ECUMENICAL VIEWS OF JOSYF SLIPYJ OF 1918-1963

The article analyzes ecumenical ideas during his formation as a theologian and later as a bishop, a resident of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The ecumenical views of Patriarch Josyf Slipyj are explored through the prism of his speeches at cathedrals and published works, including "The Importance of St. Thomas for the Cause of Unification", "Byzantism as a Form of Culture", "Petrograd Synod of 1917", "View of the United and non-united Churches of the East and dogmatic differences between them". It is noted that in the search for common historical and theological roots for the combination of Churches, J. Slipyj in his works of the outlined period pays a lot of attention to the East and its spiritual and cultural phenomenon of Byzantineism. It is summarized that J. Slipyj expressed the thesis about the importance of Byzantium for the civilizational development of the East and its Church. At the same time, emphasizing that Byzantium, due to its syncreticity, can become a platform for building a modern ecumenical movement. The patriarch also noted the importance of the rite, which stems from culture, thus criticizing the idea of the superiority of the West, noting that it is necessary to go beyond the rite particularity in Catholicism. It was noted that in the process of establishing the idea of a combination, J. Slipyi clearly articulates the idea of respect between Churches of different rites.