Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church – 20 years since legalization: current status, prospects of development, challenges

On December 15, 2009, in Kyiv, at the press center Ukrainian Time of the Ukrainian House (Khreschatyk Str., 2) at 10:00 the press conference of His Beatitude Lubomyr (Husar), Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych of the UGCC, will take place. In 2009 the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church celebrated the 20th anniversary of its legalization, which took place after decades of totalitarian prohibition, exiles, destruction, and persecution. At the same time in 2009 two other anniversary dates were also recognized: the 65th anniversary of the death of God’s servant Metropolitan Andrey (Sheptytskyj) and the 25th anniversary of the death of the confessor of faith, Patriarch Joseph (Slipyj). On this occasion the Patriarchal Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, which was held on November 29 through December 5, 2009, issued the Synod’s message. In the document is presented not only memories of the years of persecution but also a look at the future development. The main emphasis of the message is finding a solution to one of the major problems of the Ukrainian society – the inter-denominational division. “During the last several years in Ukraine a discussion developed about the problem of the Kyivan Church, thus, the unification of today’s churches of the old Kyivan tradition into one Kyivan Church. This discussion also proceeds in the Greek Catholic environment, and, as always with something unusual, there is no shortage of criticism. Some see this goal as an unrealizable utopia, others – ‘betrayal,’” reads the Synod’s message. The complete text can be found on the official web page of the UGCC through the following link: www.ugcc.org.ua/985.0.html?&L=0. To hear the comments of the head of the UGCC in regards to this theme and obtain answers for their questions representatives of the mass media are invited to attend our press conference.  To receive additional information please call the number: 050 664 81 84 (Fr. Ihor Yatsiv, head of the Information Department of the UGCC).

Information Department of the UGCC