www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Bishop Theodore G. Romzha

Recently I came across a web page showing the tomb of the martyred hierarch Bishop Theodore G. Romzha. I am interested in writing to the place where the Bishop is buried. Does anyone have an address (either E-mail or snail mail? Is the tomb in Mukachevo and if so where is the Mukachevo Eparchy located? Thank you!
unworthy silouan

The Eparchy of Mukachevo is actually "located" in the city of Uzhhorod, Zakarpatska Oblast, Ukraine.

The tomb of the saintly martyred Bishop Theodore is in the crypt of the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, in Uzhhorod.

Unfortunately, I do not have an address handy for the Eparchy or the Cathedral.

Incidentally, the city of Mukachevo (about 20 miles east of Uzhhorod) has a pro-cathedral, the parish church of the Holy Dormition of the Mother of God. The bishop's seat was transferred from Mukachevo to Uzhhorod in the late 18th century, I think, but the eparchy was not renamed, except sometimes it's called the Eparchy of Uzhhorod-Mukachevo.

Silouan,
Christ is amongst us!
What is the address of the web page that shows the tomb of Bishop Theodore Romzha? I would love to see it. Thank you and God bless!

Dear Byzantino,
Here is the site I found with pictures of the tomb of the holy hieromartyr Theodore Romzha: http://www.missionboronyavo.org/
I would dearly love to obtain an icon of the martyr for our chapel. If anyone knows where I might obtain one, please let me know.
Thank you! Silouan

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

Fr. Silouan and Byzantino, I have noticed that "icons" of Byzantine Catholic saints just are not readily availible. I have found that it is best to obtain a color print, make the desired adjustments at the local kinko's, glue the print or the xerox copy to a piece of wood. You will have an icon.

SS Cyril and Methodius Press publishes a pamphlet, #39 on our martyred bishop in the Byzantine Leaflet Series. The cover carries a reproduction of his icon. The cost is $.20

Byzantine Seminary Press
3605 Perrysville Ave.,
P. O. Box 7626
Pittsburgh, PA 15214
(412) 322-8307

Basilian Press has two prints of St. Josaphat, Bishop Martyr availible. I have also seen similar prints for two other Ukrainian bishops: Andrew Sheptitsky, bishop confessor and Nicholas Charnetsky, CSSR, bishop confessor. Check with Barbara at Basilian Press.

The Basilian Press
265 Bering Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M8Z 3A5
Canada
(416) 234-1212

[This message has been edited by Doulos of Fatima (edited 01-19-2001).]

www.pathcom.com/~baspress [pathcom.com] Here is a link to the Basilian Press.

[This message has been edited by Doulos of Fatima (edited 01-19-2001).]

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

For a wonderful folder on Bishop Theodore containing a short account of his life, many photos, education, priesthood, and episcopate you can contact

St. Pius X Byzantine Catholic Church Prayer League
2336 Brownsville Road
Central south Hills
Pittsburgh, PA 15210

At one time Byzantine Seminary Press sold this item for $2.00.

The best account is "Our Martyred Bishop Romzha" by Athanasius Pekar. Sadly it is out of print. I imagine that unsold copies can probably be found in parish giftshops.

[This message has been edited by Doulos of Fatima (edited 01-25-2001).]

Silouan,
Please check out the website of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Byzantine Catholic Church in New Mexico. The address is: www.swcp.com/~olph [swcp.com]
On their "front page", you will see an icon of Bishop Theodore Romzha in the interior of their church. You might want to e-mail the parish, asking how they obtained it. I hope this helps you in your search for an icon of this remarkable bishop worthy to be canonized.

God bless you!

[This message has been edited by Byzantino (edited 01-25-2001).]

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

Is there any truth to the rumour that Our Holy Father John Paul II will announce the beatification of Bishop Theodore Romzha during his visit to Ukraine in June?

Not unless there has been preliminary paperwork published prior to the visit. Ya' gotta follow the rules, ya' know, Doulos.

I'm also somewhat concerned about the 'ethnic' implications. Bishop Theodore was clearly a Ruthenian from the Pod'Karpatskoye Oblast; the Ukrainians are Ukrainians - a different breed of cat.

Blessings!

Dear Silouan,

In the Byzantine Church, I thought that the service of glorification, or canonization of a new saint, was the presentation of the first "icon". No icon can or should exist of someone who has not been glorified or canonized. Cart before the horse?


Dear Doulos,

I have heard the rumor that the Pope wanted to beatify (or even canonize) Bishop Theodore, but the Ukrainians wanted it done in L'vov, and the Ruthenians in Uzhgorod. Who can wisely arbitrate?

The Ukrainians don't really have a devotion to Bishop Theodore (I've heard), and don't really care too much about him, but for other reasons (guess?) they don't want to let the Pope go to Uzhgorod. The Ruthenians don't want to go to L'vov for the canonization of their beloved martyr (guess why?), and anyway, want the Pope to come to Trans-carpathia. Ethnic nightmares and jealousies...

Redrawing boundaries always reorganizes lives. Suddenly, you find yourself a minority in somebody else's country, with no voice and no one to defend you. Pity the new minorities, in these new nations.

Stalin, who drew these crazy borders, must still be laughing! Who could have predicted the trouble he is still causing, long after he himself (and his soviet empire) are dust and ashes. Stalin gets the last laugh.

Christian

Christian,

It is within Byzantine tradition to write an icon of a person before glorification, especially a martyr, provided it is written without a halo and with the inscription "of blessed memory." This is how the icon of Bishop Theodore at the seminary is written. The devotion has to start somewhere.

In Christ,
Lance, deacon-candidate

Dear Friends,
Glory to Jesus Christ!

Let me assure you that Ukrainian Catholics are indeed interested in the cult of Bishop Theodore Romzha.

A number of our churches in Toronto have icons of him, Holy Protection and Sts Peter and Paul for example.

The Carpatho-Rusyns and the Ukrainians have developed along different cultural lines. That is different from saying that they are somehow two "races" which would be difficult to demonstrate.

Let's remember that within Ukraine itself there are, and have been for centures, over ninety different ethnocultural groups with their own languages, institutions and, in some cases, their own religions. All of them today have Ukrainian citizenship. That doesn't make them "Ukrainian" of course.

Bishop Theodore Romzha belongs to all Eastern Catholics of Slavic heritage.

God bless,

Alex

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[This message has been edited by Christian (edited 02-19-2001).]

Dear Alex,

Thanks for the post, and for the news of devotion to Bishop Theodore.

I like your "englightened" attitude about ethnic and national identity in modern Ukraine. However, I think it is more wish than fact.

I have heard that there is a strong pressure to "Ukrainify" other slavic national groups in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Archeparchy of L'vov is trying to 'absorb' the Ruthenian eparchies, fusing their separate historical and national identity in order to make one national Church which extends to the new borders of the modern state.

That is not so different from the present national leadership is doing. They are trying to make one Ukrainian nation out of many groups, that have never really been a nation before. For that, they use the same tactics the Soviets had used in their empire.

All such pressure to bring uniformity and a 'forced' identity brings about only suffering. Bishop Theodore was a martyr to this sadness, suffering and persecution, and I fear that it is not over yet.

Let us ask for the prayers of Bishop Theodore?

Christian