Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine Visited Ostroh Academy

October 20, 2024

On a momentous occasion, the 30th anniversary of the revived National University of Ostroh Academy, on October 20, Doctor Honoris of the NaUOA, Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine visited Ostroh. The Primate led Divine Liturgy in the Academic Church of St. Fedir Ostrozkyi, marking a significant milestone in the history of the academy.

"Today, we thank God for thirty years of successful work by the restored Ostroh Academy. Established in ancient times thanks to the outstanding philanthropic care of the faithful Prince Vasyl-Kostiantyn Ostrozkyi, this academy then played a vital role in the preservation and establishment of the Orthodox Church not only in Ukrainian lands but also in the whole of Central-Eastern Europe,"

The Primate added that the holy Prince Vasyl-Kostiantyn was an example of how one can use wealth and power for good, how not to succumb to the temptations of gold and silver, but instead to turn perishable wealth into the multiplication of eternal treasures of virtues and good deeds, as the Lord has taught us. The family of Ostrozkyi Princes, through many of its members, exemplified virtues worth knowing and emulating:

"For the more we keep such good examples before us, the clearer it becomes how we should live, act, and work to be true Christians and good people. One of the greatest fruits of the work of that ancient Ostroh Academy and the personal achievement of the venerable Prince Vasyl-Kostiantyn was the publication of the first complete printed Bible in the Slavic language. Understanding the significance of scriptures for the knowledge of truth and the attainment of salvation and eternal blissful life, the scholars of the academy and their holy patron did everything to ensure that the unique work was completed, allowing the Slavic Orthodox peoples to receive the complete Bible in their native language."

During the liturgy, Metropolitan Epifaniy awarded with church honours of the OCU the parishioners - the workers and students of the NaUOA who are making a significant contribution to the development of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and in connection with the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the restored Ostroh Academy. They actively work on the spiritual and moral education of children and youth in our country based on Christian values and publish manuals on the Fundamentals of Christian Ethics.

"Today, we want to celebrate those whose hard work and dedication are crucial and who have significantly contributed to the development of our Ukrainian education system. Without your tireless efforts, we would not have a future, as education is provided to the young generation to build Ukraine."

In particular, the following church awards were presented:

• Order of St. Prince Volodymyr the Great to Ihor Pasichnyk, Ostroh Academy President, Doctor of Science (Psychology), Full professor;
• Order of Princess Olha to Oksana Kostiuk, Cand. Sc. (Pedagogics), Head of the Department of English Language and Literature of the National University of Ostroh Academy, active parishioner and chorister of the St. Nicholas Church;
• Order of Saint and Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr (III Degree) to Serhii Makarevych, director of the "Litera" Publishing House (Kyiv) for 18 years of fruitful cooperation in publishing programmes and manuals on the Fundamentals of Christian Ethics for students of general secondary education institutions of Ukraine;
• Order of the Archangel Michael (II degree) - to Andrii Smyrnov, Doctor of Sciences (History), professor of the Department of History at the National University of Ostroh Academy, an active parishioner of the Stauropegic Academic Church of Saint Fedir Ostrozkyi of the NaUOA;
• Order of Saint and Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Volodymyr (III Degree) - to Vasyl Zhukovskyi, a priest of the Academic Church of St. Fedir Ostrozkyi;
• Order of the Archangel Michael (II degree) - to Fr Elijah Morgan, Doctor of Economics, Doctor of Theology, Honorary Professor of the National University of Ostroh Academy, the OCU priest, populariser of Christian values both abroad and in Ukraine;

- The Medal "For Sacrifice and Love for Ukraine":

• to Ruslana Kalamazh, Doctor of Science (Psychology), Vice-Rector of the National University of Ostroh Academy, a parishioner of the Stauropegic Academic Church of Saint Fedir Ostrozkyi at the NaUOA;
• to Dmytro Shevchuk, Doctor of Science (Philosophy), Vice-Rector of the National University of Ostroh Academy, and a parishioner of the Stauropegic Academic Church of Saint Fedir Ostrozkyi at the NaUOA;
• to Oksana Matlasevych, professor of Ostroh Academy National University, an active parishioner of the Stauropegic Academic Church of Saint Fedir Ostrozkyi at the NaUOA;
• to Halyna Tsepiuk, director of the NaUOA Scientific Library, an active parishioner of the Stauropegic Academic Church of Saint Fedir Ostrozkyi;
• to Inna Kovalchuk, Cand. Sc. (Psychology), Director of the Institute of Linguistics of the NaUOA, a parishioner of the Stauropegic Academic Church of Saint Fedir Ostrozkyi;
• to Nataliia Zablotska, Deputy Director of the "Litera" Publishing House (Kyiv), for her long-term and fruitful collaboration in the publication of programmes and textbooks on the Fundamentals of Christian Ethics for students of general secondary education institutions;

- A Letter of Commendation with a Сross for active prayerful and organisational participation in the life of the church:

