Two questions:

1. Since the reopening of the seminary at Uzhorod in 1995 I'm wondering will ever send priestly candidates there?

2. Why don't we recognize Bishop Ivan Semedi as our Metropolitan?

Dan Lauffer

1. Since the reopening of the seminary at Uzhorod in 1995 I'm wondering will [we] ever send priestly candidates there?

Good point. Probably not because the cultural tie with the old country is basically gone. Most third- and fourth-generation Ruthenian-Americans, and the former Roman and convert ordinands, are English monolinguals.

2. Why don't we recognize Bishop Ivan Semedi as our Metropolitan?

I should think if the Ruthenian eparchies refuse to be in the Ukrainian Catholic Church, the sees of Prešov or Pittsburgh each are contenders to be the primatial one for Ruthenians.

Numberswise, are there more Greek Catholics in North America or in Slovakia? Perhaps that should determine which see it is.

And in time... the Patriarch of Pittsburgh?

http://oldworldrus.com

[ 12-31-2001: Message edited by: Serge ]

Dan,

"1. Since the reopening of the seminary at Uzhorod in 1995 I'm wondering will [we] ever send priestly candidates there?"
-I doubt it. Not too many of our candidates (1 I think) speak Rusyn fluently if at all.

"2. Why don't we recognize Bishop Ivan Semedi as our Metropolitan?"
-Canonically speaking we have no relation with the Eparchy of Mukachevo. Nor do most of the Eparchies it spawned including Krizeci, Presov, Hadudorog, Miskolc and Kosice. Oddly enough the Exarchate of Prague is listed along side Mukachevo. In time I would imagine Presov will be made an Archeparchy forming a Slovak Geek Catholic Metropolitan Church sui iuris with Kosice, and the same for Hadudorog and Miskolc for Hungarian Greek Catholics. Whether Mukachevo would be divided (a seperate Eparchy in Uzhorod?) and rasied to Metroploitan staus is a difficult question. Many in the Ukrainian Catholic Church want Mukachevo as one of their eparchies. Obviously most (all?) in Mukachevo do not want to be absorbed into the Ukrainian Catholic Church and lose their distinct identity and hence their current status of being immediately subject to the Holy See. Pittsburgh, while a daughter of Mukachevo, is a distinct Church sui iuris even though we share the same culture and rite with Mukachevo. Personally, I would like to see Pittsburgh made a Major Archeparchy for no other reason than so we could elect our own bishops rather than having to wait until Rome gets around to it.

In Christ,
Lance, deacon candidate