On October 26, 2026, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak, Archbishop of Philadelphia and Metropolitan for the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the USA, participated in the Kyiv International Economic Forum (KIEF 2026), joining the panel discussion "Culture in Wartime: Weapon, Therapy, or Foundation of Identity?" online.
During his remarks, Metropolitan Borys emphasized the importance of a deeper understanding of Ukrainian culture, its spiritual foundations, values and worldview, which shape national identity and influence Ukrainian society's response to the challenges of war.
"There is a considerable distance between the trend of embracing all things Ukrainian and a genuine understanding of Ukraine. To bridge this gap, we need to speak not only about our culture but also about the values and worldview behind it," the Archbishop noted.
According to Metropolitan Borys, the world's perception of Ukraine has changed significantly over the past several decades. However, growing international interest in Ukrainian culture is not always accompanied by a deeper understanding of who Ukrainians are and the values that shape their worldview.
The Archbishop emphasized that culture is not limited to literature, music, cinema or other forms of artistic expression. It is inseparably connected to people's everyday lives, family relationships, social consciousness and spiritual beliefs.
Reflecting on history, Metropolitan Borys recalled the significance of the Baptism of Rus' as a defining moment that influenced the development of writing, historical awareness, the calendar, architecture, art and liturgical singing.
The Archbishop also addressed the Christian understanding of eternity and its influence on how people perceive life and death. He noted that, for Christians, faith in eternity shapes their understanding of death and, consequently, of life itself.
Reflecting on Ukrainian resistance to Russian aggression, Metropolitan Borys highlighted the willingness of Ukrainians to defend their country, assist the military and support one another. In his view, these expressions of solidarity and mutual responsibility reveal important characteristics of contemporary Ukrainian culture.
"It seems to me that today Ukraine represents a culture of relationships, a culture of solidarity, a culture of subsidiarity," he emphasized.
The Archbishop cited examples of Ukrainian volunteer efforts, from producing essential supplies for soldiers to weaving camouflage nets and preparing food for the front lines. He noted that this response of Ukrainian society to violence, killing and looting has attracted the world's attention.
Metropolitan Borys also stressed the need for deeper spiritual reflection on Ukrainian culture and for finding ways to express its values and worldview. He placed particular emphasis on generosity of spirit, which encourages people to look beyond their own interests, help their neighbors and demonstrate solidarity with others.
The panel discussion was moderated by Oksana Sokolova, television producer, journalist and TV presenter. Other participants included Tetyana Berezhna, Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy of Ukraine — Minister of Culture of Ukraine; Oksana Zabuzhko, Ukraine's leading contemporary author and philosopher; Olena Zubchenko, Acting Chairman of the Management Board at Sense Bank; and Oleg Kokhan, Ukrainian film producer and founder of Sota Cinema Group.
The Kyiv International Economic Forum 2026 took place on October 26 in Kyiv under the theme "People, Business, Economy. What's Next?" The event brought together representatives of Ukrainian and international business, government and society to discuss economic challenges, investment, business development and other issues facing Ukraine during the war. The forum's program also addressed the role of culture in shaping Ukrainian identity.
Learn more about the forum.
