In Ukraine Two of Three Applicants to Seminary Are Turned Away

(Lemberg/Lviv)  Half of the applicants for entrance in the west Ukrainian seminary are turned away because of a shortage of places:  In the Ukraine it is not the exception but the rule.  Jaroslav Pryriz, the Auxiliary Bishop of  the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Sambir-Drohbytsch, explained in Konigstein at the international headquarters of the Pontifical Aid Agency, Kirche in Not [Church in Need], that for every seminary place in the Catholic part of Ukrain there are three applicants.  In several parts of western Ukraine two out of three applicants are not accepted in the seminary, because the Bishops and the regents of the seminary don't know where they can accommodate the large number of young men in the seminary, who feel themselves called to the priesthood.

Since the collapse of Communism the number of applications has grown steadily.  The Bishops of the  Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church united to Rome have introduced strict standards for selection.  Every applicant has to undergo four acceptance tests.  Only the best will be taken, so long as there are places available, and they are much too few, says Auxiliary Bishop Pryiz.

Already in 2001 Kirche in Not published the documentary film  Die Saat des Glaubens about the growth of the faith among Catholics in the Ukraine after the end of the Bolshevist dictatorship.  The Greek-Catholics untied to Rome celebrate the Liturgy in the Byzantine Rite.  They are concentrated in the western parts of Ukraine, which belonged up until the end of the First World War, to the Austrian Empire.  Since 2011 the Senior Archbishop Syjatoslav Schwertschuk of Kiev and Halytsch is at the forefront of the Greek-Catholic Church of the Ukraine.

The relations to the Russian Orthodox Church is traditionally tense.  The Catholic Ukrainians are considered by the Orthodox Church because of their union with Rome as apostate, although in the 16th century they did not join in complete union with the Moscow Patriarchate.  During Communism, all Greek-Catholic churches were confiscated and -- as far as they remained churches -- were given to the Orthodox.   Historically -- if also from other grounds -- there was also stress in the relationship between the Roman Catholic Poles and the Orthodox Russians.  Through a common declaration of the Patriarch of Moscow Kyrill I and the Catholic Primate of Poland, Josef Michalik, an easing of tension was reached.   The Greek Catholics of the Ukraine also hope and wish the same.   Archbishop Schewtschuk explained on August 19th:  "It would be my deepest wish, that something similar will also take place in Ukraine.  I've already stated this many times.  It would be very pleasing to us, if personal dialog on the level of our Churches could take place, so that the Patriarch of Moscow could recognize the UGCC as his dialog partner.  Because till now, we are talked over  to the Holy Father in the Vatican, and really it's always without us."

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Photo:  UGCC

Link to katholisches.....

Vatican Excommunicates Four Ukrainian Priests

Members of the Greek-Catholic Church of the Basilian Order have declared themselves as an "Orthodox Greek-Catholic Church of the Ukraine".   The explanation of the CDF.


Rome (kath.net) Four Greek-Catholic priests have proclaimed themselves to be Bishops, which the Holy See had recognized as a "active unrest".  The four Basilians of St. Joseph (Eliáš A. Dohnal, O.S.B.M., Markian V. Hitiuk, O.S.B.M., Metodèj R. Špirik, O.S.B.M. und Robert Oberhauser) had been previously thrown out of their order. The four so-called Bishops have maintained until now, that their ordinations are ecclesially valid and as such recognised by the Vatican.

The acts of the four priests "are morally and spiritually damaging not only to the Order of St. Joseph and the Greek-Catholic Church of the Ukraine, rather to the Holy See and the entire Catholic Church", says the Congregation for Doctrine in an explanation of 22 February, in a release this Thursday.

It is not been successful to dissuade the priests from their presentiment to found an "Orthodox Greek-Catholic Church of the Ukraine". They had tried, to have it recognized in civil law. The Holy See in its concern for the unity and the peace of the flock of Christ had hoped for a penitent return of the clerics to full communion with the Catholic Church. Unfortunately, they have proven their departure by an attempt to have t

he civil government recognize an "Orthodox Greek-Catholic Church of the Ukraine".

