www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Year of Josyf Slipyj

Alex,
If you could let me have a look at the speech you prepared, I would appreciate it. Of course I won't use the same speech, but maybe it would help me out. Many people down here don't know very much about the late Patriarch, and I get some funny smerks from some priests when I mention him as Patriarch. Once a priest (OSBM) told me that we never had a patriarch, I in turn told him that he never had a Patriach but I sure did.
Lauro

Dear Lauro,

Well, given that situation with the OSBM, perhaps you don't need to see my speech . . .

It's packed away in a box somewhere, unfortunately, and will be for a few more weeks yet.

I'll send it to you when I can.

I remember reading about how the Vatican denied the Patriarch's request for the establishment of the Ukr. Cath. Patriarchate way back when.

But the Vatican could not bring itself to tell the Confessor directly.

So, instead, it sent two Ukrainian Basilian priests to deliver its message to him . . .

And they went gladly enough.

Alex

Alex,
This part of our church history really makes me sad. To be honest with you sometimes I'm ashamed of being Ukie. I know of people who weren't Ukie and regarded him as a Patriarch. How long will it take for our people to wake up, not so much of our people but our clergy? Many of them don't seem to care, others don't want to get involved. What are they afraid of?
Lauro

Dear Ipreima,

Who was who said that some Ukies are more "Papal than the Pope himself?"

Alex

Alex,
What's the pro-patriarchal movement like in the States and Canada?
I'm really outnumbered here in Brazil. It's like 20 or so, against thousands. (I'm saying thousands because these people don't have a background on Ukie history and they believe everything and anything that the osbm priests tell them). I'm trying to do the best I can. People for some reason seem to respect me eventhough they don't agree with my points of view and they don't want to start a debate on the issue either. Sometimes I feel that I'm talking to walls. My wife has told me that I'm wasting my time and that I should be doing something more useful instead of looking for trouble. Sometimes I come to think she's right you know.

Lauro

Dear Ipreima,

I think she's right too!

Unless Rome approves of it, we're both banging our heads against the wall.

I think we need to be informed and we should support the patriarchal movement whenever we can in whatever concrete ways we can.

Sometimes the best thing we can do in this respect is to promote the restoration of our Byzantine-Kyivan heritage in our Church and otherwise promote "De-Latinization" if at all possible.

The Patriarchal movement is part and parcel of this process. Those who don't appreciate are the Latinizers and the Latinized in our Church.

Alex

Dear Friends,

If Argentinian Jehovah's Witnesses will come out to join Patriarch Josyf in prayer, how come our Greek Catholic Church is divided up into chunks?

In the Patriarch's words (in 1976):

"Likewise, our Biblical Communities, who take the Holy Bible as their basis, read that within it burns this belief in One God and Jesus Christ our Redeemer. When we celebrated Holy Mass in the Northern part of the Argentine, in Chaco, countless numbers of our Jehovah Witnesses learned over the radio about our Liturgy in a great Roman Catholic Cathedral and came from colonies and woods and filled the whole Church to capacity. They prayed with us! No wonder, that they speak out about the necessity for the unity of religion and faith."

Lauro, you might find some useful material from the Sheptytsky Institute in Ottawa, Canada or from the UGCC in Lviv.

Have a Blessed Day !!!

John
Pilgrim and Odd Duck

Dear John,

That is a famous quote of the Patriarch's to be sure.

It was part of an ecumenical encyclical he sent out to try and sort out the religious diversity of the Ukrainians.

The reference to Jehovah's Witnesses is vague, however.

The Patriarch used the more generic "Yehovisty" which could certainly imply the Witnesses (Ukrainian immigrants to Argentina) or else he could have used this term as a blanket description for any "evangelical sect."

When the Patriarch made the statement that "there are no substantive differences in faith between Catholics and Orthodox," he came under fire, first and foremost, from Ukrainian bishops, especially in Europe, who said that "There are indeed substantive differences etc."

The "chunks" you refer to are "cut up" by church leaders, and not by the laity.

Alex

My opinion also, but there were and are "nationalist" views among the people, as you well know.

Greek Catholics Mark Year of Patriarch Slipyj

10.09, [09:11] // News // UGCC Info

Festivities dedicated to the year of Patriarch Josyf Slipyj were held from 7 to 8 September 2002 in Lviv. In February 2002, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) celebrated the 110th anniversary of the patriarch's birthday and officially opened the year in his honor.

On 7 September, the anniversary of Patriarch Slipyj's death, Bishop Hlib Lonchyna, curial auxiliary bishop of the UGCC, celebrated a Divine Liturgy in St. George's Cathedral, where the patriarch's remains are buried. On 8 September, Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, head of the UGCC, celebrated another Divine Liturgy. In his sermon, Cardinal Husar thanked everyone who is trying to spread knowledge of Patriarch Josyf Slipyj, who through his prayerful intercession is praying for God's blessings on Ukraine.

Also on 8 September, festivities began at St. George's Cathedral and the Church of the Transfiguration in Lviv.

Dear John,

The people there truly venerate the Patriarch as a Saint and a New Hieroconfessor.

All my relatives who sent me prayercards with his picture refer to him as "Saint."

If our Church had Stuart's "chutzpah" , they would go ahead and canonize him by themselves.

Then let Rome say this Confessor of 18 years in Siberia isn't a saint . . .

Alex

Slava Isusu Christu!


Dear friends,

without a doubt this man is a Saint as well as a the national hero of the Ukranian dispora.

In Ostoi Livitski (excuse my spelling), where my ancenstors hail they are already hailing him as a Saint.

I never had the chance to see the late Patriarch in person but my parents did during one of his tour stops at the Cathederal Of The Immaculate Conception. The thoughts they conveyed to me were he was a true Disciple of Christ in every sense of the word. Power, dignity, and a true leader when the dipora desperately needed a leader.

As I look back and go over what this man accomplished I cannot help but be awed. A major participant at the Second Vatican Council, Construction of the Ukranian Catholic University, Construction of St. Sophia's in Rome, a major voice, advocate, and supporter of education for the Priesthood and the dispora.


And finally a living example of the Catholic message of love, human dignity, and tolerance that binds us together as Catholics and human beings.

And on the issue of the Patriarchial title in the Ukranian Greek Church, our head is a Patriarch. And the Patriarch should be allowed to vote for the Pope!

Dear Friend,

Someone once wrote an article saying our Church's Head should also be a "Catholicos" to ensure he has jurisdiction over his flock throughout the Diaspora as well.

Have you heard of this? What do you think?

Alex

Alex,
Could you explain? I thought that if he were proclaimed "Patriarch" His authority was not only in Ukraine but the Diaspora as well.
Lauro

Dear Lauro,

Yes, that's where I'm confused.

I've heard priests in the civilized part of the world in which I live tell me that a Patriarch usually only holds jurisdiction in the country in which he resides.

The Oriental Churches with their Catholicoi have jurisdiction over their flock worldwide.

Perhaps Qathuliqa Mor Ephrem could explain the authority and jurisdiction of the Oriental Catholicosates?

Phil! Over here! We need y'a!

Alex