Memory, Politics and Legacy of Metropolitan...

The memory of Andrey Sheptytsky exemplifies the intertwined historical narratives of Poland and Ukraine. With the collapse of communism, both nations faced the task of reconstructing the cognitive frameworks of their cultures.

Sheptytsky's legacy poses a significant challenge, particularly because the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), which he symbolized, was historically sidelined in shaping the identity of most Ukrainians, rendering its legacy somewhat incomplete. During pivotal events like the Orange Revolution and Euromaidan, the UGCC rose to prominence as a crucial element of Ukrainian civil society. This sparked a growing desire among various societal actors to connect different facets of Ukrainian life to Sheptytsky's overlooked heritage, breathing new life into efforts to weave his memory into the fabric of Ukrainian culture.

This renewed interest aligns with Ukraine's decommunization efforts, aimed at freeing its historical culture from Soviet legacies. This process involves overcoming a significant mental barrier, challenging deeply ingrained beliefs that revising Soviet legacies might mean rejecting the modern advancements introduced during that era.

In Poland, Sheptytsky remains a subject of contention. The controversies surrounding him are neither new nor unexpected, yet they persist, even three decades after the fall of communism, often exacerbated by misrepresented narratives.