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 Catholic Church Protests Church Legislation

The Ukrainian Catholic Church is protesting legislation recently introduced in the Ukrainian Parliament that would transfer historic monasteries and churches in the country still under state administration to the Church of Ukraine, claiming that the status monuments, which were historically owned by the Orthodox Church, required a "complex settlement." More here.

Ukraine Considers Special Status for Ukrainian Catholic Church

A proposal has been made in the Ukrainian Parliament to designate the Ukrainian Catholic Church as a "politically repressed church" with special legal rights due to its persecution during the Soviet era. More 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.

Kiev Patriarchate Affirms Orthodoxy, Rejects Catholicism

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate has responded to recent criticism of its dialogue with the Ukrainian Catholic Church centered on the creation of an independent Church of Ukraine by reaffirming its commitment to the Orthodox Faith and rejecting Roman Catholic innovations, among them the Roman Catholic teachings on the Trinity and universal papal jurisdiction. More (in Ukrainian) 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.

Ukrainian Catholics Nominate Next Primate

On the third day of voting the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Catholic Church finally nominated one of its members for appointment by the Vatican as the next primate of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. The name will not be released until the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church's sister church, the Roman Catholic Church, confirms the appointment. More here.

Second Day of Ukrainian Catholic Synod Concludes

Another four rounds of voting by the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Catholic Church have failed to produce a nominee for appointment as its next primate. If tomorrow's voting fails to produce a nominee, then the following day the Synod will only consider the top two candidates. More here.

First Day of Ukrainian Catholic Synod Concludes

The Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Catholic Church has completed its first day of voting to nominate its next primate, with four rounds of voting having been held. If a candidate isn't nominated by two-thirds of the Synod in twelve rounds of voting, then a special round of voting will nominate by a majority one of the two candidates with the most votes so far. More here.

Ukrainian Missionary Training Program

The Ukrainian Catholic Church is introducing a training program for Ukrainian Catholic missionaries. More here.

Military Chaplaincy Approved in Ukraine

Representatives of the autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Kyiv Patriarchate, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, the Ukrainian Catholic Church, the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine, the national organization of Ukrainian Muslims, and a Ukrainian Baptist association have signed a memorandum of cooperation regarding their participation in the military chaplaincy program recently approved by the Ukrainian government. More here.

Ukrainian Catholics to Nominate New Primate in March

A meeting of the full Ukrainian Catholic Holy Synod has been scheduled for this March to nominate a new Major Archbishop of Kiev and Galicia and primate of the Ukrainian Catholic Church for appointment by the Pope of Rome. The new primate is to be enthroned in the newly built national cathedral in Kiev. More here.

Ukrainian Catholic Primate Crucial to Relations with Russian Orthodox Church?

Roman Catholics believe that the next primate of the Ukrainian Catholic Church will be crucial in determining whether Pope Benedict XVI of Rome and Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev) of Moscow meet in the near future. Some Russian Orthodox would counter that the very existence of a primate of the Ukrainian Catholic Church (not to mention of the Ukrainian Catholic Church itself) is an obstacle to the two meeting. For the former perspective see here.

Priestly Vocations Strong in Ukrainian Catholic Church

According to a recent interview with a Ukrainian Catholic auxiliary bishop the Ukrainian Catholic Church has three applicants for every available spot in its seminaries. More here.