What is the Ukrainian Catholic Church?
Most people only know about the Roman Catholic Church because of the over 1 billion Catholics in the world, over 98% of them are Roman Catholics. The reality is that there are 23 particular Churches that comprise the entire Catholic Church, and the Roman Catholic Church is only one of the 23. The Ukrainian Catholic Church is another one of the 23, and has about 7 million members around the world. It began in 987AD when the Great Prince Volodomyr of Kyivian Rus was baptized together with his people. Christianity migrated northwards to Rus from Greece where Christians have always been since the founding of the Apostles of various communities in the First Century.
Is the Ukrainian Catholic Church only for ethnic Ukrainians?
No. The Catholic Church is for all people. While most members of the Ukrainian Church are ethnically Ukrainian, everyone from all ethnic backgrounds are welcome to be part of the Church. As our Patriarch, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, said during his visit to Rome last year, “The number one priority for . . . the church is evangelization, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in today’s world.” The mission of the Church is not restricted to Ukraine or Ukrainians, but to all people, as Christ has commanded that we make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).
Is there a difference between Roman Catholicism and Ukrainian Catholicism?
Internally, the Faith we have is the same. In the first century the Apostles handed on what is called the Deposit of Faith, which contains the entirety of the teachings of Jesus Christ, to the Churches they founded. But within the Roman Empire, there was a diversity of people from different cultural backgrounds, as well as philosophical schools of thought. The ways of understanding and expressing our common Faith with Roman Catholics, as well as the way of practicing it, diverged as a result of this, and after centuries of development it resulted in 6 Rites, or ritual Traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is a Latin Rite Church, while the Ukrainian Catholic Church is one of 14 Catholic Churches that follow the Byzantine (or Greek) Rite. The obvious differences are our Liturgies, the vestments of our clergy, and the architecture of our churches. The list is long but these are the things one would immediately see upon entering a Ukrainian parish.
Can a Roman Catholic come and attend Mass in a Ukrainian Catholic parish?
Definitely! All Catholics can attend the Liturgy of any of the 23 Catholic Churches and receive Communion and have their confessions heard. Attending any one of the 23 Catholic Churches also fulfills your Sunday Obligation. By the way, Ukranian Catholics refer to our worship as “Divine Liturgy,” not “Mass.” Because of our Greek heritage, we refer to things as they are in Greek (the word Liturgy is from Greek), and not Latin (the word Mass is from Latin).
(in accordance with Canon Law 1248.1, so you don’t have to attend Mass again for that Sunday or Holiday of Obligation.
I deleted this line because (1) mention of Canon Law is more likely to be off-putting or altogether strange (you can put it in a footnote), (2) it is redundant to anyone who knows what a “Holy Day of Obligation” is, and (2) the particular Churches can have different Holy Days (it is Holy Day, not holiday) of Obligation.
What relationship does the Ukranian Catholic Church have to the Pope in Rome?
The Pope is the head bishop of the entire Catholic Church (comprised of the 23 particular Churches mentioned above), the successor of St. Peter who was head of the Apostles. We commemorate him in our Divine Liturgies as “[fill in the blank].”
How about non-Catholics?
The Catholic Church is open to all. If you wish to worship God in our Tradition for a particular Sunday or even during the week, you are more than welcome to come and participate. All we ask is that you respect our beliefs regarding the Eucharist (Communion) and refrain from partaking.
Why is there a wall with so many doors covering the altar?
That is called the Iconostasis. It is a link between heaven (represented by the altar/sanctuary where Christ is) and the faithful (the nave where the laity are). This is why it is adorned with icons of the saints, and most importantly the icon of Jesus Christ on the right side of the main door, and the icon of the Theotokos (Greek for “Mother of God”, the title we give Mary in the Byzantine Rite) to the left. They are there to guide us into heaven, thus the iconostasis connects, not separates.
I like all the paintings, where are the statues?
The use of Sacred Images diverged in the East and West around the end of the First Millennium. The East began using icons more and more exclusively, while the West has greater use of statues. Icons aren’t just mere paintings, but are “windows to heaven”; there are strict rules in making icons because the images are meant not only to inspire through the visual art, but also to teach, and convey blessings. Every little aspect of an icon is meant to represent something, the eyes, hand gestures, objects held, clothing, etc. It is not meant to capture a scene, but rather tell an entire story.
