Abstract

The article is dedicated to one of the work lines of Ukrainian Greek Catholic theologian Havryiil Kostelnyk - his apologetics studies. Distinguished features of Kostelnyk's beliefs as apologist are analysed from several points of view. First, it is done as compared to the Ukrainian apologetic literature within the first half of the 20th century. Second, considering differences between aims of classical apologetics and aims defined by Kostelnyk. Third, within definition of correlation of canonical Catholic and modernist principles in the Kostelnyk's approach. The apologetic works of Kostelnyk were distinguished on the background of contemporary Ukrainian Greek Catholic apologetic literature. Kostelnyk did not pay much attention to the soteriological and ecclesiological aspects of apologetics. First of all, he tried to protect the Christian faith from the challenges of atheism. To this end, he tried to hold a dialogue with modern science. But attempts at such a dialogue have not always been successful. These attempts were not sufficiently significant in terms of science and at the same time went beyond the limits of Catholic orthodoxy. Gradually, Kostelnyk became a Catholic modernist apologist what type was depicted in the Encyclical of Pope Pius X "Pascendi Dominici gregis".