Details
Institute of Ecumenical Studies UCU
From October 7 to 10, 2025, Lviv will host the International Forum ‘Ecumenical Social Week’. This year, it will bring together representatives of expert and religious circles, civil society, politics, and students from Ukraine and around the world to focus on the development of sustainable institutions in Ukraine. The forum is organised by the Institute of Ecumenical Studies of the Ukrainian Catholic University in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Ukraine and the Evangelical Church in Germany.
Over the 17 years of its existence, the International Forum ‘Ecumenical Social Week’ has become a platform for ecumenical and interdisciplinary dialogue, the search for solutions and joint initiatives of the state, society, communities and hromadas.
The modern world, and Ukraine in particular, is undergoing profound transformation under the pressure of wars, global changes and threats, crises in international organizations (UN, IAEA, Red Cross, WHO) and the erosion of trust in traditional institutions. Skepticism about the role of state, religious, public, and educational structures is growing. The influence of populism and propaganda is getting stronger, and societies are increasingly showing alienation from established forms of association and governance.
Given this, there is a growing need to really rethink the role of institutions during times of war and global change—like the development of artificial intelligence, new ethical challenges, and the breakdown of traditional values.
Building effective institutions in the context of war in Ukraine and abroad, memorialising the Russian-Ukrainian war, ecumenical dialogue, institutional reforms – this is not an exhaustive list of topics for this year's ESW. The programme includes a variety of formats: panel discussions, theological seminars, visits to places of remembrance and joint prayers.
You can join the Forum events live or online by registering at the link until October 5, 2025.
The working languages of the Forum are Ukrainian and English, with simultaneous interpretation.
Agenda
Program of the 18-th Ecumenical Social Week
UCU Institute of Ecumenical Studies
