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Any info on these guys?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priestly_Society_of_Saint_Josaphat

They're against the de-Latinization of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Interesting stance to take, imho.

I did a search here but came up with nothing. But I can't figure out how to yield good results in the byzcath search engine.

Use google like



The SSJK tries to create Byzantine version of the Lefebvrites but my impression is that they're left orphaned after the SSPX-Holy See rapprochement this year. But I may be wrong.

The Wikipedia article is quite comprehensive. They support rampant latinizations, print translations of articles by SSPX priests and Latin saints in their bulletins. See the picture gallery: http://www.saintjosaphat.org.ua/fotogalereya/

Google Translate may help you in browsing http://translate.google.com/transla...http%3A%2F%2Fwww.saintjosaphat.org.ua%2F

A Society whose priests who purport to be the authentic defenders of the Ukrainian Greek faith but are ordained in the Latin Tridentine Rite by Bishop Williamson would seem to be significantly lacking in credibility. A bizarre hybridization indeed - they have apparently never read the actual Union of Brest.

Arguably the main historic supporters of the SSJK were the Transalpine Redemptorists, who cut all ties with the SSJK during their full reconciliation with Rome. While the SSJK appealed the first excommunication directly to Rome, and had it temporarily lifted, the second excommunication by the UGCC Synod after the 2006 ordinations by Bishop Williamson was upheld by Rome when again it was appealed by the SSJK. They are excommunicated from the Catholic Church.

With the expulsion of Bishop Williamson from Argentina and the ensuing media frenzy, his extra-curricular comments and activities including support of the SSJK seem to have essentially ceased by order of Bishop Fellay.

The SSJK has never had any other ordaining bishop since 2006, so it appears they may be in a pickle. But there's plenty of sedevacantist bishops floating around of Thuc or other lineages if they are really serious about continuing their schizophrenic relationship with Latin schismatics.

Only Fr Kovpak is excommunicated. In Latin Church their priests would have been suspended in that case.

But this creates an interesting situation, because the SSPX is surrounded by its theoretically independent satellites, like Domicans of Avrille (or sth). In Papal documents they're usually referred to as "groups linked with them in various ways".

As the SSJK represents a split from a church linked to a different congregation than Ecclesia Dei commission coping with the SSPX the Vatican may be unaware of their ties.

Fr Kovpak may become more and more desperate as the SSPX-Holy See rapprochement will continue. So I wonder if they will be allowed to be reconciled together with the SSPX or try to reconcile on their own.

I doubt that they will try to approach Thuc-line bishops, as this would put the validity of the priestly ordinations in question. The Thuc-liners were never treated seriously by the Holy See.

On their website you may see that they have quite a few followers.

And what about the "Pidhorecki Otci"? Are they linked to the SSJK? They claimed to be bishops...

I'm sure there's plenty of episcopi vaganti around to lay on hands. Did they pick Josephat because he's not liked by some Orthodox (who see him as a Latin stooge, as opposed to St. Job of Pochaev)?

Marc,

Its been a long time. How goes the seminary?

Fr. Deacon Lance

Marc,

Here's one earlier thread - there are others, but I couldn't track them on a quick search

Society of St. Pius X UGCC excommunication

Many years,

Neil

These guys want to retain the latinized versions of the Ukrainian and Ruthenian Liturgies, retain the latinizations of not communing children until age 7-10 and not confirming until age 10-16.

They got the boot from the Ukrainian Synod last year, IIRC, right after Bp. Williamson of the SSPX ordained a bunch of priests for them.

They believe themselves in the same boat as the SSPX, to wit:
the believe the latinized versions of the liturgies are the best versions, and
that the versions of the liturgies they wish to use are being suppressed (they in fact are, by Rome's orders!),
that the Synod is being intentionally obtuse by not letting them retain the latinized form,
that the faithful are best served by the latinized praxis that keeps them distinct from the Orthodox.

In short, they reject the delatinzation efforts of Popes Pius X, Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI, as well as of the Vatican II Council.

And Leo XIII.

Man this is really messed-up.

Well, this part of Europe is particularly rich in so to say "near-Catholic" movements. There's a Thuc-line sedevacantist bishop Oravěc in Poprad, SSJK in Riasne and Pidhorećki Otci in Podhorce.

I'm looking for information about the latter. Have the Підгорецькі Отці finally revealed who ordained them bishops - if they're really ordained? Do they have large following? etc.

Actually the Ecclesia Dei commission no longer handles the SSPX situation; Ecclesiae Unitatem placed the SSPX situation under the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, recognizing that there are doctrinal issues to be resolved, and not just liturgical questions.

As I recall the statement of excommunication by Archbishop Ihor included other clergy by name besided Fr. Kovpak (including the new ordinands) and said something like "Fr. Kovpak and his associated clergy". But since the origin of the SSJK is from another particular Easterm ritual church, any reconciliation would likely be tasked first to the UGCC Synod and possibly to the Oriental Congregation for a final review.

But of course the SSJK has to desire reconciliation, and has indicated nothing other than blatant defiance of the Synod and Rome.

I think the SSJK never also became familiar with the life of St. Josaphat himself; he railed against the latinizations creeping in through his own Basilians and was a very strong defender of traditional Kyivan monasticism and liturgical practices.

The four ex-Basilian "bishops" are not formally associated with the SSJK, and have not indicated who "consecrated" them.


Actually with regard to the Catholic Church there are probably more vagantes and various schismatics, sedevacantists, etc. in Western countries than this part of the world. Heck, there are two Popes in the US alone.

Sorry - make that only one pope in the US. I forgot that Pope Pius XIII reposed in November.

Interesting pictures. Several of the photos include scenes of Eucharistic processions and exposition of the Most Holy Eucharist with a modified monstrance that holds the leavened Lamb rather than the unleavened Host.

http://www.saintjosaphat.org.ua/fot...pup/ab64e64b67a352f530d47f0528e0b3c2.jpg

In this photo ( http://www.saintjosaphat.org.ua/fot...pup/f42dd2a2881189aeb32dfc03354e4c71.jpg ) the Lamb is almost blocked from sight by the white roses and overshadowed by the statue of Our Lady of Fatima.

Fr Deacon, it goes well.

I'm all over the place these days. I've changed to our deacon's program and I'm working hard(er) on finishing my PhD in International Education. Seems that priests don't get paid too much these days, and deacons don't get paid at all, so I need to shore up that "career" thing, lol. But actually I want my scholarly work to be for the benefit of the Church and the glory of God. I'm hoping to write my dissertation on the historical (and modern) influences of old country seminaries on new world seminaries. However, since basically no one has even bothered to really research our Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic seminaries, I have some history to write, it seems.

It's good to be back on byzcath though, after a bit of a hiatus.