Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Van Nuys
Encyclopedia
The Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix (formerly known as the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Van Nuys) is the Catholic eparchy
(diocese
) governing most Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic
s in the western United States
. Its headquarters are at 8131 North 16th Street, Phoenix, Arizona
. The current bishop
is the Most Reverend
Gerald Nicholas Dino
.
The Eparchy's territorial jurisdiction includes the states of Alaska
, Arizona
, California
, Colorado
, Nevada
, New Mexico
, Oregon
, and Washington. It is a suffragan of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
. Currently, Holy Protection Eparchy of Phoenix has 19 parishes and one mission under its canonical jurisdiction. Most parishes follow the Ruthenian tradition
, although the eparchy includes one parish of the Italo-Albanian tradition.
in 1981. The Congregation for the Oriental Churches
a dicastery of the Roman Curia
responsible for the Eastern Rite Churches in communion with the Holy See
, recommended the erection of a new eparchy, and it was approved by Pope John Paul II
.
The Eparchy of Van Nuys was canonically inaugurated on March 9, 1982, when Archbishop Stephen Kocisko
, Metropolitan
of the Metropolia of Pittsburgh
installed Thomas Dolinay
as the first bishop
of the eparchy. Archbishop Pio Laghi, Apostolic Delegate to the United States, represented the Roman Pontiff and read the Papal Bull
creating the eparchy and appointing Dolinay. Cardinal Timothy Manning, Archbishop of Los Angeles
delivered the homily. The Church of St. Mary in Sherman Oaks, California, was designated as the cathedral.
In 1990, with the retirement of Archbishop Kocisko of Pittsburgh approaching, Pope John Paul II relieved Dolinay of his duties as Bishop of Van Nuys and appointed him Coadjutor Archbishop
of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
on February 19, 1990. The Pope appointed the Auxiliary Bishop of Passaic, George Kuzma
, to succeed Bishop Dolinay.
After the Northridge earthquake
of 1994 damaged the Cathedral of St. Mary
, the eparchial offices, and the bishop's residence, Bishop George Kuzma
moved his office and residence to Phoenix, Arizona
. On February 10, 2010, the seat of the diocese was officially changed to Phoenix. Accordingly, the former pro-cathedral
of St. Stephen was given the title of Cathedral, and the Cathedral of St. Mary received the title of Proto-Cathedral.
A third major church in the eparchy has the title of pro-cathedral, St. Nicholas of Myra Pro-Cathedral in Anchorage, Alaska
.
† = deceased
Parishes
Other
Eparchy
Eparchy is an anglicized Greek word , authentically Latinized as eparchia and loosely translating as 'rule over something,' like province, prefecture, or territory, to have the jurisdiction over, it has specific meanings both in politics, history and in the hierarchy of the Eastern Christian...
(diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
) governing most Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic
Ruthenian Catholic Church
The Ruthenian Catholic Church is a sui iuris Eastern Catholic Church , which uses the Divine Liturgy of the Constantinopolitan Byzantine Eastern Rite. Its roots are among the Rusyns who lived in the region called Carpathian Ruthenia, in and around the Carpathian Mountains...
s in the western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its headquarters are at 8131 North 16th Street, Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. The current bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
is the Most Reverend
Most Reverend
The Most Reverend is a style applied to certain religious figures.*In the Roman Catholic Church , all bishops are styled "The Most Reverend", as well as monsignors of the rank of protonotary apostolic de numero.*In the Roman Catholic Church , archbishops are styled "The...
Gerald Nicholas Dino
Gerald Nicholas Dino
Gerald Nicholas Dino is an American clergyman of the Byzantine Catholic Church. He is the fourth and current bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix....
.
The Eparchy's territorial jurisdiction includes the states of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, and Washington. It is a suffragan of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
The Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh is the Catholic archeparchy governing all of the Byzantine Catholic Church in the Western portion of Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and in the states of Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia...
