www.byzcath.org
Posted By: Victor Bishop to ordain married catholic for Russia? - 06/02/04 03:59 AM
Are there any byzantine rite bishops in America who would agree to ordain married russian catholic for Russia?
I would think that there are such bishops. The education of the candidate would be a question, as would be the matter of where in Russia he proposes to serve.
Incognitus
Dobre pozhalovat!

Dear Vladimir, there are several who would be willing. The problem is, the Russian Greek Catholic Church is technically dependent on the local Roman diocese as they no longer have an Exarch or any other episcopacy.

One scenario which could happen (probably will happen eventually) is the Roman bishop would agree to ordain, and send a dimissorial letter to a Byzantine bishop who would then ordain the candidate in his own ritual tradition for the Russian Catholic Church sui iuris. I believe one or more deacons have already been ordained this way. If you are interested you can always contact Father Sergei Golovanov in Omsk. Now getting these men into Russia would be an entirely different matter, given the restrictions on registration of parishes/missions.
Quote
Originally posted by Diak:
... The problem is, the Russian Greek Catholic Church is technically dependent on the local Roman diocese as they no longer have an Exarch or any other episcopacy.

One scenario which could happen (probably will happen eventually) is the Roman bishop would agree to ordain, and send a dimissorial letter to a Byzantine bishop who would then ordain the candidate in his own ritual tradition for the Russian Catholic Church sui iuris. I believe one or more deacons have already been ordained this way.
Vladimir,

Father Alexei Smith (who serves both St. Andrew's Russian Catholic parish in El Segundo, CA and St. Paul's Melkite mission there, which share space) was a parishoner of the Russian parish but was ordained by the Eparch of Newton for the Melkite Catholics in the US to serve both communities. As discussed here recently, our Auxiliary Bishop has also ordained at least one deacon for the Russian Cstholic Church.

Many years,

Neil
© The Byzantine Forum