Borys Gudziak is a metropolitan of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, head of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia in the United States, a public figure, a leading scholar in the field of church history, and president of the Ukrainian Catholic University. He is also a supporter of physical education, sports, and Olympic ideals. Throughout human evolution, people have always moved toward harmonious development. To be spiritually, physically, and intellectually developed is the goal of nearly every one of us. We can pursue this path on our own, or we can draw inspiration from those who have already achieved success and harmony in life.
In this article, I will describe and analyze several interesting life events, facts, and moments that occurred along the path of the Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Philadelphia Archeparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, a Plast member (kurin “Order of Crusaders”), an athlete, and simply a wonderful person—a charismatic personality and leader.
Family Sports and a Second Religion
In one of his interviews, speaking about family traditions, Borys Gudziak noted: “Another very important element was family sport — skiing was the second religion in our family. In this respect we were fortunate because we lived in a climate zone where as much as five meters of snow could fall. My father skied until the last months of his life.”
Indeed, in the Gudziak family sport was highly valued, and the achievements were considerable. For example, the magazine Yunak published an article titled “Brothers Borys and Marko Gudziak — Champions of the 1976 Ski Competition.” On February 28 and 29, 1976, Borys and Marko participated in the 18th interregional ski championship of the USCAK (West Mountain, NY). At the ages of 15 and 13 respectively, they won first place in their age groups in three events (slalom, giant slalom, and alpine combination) among 117 competitors.
It was reported as follows: “Two brothers, Plast youths from the Syracuse–Utica branch, pl. rozv. Borys (15) and pl. uch. Marko (13) Gudziak won three first places each in their age groups in the following events: slalom, giant slalom, and alpine combination. This was not the first time these youths participated in ski competitions and not the first time they won medals. In 1971, when Borys was 10, he won second place in his group, and Marko in 1974 and 1975 won first place in giant slalom. But skiing is not the only sport the two youths enjoy. They are also good swimmers and participants in swimming competitions where they have won awards, and they also compete in tennis and enjoy playing basketball.”
The successful family performances of the brothers—and not only theirs—continued in 1980 at the USCAK ski championship, where their father, Oleksandr Gudziak, also competed in the “Senior Men” category. That year Borys competed in the “Men” category in slalom and won first place; Marko won in the “Boys (1–18 years)” category, and Oleksandr Gudziak placed second in his category.
In the giant slalom competitions Borys took second place, Marko won first place, and their father placed third. In the following combined event (slalom and giant slalom), the results in their respective categories were: Borys — first place, Oleksandr — second place, and Marko — first place. In 1985 and 1986, the Gudziak family (father and sons) again participated in further ski competitions organized by KLC and USCAK.
Thus, for many years physical education, sport, and Olympic traditions remained an enduring family tradition in the Gudziak family.
Euro 2012
Speaking about the role of sport, particularly Euro 2012 and the stadium in Lviv that hosted football matches, Borys Gudziak said: “One would like to believe that an imaginary satellite recording spiritual and emotional impulses will capture warm bright colors radiating from our city during the championship. I expect a good game and the sense of closeness to the mystery of sport… Therefore I expect great human dynamics. On our stadium 22 players will run, the ball will fly — this phenomenon will provoke very powerful human experiences with rises and falls. Tens of thousands of people will observe this, localized in our city and across Ukraine.”
He continued: “When people from different cultures and contexts meet, with different mentalities, it has the potential for creativity.” And the passion of millions of people for sport, he added, “is an easy way to explain the metaphor of human life — a personal and collective striving for something higher. I hope that the experience of preparation will be a good lesson for using the resources we lack as efficiently as possible in the future. The quality of preparation (whatever it may be) will remain with us for a long time.”
About the match between Ukraine and Sweden he said: “I watched the Ukraine–Sweden match from the Lviv fan zone. The atmosphere in Lviv was wonderful. In general, the city in recent years had been subconsciously and consciously preparing for this event. And it remains especially open to its residents and guests… I still hope our national team will advance from the group and then show its strength. I pray for the countries, teams, players, and fans so that the passion of the game and this international arena truly become a reason for a good meeting and for a positive emotional release from the burdens weighing on us.”
