Metropolitan Borys Gudziak Presided at the Funeral of Petro Sodol

In his sermon, Metropolitan Borys spoke about the profound impact of Sodol’s life and witness: “Today the church, the community, and above all the family say farewell to a great person in our lives. Each of us straightens up a bit when we hear his name.” He emphasized Sodol’s role in shaping generations of young Ukrainians through Plast and the Lisova Shkola: “Hundreds of young men, especially through the Lisova Shkola, of which he was a co-organizer, saw in him an example of principled living.” According to the metropolitan, Sodol’s authority was rooted not in loudness or ego, but in deep lived experience: “He had great authority, but it was not through shouting or violence, not through inflated egoism, but through the depth of his experience.”

Metropolitan Borys also reflected on Sodol’s life in historical context: “As a child he witnessed totalitarian regimes. He dedicated his life as a soldier, as a mentor, and as a historian to understand evil, to understand oppressive systems, and to confront them, which requires discipline and stance.” He recalled his own participation in the Lisova Shkola alongside Petro Sodol, where Sodol helped form leaders committed to service and integrity.

In conclusion, the metropolitan offered a prayer of thanks and hope: “Even when our body dies, our identity and unity with Christ carry us into eternity… Christ God, we thank You for the life of Petro Sodol, for how You protected him in danger, we thank You for his life in service and pray for his eternal repose. May his memory be eternal.”

The funeral concluded with Sodol’s burial at St. Andrew Ukrainian Cemetery in South Bound Brook, New Jersey, and the rite of interment was led by Fr. Taras Lonchyna.