Pope Francis created a UGCC Metropolitanate in Brazil

Monday, 12 May 2014, 16:19

On Monday, May 12, 2014, the Vatican announced that Holy Father Francis raised the current UGCC Eparchy of St. John the Baptist in Brazil with a seat in Curitiba to the status of an Archeparchy and the Seat of the Metropolitanate. The current Eparch, Bishop Volodymyr (Kovbych) was named its first Archbishop-Metropolitan.

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Simultaneously it was announced that Pope Francis created a new UGCC Eparchy of the Immaculate Conception with a seat in Prudentópoliso, separating its territory from that of the newly-created Archeparchy of Saint John the Baptist and placing it under the jurisdiction of this Metropolitanate Seat. Bishop Myron (Mazur), presently, the Auxiliary Bishop of UGCC Curitiba Eparchy, was named the first Eparch of the newly-formed eparchy.

The history of UGCC in Brazil began with the arrival there of Basilian missionaries who came on the heels of the migrants, who more than 120 years ago headed across the ocean in search of a better fate. Soon the Sister Servants also arrived. The Apostolic Exarchate for the faithful of the Byzantine Rite in Brazil was created in l962 by Pope Paul XXIII, and in nine years it was elevated to the status of an Eparchy.

The first bishop was Bishop Joseph (Martynets). After him, the Eparchy was headed for almost 30 years by Bishop Yefrem (Kryvyi). From 2006 the ruling bishop was Bishop Volodymyr (Kovbych).

In December 2005, Bishop Myron (Mazur) was named the Auxiliary Bishop of the Curitiba Eparchy.

Radio Vatican Site