as both sides no longer need intermediaries.

He noted that for many years, their Church was spoken of as a bridge or intermediary between the Catholic West and the Orthodox East. "But now we are told that the East and the West no longer need intermediaries. They are perfectly capable of talking about us without us," the head of the UGCC lamented. According to him, the "bridge" concept was problematic from the beginning because "it lacks its own identity" – "everyone walks on it".

Instead of the outdated model, Shevchuk proposed that UGCC theologians develop the concept of the "theology of the local Kyivan Church". He outlined three perspectives of this approach: "the view from Rome", "the view from Lviv to Kyiv", meaning the transition of the Church head's residence to the Ukrainian capital – and "the view from Kyiv", which is developing after the creation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU). "It is time to return home and feel as part of the local Kyivan Church," Shevchuk urged.

He especially emphasized the ecumenical nature of the proposed theology. "This theology is, by its nature, open. It is ecumenical because we also invite our Orthodox brothers to engage in joint theological reflection," he said. According to Shevchuk, the establishment of the OCU has opened new opportunities for theological dialogue in Ukrainian land. In this context, he mentioned his message "Our Holy Sophia", written after the OCU was granted autocephaly.

Earlier, the UOJ quoted Shevchuk as saying that the Uniates and the OCU are reviving the ancient center of Christianity in Kyiv.

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