UCU Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Lviv Theological Academy Revival
The Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU), formed on the basis of the Lviv Theological Academy (LTA) in June 2002, on 1 September 2004 celebrated the 10 th anniversary of the LTA's revival. On 1 September 1994 , on the premises of Holy Spirit Seminary in Rudno-Lviv, the late Myroslav Ivan Cardinal Lubachivsky, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), served a festive Liturgy on the occasion of the revival of the Lviv Theological Academy . September First is considered to be the date of birth, or rather of revival, of the LTA (because it was founded back in 1929), which later gave rise to UCU.
On the occasion of the anniversary, the students were addressed by Fr. Mykhaylo Dymyd, first rector of the LTA, renewed after a 50-year break (closed by the Soviets in 1944). He shared his memories with the audience about 1 September 1994 and all events which preceded this holiday. He said: "When I was appointed rector of the LTA, we had no money, no students and no books in the library. We even had no premises to begin with. Not many people believed in our success. But the process was begun. In the beginning, we were in a small building. Then we moved to this one. Now we can see how it has grown into a huge complex at Khutorivka [the building site of a new Theological Center on the south side of Lviv]. It is a great achievement."
According to UCU's Information Department, 61 new students entered the university this year . Every year, UCU extends its geographical reach: this year, in addition to youth from Lviv and the Lviv region, youth from the neighboring Ivano-Frankivsk and Ternopil and southwestern Ukraine 's Chernivtsi and southern Ukraine 's Kherson regions have entered the university.
Fr. Borys Gudziak, current rector of UCU, also greeted the students, calling upon them to get actively involved in their studies and in the social ministry and fulfillment of UCU's mission, with a common responsibility for its future. The students also heard a lecture " Ukraine in the Orbit of European Thought," delivered by Professor Iryna Huzar, a member of the Shevchenko Scientific Society in Canada.
Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, UCU's grand chancellor and head of the UGCC, blessed the freshmen on the beginning of the school year and stated: "You are beginning your studies today. But, whatever the sphere of your activities or your year of studies, you have to remember that learning is a holy thing which blesses your soul. It is one of the means through which the grace of God can influence you. With an open heart, I wish you God's blessing, which can help you understand the great opportunity of being students of UCU, that is, full-fledged people who can bring the world much good."
Source: www.ucu.edu.ua
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