PRIEST OMELYAN KOVCH IN THE NATIONAL MEMORY: BETWEEN A RELIGIOUS SYMBOL AND A NATIONAL HERO
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Published:
Dec 30, 2024
Abstract
The article explores the role of priest Omelyan Kovch in Ukrainian national memory, analyzing his figure as both a religious symbol and a national hero. Omelyan Kovch, a priest of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, is known for his spiritual feat and heroic service during World War II, in particular for saving Jews from Nazi persecution, which led to his imprisonment and martyrdom in the Majdanek concentration camp. The article examines various aspects of his activities, including his participation in interfaith dialogue, his contribution to the preservation of the national identity of Ukrainians, and his international recognition as the «Righteous Among the Nations». The author examines the historical and cultural factors that influenced the formation of the image of Kovch as a symbol of Christian humanism and a moral example for modern Ukrainian society. The article analyzes the processes of beatification and commemoration of Kovch, revealing how his figure is integrated into the modern Ukrainian national discourse.
How to Cite
Lytvynovska, Y. (2024). PRIEST OMELYAN KOVCH IN THE NATIONAL MEMORY: BETWEEN A RELIGIOUS SYMBOL AND A NATIONAL HERO. Baltic Journal of Legal and Social Sciences, (4), 382-391. https://doi.org/10.30525/2592-8813-2024-4-43
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Keywords
Omelyan Kovch, national memory, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), Holocaust in Ukraine, church service, righteous man
References
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13. Stasiuk, I.M. & Hnidyk, I.I. (2018). Dushpastyrska diialnist ottsia Omeliana Kovcha na terytorii Peremyshlianshchyny u 20-kh – na pochatku 40-kh rr. XX st. [Pastoral activity of Father Omelyan Kovch in the territory of Peremyshlyans'k in the 1920's – early 40's of the XX century]. Hileia: naukovyi visnyk – Gilea: a scientific bulletin, 125, 66–72 [in Ukrainian].
14. Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva (2024, September, 4). Dekret proholoshennia Ordenu blazhennoho sviashchennomuchenyka Omeliana Kovcha [Decree on the Proclamation of the Order of the Blessed Martyr Omelyan Kovch]. Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva. Retrieved from URL https://docs.ugcc.ua/1773/ [in Ukrainian].
15. Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva (2024, September, 4). Statut vidznaky Ottsia i Hlavy UHKTs «Orden blazhennoho sviashchennomuchenyka Omeliana Kovcha» [Statute of the Award of the Father and Head of the UGCC «Order of the Blessed Martyr Omelyan Kovch»]. Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva. Retrieved from URL https://docs.ugcc.ua/1775/ [in Ukrainian].
16. Ukrinform (2021, September, 28). U Liublini vidkryly pamiatnyk pravednyku narodiv svitu Omelianu Kovchu [In Liublin, a pamphlet was published on the history of the world of Omelian Kovchu].
Ukrinform. Retrieved from URL https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-society/3327000-u-lublini-vidkrili-pamatnik-pravedniku-narodiv-svitu-omelanu-kovcu.html [in Ukrainian].
17. Vandzeliak, H. (2017, October, 25). Borys DIDENKO: «Moie kredo zhyttia – Bohu slava» [Boris Didenko: «My credo in life is to give glory to God»]. Svoboda. Retrieved from URL https://svoboda.te.ua/borys-didenko-moye-kredo-zhyttya-bogu-slava/ [in Ukrainian].
18. Vatican News (n.d.). Sviatist vasha – volia Bozha [Your holiness is the will of God]. Vatican News. Retrieved from URL https://www.vaticannews.va/uk/podcast/poklykani-do-svjatosti/2022/10/svyatist-vasha-volya-bozha-22.html [in Ukrainian].
19. Vozniak, T. (2012). Uroky Blazhennoho ottsia Omeliana Kovcha [Lessons from Blessed Father Omelian Kovch]. Ukrainska pravda. Retrieved from URL https://blogs.pravda.com.ua/authors/voznyak/4f702aa654482/ [in Ukrainian].
20. Zelisko, L. (2014). Omelian Kovch: zhyttia y dukhovnyi podvyh [Omelyan Kovch: life and spiritual fea]. Karpaty: liudyna, etnos, tsyvilizatsiia,(5), 308–312. [in Ukrainian].
2. Berezanska, Ya. (2017). Otets Omelian Kovch – zhyttia i suspilno-kulturna diialnist [Father Omelyan Kovch – life and social and cultural activities.]. Suchasna humanitarystyka: zbirnyk materialiv I Mizhnarodnoi naukovo-praktychnoi internet-konferentsiia, (1), 123–127.
3. Fundacja Kultury Duchowej Pogranicza w Lublinie (2013, March, 20). Parokh Maidaneka [Parish priest of Maidaneka]. [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cvoiHJwNTA [in Polish].
4. Gazeta.ua. (2019, April, 2). Omelian Kovch – spravzhnii voin, vin zdolav naibilshoho voroha – nenavys [Omelian Kovch is a real warrior, he has defeated the greatest enemy – hatred]. Gazeta.ua. Retrieved from URL https://gazeta.ua/articles/people-newspaper/_omelyan-kovch-spravzhnij-voyin-vin-zdolav-najbilshogo-voroga-nenavist/894667 [in Ukrainian].