Skiing, Bukovel 2013
On February 28, 2013, a truly remarkable sporting event took place. Media outlets wrote: “At the Bukovel ski resort on February 28, giant slalom skiing competitions for priests and students of UGCC educational institutions — the ‘Blessed Josaphat Kotsylovsky Cup’ — were held. About a hundred priests and seminarians, as well as lay members of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, participated.” Imagine such a sporting event.
For many years Borys Gudziak has remained faithful to his love of sport. Even when another sphere of life—service to God and society—seems more central, sport always remains in his heart. It was precisely at Bishop Borys Gudziak’s initiative that giant slalom skiing competitions for priests and students of UGCC institutions were held at Bukovel. About a hundred priests, seminarians, and lay faithful participated, and Bishop Borys Gudziak became the silver medalist in the “Clergy” category.
Metropolitan of Ivano-Frankivsk Volodymyr Viytyshyn, while awarding the winners, emphasized: “Today we, people who work in the Church, had the opportunity to feel like athletes who possess great will and desire, practice and try to embody them in life. You showed very good results. Such a healthy example we must show to others.”
Silver medalist Bishop Borys commented on the tournament: “It was impossible to expect such a number of participants and such perfect weather. In all this we see how great our God is. I am sure this tradition will grow and develop. This cup is named after Blessed Josaphat Kotsylovsky.
The Bishop of Przemyśl was very demanding in priestly discipline but loved sport. Today we are looking for new categories and styles to speak to people in the 21st century. Skis are one of the means of our evangelization.”
Just two years later, in 2015, after this fruitful sports initiative, the Department of Sports Ministry was created within the Commission for the Laity of the UGCC, and Bishop Borys Gudziak was invited to serve as its curator.
Bosco Arena
The press reported the following: “In Lviv, with the participation of Metropolitan Borys Gudziak, a new large sports complex ‘Bosco Arena’ was opened. Large sports locations in Lviv are becoming more numerous. On September 5, 2021, at 19-D Kryvchytska Road, a modern sports hall ‘Bosco Arena’ (20×40 meters) was opened as part of the sports complex of the Salesian congregation of the UGCC.”
The opening began with an Archierarchical Divine Liturgy, celebrated by Archbishop and Metropolitan of Philadelphia Borys Gudziak together with a group of priests.
In his speech he noted: “We all rejoice in these openings together. In the Holy Scripture the Apostle Paul often uses sports metaphors to explain what spiritual life is. From ancient sages through the entire Christian tradition this truth sounds in various forms: a healthy soul in a healthy body. After all, it is said that ‘your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.’ The opening of this house — Bosco Arena — is a special event for our Church and our city. It is a special stage in the ministry of the Salesian fathers. May there never be any injuries here, but only the fulfillment of dreams. We thank everyone who contributed to this project and supported it spiritually and materially. May the Lord’s blessing descend upon you.”
The First UCU Charity Run
In June 2025, the first Ukrainian Catholic University charity run took place in Lviv. The event began with a joint prayer for those killed as a result of Russian aggression, after which participants were welcomed by Metropolitan of the UGCC and UCU President Borys Gudziak.
According to Zakhar Milyanyk: “Together with Metropolitan Borys Gudziak, students, professors, veterans, athletes, colleagues from the Lviv Regional Council and members of parliament, professional and amateur athletes, adults and children, we ran (some 5 km, some less, and some simply came for a warm-up) for a great goal — to raise funds for the UCU scholarship fund ‘DoNation.’”
Quotes from Bishop Borys on Sport
“Sport is an easy way to explain the metaphor of human life.”
“Skis are one of the means of our evangelization.”
“For more than 50 years I went skiing every year. Sometimes it was 12 or even 30 days a year.”
“In Paris, where I live, there is a basketball hoop. In Galicia they once said: ‘There were pearls, but they wore away.’ I still try to play basketball, but my success is becoming increasingly sad.”
“I deeply believe that freedom is impossible without God’s grace and the network of relationships of people who support us. It’s like sport: you need a coach and teammates who will say — wait, you’re doing something wrong.”
Author: Oleksii Lyakh-Porodko
