www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Term: Byzantine Catholic

When and how did the term Byzantine Catholic come into usage with the Carpatho-Rusyns in the United States?

Perhaps Father Serge know?

AFAIK, the term Byzantine Catholic replaced Greek Catholic in the early fifties. The members of the church weren't ethnic Greeks, so the term was dropped to avoid any confusuion.

Thanks Etnick.

There was actually a more compelling motive: the courts had determined that "Greek Catholic " could mean Eastern Orthodox, and in this had proved decisive in some litigation arising during the "Bor'ba" period in the history of the Rusyn/Ruthenian community in the USA.

Fr. Serge

Thank you Father Serge.

You are most welcome. Always a pleasure.

Fr. Serge

Instead, we've become the "Ancient inhabitants of the City of Constantinople", Byzantines!

Remember it was Empress Maria Theresa who insisted we be called "Greek Catholics" instead of Uniates. FYI

Ung

What year was that in and what was the story behind it please?

In Eastern Slavic Orthodoxy, the Orthodox faith was also known as the "Greek" faith.

A little light on the subject:

Religion & Nationality in Western Ukraine [books.google.com]

The Reconstruction of Nations [books.google.com]