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During the interwar years (WW1 - WW2) there was a movement towards unification of Subcarpathian Rus with Ukraine (Unified Rus lands) which was to be the modern nation of the Rusyn peoples. Years before the Soviets made their entrance, Avhustyn Voloshyn, a Greek Catholic Ruthenian priest declared himself to be a Ruthenian nationalist (ie: a Ukrainian) and then whent on to declare a Carpatho-Ukrainian nation in Subcarbathian Rus. Here are more details:

Avhustyn Voloshyn
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Avhustyn VoloshynAvhustyn Voloshyn (Ukrainian: Августин Волошин, Czech: Augustin Volo�in, 1874�1945) was a Subcarpathian politician, teacher, and essayist. He was president of independent Carpatho-Ukraine, which existed for a few days in 1939.

Voloshyn was born in March 17, 1874 in Kelesin, Transcarpathia (province of Austro-Hungary). He studied at Uzhhorod School of Theology and at Budapest University. He became a Greek Catholic priest, from 1924 a Papal chamberer. He was professor of mathematics at Uzhhorod Teacher Institute from 1900 to 1917. In 1918, he became head of the Subcarpathian National Council, which in 1919 asked Czechoslovakia to confederate Transcarpathia into Czechoslovakia. This was realised in Autumn 1919. In 1925, he was voted as MP in Houses of Parliament in Prague (as a leader of Ruthenian National Christian Party). In October 1938, he was the head of the Subcarpathian Autonomous Region. During the total destruction of Czechoslovakia by Hitler's Germany, he tried to preserve Carpatho-Ukraine independence and became president of Carpatho-Ukraine for a few days (March 14, 1939) with the help of the rest of the Czechoslovakian army, which was fighting against the Hungarians, allies of Hitler. On March 19, 1939, the last Czechoslovakian troops retreated to the Romanian Kingdom's border, which was Czechoslovakia's ally. Subcarpathia was occupied by Hungary.

Voloshyn fled to Prague, where he lived as a private person. In March 1945, the Soviet Red Army took Transcarpathia, and annexed it into the Soviet Ukraine. The governement of Czechoslovakia agreed to cede the territory. The Transcarpathians became Soviet citizens, and many were arrested and sent into gulags and concentration camps in the USSR. Private property in Transcarpathia was confiscated and the land collectivised.

When Soviet troops won Prague in May 1945, Avhustyn Voloshyn was arrested by the KGB and taken Moscow. He died in July 1945 in the prison of Butyrka in Moscow.

Complete biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avhustyn_Voloshyn

Note: The Rusyns in Trancarpathia were Magyarphiles as were many in Rusyns of Galicia oriented in a like manner towards the Poles. The Rusyns were subserviant to the Hungarians and Poles in their respective Rusyn lands. That orientation vanished generations ago

I.F.

Dear Friends,

Our Patriarch is simply reiterating the position of the UGCC and her Synod regarding an official recognition of what is ALREADY the case within our Church - that it IS a Patriarchate!

It is a Patriarchate!

It is a Patriarchate!

It is a Patriarchate!

(Woops, I guess I've been reading the liturgical reform threads here too much . . . ).

And in the absence of official Roman recognition, Papal sympathy with the UGCC cause is most welcome!

Alex

Patriarchate Cause �Alive,� Says Ukrainian Greek Catholic Head
http://www.risu.org.ua/eng/news/article;10951/

BUT ACCORDING TO SOME...
Vatican �Double-dealing� on Ukrainian Greek Catholic Patriarchate, Say UOC-KP Orthodox
http://www.risu.org.ua/eng/news/article;10977/

Alex...I agree that the UGCC is a Patriarchate.
But I think the problem is many of the faithful at least in my experience here in the States (and maybe it's not so in Canada or Ykpaina) don�t act as if it is (or realize why it�s important).

