How does Fate turn into Chance

Prof. Myroslav Marynovych, Vice-Rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University

15th Ecumenical Social Week «Wandering Identity: Considering Meanings and Values»,

UCU, October 3, 2022

It is not an easy to task to talk about the identity of the Ukrainians. While explaining the phenomenon of time, St. Augustine once said: “If nobody asks me, I know what time is, but if I have to explain what the time is to the one asking, I will not be able to give the answer”[1]. So, it looks the same with the Ukrainian identity… but I will give it a try, anyway.

First of all, we need to understand that the Ukrainian identity is not homogeneous, but it’s mosaic, it’s pluralistic. It was the perpetual reason for our historical defeats in the time when social dominants were unified empires. Fragmented Ukrainians did not understand the chance of creating their own empire. However, in the second half of the twentieth century the dominant formula became the formula: unity in diversity, and finally the Ukrainians acquired the historic chance.

Nowadays, the war imposed on us by Russia, has become an amazing cementing factor for our national identity. Putin wanted to abuse our linguistic and regional differences, but, conversely, he contributed to the incredible national consolidation of Ukrainians. Consolidation does not mean homogenization. The mosaic nature of our identity will remain intact – I can also assume that once the war is over we will continue arguing about our differences. But from now on, people will have this amazing experience of national cohesion imprinted in their minds.

Statement:

Dr. Jörg Lüer, Head of the “Justice and Peace” Commission, Germany

15th Ecumenical Social Week "Wandering Identity: Considering meanings and Values", Lviv-2022

Thank you very much for the friendly invitation to this conference. To be honest I am very much impressed by the fact that you are holding this conference despite all the odds Ukraine is facing today, despite the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

For me this is an impressive sign of a vivid European society which does not give itself in to the daily challenge of violence, murder and suffering but continuously reflects in a practical perspective the fundaments and principles of living. Thank you very much for this living witness. It is meaningful not only for Ukraine.

Immanuel Kant pointed in his reflections on peace out, that even in times of war it is necessary to keep an attitude of peace allowing us to enter into the process of building peace, when time has come, beause peace has to be prepared already in war time, so that we will not get stuck in the self referential dynamics of violence.

I understand this conference in this perspective and I feel privileged having the opportunity to give my humble contribution to it.

The Crisis of Stability and the Idea of Europe Today

Gerard Delanty

University of Sussex, Brighton, UK

15th Ecumenical Social Week "Wandering Identity: Considering meanings and Values", Lviv-2022

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the subsequent war that followed, the idea of Europe is once again in question. The formation and identity of Europe throughout history has been very much bound up with the aftermath of war and the attempt to establish peace. Since 1945, there is general agreement that if Europe stands for anything it is peace. It is now widely accepted that the identity of Europe is not based on an underlying substance that guarantees unity in face of its diversity and there is nothing particularly unique or singular about its culture. Its identity is necessarily contested and a product of whatever meaning Europeans have given it. One such meaning is the normative value of peace. But what does that mean? What does it mean to invoke the notion of peace as the core value of European integration.

It is certainly the case that the period since 1945 has been one of extraordinary peace in Europe as a whole. The project of European integration from its early beginning in the 1950s to the present European Union can be seen as built on the belief in the necessity to establish lasting peace in Europe. This was an elite driven project that was the product of visionary leaders who sought to create the conditions for lasting peace between Germany and France, countries that had been at war with each other three times since 1870. There can be no doubt, too, that the relative success of this desire for peace was connected to the advancement of democracy and prosperity. Now, while I do not think that this needs to be called into question, the notion of Europe as a peace project needs to be re-assessed. This is because the presuppositions upon which it was built no longer exist.

Program of the 15 ESW

INTERNATIONAL FORUM

15th Ecumenical Social Week  

Wandering Identity: Considering Meanings and Values

 October, 3-7, 2022

Hybrid format (Lviv, online)

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Organizers: Institute of Ecumenical Studies of UCU, Ukrainian Catholic University, Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung Ukraine

Partners and experts: Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland; Higher Institute of Ecumenical Studies of the Catholic University in Paris, France; Faculty of Catholic Theology, Vienna University, Austria; International Institute of Education, Culture and Diaspora Relations of the Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ukraine; Church History Institute of UCU; Protestant Theology Department, Institute of Education, Work and Society, Hohenheim University, Stuttgart, Germany.

Media partners: 

General media partner: media-hub Tvoe Misto

Exclusive media partner: internet platform Religious Information Service of Ukraine

Other media partners: Religious internet platform Spiritual Greatness of Lviv; platform Dyvensvit; website “Espresso”; radio Voskresinnia; Zhyve Radio; radio Maria”

Part І. Edges of Identity: Religious, National, Ethnical, Cultural, Political  

Part ІІ. Identity, War and Migration

Part ІІІ. The Role and Impact of Social Institutions on the Formation of Identity

More information:www.esweek.org.ua

Project Coordinator: Iryna Kitura This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

All times are listed in program according to Kyiv time zone

Draft program

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International Forum 15th Ecumenical Social Week  “Wandering Identity: Considering Meanings and Values”

October 3-7, 2022  The city of Lviv (with an online option)