In 2026, the Ukrainian community of Paraguay celebrates 100 years of Ukrainian presence in the country and the continuation of its cultural heritage, shaped through generations of immigrants.
A significant result of the formation of the Ukrainian community and its spiritual life in Paraguay was the establishment of the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George in Encarnación, which in 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of its foundation.
This cathedral became an important part of the lives of Ukrainians in the country. It exists as a place of faith and community gatherings, preserving the connection between generations and helping maintain cultural identity far from the homeland.
None of this would have been possible without the unity and perseverance of the first generations of Ukrainian immigrants — parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents — as well as the generations that continued their work. It was they who built and preserved this place as a living center of spirituality.
For many Ukrainians who were forced to leave their homeland, the cathedral became more than just a building. It became a spiritual refuge and a place where language, memory, faith, hope, unity, and mutual support could be preserved.
The celebrations connected to the history of the cathedral and the Ukrainian diaspora became a great holiday for the community. During the so-called “Ukrainian Week” in Encarnación in 1976, concerts and performances by dance ensembles and musicians from Canada, the United States, Argentina, and Brazil took place. The President of the Republic of Paraguay and His Eminence Metropolitan Mstyslav, Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the Diaspora, were also present. These were days filled with deep emotions, reunions, and cultural unity.
During the same period, the monument to Taras Shevchenko, the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, and the “Prosvita” society in Paraguay, centered in Encarnación, were inaugurated. This became an important milestone in the development of Ukrainian culture in the country.
Today, in the year marking the 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian community, this history is viewed as a legacy passed down from generation to generation. Ukrainian culture in Paraguay continues to live through language, traditions, music, dance, and family customs brought by the first immigrants and preserved by their descendants.
The 2026 anniversary celebrations united the community around cultural events, including concerts, folk dances, music, traditional cuisine, and a shared festive meal.
The event, attended by clergy and descendants of Ukrainians from Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil, became a vivid reminder that cultural heritage continues to live through traditions, family stories, language, and everyday customs.
Photo: Tetyana Bigdan