SOCIO-POLITICAL ASPECTS OF O. VORONIN’S ACTIVITY DURING THE YEARS OF CELEBRATING THE MILLENNIUM OF THE BAPTISM OF RUS-UKRAINE (1984–1989)

Abstract

The article describes the socio-political aspects of one of the brightest representatives of the Ukrainian Diaspora in the United States – O. Voronin, during the contradictory for Soviet policy and turbulent for the Ukrainian national revival – the 80s of the twentieth century. This activity is shown against the background of the celebration of the Millennium anniversary of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine by the Ukrainian Diaspora. O. Voronin was an active researcher and popularizer of the history of the Ukrainian Church, a tireless and sacrificial devotee of preserving the memory of the bright and original pages of the Ukrainian past. His activities were aimed at bringing the truth to Ukrainian society, which was still captive to communist illusions, about the tragic and heroic pages of Ukrainian history, the destruction of the Ukrainian church by the Russian imperial and Soviet political systems. His conclusions raised the opinion of Ukrainians to the realization of the need and great value of the Ukrainian autocephalous church and state independence.

Voronin’s activity was a noticeable and highly appreciated phenomenon in the Ukrainian Diaspora. This is evidenced by numerous reports in the magazine «Freedom» – the oldest and most authoritative publication of Ukrainians in the United States. The content of his work is revealed in the publications published on the pages of the magazine «Modernity» and «Ukrainian Orthodox Calendar». The significance of O. Voronin’s work became the basis for his inclusion in the Committee for the Scientific Congress of the Millennium of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine (988–1988) and in the Commission of the UOC US Metropolitan Council for the Organization and Provision of Radio Broadcasting in Ukraine. O. Voronin’s activity in the centre of the metropolis - South Bound Bruce - was connected with the realization of the fundamental historical-documentary and memorial edition «Martyrology of Ukrainian Churches», scientific-educational and historical-cultural conference on the occasion of the Millennium Baptism of Rus-Ukraine, honouring the fallen for Ukraine heroes, prominent church figures who sought the unity of Ukrainians.