http://www.stjosephukr.com/news.php/news/59A priest representing the UGCC Pastoral & Missionary Dept visited the Holy Land last month to see what steps were needed to meet the pastoral care needs of UGCC faithful who reside there or employed there as migrant workers.
Meeting with the Melkite patriarchal vicar in Jerusalem and the Melkite Archbishop of Akka, Haifa, Nazareth, & All Galilee, he was assured the use of Melkite temples in Jerusalem, Haifa, and Tel Aviv for the service of the Divine Liturgy.
For the past 18 months, it seems that a bi-ritual Slovak priest of the Latin Rite has been serving the pastoral needs of the Ukrainians and some other Byzantine Slavs, using one of the Melkite parishes. Apparently, his services will be supplemented shortly by Ukrainian clergy.
The article indicates that the Melkite hierarchs will accept the UGCC clergy under their omophor (thus satisfying the historical territories issue).
A nice example of inter-Church cooperation for the spiritual benefit of the faithful and a definite contrast to the Italian situation. (Yes, I realize that the situation is different because a married priesthood is a non-issue in the Holy Land but, still and all, there was no obligation on the part of the Melkites to sign on to this cooperative effort. The real difference is in caring about the spiritual well-being and pastoral care of one another's people.)
Many years,
Neil
