Union of Uzhhorod
Encyclopedia
The Union of Uzhhorod, also referred to as Union of Ungvár, was the 1646 decision of 63 Ruthenian
Orthodox
priests from the south slopes of the Carpathian Mountains
, then within the Kingdom of Hungary
, to join the Catholic Church on terms similar to the Union of Brest
from 1596 in the lands of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Jakusits of Eger
, the union was initiated on the Ruthenian side by the Basilian monastic order
under the leadership of the monk Petro Parfenii
(Peter Parthenius). The agreement allowed that the Eastern Byzantine church rite would be preserved and that the new "Uniate" priests would be elevated to the status of Roman Catholic clergy. As Orthodox clergy their status had been that of vassal
s with the requisite feudal duties.
The Basilian monks, led by Parfenii, agreed to the Union of Ungvár based on the following understandings:
There have been no original copies of the Union of Ungvár found in church or civil archives. The Union is documented in a petition dated January 16, 1652 in which six archdean
s petition Vatican
to confirm Petro Parfenii as the Bishop of Munkács.
The Union was approved by the Synod in Tyrnov (1648), however the Vatican did not ratify these conditions at that time, because Parfenii was an orthodox bishop. Only in 1655, when Rome made Parfenii its bishop of Munkács did the Union extend to the East. By 1721, the Union encompassed the entire Carpathian
region.
In 1949, Soviet authorities "revoked" the Union, creating the Orthodox Eparchy of Mukachiv-Uzhhorod, under the Patriarch of Moscow. In the late 1980s the Byrzantine Catholic church was re-established in Transcarpathia, following the easing of Soviet religious persecution.
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...
Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
priests from the south slopes of the Carpathian Mountains
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe...
, then within the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
, to join the Catholic Church on terms similar to 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...
from 1596 in the lands of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
History
Signed in the Castle of Ungvár on April 24 by the Roman Catholic bishopBishop
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...
Jakusits of Eger
Eger
Eger is the second largest city in Northern Hungary, the county seat of Heves, east of the Mátra Mountains. Eger is best known for its castle, thermal baths, historic buildings , and red and white wines.- Name :...
, the union was initiated on the Ruthenian side by the Basilian monastic order
Basilian monk
Basilian monks are monks who follow the "Rule" of Saint Basil the Great, bishop of Caesarea. The chief importance of the monastic rules and institutes of St. Basil lies in the fact that to this day his reconstruction of the monastic life is the basis of most of the monasticism practiced in the...
under the leadership of the monk Petro Parfenii
Petro Parfenii
Petro Parfenii was an Orthodox Bishop who united the Ruthenian Church with Rome. In 1646, 63 Ruthenian priests solicited a union with the Catholic Church...
(Peter Parthenius). The agreement allowed that the Eastern Byzantine church rite would be preserved and that the new "Uniate" priests would be elevated to the status of Roman Catholic clergy. As Orthodox clergy their status had been that of vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
s with the requisite feudal duties.
The Basilian monks, led by Parfenii, agreed to the Union of Ungvár based on the following understandings:
- Preservation of eastern rites
- The right to choose bishop, subject to the approval of Rome
- Being granted the privileges of the Roman Catholic clergy
There have been no original copies of the Union of Ungvár found in church or civil archives. The Union is documented in a petition dated January 16, 1652 in which six archdean
Archdean
Archdean is a discontinued Catholic ecclesiastical officeEven in the 20th century it was maintained as a dignity among the canons of a cathedral chapters, occasionally alongside a dean .* Not to be confused with Archdeacon...
s petition Vatican
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...
to confirm Petro Parfenii as the Bishop of Munkács.
The Union was approved by the Synod in Tyrnov (1648), however the Vatican did not ratify these conditions at that time, because Parfenii was an orthodox bishop. Only in 1655, when Rome made Parfenii its bishop of Munkács did the Union extend to the East. By 1721, the Union encompassed the entire Carpathian
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe...
region.
In 1949, Soviet authorities "revoked" the Union, creating the Orthodox Eparchy of Mukachiv-Uzhhorod, under the Patriarch of Moscow. In the late 1980s the Byrzantine Catholic church was re-established in Transcarpathia, following the easing of Soviet religious persecution.
See also
- Ukrainian Greek Catholic ChurchUkrainian Greek Catholic ChurchThe 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...
- Ruthenian Catholic ChurchRuthenian Catholic ChurchThe 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...
- History of Christianity in UkraineHistory of Christianity in UkraineThe History of Christianity in Ukraine dates back to the earliest centuries of the apostolic church. It has remained the dominant religion in the country since its acceptance in 988 by Vladimir the Great , who instated it as the state religion of Kievan Rus', a medieval East Slavic state.Although...