. Currently, Holy Protection Eparchy of Phoenix has 19 parishes and one mission under its canonical jurisdiction. Most parishes follow the Ruthenian tradition
Ruthenian Catholic Church
The Ruthenian Catholic Church is a sui iuris Eastern Catholic Church , which uses the Divine Liturgy of the Constantinopolitan Byzantine Eastern Rite. Its roots are among the Rusyns who lived in the region called Carpathian Ruthenia, in and around the Carpathian Mountains...
, although the eparchy includes one parish of the Italo-Albanian tradition.
History
The creation of a new Ruthenian eparchy for the western United States was proposed by the metropolitan synodSynod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
in 1981. The Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Congregation for the Oriental Churches
The Congregation for the Oriental Churches is the dicastery of the Roman Curia responsible for contact with the Eastern Catholic Churches for the sake of assisting their development, protecting their rights and also maintaining whole and entire in the one Catholic Church, alongside the liturgical,...
a dicastery of the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
responsible for the Eastern Rite Churches in communion with the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, recommended the erection of a new eparchy, and it was approved by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
.
The Eparchy of Van Nuys was canonically inaugurated on March 9, 1982, when Archbishop Stephen Kocisko
Stephen Kocisko
Stephen John Kocisko was the first Metropolitan Archbishop of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, the American branch of the Ruthenian Catholic Church-Early life:...
, Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of the Metropolia of Pittsburgh
Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh
The Byzantine Catholic Metropolia of Pittsburgh is an autonomous Byzantine Rite particular church of the Catholic Church, originally serving members of the Ruthenian Catholic Church and their descendants in the United States...
installed Thomas Dolinay
Thomas Dolinay
Thomas Victor Dolinay was the second Metropolitan Archbishop of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, the American branch of the Ruthenian Catholic Church.-Early life:...
as the first bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the eparchy. Archbishop Pio Laghi, Apostolic Delegate to the United States, represented the Roman Pontiff and read the Papal Bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
creating the eparchy and appointing Dolinay. Cardinal Timothy Manning, Archbishop of Los Angeles
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
delivered the homily. The Church of St. Mary in Sherman Oaks, California, was designated as the cathedral.
In 1990, with the retirement of Archbishop Kocisko of Pittsburgh approaching, Pope John Paul II relieved Dolinay of his duties as Bishop of Van Nuys and appointed him Coadjutor Archbishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh
The Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh is the Catholic archeparchy governing all of the Byzantine Catholic Church in the Western portion of Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and in the states of Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia...
on February 19, 1990. The Pope appointed the Auxiliary Bishop of Passaic, George Kuzma
George Kuzma
George Martin Kuzma was an American Bishop for the Roman Catholic Church.At the age of 30, Kuzma was ordained as a Priest. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Passaic, New Jersey on November 11, 1986. He was later appointed Bishop of Van Nuys, California on October 23, 1990. He retired from the...
, to succeed Bishop Dolinay.
After the Northridge earthquake
Northridge earthquake
The Northridge earthquake was a massive earthquake that occurred on January 17, 1994, at 04:31 Pacific Standard Time in Reseda, a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California, lasting for about 10–20 seconds...
of 1994 damaged the Cathedral of St. Mary
Cathedral of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church
The Cathedral of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church was the first Byzantine Church in California. It is located on Sepulveda Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California. It is the only Byzantine Ruthenian Church in the territory of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.The...
, the eparchial offices, and the bishop's residence, Bishop George Kuzma
George Kuzma
George Martin Kuzma was an American Bishop for the Roman Catholic Church.At the age of 30, Kuzma was ordained as a Priest. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Passaic, New Jersey on November 11, 1986. He was later appointed Bishop of Van Nuys, California on October 23, 1990. He retired from the...
moved his office and residence to Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. On February 10, 2010, the seat of the diocese was officially changed to Phoenix. Accordingly, the former pro-cathedral
Pro-cathedral
A pro-cathedral is a parish church that is temporarily serving as the cathedral or co-cathedral of a diocese.-Usage:In Ireland, the term is used to specifically refer to St Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin since the Reformation, when Christ Church...
of St. Stephen was given the title of Cathedral, and the Cathedral of St. Mary received the title of Proto-Cathedral.
