Head of the UGCC presented Oleg Sentsov with the Omelian Kovch Award

During the ceremony the Head of the UGCC stressed on the vital message left by Fr. Omelian Kovch – to be yourself even when the circumstances or imprisonment tend to break you. “The fact that Oleg Sentsov received this award is a testimony to continue thoughts of this great priest of our Church”, the Major Archbishop said. Thus he thanked Oleg Sentsov for courage and life attitude.

The Head of the UGCC also noted that knowing about such people we have a hope that Ukraine is and will be, and owing to them the future of our free and independent country is being shaped.

Hence, Oleg Sentsov asserted that this award is a most agreeable sign of honoring. “To remain a human where I was is the hardest and the most essential. And in this case Fr. Omelian Kovch is a role model for me and for many others, as this person had been to worse things: Gestapo, German prisons and contraction camp “Majdanek” where he was destroyed after staying there for few years. It is an example for me and others, who are fighting for our freedom today”, said the prize winner.

As His Beatitude Sviatoslav assumes, awarding Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov the Church is willing to commemorate all prisoners of war and those who were literally tortured and who are not known about. “And this event together with Mr. Oleg’s identity and his voice were the voice echoed in their names”, said the Head of the Church.

The UGCC Department for Information