WHAT IS THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH?

The Ukrainian (Greek) Catholic Church has the following attributes:

• It is in full communion with the Holy See
• It is an Eastern Catholic Church, following the traditions passed on from the Church in Constantinople
• It has over 5 million members worldwide
• It is the largest Eastern Catholic Church in communion with Rome
• It has its own hierarchy (bishops, cardinal) that are subject to the leadership of the Holy Father in Rome.

Although Christianity was officially recognized as the "state religion" in Ukraine in 988 AD, St. Andrew, the first apostle of Christ, preached in the hills presently known as Kiev around 50 AD.

St. Olga accepted Christianity in 945 and was baptized by the Patriarch of Constantinople. Her grandson, St. Vladimir the Great, Prince of Kievan Rus, accepted Christianity from Constantinople in 988 and proclaimed it the "state religion".

Thus, religion in Ukraine was rooted in Eastern theology and liturgical traditions. Also, St. Cyril and St. Methodius, Apostles of the Slavs, were responsible for introducing the Cyrillic alphabet.

It is interesting to note that Ukraine, through the efforts of Prince Yaroslav the Wise during the 11th century, became the first European nation to be consecrated to the protection of the Mother of God - Pokrov.

During the "Great Schism" of 1054, Pope Leo XI of Rome and Patriarch Michael of Constantinople excommunicated each other. The Ukrainian Church thus, over time, became separated from the Holy See in Rome.

However, the Union of Brest, in 1596, brought the Ukrainian Catholics back in full union with Rome. The Ukrainian Church was allowed to keep its customs and was given full autonomy as a "Particular" Church within the Byzantine rite.

When you visit a Ukrainian Catholic Church, you may notice some differences between this "Eastern Church" and the "Western Church" (i.e. Roman Catholic Church). In an "Ukrainian Catholic Church", you may experience:

• A more expressive Liturgy (icons, incense, repeated gestures, ceremonial singing)
• Very colorful priest’s vestments
• Little or no statues in church; Icons are numerous
• Evidence of Byzantium’s art, architecture, music and theological writings
• Liturgies said in English or Ukrainian (or a combination of both)
• Parishioners following either the Gregorian or Julian calendars

The best way to describe the Eastern Catholic Churches is to paraphrase our Holy Father Pope John Paul II. He eloquently stated that the Eastern Churches are like the "left lung" and the Western (Roman) Church is like the "right lung". Both lungs are needed to fully function.

HOME
BACK