From Polarization to Social Solidarity: Shaping a Culture of Unity and Justice

13:00 | Registration

Registration in the lobby.

14:00 | Solemn Opening of the 19th Ecumenical Social Week

Venue: Ukrainian Catholic University, 35a St. John Paul II Avenue, Philosophy and Theology Faculty,
Room 113 – Conference Hall, Lviv

Working languages: Ukrainian and English. Simultaneous interpretation provided.

Opening remarks:

• Dr. Taras Dobko, Rector, Ukrainian Catholic University
• Rev. Dr. Iwan Dacko, President, UCU Institute of Ecumenical Studies
• Dr. Jan-Philipp Wölbern, Deputy Director, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Ukraine

Moderator: Rev. Dr. Roman Fihas, Director, UCU Institute of Ecumenical Studies

14:30–18:00 International Panel Discussion “From Polarization to Solidarity: Shaping a Culture of Unity and Justice”

The opening discussion will establish the central framework of the Forum: how can a society marked by war, trauma, and profoundly different experiences move from polarization towards a renewed culture of solidarity — while retaining the courage and capacity to address difficult and painful questions?

Panelists:

• Dr. Elmar Brok, Honorary President, European Union Deutschland
• Valerii Pekar, Chair of the Board of the NGO “Decolonization,” Lecturer at UCU Business School 
• Dr. Roman Kechur, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, psychoanalyst and civic leader; Candidate of Medical Sciences; Head, Psychology Programme, Ukrainian Catholic University; Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University
• Dr. Olena Styazhkina,Historian, writer, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of History of Ukraine of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Professor at the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE). 

Moderator: Rev. Dr. Roman Fihas, Director, UCU Institute of Ecumenical Studies 

10:00–12:00 | Panel Discussion “Our Statehood: Building Our Common Home”

Venue: Ukrainian Catholic University, 35a St. John Paul II Avenue, Philosophy and Theology Faculty, Room 113 – Conference Hall, Lviv

Working languages: Ukrainian and English. Simultaneous interpretation provided.

Panelists:

• Maksym Kozytskyy, Head of the Lviv Regional State/Military Administration
• Dr. Liliana Hentosh, historian and researcher of the life and ministry of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky
• Dr. Anatolii Babynskyi, PhD, lecturer and researcher, UCU  Institute of Church History

Moderator: Dr. Mykhailo Perun, Ukrainian scholar, associate professor, UCU Department of Theology, Doctor of Philosophy in Social Communications

13:30 | University-wide Divine Liturgy

Venue: Church of St. Sophia – the Wisdom of God, 4 Kozelnytska Street, Lviv

15:30–17:00 | Discussion “Moral People in an Immoral Society?”

Venue: Ukrainian Catholic University, 35a St. John Paul II Avenue, Philosophy and Theology Faculty, Room 113 – Conference Hall, Lviv. Working language: Ukrainian

Panelists:

• Vitalii Brynov, Candidate of Philosophical Sciences in Theology, scholarly editor, Ukrainian edition of “The Moral Man and the Immoral Society”.
• Roman Starovetskyi, graduate student, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Researcher of Gary Frankfurt’s philosophical views, contemporary concepts of free will, the philosophy of action, and moral responsibility

Moderator: Eduard Berdnyk, Junior Research Fellow, UCU Institute of Ecumenical Studies 

17:30–19:00 | International Discussion “Ecumenical Education as a Path to Overcoming Polarization: European Perspectives”

Venue: Ukrainian Catholic University, 35a St. John Paul II Avenue,  Philosophy and Theology Faculty, Room 113 – Conference Hall, Lviv

Working languages: Ukrainian and English. Simultaneous interpretation provided.

Panelists:

• Dr. Piotr Kopiec, a Polish theologian and sociologist, Professor, Catholic University of Lublin
• Dr. Natalia Vasilevich, a Belarusian human rights activist and theologian; Moderator, Christian human rights group “Christian Vision.”
• Dr. Fernando Ann, Professor of Mennonite theology and ethics, Free University of Amsterdam (The Netherlands); Director, Institute for Peace Theology, Church of Peace at the University of Hamburg (Germany).
• Eduard Berdnyk, Junior Research Fellow, UCU Institute of Ecumenical Studies 
• Dr. Andriy Smyrnov, historian and religious scholar, Doctor of Historical Sciences, professor at the National University of Ostroh Academy, member of the Synodal Commission on Inter-Christian Relations of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Moderator: Taras Kurylets, Research Fellow, UCU Institute of Ecumenical Studies, UCAS Academic Secretary 