The Congregation has distanced itself for the protection of the common good of the Church and the salvation of the Faithful themselves in the form of these self-described Bishops, whose consecration is not being recognized as valid. Through their act the priests will have drawn the excommunication upon themselves with can. 1459 § 1 des „Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium“ These organizations may not identify themselves as "Catholic". The faithful are called upon to keep themselves distant from these groups and to pray for their members, "so that they come to understand and return to the full communion of the Catholic Church".
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Ukraine: 'Catholic-Orthodox Relations Have Never Been so Good as Today'

The Grand Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church: In a time of insecurity the Christian churches have been brought toward greater trust.

Kiev (kath.net/KIN) The Superior of the Ukrianian Greek Catholic Church, Grand Archbishop Swjatoslaw Schewtschuk, has descried the relations between the Catholic and Orthodox churches as "excellent" . During a visit to the international center of the Catholic agency "Kirche in Not" he stressed, relations have not been so good since today. The friendly and brotherly contact and concern lays close to him especially in the heart, explained Schewtschuk.

The Ukraine has over 45 million inhabitants, around 75 percent belong to the orthodox church, and most of them are of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is an autonomous part of the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1991 there was conflict for legitimacy and primacy in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kievian Patriarchate. The third Orthodox Church of the land is the Ukrainian Autocephalus Church.

In 1596 the uniate Ukrianian Greek-Catholic Church arose, which has around 5.5 million faithful. Roman Catholics are about 1.1 million (which are mostly Poles and Germans). The conflict between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church has been cited as an obstruction to ecumenism by the Moscow Patriarchate.

The Ukraine looks back on more than a thousand years of Christendom, explained Grand Archbishop Swjatoslaw. In the past century they have lived yet through another hundred years of aggressive atheism. The special mission of the Christian Churches lay in, "these Christian roots to rediscover and find new ways, to be present in society as Christians," said Schwetschuk.

"In a time of insecurity, in which there are processes at work in society, from which many have gotten the feeling that they aren't controllable any longer, the Christian Church will bring back great trust," exclaimed the Grand Archbishop. "The results of polls show that more people trust me than the president."

That since the Church is not dependent on the state, may "tell the truth and play an important role in society". Christendom has an essential role for the national unity of Ukraine. 'We are neutral, as far as politics goes, but we teach Christian Social teaching, promote the Gospel and defend the defenseless", explained Schewtschuk. In this authentic sense to be able to work, is one of the priorities for the Church of well formed priests.

The Superior of the these uniates of the Ukrianian Greek-Catholic Church thank "Kirche in Not" for the help, which they have made possible in the Ukraine for decades. He especially honored the founder of "Kirche in Not", Father Werenfrieds van Straaten in 2003. He himself is "a fruit of the work and the activity of Father Werenfrieds", there he received a stipend from "Kirche in Not" after the collapse of the Soviet Union from "Kirche in Not" where he received his Doctorate in Theology and returned back to his home. There he also was able to rebuild the priest seminary in Lemberg with help from "Kirche in Not". "Kirche in Not" still supports the Church in Ukraine today.

Link to kath.net....

Ukrainian President Affirms the Resurrection for His Fatherland

Editor: The President of Ukraine wishes his people a Holy Easter and affirms the central tenet of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead as He said.

President's Easter greetings to Ukrainian nation

Christ is risen!

Dear fellow countrymen!

I sincerely congratulate you on this bright day!

Resurrection of Christ unites us with faith, hope and love. With faith in peace. With hope that life will be changing gr the better. God grant that love and unity reigned in our common home – Ukraine.

Christ is risen!

Easter is the symbol of purification and victory of life. God grant us protection and support in all of our good undertakings. God grant blessing, peace and harmony to every family.

Christ is risen!

Link to original, here at President's official website.

Patriarch Lubomyr Husar on his possible successor

Джерело публікації: risu.org.ua

 [Religious Information Service of Ukraine] "My peers are pensioners. To transfer patriarchal power to any of them would be futile. Our church has a synodal structure that must search not for a person with extraordinary talents but for the leader of this community. The archbishop, father, and head of our church is the head of the synod. In our tradition, especially in the restored tradition, the synod is the governing body that sets the tone of the church’s life. I am sure that our bishops will look for a man who will plan for the future, who will continue the work that has already begun, because through the synod, we all take part in the life of our church," Patriarch Lubomyr Husar said in an interview on Thursday.

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Джерело публікації: risu.org.ua

Ukrainians to build an Orthodox church in Antarctica

Kiev, January 14, Interfax - Church-chapel of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will be built in Antarctica this spring.