"If you look through the UGCC website one could be forgiven for thinking they are claiming juristiction outside the Major Archdiocese and claiming some form of universal juristiction. You got to watch those Uks.
Pavel Ivanovich"

Now I am completely confused because of the statment quoted above. If there is a Eastern Catholic Patriarch of Kyiv, then why would he not have jurisdiction over all of geogrpahical Ukraine and also jurisdiction over the faithful of this rite outside of Ukraine.
I have been told, that Husar is celebrated as their own Patriarch by Ukrainian Catholic parishes
in Eastern Canada. Are you now saying that Husar is not the Patriarch of Ukrainian Catholic parishes in Canada, but the Pope of Rome is???? and that the Pope of Rome is the Patriarch of the Ruthenian Catholic Church in the USA?

Patriarchs govern their patriarchates. Patriarchates have very clear boundaries like all diocese do. All of the faithful while maintaining close links with their hierarchs in the Patriarchates or Major Archdiocese but come under the Pope as Universal pontiff. It works quiet well in the Catholic Church. H.B. The Metroplitan of Kiev-Haliczina is commemorated in various forms (Patriarch or Metropolitan) all over the world in UGCC churches. In Catholic terms there is no Patriachate of Kiev-Haliczina in Ukraine and neither is there a Ruthenian Patriarchate. There is no problem here either.

Wow, I have to say I am struck by the harshness of the words from the KP.

Andrew

I've just been corrected on the above by a friend whose roots are in the UGCC. It turns out that Patriarch Joseph was visiting Pittsburgh circa 1968 OR 1973, and celebrated Liturgy at a UGCC church there, followed by a banquet to which Met. Stephen (Kocisko) and the Uniontown Basilian Sisters were invited. The Patriarch had evidently tried to get the nuns to affirm their Ukrainian identity, and questioned Met. Stephen as to why they had not invited "their" Patriarch to visit the Pittsburgh Metropolia. Then the sparks began to fly.

In Christ,
Dn. Robert

P.S.
Perhaps there are some posters who have more info on this event?

Dear Father Deacon Robert,

Yes, I actually spoke with Patriarch Joseph on this question . . .

He really did believe that Carpatho-Rusyns are "Ukrainians with an under-developed cultural identity" who needed to be egged on a bit. But he didn't push it when he met with opposition and left things alone.

For him, the UGCC included Belarusyans, Russians (both Nikonian and Old Rite) and Siberians as he was the bishop of all these during his exile.

He believed there were Ukrainians with all sorts of different "Ukrainian sub-identities" that were not the "Galician nationalist" variety.

There are Ukrainians and Russians, including "Carpatho-Ukrainians," who also believe this.

However, when he met with Carpatho-Rusyn opposition to this, he said, "Fine, as you wish."

When he coined the formal name for the UGCC, it was, in full, "The Particular Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Byzantine-Ukrainian RIte (Greco-Ruthenian)."

The words in parentheses were added deliberately by him to underscore the Carpatho-Ruthenian identity and ALSO those of the Ruthenian recension who did not feel "Ukrainian" but who looked to Kyiv/Kiev as their spiritual mother in some way.

Let's also remember that at the turn of the last century, all Ukrainians were called "Rusyns" and when Met. Andrew Sheptytsky came to North America, he visited his Church that was the "Rusyn Greco-Catholic" Church. That Church was comprised not of "Ukrainians" but of Galicians, Volynians, Bukovinians etc. under the one banner of "Rusyn."

It was later that the national movements in Eastern Europe led those of the former "Rusyn" identity to embrace the "Ukrainian" identity.

These included the Galicians, Bukovinians, Volynians etc. including Carpatho-Rusyns and Lemkos, although not all or even the majority, of course.

Patriarch Joseph meant no offense, as he saw the Carpatho-Rusyns as one among several regional groups from Ukraine that had, over time and in response to the "national awakening" process, developed a national Ukrainian identity that went beyond, without destroying, their regional identities.

But, it must be said that as he came to understand the situation with the Carpatho-Rusyns that he definitely affirmed their right to be "non-Ukrainian Ruthenians" just as he saw in Belarusyan and Russian Catholics as "non-Ukrainian Ruthenians."

