Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Lviv
Encyclopedia
The Archeparchy of Lviv is an archeparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
.
The eparchy was established at some time during the mid 12th century, with its see originally in Halych
. In 1303 it was raised to a second Metropolia of the Ukrainian Church and held such status during several periods of the 14th century, until after 1401 the title of the vacated province was moved to the Metropolitan of Kyiv. In the mid 1539 the eparchy was reestablished with its see moved to Lviv
. The eparchy at first did not recognize the Union of Brest
of 1596, which restored full communion
with the Holy See
, and joined it only in 1700.
Following the Partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at the end of 18th century when most of the Ukrainian lands fell under Russian rule, the Metropolia of Halych was reestablished in 1807, covering the Austrian ruled region of Halychyna and Lviv was elevated to the rank of archeparchy.
After the Second World War, in 1946 the Archeparchy, together with the entire Ukrainian Church was forcefully subjected under the Russian Orthodox Church, however it secretly continued to function its canonical territory, and in 1959, was elevated by Blessed Pope John XXIII
to the rank of Major Archeparchy.
After the collapse the Church could begin restoring canonical regularity. When the Major Archeparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
returned from the city of Lviv to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in 2004, Lviv remained an archeparchy.
The current Archbishop of Lviv is Archbishop Ihor Vozniak
, C.S.S.R. He was auxiliary bishop of the Major Archeparchy of Lviv during 2001–2004, and with the renaming of the Major Archeparchy of the UGCC
, he became auxiliary bishop of the new Ukrainian Catholic Major Archeparchy of Kyiv-Halych
in December 2004. In 2005, the Holy Father Benedict XVI named him as the first archbishop
of the new Archeparchy of Lviv.
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church , Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva), is the largest Eastern Rite Catholic sui juris particular church in full communion with the Holy See, and is directly subject to the Pope...
.
The eparchy was established at some time during the mid 12th century, with its see originally in Halych
Halych
Halych is a historic city on the Dniester River in western Ukraine. The town gave its name to the historic province and kingdom of Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia, of which it was the capital until the early 14th century, when the seat of the local princes was moved to Lviv...
. In 1303 it was raised to a second Metropolia of the Ukrainian Church and held such status during several periods of the 14th century, until after 1401 the title of the vacated province was moved to the Metropolitan of Kyiv. In the mid 1539 the eparchy was reestablished with its see moved to Lviv
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
. The eparchy at first did not recognize the Union of Brest
Union of Brest
Union of Brest or Union of Brześć refers to the 1595-1596 decision of the Church of Rus', the "Metropolia of Kiev-Halych and all Rus'", to break relations with the Patriarch of Constantinople and place themselves under the Pope of Rome. At the time, this church included most Ukrainians and...
of 1596, which restored full communion
Full communion
In Christian ecclesiology, full communion is a relationship between church organizations or groups that mutually recognize their sharing the essential doctrines....
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...
, and joined it only in 1700.
Following the Partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at the end of 18th century when most of the Ukrainian lands fell under Russian rule, the Metropolia of Halych was reestablished in 1807, covering the Austrian ruled region of Halychyna and Lviv was elevated to the rank of archeparchy.
After the Second World War, in 1946 the Archeparchy, together with the entire Ukrainian Church was forcefully subjected under the Russian Orthodox Church, however it secretly continued to function its canonical territory, and in 1959, was elevated by Blessed Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
to the rank of Major Archeparchy.
After the collapse the Church could begin restoring canonical regularity. When the Major Archeparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church , Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva), is the largest Eastern Rite Catholic sui juris particular church in full communion with the Holy See, and is directly subject to the Pope...
returned from the city of Lviv to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in 2004, Lviv remained an archeparchy.
The current Archbishop of Lviv is Archbishop Ihor Vozniak
Ihor Vozniak
Vladyka Ihor Vozniak is the Archbishop of Lviv since 2005, succeeding Lubomyr Husar.-Life:Archbishop Vozniak was born on 3 August 1952 in Lypytsi, in Mykolaiv Raion, Lviv Oblast, in the Ukrainian SSR of the Soviet Union . He entered the Redemptorist Order in 1973 and was secretly ordained a priest...
, C.S.S.R. He was auxiliary bishop of the Major Archeparchy of Lviv during 2001–2004, and with the renaming of the Major Archeparchy of the UGCC
UGCC
UGCC may refer to:* Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the largest Eastern Rite Catholic* United Gold Coast Convention, a post-Second Worl War political party...
, he became auxiliary bishop of the new Ukrainian Catholic Major Archeparchy of Kyiv-Halych
Ukrainian Catholic Major Archeparchy of Kyiv-Halych
The Major Archeparchy of Kyiv-Halych is the only major archeparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The cathedral church, the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, is presently under construction in Kyiv....
in December 2004. In 2005, the Holy Father Benedict XVI named him as the first archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the new Archeparchy of Lviv.