• to Solomiia Kostenkova, specialist of the Department for Information and Advertising of the National University of Ostroh Academy;
• to Nataliia Melnychuk, Assistant Rector for Administration and Maintenance at the National University of Ostroh Academy;
• to Nataliia Topishko, Associate professor at the National University of Ostroh Academy;
• to Mariana Nechyporuk, Head of the Department for Information and Advertising at the National University of Ostroh Academy;
• to Svitlana Novoseletska, Associate professor of the National University of Ostroh Academy;
• to Halyna Svyryda, the NaUOA Main Building Facilities Manager;
• to Oleksii Pelypenko, senior lecturer at the National University of Ostroh Academy;
• to Olha Pelypenko, senior lecturer at the National University of Ostroh Academy;
• to Ivan Khomiak, Full professor at the National University of Ostroh Academy;
• to Olha Demianchuk, Full professor at the National University of Ostroh Academy;
• to Nataliia Denysenko, Head of the Information and Bibliography Department of the NaUOA Scientific Library, a parishioner of the Stauropegic Academic Church of Saint Fedir Ostrozkyi at the NaUOA;

- a Letter of Commendation:

• to Orest Yakymchuk, a student of the National University of Ostroh Academy, for his active participation in the life of the temple;
• to Uliana Babak, a student of the National University of Ostroh Academy, for her active involvement in the life of the temple.

"We granted the President of Ostroh Academy, Ihor Pasichnyk, the Order of Saint Prince Volodymyr the Great. Since the revival of the NaUOA, he has been at the heart of the institution and, during these thirty years, has done and is doing so, and I am convinced he will continue to make significant contributions to its restoration in the future. This process is relentless and requires continuous work and self-improvement. Modern, cutting-edge technologies request this development from us. Thank you sincerely for this. May the Lord give you strength and health to work for many more years for the establishment of this glorious educational and historical institution - the Ostroh Academy,"

Congratulatory words were also pronounced by Ihor Pasichnyk, the President of Ostroh Academy; Oleksandr Koval, Head of the Rivne Regional State Administration; Vasyl Zhukovskyi, the pastor of the church, archpriest.

"Miracles are always happening around us; we just don't notice them. If you want to see a real miracle, come to Ostroh Academy. No one believed in the revival of this institution out of the ruins. We are convinced this is not a human endeavour but a project of the Lord God. For 30 years, we have become a real flagship of higher education in Ukraine. On this land, the Ostroh princes laid a strong foundation for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Today's liturgy brings joy and inspiration to our hearts. May they inspire each of us to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine even more,"

"Today, I saw a large number of people who not only invest their souls in Ostroh Academy but also our Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here today; it shows tremendous support and is inspiring. Ostroh Academy is a sacred place, a centre of the region, and the number one institution in the educational field, from where everything that later passes through our state is born. We are on the right path."

"Perhaps not all of us imagine where we are and what wonderful traditions we have today. The great role and the mission that you fulfil in our state, creating, strengthening, and building up the local Orthodox Church, has already been mentioned several times. We must think about building the church and who will come to the temples and hold various positions in the future. It should be our youth, educated on Christian principles. Thank you for recognising how much Ostroh Academy works to make Christian values visible. Ukraine should become a place where it is pleasant to live and where you want to return,"

After the festive liturgy, Metropolitan Epiphaniy visited the old academic building of Ostroh Academy (the Robotics Laboratory, the Centre for Innovative Industries, and the Museum of the NaUOA History), as well as the new university building (computer classrooms, laboratories, and the art cluster). Anastasiia Heleniuk, the director of the Museum of the NaUOA History, conducted the tour.

"In the context of a new era, the revived Ostroh Academy from the very beginning pays special attention to expanding the opportunities for studying biblical ethics, morals and instructions through the educational system because this knowledge has value not only for the present but also for eternity. Congratulating the priest and the community of this academic temple, as well as the entire family of Ostroh Academy, on the thirtieth anniversary of its revival, I sincerely wish you all to continue the good deeds of previous generations with dignity, to remember God and His words as the source of eternal life. May the prayerful intercession of Saints Fedor and Vasyl-Kostiantyn Ostrozkyi and all the saints of the Ukrainian land be with you,"

The final chord of Metropolitan Epiphaniy's visit was meeting with students, professors, and university teaching staff on the topic "Christian morality. Youth and Ukraine".

"You are called to be spiritually enriched, to absorb all that you receive at the university and in the future to use it for the benefit of the Ukrainian people and the development of our state,"

At the end of the event, Ihor Pasichnyk presented Metropolitan Epiphaniy with the highest award of the National University of Ostroh Academy - The Silver Medal "Prince Vasyl-Kostiantyn Ostrozkyi" for outstanding personal achievements in the development of Ukrainian statehood, strengthening spirituality, educating the young generation on the principles of Christian morality, significant contribution to the development of Ostroh Academy. These medals are awarded to the most distinguished figures in education, science, and politics.