SHORT HISTORY OF THE UKRANIAN CATHOLIC EXARCHATE
(Questions and answers)

What is an apostolic exarchate?

An apostolic exarchate is like a missionary diocese for a group of Eastern Catholics not yet large enough or organized enough to be constituted a full diocese (eparchy).

Why is deemed apostolic as opposed to patriarchal or archiepiscopal?

As Bishop of the Apostolic See of Rome, the pope entrusts the pastoral care of the faithful of an autonomous particular Church in an area situated outside that Church’s home territory.

Why does the pope establish such exarchates?

According to Catholic dogma, in his special mission of service to the Universal Church, the Bishop of Rome possesses universal jurisdiction over all the Churches, whereas a patriarch/major-archbishop possesses only a moral and symbolic primacy over his particular church.

Are there any such dioceses in the UK?

Yes, the Apostolic Exarchate for Ukrainian Catholics in Great Britain. It is the only Eastern-Rite Catholic diocese in the UK.

How did Ukrainians come to live in the UK?

A small number of Ukrainians immigrated after the failed struggle for Ukrainian independence, following the First World War. After the Second World War, numerous refugees arrived, fleeing Communist oppression.

Why did the Ukrainians not adapt to the Latin Rite?

Ukrainian Catholics belong to the Byzantine-Slavonic liturgical tradition, the Latin Rite being foreign to them. The Catholic Church teaches that all Rites are of equal dignity and must be preserved, and so canon law forbids a transfer from one rite to another without the express permission of the Apostolic See.

Then, why did the Latin Hierarchy become involved?

Outside of the homeland, where the Particular Church does not possess its own structure, faithful belonging to the Eastern Catholic Churches fall under the jurisdiction and care of the Catholic structure in place.

How did the Latin hierarchy look after the Eastern-Catholic faithful?

The Roman Catholic Bishops granted permission for Ukrainian Catholic priests to emigrate to the UK and minister to their faithful. Invariably, this meant providing financial assistance and lodgings.

Where did the first Ukrainian immigrants worship?

Not possessing church buildings of their own, many initially worshipped in industrial hostels, where cheaper accommodation was to be found. Roman Catholic parishes also offered hospitality for Ukrainian services.

Did the Ukrainians continue to share RC churches?

Some smaller communities continue to do so until the present day. However, the larger settlements began to raise money to buy or build their own places of worship.

What was the first Ukrainian Church in London?

A Belgian-Canadian missionary who had adopted the Ukrainian Rite, Father Josaphat Jean, spearheaded the purchase of an church in Saffron Hill, Clerkenwell. This parish was later named after St Theodore of Canterbury, a Greek Christian from Tarsus in Asia Minor who headed and reformed the Church in England from 668 AD.

Why was a separate diocese established?

When it became clear that the Ukrainian immigrants represented a long-term or permanent group, more durable pastoral structures for them were required.

What measures were taken to establish a more permanent structure?

On 10 June 1957, the Apostolic See (the Pope) established a missionary diocese called the Apostolic Exarchate for the Ukrainian Catholics in England and Wales.

Who was the first administrator of this exarchate?

The Latin Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal William Godfrey, functioned as the administrator of the exarchate.

Did he administer the exarchate alone?

No. Cardinal Godrey appointed Ukrainian priests as Vicar Generals who performed the day-to-day administration and reported back to the Cardinal-archbishop.

Why was a Ukrainian bishop not appointed?

The Apostolic See had already judged it opportune to establish a separate diocese for the Ukrainians. From the beginning, Cardinal Godfrey’s administration was intended as transitional. The Latin Church continued to provide assistance to the fledgling diocese while an appropriate episcopal candidate was being sought.

How was a Ukrainian bishop appointed?

Basilian Father Augustine Hornyak was ordained bishop in 1961 and appointed auxiliary-bishop to Cardinal Godfrey. Bishop Hornyak replaced the priest-vicar generals which had hitherto helped administer. This temporary position was intended as a further transition, to give Bishop Hornyak time to acquaint himself with the terrain.

Who was the first Ukrainian bishop?

When Cardinal Godfrey died in 1963, Bishop Hornyak was named Apostolic Exarch for Ukrainians in England and Wales.

Did the exarchate extend to all of the UK?

Initially, the Apostolic Exarchate had jurisdiction over the Ukrainians in England and Wales. On 12 May 1968, it was extended to include Scotland and Northern Ireland and the exarch’s title was changed to Apostolic Exarch for Ukrainian Catholics in Great Britain.

What kind of relations did the Exarch enjoy with other Catholic bishops?

Bishop Hornyak developed close personal relationships with Cardinals Heenan, and Hume. The former helped secure for the Ukrainians a beautiful Cathedral Church.

Why are there priests from Canada and Brazil serving in the exarchate?

Bishop Hornyak entered the Basilian order of St. Josaphat in the Unites States. Shortly after his episcopal ordination, he traveled to Canada where he arranged for Ukrainian and English-speaking Basilian missionaries to serve in England. The Basilians settled in Bradford, Yorkshire and later extended their mission to Scotland. Since their congregations were exclusively Ukrainian-speaking, Ukrainian Basilians from Brazil soon joined the Bradford mission. In the 1990’s, when the Canadian Fathers could no longer supply personnel, the Brazilian-Ukrainians assumed the care of the mission. With the influx of new immigrants to the capital, the Order was invited to assume the administration of the Cathedral-parish in London.

Who succeeded Bishop Hornyak?

Bishop Hornyak resigned in 1987. For two years, the Exarchate was administered by Canadian-born Bishop Michael Hrynchyshyn, CSsR (Redemptorist Fathers), who had already been serving as Apostolic Exarch of France, Benelux and Switzerland since 1982. Two years later, in 1989, Bishop another Canadian Redemptorist, Bishop Michael Kuchmiak, was named Exarch for Great Britain. Bishop Kuchmiak retired in 2002 and was succeeded by a Canadian Basilian, Bishop Paul Chomnycky. In January 2006, Bishop Paul was transferred to the Ukrainian Eparchy of Stanford, USA. Since then, the Exarchate has been administered by Father Benjamin Lysykanych.

Why have so many members of religious orders served as bishops and priests in the exarchate?

It is the usual practice to send priests belonging to religious orders to establish the foundations of the Church in mission territories. Members of religious orders do not possess personal property and, thanks to a rigorous training and lifestyle, are well suited to brave the austere conditions found where the church-structure is still to be established. Whereas diocesan priests serve within a more restricted areas, missionary orders are able to transfer their personnel farther and more frequently. Such missionaries are frequently appointed as bishops over missionary churches.

What changes have occurred in the exarchate’s population?

Ukraine’s independence, in 1991, was followed by a period of economic difficulties, resulting in the emigration of many Ukrainians to Western Europe. This caused an massive increase in the number of Ukrainian Catholic faithful in Great Britain. In particular, the London Cathedral has seen the largest increase of faithful.