11:00–12:30 | Panel Discussion “Culture as a Source of Shared Meanings”

Participation by invitation. Working language: Ukrainian

Panelists:

• Dr. Solomiia Tymo,  Lecturer, UCU Department of Theology, Director, “Radruzh” Iconography School
• Dr. Iryna Starovoyt, Dean, UCU Faculty of Humanities 
• Dr. Vasyl Kosiv, Rector, Lviv National Academy of Arts 

Moderator: Dr. Bohdan Tykholoz, Director, Ivan Franko National Literary and Memorial Museum in Lviv

15:00–16:30 | UCAS International Seminar “Building a New Architecture of International Ecumenical Relations”

Venue: Ukrainian Catholic University, 35a St. John Paul II Avenue, Faculty of Philosophy and Theology, Room 113 – Conference Hall, Lviv

Working languages: Ukrainian and English, simultaneous interpretation provided.

The seminar will explore the emerging architecture of international ecumenical relations, the role of Churches in contemporary Europe, and new forms of international partnership and solidarity.

Panelists:

• Myroslav Marynovych, Advisor, UCU Rector, President, UCU Institute of Church History
• Rev. Dr. Iwan Dacko, President, UCU Institute of Ecumenical Studies
• Thomas Söding, Vice President, Central Committee of German Catholics

Moderator: Taras Kurylets, Research Fellow, UCU Institute of Ecumenical Studies, UCAS Academic Secretary 

17:00–18:30 | Discussion “Churches in Ukraine Between Polarization and Solidarity” 

Venue: Ukrainian Catholic University, 35a St. John Paul II Avenue, Faculty of Philosophy and Theology, Room 113 – Conference Hall, Lviv

Working languages: Ukrainian and English, simultaneous interpretation provided.

A conversation on the role of Churches and religious organizations in overcoming social fragmentation, cultivating a culture of dialogue and reconciliation, and promoting responsible public witness.

Participant:

• Taras Kurylets, Research Fellow, UCU Institute of Ecumenical Studies, UCAS Academic Secretary 
• Rev. Dr. Ruslan Koryat, Buchach Eparchy
• Dr. Roman Nazarenko, Odesa-Crimea Exarchate
• Rev. Thomas Jerome, Paris Eparchy
• Rev. Ihor Makhnitskyi, Ternopil-Zboriv Archeparchy
• Rev. Dr. Ihor Holovchak, Stryi Eparchy
• Rev. Rostyslav Trukhan, Lutsk Exarchate 
• Rev. Vladyslav Ihnatyuk, Donetsk Exarchate

Moderator: Rev. Dr. Ihor Shaban, Head, UGCC Commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenical Affairs 

10:30–12:00 | Panel Discussion “Solidarity as a Strength of Ukrainian Communities Abroad: From Polarization to Joint Action” 

Venue: 12 S. Bandery Street, Lviv Polytechnic National University,Main Building, 2nd floor, Room 204

Partner–organizer: International Institute of Education, Culture and Diaspora Relations of Lviv Polytechnic National University 

Working language: Ukrainian

Participants:

• Dr. Myroslava Keryk, Chair of the Board of the Nasz Wybór Foundation (Poland), PhD

• Rostyslav Sukennyk, Head of the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Germany

• Myroslav Hochak, Vice President of the Ukrainian World Congress, Vice President of the European Congress of Ukrainians, President of the Ukrainian-Serbian Business Chamber (Serbia)

• Dr. Iryna Kliuchkovska, Director of the International Institute of Education, Culture and Diaspora Relations of Lviv Polytechnic National University, PhD in Education

Moderator: Dr. Oksana Piatkovska, PhD in Economics, Deputy Director of the International Institute of Education, Culture and Diaspora Relations of Lviv Polytechnic National University

15:00–16:30 | Conversation with Vitalii Portnykov

Venue: Ukrainian Catholic University, 35a St. John Paul II Avenue, Faculty of Philosophy and Theology, Room 113 – Conference Hall, Lviv

Working language: Ukrainian

Moderator: Dr. Roman Nazarenko, Director of the Institute of Religion and Society at the Ukrainian Catholic University 

The Forum’s final discussion will place the Ukrainian experience within a broader European and global context, addressing challenges to democracy and the international order, as well as prospects for cultivating a renewed culture of social solidarity.

16:30 | Closing Reflections and Conclusions