Memories Of Ukraine

The summer of 2006 was a great summer. I spent a good part of it in Ukraine.

I knew very little about this country, yet I had a desire to spend my summer in a country that had once been part of the Soviet Union. I also wanted to do something completely different, to seize an opportunity that may never come again my way. I signed up to teach English at the English summer program of the Catholic University of Ukraine.

Catholic University of Ukraine (UCU)

Ukrainian Catholic Seminary (about to open in 2006)

In this beautiful country I found a people still healing from years of oppression. The Ukrainian Catholic Church had been suppressed under Soviet rule, making it the largest underground Church in the world. Attempts were made to starve all Ukrainians to death, to ban their language and to squash their traditions. The Catholic University’s mission was not only to provide an excellent academic curriculum, but most importantly to instill hope in a new generation. Now the Ukrainian Catholic Church is booming with vocations. After years of persecution, the blood of hundreds of martyrs is flowering into a Church that is alive and well.

My students had reason to be hopeful for the future in 2006 since just the year before the Orange Revolution had seen people rise up against political corruption. Viktor Yanukovych had rigged the election in his favor, but in 2005 Viktor Yushchenko was declared the rightful winner. Many of my students had participated in protests at Kiev’s Independence Square. Others participated in protests in Lviv. The future looked bright and ties with Europe were being reinforced.

This hope began to wane in 2010 when Yanukovych retook power and led Ukraine to closer ties with Russia. The Catholic University received threats from the government as its president and professors openly criticized the government. In late February of this year a young professor of the university was killed during protests in Kiev, Bohdan Solchanyk. Yanukovych was ousted weeks ago after months of protests and the deaths of many in Kiev.

During my time in Ukraine, I quickly understood that the country was deeply divided. I spent my time in Lviv and farther south in the Carpathian Mountains where the English summer camp was held. The people I encountered were Europe-leaning and had great pride in their Ukrainian heritage. I learned that the East however was Russia-leaning and identified more with Russia. There was one student from the East and whenever she slipped into Russian or mispronounced a Ukrainian word the other students became upset.

My students expressed much resentment towards Russia for the suffering of their parents and grandparents. There was also much resentment towards the Russian Orthodox Church which collaborated with the Soviets and took over all Ukrainian Catholic Churches during Soviet rule. In 2006 it seemed that the division of Ukraine into separate nations could easily become a reality.

Opera House of Lviv

Me (looking young) with Soviet-style apartment buildings in Lviv

Working with my students, several of which were seminarians, I noticed that much healing had to happen in Ukrainian society. Many demons from the past and present still tormented a very gentle and kind people.

Giving part of my summer to teach English to college students was more than just teaching English. I realized I was giving these young men and women a tool to lead their country into a brighter future. I realized I was building a bridge between them and the West. My presence, as well as the presence of the other teachers, was a sign of hope for them.

I hope and pray that peace returns to Ukraine soon and that all Ukrainians may live together in peace, resolving their differences and healing the many wounds they have received throughout the years.