Ukrainian Orthodoxy		Orthodoxie ukrainienne

Ukrainian Orthodox Catholic?

Question:

    Please understand that my theological persuasion is reformed theology and my understanding of orthodoxy and catholicism is limited.  I was speaking to an aquaintance today who described his Christian persuasion to be that of "Ukranian orthodox catholic".  Orthodoxy and Catholicism does not seem to go together to me.  He described an orthodox altar with iconic decorated doors but stated none of the priests that he knew were married.  He also said his calendar did not match the Greek orthodox calendar for Easter.   He sounds more Catholic than orthodox.  Maybe I am approaching this too simplistic. Could you shed some light on whether he is Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or a Hybrid? 

Response:

Dr. Alexander Roman alex.roman@unicorne.org

Thank you very much for your interesting query!

Actually, your understanding of both Orthodoxy and Catholicism is fine.  As for your “Ukrainian Orthodox Catholic” acquaintance . . .

He would definitely be a Ukrainian Greek-Catholic.  The Ukrainian Catholic Church can be very much like the Anglican in its ritual practice.  There can be “High Church” UGCC parishes that are very Byzantine in rite and then “Low Church” parishes with many Latin practices (which can also be called “Catholic” by the clergy and members of such parishes, thereby giving the impression that without Latin practices, the Church simply isn’t “Catholic”).

Your friend’s parish would definitely be of the Latinized variety.  The term “Orthodox Catholic” is used in a variety of contexts and with different “textured” meanings.  It can be used by very Byzantine UGCC parishes to signify closeness to their Orthodox ancestry and identity.  This usage can be offensive to Orthodox Christians however for whom the Eastern Catholics are not “Orthodox,” but outside Orthodoxy.  Other Eastern Catholics might use this term to show they are both “Catholic” and “Orthodox” at the same time by way of a curious syncretism.  Others still would use the term “Orthodox” to show that it is the Catholics who are the “real Orthodox” etc. (Also, highly offensive to Orthodox Christians!).

One historic problem for Ukrainian Catholics has always been the matter of their appellation.  “Greek-Catholic” is a term coined during the Austro-Hungarian imperial times to distinguish them from “Roman-Catholics.”  It has only come back into use today because the churches in western Ukraine were all registered under this title prior to the Soviet takeover after World War II.  There is some talk among the bishops of the UGCC to create an entirely new name for their Church and one that does not have “Ukrainian” in it at all . . .  As the Orthodox Metropolitan and scholar Ilarion Ohienko wrote, the earliest names the Eastern Catholics had following the Union of Brest included “Orthodox in union with Rome” and “Greco-Uniates” (the latter being offensive to Eastern Catholics today).

See how simple it all is . . .

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Ukrainian Orthodoxy - Українське Православ'я