The article
covers the history of the resistance of the members of the Ukrainian dissident
movement to the totalitarian Soviet state, namely the struggle for the
legalization of the UGCC, which was in the underground. It is noted that this
activity has become an important element of the Ukrainian liberation movement
for the restoration of statehood and protection of citizens' rights. Attention
is focused on the achievements of women dissidents regarding the restoration of
the "catacomb" UGCC, in particular, on the contribution of Olena
Antoniv, Stefania Petrash-Sichko, Maria Gel, Olga Horyn, Iryna Kalynets,
Stefania Shabatura, their human rights activities as participants in
religious dissidence are analyzed. Their direct or indirect influence on the
unification of society and the organization of the movement for the
legalization of the Church is noted, their enormous work in the preparing and
writing of appeals, protest statements, appeals to government officials, higher
clergy and foreign politicians, is shown.
Emphasis is placed
on the concentration of women dissidents in organizing religious associations,
protests, speeches and prayers among the Greek Catholic community, collecting
signatures for the restoration of the UGCC and uniting representatives of the
Greek Catholic clergy. The threats faced by representatives of religious
dissidence, in particular repressions of the Soviet authorities, intimidation
and arrests, are analyzed separately.
At the same time, reminiscences of the participants
of the Resistance movement as to their cooperation with other representatives
of the dissident movement are highlighted. Also, their joint actions to restore
the UGCC, their communication with friends and relatives, which encouraged them
to continue struggle even at the time of their friends' arrests, are
characterized. It is emphasized that due to the cooperation of representatives
of the Greek Catholic clergy, Ukrainian society, which supported this movement,
and dissidents, the UGCC was able to resume its activities.
