Ukrainian-Canadian Orthodox Metropolitan Speaks at Ukrainian Catholic Synod

It is being reported that Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk) of Winnipeg, first hierarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, has, in the course of his recent attendance of a session of the synod of the worldwide Ukrainian Catholic episcopate, offered to facilitate a meeting of the primate of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Archbishop Major Svyatoslav (Shevchuk), with Patriarch Bartholomew (Arhondonis) of Constantinople. During remarks made to the synod, at which he was a speaker, Metropolitan Yurij also pointed to the collaboration in North America between the Eastern and Roman Catholic Churches on the one hand and the Orthodox Churches present on the continent on the other as an example to Orthodoxy and Catholicism in Ukraine on how to work through the animosity that has historically divided the two communions. More on Metropolitan Yurij's  here.

Ukrainian Orthodox, Catholic First Hierarchs Meet at Kiev Caves Lavra

Ukrainian Catholic Major Archbishop Svyatoslav Shevchuk has met with the head of the Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan) of Kiev, at the latter's residence at the Kiev Caves Lavra. During their meeting the two discussed ways to peacefully resolve disputes over church property ownership, which have been complicated by the transfer to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Ukrainian Catholic churches closed by the Soviets. More here.

Ukrainian Catholic Church Developing Patriarchal Institutions Without a Patriarchate

In a recent interview Major Archbishop Svyatoslav Shevchuk of the Ukrainian Catholic Church commented on the growing institutional presence of his jurisdiction in Kiev, saying in part that his predecessor, Major Archbishop Lubomyr Cardinal Husar, "Did not demand a patriarchate, but...built it." He went on to say that he would continue the work of building up the patriarchal institutions of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the hope of having the Vatican grant the church patriarchal status in the future. More here.

Patriarch Philaret, Archbishop Major Svyatoslav Discuss Areas of Inter-Church Cooperation

This past week Patriarch Philaret (Denysenko) of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Archbishop Major Metropolitan Svyatoslav (Shevchuk) of the Ukrainian Catholic Church met in Kiev to discuss possible areas of cooperation between the two churches, among them social issues, relations between the churches and the Ukrainian government, and education. More here.

Ukrainian Catholic Primate on Relations with the Moscow Patriarchate

Archbishop Major Svyatoslav (Shevchuk) of the Ukrainian Catholic Church has said that he hopes to put "phantom pains of the past" behind the Church in its relations with the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church, saying that he believes that the wounds between the two churches can be healed "when [they] heal [their] memory with mutual forgiveness." More here.

Ukrainian Catholic Primate Wants to Meet with Patriarch of Moscow

Major Archbishop Metropolitan Svyatoslav (Shevchuk) of Kiev has expressed a desire to meet with Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev) of Moscow to ease tensions between the Russian Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic Churches, saying that he is "convinced that in peacefully and openly communicating with each other, we can relieve any tension." More here.

Metropolitan Hilarion Congratulates New Ukrainian Catholic Primate

Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk of the Russian Orthodox Church has sent Major Archbishop Metropolitan Svyatoslav (Shevchuk) of the Ukrainian Catholic Church congratulations on his enthronement this past Sunday. In his congratulations Vladyka Hilarion expressed the hope that the Russian Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic Churches can "gradually resolve acute and painful problems that accumulated over years to the [better] welfare and prosperity of the Ukrainian people," stating that "the Moscow Patriarchate is ready to develop constructive discussions with the [Ukrainian] Catholic Church...aimed at overcoming the existing difficulties." More here.

Ukrainian Catholic Primate to Request Vatican Establishment of a Ukrainian Catholic Patriarchate

As he prepared to depart for Rome for his first meeting with Pope Benedict XVI the newly enthroned primate of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Major Archbishop Metropolitan Svyatoslav (Shevchuk) of Kiev and Galicia, stated that he intended to ask that the Vatican elevate his church to the rank of a patriarchate. The Ukrainian Catholic Church is the largest of the Eastern Catholic Churches, but is not ranked as a patriarchate despite the claim of its last two primates to the title. More here.

Svyatoslav (Shevchuk) Appointed Ukrainian Catholic Primate

The Vatican has appointed Bishop Svyatoslav (Shevchuk) of Buenos Aires as Archbishop Major of Kiev and Galicia and primate of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. The 40-year old bishop was consecrated less than 2 years ago and was nominated for the primacy by the recent electoral meeting of the Ukrainian Catholic Holy Synod. More here.