"When we send polar explorers to the South Pole we don't ask about their confession. But every person can have a wish to stay alone, to pray. Why don't we build a church?" Director of the National Antarctic Scientific Center Valery Litvinov was quoted as saying on Friday by the Ukrainian Segodnya.ua website.

It is not the first Orthodox church on the ice continent: Russian carpenters built a 15-meter Orthodox church from Siberian cedar in 2004 that is dedicated to the Holy Trinity.

"When you pray there you get unspeakable impressions. It is zero altitude, but you have such a feeling that the church almost fly above Earth," Archbishop Augustine of Lvov and Galicia and said as he had celebrated a Liturgy in the church in 2007 and is going to consecrate the Ukrainian chapel in spring.

The chapel is made in Chili and is much smaller than the Russian church. It will be sent to Antarctica late in March with a new group of polar explorers. Works on building and installing the chapel will be paid by philanthropists. Byelorussians intend to erect the similar chapel on the continent as they plan to open their base in Antarctica this year.

Besides, Ukrainians will present Russian church of the Holy Trinity a bell cast by the Donetsk metallurgical plant. According to the polar expedition head, Chili customs officers were perplexed to find the bell in their luggage. Besides, they found salo (traditional Ukrainian lard - IF) in their luggage while bringing food in the country is subjected to $300 fine. Customs officers appeared to be believers and turned a blind eye to salo and the bell.

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Ukrainian Patriarch Complains about Catholic Cathedral Being Built

Editor: The double-standard continues. The Orthodox build churches in Catholic areas all the time and do so with impunity.

Odessa, September 27, Interfax - The Odessa Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church believes there is no grounds for building a Greek Catholic cathedral in the city and such plans have aggressive political backgrounds.

"It's quite evident that there's no ground for building a Greek Catholic church in Odessa. Odessa is an Orthodox city," the diocesan secretary Archpriest Andrey Novikov told Interfax-Religion on Monday.

According to the priest, initiators of the building have their own aim - proselytism, converting Orthodox believers in Unia.

"There is no visible presence of Greek Catholics in Odessa. Whom uniate preachers are going to attract to their parish? Certainly Orthodox Odessites - they will try to catch them in networks of Unia through various intricacies," the interviewee of the agency said.

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Lenin's monument presented to Ukrainian Greek-Catholics

Novosibirsk, September 1, Interfax - Uzhgorod City Council conveyed a monument to the October Revolution leader to a Greek-Catholic parish free of charge.

It will be recast and turned into a monument to Greek-Catholic bishop of the 18th century Andrey Bachinsky, who transferred diocesan residence and seminary to Uzhgorod and set up a big library there. His monument will be installed at Uzhgorod Cathedral Square, the Sibirskaya Katolicheskaya Gazeta (Siberian Catholic Paper) reported.

Earlier, the same incident took place in the town of Sambor, the Lvov Region. Statue of Mother Ukraine was made of Lenin's bronze figure. The new monument was set on the same base at the town ...

Link to original...Interfax

Supreme Rada checks Yuschenko’s brother for being “Kiev Patriarchate” bishop

Interfax

Dnepropetrovsk, January 14, Interfax – Ukrainian deputies check information that their colleague and Ukrainian President’s brother Pyotr Yuschenko is a bishop of the self-proclaimed Kiev Patriarchate.

“Now I won’t claim that Yuschenko’s brother deputy Pyotr Yuschenko is supposedly a bishop of Sumy in Filaret’s Church (in the Kiev Patriarchate – IF) – we’re checking this information right now. But if it proves true, it’ll be a mockery,” Ukrainian MP Nestor Shufrich said in his interview to the Avtor TV.

Earlier Pyotr Yuschenko headed public organization For Local Ukraine that aims at establishing one Local Orthodox Church in the country independent from the Moscow Patriarchate. In this regard, some observers consider Pyotr Yuschenko a potential church leader.

Shufrich said the problem of “political Orthodoxy” in Ukraine “became sharp after 2005, when Yuschenko decided to subordinate Church.”

“Today they provoke schism in Orthodoxy, seize churches (we have incidents in the Chernigov Region and the Vinnitsa Region,) beat Orthodox priests belonging to the structure of His Beatitude Sabodan (Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine – IF), we shouldn’t tolerate it, it’s a field for the Criminal Code and the Criminal Law to work in,” Shufrich stressed.

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