Ukrainian Orthodox and Catholic hierarchs meet in "Fraternal Encounter" (08/31/03)

Ukrainian Orthodox and Catholic hierarchs meet in "Fraternal Encounter"

SOUTH BOUND BROOK, N.J. - Responding to the challenges and needs of Ukrainian Catholics and Ukrainian Orthodox in this 21th Century, the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic Churches in North America - metropolitans, archbishops and bishops - were hosted by Metropolitan Constantine and Archbishops Antony and Vsevolod at a "Fraternal Encounter" on July 11 at St. Andrew the First-called Apostle Ukrainian Orthodox Center in South Bound Brook, N.J.

The hierarchs had for some time been discussing the possibility and necessity of such a meeting as a means by which they could come to know one another on more than simply a social level. Such an encounter with open discussion of ecclesiastical and community issues would most certainly prove to be beneficial for the faithful entrusted to the hierarchs' spiritual care in Christ's name.

The hierarchs did not gather to form any type of council or conference, but rather, in the realization that there is a fraternity of brethren vested in the grace of priestly and episcopal service to the eparchies they steward in North America.

Participating in the one-day session were: Metropolitan Constantine, Central Eparchy, the prime hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A.; Metropolitan Stefan Soroka, Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia; Archbishop Jurij, Eastern Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada; Archbishop Antony, Eastern Eparchy, UOC-U.S.A.; Bishop Basil Losten, Stamford Eparchy, UCC; Archbishop Vsevolod, Western Eparchy, UOC-U.S.A.; Bishop Robert Moskal, St. Josaphat Eparchy, Parma, Ohio, UOC; Bishop Severian Yakymyshyn, OSBM, Eparchy of New Westminster, British Columbia, Yukon and Northwest Territories, Canada, UCC; Cornelius Pasichny, OSBM, bishop emeritus of Toronto and Eastern Canada, UCC and Bishop Robert Seminak, St. Nicholas Eparchy Chicago, UCC.

Other hierarchs of both churches were unable to attend this initial meeting because of schedule conflicts or matters of health, but all expressed their support for such a meeting.

The encounter began with a moleben invoking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, celebrated in St. Andrew Memorial Church, following which the bishops retired to the historic Heindrich Fisher Residence to begin their discussions. Reflected upon at great length at this first fraternal encounter of the Catholic and Orthodox hierarchs were issues common to both Ukrainian Orthodox and Catholics, whose parish communities and eparchies took root, grew and developed in North America as far back as the late 1800s.

Addressed in broad terms were relationships with Ukrainian communities and organizations in North America and Ukraine; the challenges presented by the ongoing process of secularization in society; and the church's role as the principal teacher and repository of faith and morality, and as the promoter and guardian of the sanctity of life.

The bishops also discussed the possibility of holding various joint educational and spiritual conferences for the benefit of hierarchs, clergy, seminarians and faithful of both faiths, along with the need to reach out to the new wave of immigrants from Ukraine.

There was a solid agreement that in spite of the fact that there do exist some theological and dogmatic issues that divide the two churches, there is the real possibility that the relationship between the two churches on all levels can improve. The bishops expressed the realization that they are descended from the same spiritual giants of early Ukrainian ecclesiastical history and that it is possible to bear witness to God in many common ways.

Having shared matters of mutual concern and strengthened the bond of fraternal love and respect through prayer and candid discussion, the hierarchs agreed that such fraternal encounters should continue and set the date for the next one in early 2004.

At the conclusion of the sessions, the hierarchs visited Holy Resurrection Mausoleum and the crypt of Patriarch Mstyslav, St. Andrew Cemetery, the Ukrainian Cultural Center and Museum, St. Sophia Seminary/UOC Library, the bookstore and the Consistory.

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