Ukrainian Catholic Major Archeparchy of Kyiv-Halych
Encyclopedia
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.
The ecclesiastical province dates back to the 10th century when a Metropolia was established, by the Patriarch of Constantinople
then still before the Great Eastern Schism, after the conversion of the Grand Duke of Kyiv St. Volodymyr the Great in 988.
After the Mongol invasion
which devastated Kyiv during the 13th century a second Metropolia was established in Halych
in 1303 by the efforts of King Leo I of Halych
and later his son George
. It existed during most of 14th century but remained vacant since 1401 as the Metropolitan of Kyiv took over the title.
During the 15th century the Metropolitans worked together with the Patriarch of Constantinople to reestablish Christian Unity and in 1439 participated in the Union of Florence. In 1596 the Metropolia entered the Union of Brest
, reestablishing full communion
with the Holy See
, however suffering a deep internal split.
Following the Partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at the end of the 18th century most of the Ruthenian
(modern Belarus
ian and Ukrainian
) lands fell under Russian
rule, where the Greek Catholic Church was gradually suppressed by 1839. Nevertheless, the Church survived in Austrian
ruled Halychyna, where the Metropolia of Halych was reestablished, with prerogatives to administer the vacant see of Kyiv, on the basis of the Eparchy of Lviv
in 1807 by Pope Pius VII
.
In 1939 Halychyna also came under Russian rule and in 1946 the local Church structure was forcefully subjected under the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1969 the Metropolitan, temporarily residing in Rome
, was raised by Blessed Pope John XXIII
to the newly created position of Major Archbishop
, with rights equivalent to those of a Patriarch, however not named so as not to provoke a new wave of repressions against the Catacomb Church in Ukraine and avoid hampering ecumenical dialogue with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
Following the collapse of Soviet Union the Major Archbishop returned to his archepiscopal see in Lviv, and in 2004 to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, with the Major Archeparchy of Lviv renamed by Pope Benedict XVI
to its current name.
Currently Sviatoslav Shevchuk
is the Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych, installed in March 2011. The former Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych was Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, M.S.U. He was auxiliary bishop
of the Major Archeparchy of Lviv during 1996–2000 and was apostolic administrator
in 2000 until his appointment as Major Archbishop in 2001.
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 cathedral church, the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ
Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ
The Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ is the main cathedral of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, located in Kiev , the capital of Ukraine...
, is presently under construction in Kyiv.
The ecclesiastical province dates back to the 10th century when a Metropolia was established, by the Patriarch of Constantinople
Patriarch of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarch is the Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome – ranking as primus inter pares in the Eastern Orthodox communion, which is seen by followers as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church....
then still before the Great Eastern Schism, after the conversion of the Grand Duke of Kyiv St. Volodymyr the Great in 988.
After the Mongol invasion
Mongol invasion of Europe
The resumption of the Mongol invasion of Europe, during which the Mongols attacked medieval Rus' principalities and the powers of Poland and Hungary, was marked by the Mongol invasion of Rus starting in 21 December 1237...
which devastated Kyiv during the 13th century a second Metropolia was established 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 by the efforts of King Leo I of Halych
Leo I of Halych
Lev I of Galicia became in turn Knyaz of Belz , Knyaz of Peremyshl, king of Halych and King of Rus' , Grand Prince of Kiev .-Family:...
and later his son George
George I of Halych
Yuri I of Galicia was prince of Belz and King of Galicia-Volhynia or King of Rus' ....
. It existed during most of 14th century but remained vacant since 1401 as the Metropolitan of Kyiv took over the title.
During the 15th century the Metropolitans worked together with the Patriarch of Constantinople to reestablish Christian Unity and in 1439 participated in the Union of Florence. In 1596 the Metropolia entered 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...
, reestablishing 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...
, however suffering a deep internal split.
Following the Partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at the end of the 18th century most of the Ruthenian
Ruthenians
The name Ruthenian |Rus']]) is a culturally loaded term and has different meanings according to the context in which it is used. Initially, it was the ethnonym used for the East Slavic peoples who lived in Rus'. Later it was used predominantly for Ukrainians...
(modern Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
ian and Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
) lands fell under Russian
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
rule, where the Greek Catholic Church was gradually suppressed by 1839. Nevertheless, the Church survived in Austrian
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
ruled Halychyna, where the Metropolia of Halych was reestablished, with prerogatives to administer the vacant see of Kyiv, on the basis of the Eparchy of 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...
in 1807 by Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII , born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was a monk, theologian and bishop, who reigned as Pope from 14 March 1800 to 20 August 1823.-Early life:...
.
In 1939 Halychyna also came under Russian rule and in 1946 the local Church structure was forcefully subjected under the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1969 the Metropolitan, temporarily residing in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, was raised 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 newly created position of Major Archbishop
Major Archbishop
right|200 px|thumb|Archbishop [[Sviatoslav Shevchuk]], Major Archbishop of Kyiv-HalychIn the Eastern Catholic Churches, major archbishop is a title for an hierarch to whose archiepiscopal see is granted the same jurisdiction in his autonomous particular Church that an Eastern patriarch has in...
, with rights equivalent to those of a Patriarch, however not named so as not to provoke a new wave of repressions against the Catacomb Church in Ukraine and avoid hampering ecumenical dialogue with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
Following the collapse of Soviet Union the Major Archbishop returned to his archepiscopal see in Lviv, and in 2004 to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, with the Major Archeparchy of Lviv renamed by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
to its current name.
Currently Sviatoslav Shevchuk
Sviatoslav Shevchuk
Sviatoslav Shevchuk is the Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church since 25 March 2011.-Life:Sviatoslav Shevchuk was born in 1970, in Stryi, Ukrainian SSR. He was ordained as a priest on 26 June 1994. From 2002 to 2005 he worked as head of the secretariat of Patriarch Lubomyr Husar...
is the Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych, installed in March 2011. The former Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych was Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, M.S.U. He was auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Major Archeparchy of Lviv during 1996–2000 and was apostolic administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
in 2000 until his appointment as Major Archbishop in 2001.
Bishops
- Head Sviatoslav ShevchukSviatoslav ShevchukSviatoslav Shevchuk is the Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church since 25 March 2011.-Life:Sviatoslav Shevchuk was born in 1970, in Stryi, Ukrainian SSR. He was ordained as a priest on 26 June 1994. From 2002 to 2005 he worked as head of the secretariat of Patriarch Lubomyr Husar...
(Major Archbishop)- BishopBishopA 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...
Josyf MilyanJosyf MilyanJosyf Milyan, MSU is the auxiliary bishop of the Kyiv Archeparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, a minority church in Ukraine but the largest sui juris Eastern church in full communion with the Holy See.-External links:**...
, M.S.U. (auxiliary bishop) - BishopBishopA 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...
Bohdan DzyurakhBohdan DzyurakhBishop Bohdan Dzyurakh is auxiliary bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Kiev and titular bishop of Vagada. He is also head of the Supervisory Council of the Construction of the Patriarchal Center of the UGCC...
, auxiliary bishop)
- Bishop
- Emeritus: Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, M.S.U. (Major Archbishop-Emeritus)