A third major church in the eparchy has the title of pro-cathedral, St. Nicholas of Myra Pro-Cathedral in Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
.
Ordinaries
- Bishop Thomas DolinayThomas DolinayThomas Victor Dolinay was the second Metropolitan Archbishop of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, the American branch of the Ruthenian Catholic Church.-Early life:...
(1982–1990) - Bishop George KuzmaGeorge KuzmaGeorge Martin Kuzma was an American Bishop for the Roman Catholic Church.At the age of 30, Kuzma was ordained as a Priest. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Passaic, New Jersey on November 11, 1986. He was later appointed Bishop of Van Nuys, California on October 23, 1990. He retired from the...
(1991–2000) - Bishop William C. SkurlaWilliam C. SkurlaWilliam C. Skurla is the Eparch or Bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic-External Links:**...
(2002–2007) - Bishop Gerald N. DinoGerald Nicholas DinoGerald Nicholas Dino is an American clergyman of the Byzantine Catholic Church. He is the fourth and current bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix....
(2007–present)
† = deceased
Statistics
The eparchy has 19 parishes, one mission, 2,795 faithful, 27 priests, and 20 religious men and women.See also
- Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of PittsburghByzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of PittsburghThe Byzantine Catholic Metropolia of Pittsburgh is an autonomous Byzantine Rite particular church of the Catholic Church, originally serving members of the Ruthenian Catholic Church and their descendants in the United States...
- Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of PittsburghByzantine Catholic Archeparchy of PittsburghThe Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh is the Catholic archeparchy governing all of the Byzantine Catholic Church in the Western portion of Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and in the states of Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia...
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of ParmaByzantine Catholic Eparchy of ParmaThe Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma is the Catholic eparchy governing most Byzantine Catholics in the midwestern United States. Its headquarters are at 1900 Carlton Road, Parma, Ohio. The current bishop is the Most Reverend John Kudrick....
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of PassaicByzantine Catholic Eparchy of PassaicThe Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic is the Catholic eparchy governing most Byzantine Catholics in the eastern United States. Its headquarters are at 445 Lackawanna Avenue, Woodland Park . The current bishop is the Most Reverend William C. Skurla.The Eparchy was erected July 6, 1963 and its...
- List of the Catholic bishops of the United States#Metropolia of Pittsburgh for the Ruthenians
Parishes
- Cathedral of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic ChurchCathedral of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic ChurchThe Cathedral of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church was the first Byzantine Church in California. It is located on Sepulveda Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California. It is the only Byzantine Ruthenian Church in the territory of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.The...
, the former cathedral - Saint Anne Catholic Church of the Byzantine RiteSaint Anne Catholic Church of the Byzantine Rite-Introduction:Saint Anne Catholic Church of the Byzantine Rite is a Catholic Christian parish of the Byzantine Ruthenian Tradition. Founded in 1986, its vocation is to evangelize and support everyone in the Gospel values of the Catholic Christian faith...
External links
Eparchy of Phoenix- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix official website
- Eparchy of Van Nuys (Ruthenian) at catholic-hierarchy.org
- Eparchy of Phoenix (Ruthenian) at catholic-hierarchy.org
- Saint Anne Catholic Church of the Byzantine Rite, a parish of the Eparchy of Phoenix in San Luis Obispo, CaliforniaSan Luis Obispo, CaliforniaSan Luis Obispo is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. Founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities...
- St. Basil the Great Parish, a parish of the Eparchy of Phoenix in Los Gatos, CaliforniaLos Gatos, CaliforniaThe Town of Los Gatos is an incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 29,413 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area at the southwest corner of San Jose in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains...
Other