To add to his initial confusion over this matter (and let's remember that he was out of Western circulation for about 20 years on "other business" in SIberia) is the annoying Carpatho-Rusyns who say they are, in fact, Ukrainians . . .

What do you personally think of the Confessor otherwise, Father Deacon?

I have his picture with me always, and a personally signed letter from him in which he thanks me for an article I once wrote about his life and I pray to him.

I think he was a great and holy Confessor of our faith!

Alex

Dear Andrew,

Yes, but the KP is between a rock and a hard place as they are being accused of being "pro-union" with Rome, which they certainly are not.

Their website has an article that is definitely against the Union of Brest.

And this despite the close cooperation the KP has with the UGCC in Ukraine.

So the interview shows the interesting dichotomy of words that could be interpreted as friendly toward the UGCC when he goes after Rome for its MP ties, but then he turns around to denigrate the idea of a UGCC patriarchate or any EC patriarchate as a kind of "joke" since Rome is ultimately in control etc.

The KP would love it if the UGCC would join with it by leaving Rome etc.

Alex

I agree with your comment, above. As a non-Slav (my mom has a drop or two of Polish blood, but I try to forget about that), I can't get all wrapped up in the squabbles between Rusyns and Ukrainians. I just take note of it, out of curiosity. Personally, I would have no problem if my particular Church (Ruthenian) were made subject to a UGCC Patriarch in Kyiv. But, I think you'd have a hard time selling that to most of our Hierarchs.

Dn. Robert

Dear Father Deacon Robert,

You are always welcome!

Patriarch Lubomyr is very easy-going as far as heads of Churches are concerned!

As you know, his niece is my wife's cousin. I always get first dibs on kissing his hand!

But he was trained in the U.S., as I understand, so he really is "one of yours!"

Personally, I feel that the Byzantine Catholic Church is well-positioned to eventually become the first Byzantine patriarchate in North America, adapted to the English mainstream culture of this continent etc.

Once you get your liturgical English all straightened out to everyone's satisfaction, that is . . . gosh, darn and I wasn't going to comment on that . . .

I'm incorrigible, Father Deacon!

And what I admire most about your CHurch is the way you are inviting to everyone, nomatter what their background.

You are an example for us all.

The fact that you have this forum (thanks to the Administrator who is one heck of a guy, er, a distinguished cantor and servant of the Church, that is . . .) shows how forward-looking you people are.

The fact that the Forum has attracted and maintains Orthodox moderators, such as the revered Father Antony and Alice, also demonstrates your ecumenical versatility.

If it was left to my church, such a forum wouldn't exist (no Ukrainians like questioning anything about their traditions and the way "things have always been done.")

In fact, if he were alive today, I think Pat. Joseph would agree with these sentiments and might actually hope that his Church were more like yours.

But I think we're getting there!

He did see himself as your Patriarch as well.

So you already have the precedent of having a Patriarch.

Now you just have to decide on getting another one - preferably one who crosses himself with three fingers!

Alex

Dear Alex,

Thanks for your kind words. But, our Metropolia is really in need of a "turn-around". On the other hand, I am hearing great thinks about the life of the Greek Catholic Church in Zakarpatia, as well as in Halych. I only wish I could speak one of those dialects, and convince my wife and kids to consider a move (what is money and possessions, anyway?).

In Christ,
Dn. Robert

Fr. Dcn. Robert:

What's money, anyway?

Elizabeth Taylor was rumored to have said, without batting an eyelash:

"Money isn't everything; it's the ONLY thing!"

Amado, who has nothing!

Now, now. Money isn't everything. There are also stocks, bonds, real estate, chattel mortgages, commodity futures, collectibles . . . heavens, the list is endless!

Fr Serge

Dear Fr. Serge:

How true, Fr.!

Asking for your blessings,

Amado

P.S.

Your renown precedes you!