5. Kovalenko, I. (2024, May, 14). Omelian Kovch: hreko-katolytskyi sviashchenyk, yakyi zahynuv za dopomohu yevreiam [Omelian Kovch: a Greek Catholic priest who died for helping Jews]. ZAXID. NET. Retrieved from URL https://zaxid.net/omelyan_kovch_greko_katolitskiy_svyashhennik_yakiy_zaginuv_za_dopomogu_yevreyam_n1582387 [in Ukrainian].
6. Kruk, O. (2017). Kovcheh ottsia Kovcha [The Ark of Father Kovch]. TOV «Novyi druk». [in Ukrainian].
7. Lytvyn, S. (2012). Parokh Maidaneka – otets Omelian Kovch [Maidanek's powder is Father Omelyan Kovch]. Voienna istoriia – Military history, 3(63), 94–100 [in Ukrainian].
8. Marukhniak, Y. (2020, January, 30). Viazen № 2399 [Prisoner № 2399]. Hazeta «Den», (16). Retrieved from URL https://day.kyiv.ua/article/taym-aut/vyazen-no-2399 [in Ukrainian].
9. Relihiino-informatsiina sluzhba Ukrainy (2023, November, 28). Sohodni u Kyievi vruchat mizhnarodnu vidznaku blazhennoho o. Omeliana Kovcha [Blessed Fr Omelian Kovch to receive international award in Kyiv today]. Relihiino-informatsiina sluzhba Ukrainy. Retrieved from URL https://risu.ua/sogodni-u-kiyevi-vruchat-mizhnarodnu-vidznaku-blazhennogo-o-omelyana-kovcha_n144288 [in Ukrainian].
10. Sakivskyi, I. (2016). Zhyttia ta diialnist Emiliana Kovcha (1884–1939 rr.) [The Life and Activities of Emilian Kovch (1884–1939)]. Hileia: naukovyi visnyk – Gilea: a scientific bulletin, 105, 36–40 [in Ukrainian].
11. Sambirsko-Drohobytska yeparkhiia – UHKTs (n.d.). Vseukrainska proshcha dukhovenstva UHKTs do Peremyshlian [All-Ukrainian pilgrimage of UGCC clergy to Peremyshlyany]. Sambirsko-Drohobytska yeparkhiia – UHKTs. Retrieved from URL http://sde.org.ua/home/archive/item/2067-vseukrajins` – a-proshcha-dukhovenstva-ugkc-do-peremyshlyan.html [in Ukrainian].
12. Sambirsko-Drohobytska yeparkhiia (n.d.). Blazhennyi Omelian (Kovch) – zhyttiepys [Blessed Omelyan (Kovch) – a biography]. Sambirsko-Drohobytska yeparkhiia. Retrieved from URL http://sde.org.ua/home/archive/item/2068-blajennyj-omelyan-kovch-jyttjepys.html [in Ukrainian].
13. Stasiuk, I.M. & Hnidyk, I.I. (2018). Dushpastyrska diialnist ottsia Omeliana Kovcha na terytorii Peremyshlianshchyny u 20-kh – na pochatku 40-kh rr. XX st. [Pastoral activity of Father Omelyan Kovch in the territory of Peremyshlyans'k in the 1920's – early 40's of the XX century]. Hileia: naukovyi visnyk – Gilea: a scientific bulletin, 125, 66–72 [in Ukrainian].
14. Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva (2024, September, 4). Dekret proholoshennia Ordenu blazhennoho sviashchennomuchenyka Omeliana Kovcha [Decree on the Proclamation of the Order of the Blessed Martyr Omelyan Kovch]. Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva. Retrieved from URL https://docs.ugcc.ua/1773/ [in Ukrainian].
15. Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva (2024, September, 4). Statut vidznaky Ottsia i Hlavy UHKTs «Orden blazhennoho sviashchennomuchenyka Omeliana Kovcha» [Statute of the Award of the Father and Head of the UGCC «Order of the Blessed Martyr Omelyan Kovch»]. Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva. Retrieved from URL https://docs.ugcc.ua/1775/ [in Ukrainian].
16. Ukrinform (2021, September, 28). U Liublini vidkryly pamiatnyk pravednyku narodiv svitu Omelianu Kovchu [In Liublin, a pamphlet was published on the history of the world of Omelian Kovchu].
Ukrinform. Retrieved from URL https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-society/3327000-u-lublini-vidkrili-pamatnik-pravedniku-narodiv-svitu-omelanu-kovcu.html [in Ukrainian].
17. Vandzeliak, H. (2017, October, 25). Borys DIDENKO: «Moie kredo zhyttia – Bohu slava» [Boris Didenko: «My credo in life is to give glory to God»]. Svoboda. Retrieved from URL https://svoboda.te.ua/borys-didenko-moye-kredo-zhyttya-bogu-slava/ [in Ukrainian].
18. Vatican News (n.d.). Sviatist vasha – volia Bozha [Your holiness is the will of God]. Vatican News. Retrieved from URL https://www.vaticannews.va/uk/podcast/poklykani-do-svjatosti/2022/10/svyatist-vasha-volya-bozha-22.html [in Ukrainian].
19. Vozniak, T. (2012). Uroky Blazhennoho ottsia Omeliana Kovcha [Lessons from Blessed Father Omelian Kovch]. Ukrainska pravda. Retrieved from URL https://blogs.pravda.com.ua/authors/voznyak/4f702aa654482/ [in Ukrainian].
20. Zelisko, L. (2014). Omelian Kovch: zhyttia y dukhovnyi podvyh [Omelyan Kovch: life and spiritual fea]. Karpaty: liudyna, etnos, tsyvilizatsiia,(5), 308–312. [in Ukrainian].