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Does anyone know the reason the Byzantine Russians have gone so long without a bishop of their own.What does this bode for the future? Thanks, Paul

I have actually wondered that myself. In America I don't see why the Russians are not under the Ruthenians or another Byzantine Bishop.

I would defer to Father Serge on this subject, but I think the short answer is (a) their small size does not, in Rome's view, justify assigning a permanent bishop; and (b) that the assigning of a permanent bishop would be an ecumenical irritant with the Moscow Patriarchate.

As to why they are not under the permanent pastoral guidance of one of the Greek Catholic bishops (I would choose the Melkites, myself--the Ruthenians, Ukrainians and Romanians carry too much baggage), i think perhaps the Russian Greek Catholics might like not being under anyone's close supervision.

well, the Melkites have always had a long and close relationship with the Russians. I think, at present moment, whoever who has been assigned as their spiritual father is doing a darn good job in doing what they can to ensure that the Russians receive the best. I can only say this however, for my own Melkite bishop, who goes out of his own way that the spiritual needs of the Russian Catholics in Australia are taken care of. He has been kind enough to celebrate the Eastern Divine Liturgy with them, in accordance with the Old Calendar.

So, unfortunately, there has been no bishop for Russian Catholics of the Byzantine-Slavonic rite since Bishop ANDREW resigned in 1977.

Source
Necrology of the Congregation of Marian Fathers [padrimariani.org]

Slava Isusu Khrestu

Hello

This line from Stuartk I find most interesting!

" and (b) that the assigning of a permanent bishop would be an ecumenical irritant with the Moscow Patriarchate."

for I have heard it used so many times in reference to the Ukrainians in their struggle for recognition by Rome.

I ask myself, "Who are more important, the members of the whole or the outsiders who would be offended?"

ZBohom
Unworthy
Kolya

Well, you would have to ask Rome. They are so anxious to please the Orthodox not in communion with them that they consistently slight those who already are.

I can understand the hesitancy of Rome and the other Greek Catholics in this matter but you make a very good point. If and when the Reunion does accrue the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine and Russia will become part of the larger Eastern Church united with the Western Church.

I think we should worry about our own Communion in this matter and the Russians should have a bishop (eparch) and if Rome wants to elevate the Church in Ukraine to the status of a Patriarchate then she should do that (if the Holy agrees with the UGCC). I understand it can be hard for ecumenical relations but if the Orthodox can have bishops in traditionally Latin areas (Italy and Western Europe) then the Greek Catholics should be able to have a bishop as well in traditionally Orthodox lands.

I don't think either side should proselytize the other side but GC’s in Russia should have a bishop.

Also if the Orthodox don't consider Greek Catholics as Orthodox then why should they care if a Catholic bishop cares for Catholic populations? Just a thought.

Why does Rome have to elevate the Church of Kyiv to patriarchal status? I think the Ukrainians have already made that decision, since Archbishop Lyubomir is commemorated as Patriarch not only in his own cathedral, but in UGCC parishes across the globe. In other words, it's done. The Ukrainians finally got tired of Rome welching on its agreement to Patriarch Josef the Confessor and presented Rome with a fait accompli. This is, in fact, how most Churches achieve patriarchal status: the decide for themselves, and eventually people accept it (or not).

I think that in this case Rome will recognize it and so will the other Eastern Catholic Patriarchates. Just like Constantinople did with Moscow, Bulgaria and Romania. It takes a while for the older Churches to recognize the local Church in question as a Patriarchate. (Just like the OCA and its status- some agree, others do not) The historical precedence is that the older patriarchates recognize the new ones- In the case of the Ukrainian Church this is the case- it is a patriarchate but the older ones are just slow to recognize it as such.

In the time of Patriarch Maximos V of holy memory, he regularly addressed the Patriarch of Kyiv-Halych and all Rus' with that title, and so referred to His Beatitude in Le Lien.

The thought of Bishop Andrew of Nauplia is still sad; he was an excellent parish priest but life in Rome did not suit him. God grant him blessed repose, and Eternal Memory.

Fr. Serge

The issue of why the Russian Greek-Catholics do not have a bishop is not a new one and the reason why is no secret - although you won't find any published documents from Rome declaring it.

Quite simply, like it or not, Rome considers that the erection of a canonical jurisdiction for the Russians would offend the Patriarchate of Moscow - which has consistently voiced the opinion that the Russian GC Church is a tool for proselytizing Russian Orthodox faithful. The size of the Church, which I haven't ever seen publicly cited as a factor, is a convenient excuse. The erection of an Ordinariate for Greek-Catholics in Russia was a move to head off the presbyterate there which had begun to openly voice its discontent, to the point of electing an Administrator for the Exarchate, so long sede vacante.


I've never heard any of the Russians of my acquaintance express any misgivings about coming under the general superintendence of any of the other Greek-Catholic hierarchs - albeit they would certainly like to have their own.

As Collin points out, the Eparch of St Michael's in Sydney of the Melkites has been very supportive of the Russian community there which is, informally at least, under his spiritual omophor.

In the US: St Andrew's in El Segundo is formally committed to the spiritual omophor of the Eparch of Newton of the Melkites, albeit still canonically subject to the Latin Ordinary; Our Lady of Fatima in San Francisco is informally under the spiritual omophor of the Melkites, who provide for its hierarchal needs - although it remains canonically subject to the Latin Ordinary (at least one of the presbyters assigned to it is incardinated in the Melkite Eparchy); and, Ss Cyril & Methodius in Denver is informally committed to the spiritual omophor of the Eparchy of St George in Canton of the Romanians, while canonically subject to the Latin Ordinary. All of these arrangements are the result of mutual agreement between the hierarchs involved.

St Michael's in NYC is presently served by a priest of the Melkite Eparchy (and at least two other priests of the Eparchy have substituted there from time to time), although I don't believe that there is yet presently any informal agreement between the Latin and Melkite hierarchs as to it.


To formally effect such a change as regards actual canonical jurisdiction would require assent by Rome - whether a request by the two hierarchs involved in any given instance would be approved is anyone's guess.

While placing them under a hierarch of one of the Byzantine Churches of the Slav Tradition would seem most logical (and the relationship between Metropolitan Andreyj and Blessed Exarch Leonid would seem to argue for such), the irony is that the Melkites have historical ties to the Russian GCs from the date of the latter's origin.

Father Nicholas (Tolstoy), of blessed memory, the Russian Orthodox priest whose entry into communion with Rome marks the establishment of a Russian GC presbyterate, was incardinated into the Melkite Patriarchate. Why? My best guess - a Melkite hierarch was the only Byzantine bishop in Rome at the time that he made his profession of faith - I can't come up with any other reasonable explanation.

Ties between the two in the US date back to the early 1970s when Archbishop Joseph (Tawil), of blessed memory, was asked by the Latin Ordinary of Boston to afford hierarchical care to the now-suppressed Our Lady of Kazan Russian GC Chapel of blessed memory.

Many years,

Neil