In USA, Zelensky awards Uniate metropolitan with Order of Mazepa
V. Zelensky awardштп Gudziak. Photo: FB page of the Philadelphia Archeparchy of the UGCC
On September 21, 2023, in Washington, Volodymyr Zelensky awarded the Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), Boris Gudziak, with the President of Ukraine's award, the Order of Ivan Mazepa, as reported on the Facebook page of the Philadelphia Archeparchy of the UGCC.
During the ceremony, Olena Zelenska said that she personally knows Gudziak and that he is known by the military, displaced persons, and "young people who receive an excellent education thanks to him".
The First Lady added that Ukraine's defenders come from various faiths or may not be religious at all, but they all "fight against evil, against the worst that can be born within a person – a conscious desire to kill, destroy, capture, and make slaves. Therefore, it is also a spiritual battle." She thanked "everyone who fights with us in the spiritual and value dimension."
The Order of Ivan Mazepa is a state award of the President of Ukraine for a significant contribution to the revival of national cultural, artistic, spiritual, architectural and military-historical heritage. It was established by a decree of President Yushchenko in 2009.
Earlier, it was reported that Gudziak, during the 2019 presidential campaign, thanked Poroshenko for his good deeds during his presidency.
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