Catholic campus in Ukraine mourns lecturer killed in protests

Last updated on: February 21, 2014 at 11:01 am by CNA Daily News

Catholic campus in Ukraine mourns lecturer killed in protests 2014-02-21T11:01:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Lviv, Ukraine, Feb 21, 2014 / 04:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Ukrainian Catholic University, located in the far-western city of Lviv, is lamenting the death of one of its lecturers who was killed Feb. 20 during anti-government protests in Kyiv.

Bohdan Solchanyk, who was 29, lectured on modern history at the university and was killed at Independence Square in the Ukrainian capital during protests that have been ongoing since November.

“I really appreciated Bohdan as a creative young lecturer and researcher,” Oleksander Ziatsev, the former chair of Ukrainian Catholic University’s modern history department, told CNA Feb. 20.

“He was a true generator of ideas, had a creative attitude toward his work with students. He initiated a cinema seminar at UCU, where teachers and students discussed Soviet movies from historical and sociological perspectives. I took part in this seminar with great interest.”

Solchanyk was an archivist and sociologist with a special interest in electoral practices in contemporary Ukraine.

A statement on his death, made “with great sadness in our hearts,” was issued by Ukrainian Catholic University, calling Solchanyk “talented at everything, whether it was an amateur theatrical role, or everyday teaching at the university.”

He earned a masters in sociology at Ivan Franko National University in Lviv, and was a Ph.D. candidate at the Graduate Program for Social Research in Warsaw; he taught such courses as “The Soviet Union as a System” at Ukrainian Catholic University and was well regarded among faculty and students.

Solchanyk had a deep concern for Ukraine’s public life, and was reported to have been active in the country’s Orange Revolution in 2004, when hundreds of thousands of protestors occupied Kyiv’s Independence Square, also called “Maidan,” in response to a contested presidential election.

The Orange Revolution was bloodless, but the current demonstrations saw their bloodiest days this week, with reports of up to 100 dead, both protestors and police forces, since Feb. 18; Ukraine's Health Ministry, meanwhile, has confirmed 75 dead, according to the Kyiv Post.

The Ukraine protests first began after the government’s Nov. 21 announcement that it would not sign a major economic partnership agreement with the European Union, in favor of a $15 billion bailout agreement with Russia. Tens of thousands of protesters have filled the streets of Kyiv and at times occupied government buildings.

Government security forces have been accused of shooting protesters with automatic weapons and at least one sniper rifle. One doctor told CNN she had treated 13 people she believes were targeted by professional snipers, on the grounds that the shots directly targeted victims’ hearts, brains and necks.

“We unequivocally affirm that responsibility for the current escalation rests solely on the government – personally Viktor Yanukovych and his ‘hawkish’ command,” the rectorate of Ukrainian Catholic University declared in a Feb. 19 statement.

“Every case of escalation, each more striking in its complete absurdity, slashes our hopes for a peaceful and wise solution to the crisis and brings us closer to a humanitarian catastrophe.”

“May the merciful Lord fill us all with hope and courage to sacrificially serve Ukraine during these difficult trials!”

Europe

Previous Post

February 21, 2014

Kan. religious freedom bill dies after being labeled 'segregation'

Next Post

February 21, 2014 Faith is not a 'theory,' emphasizes Pope

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Paul told the Thessalonians that those who are unwilling to work should not eat.

Select your answer to see how you score.

FALSE TRUE