The Quest for Unity and Autonomy
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the Diaspora
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3319024 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Anatolii Babynskyi (0000-0002-1340-4608, Ukrainian Catholic University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 518 |
| Publication date | 2025-04-16 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Religions (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/rel16040518 |
| OpenAlex | W4409505478 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 3 |
This article examines the complex process of establishing a unified structure for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) within the post-World War II diaspora, focusing on the formation of the Bishops' Conference and the concurrent pursuit of the recognition of patriarchal status. Building on earlier inter-diocesan meetings, efforts to create a coordinating body for the dispersed UGCC episcopate gained momentum in the 1950s, culminating in the establishment of the Episcopal Conference. However, these conferences progressively revealed significant internal disagreements, particularly concerning the scope of the Conference's authority and its relationship with the Roman Curia. The release of Josyf Slipyj from Soviet imprisonment and his subsequent exile in Rome, coupled with the proclamation of the Decree on the Eastern Catholic Churches, dramatically altered this dynamic. Slipyj's advocacy for ritual jurisdiction clashed with the Roman Curia's desire for centralized control and the divergent views of individual bishops. Significantly, the growing activity of the laity, characterized by persistent demands for autonomy and patriarchal status, and fueled by disillusionment with Vatican policies, played a crucial role in shaping the UGCC's trajectory. This analysis underscores the intricate interplay of canonical, political, and personal factors that influenced the UGCC's attempts to forge a coherent identity and assert its rights in the post-war diaspora
Autonomy · Diaspora · Linguistics · Political science · Sociology · Ukrainian · European Politics and Security · Law · Philosophy · Religion and Society Interactions
| Citations per year | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |