Category:UOCC

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

The former name before 1990 was the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada.

Church web-site : http://uocc.ca

See also the Encyclpedia of Ukraine article.

This metropolitanate is a part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople. The local exarch for the patriarchate is Metropolitan Sotirios (Athanassoulas).

Patriarchate web-site : https://www.patriarchate.org

History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)

The seed of the Orthodox Faith was sowed on the Canadian land, not by missionaries, but by simple peasants, who came from Ukraine and established themselves, primarily on the Canadian prairies. It is on the simple, but at the same time deep, faith of the Ukrainian peasants-pioneers, who started to immigrate to Canada at the end of the nineteenth century, that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada was established.

The Period of Genesis

Most of the first Ukrainian settlers came to Canada from Halychina (where most of them had been Greek-Catholics) and from Bukovina (where they generally belonged to the Orthodox Church). The "Halychany", settling in Canada, were visited once in awhile by Greek-Catholic priests, but the Vatican wished to attach them to the Roman-Catholic Church which was already in existence, and which would have assimilated them. The Bukovinians arriving in North America usually incorporated themselves into the Russian Orthodox Mission[1], which was already in existence. Nevertheless, many of the Ukrainian immigrants desired to have a Church with a Ukrainian character, which would be closer to the spiritual and cultural needs of the Ukrainian people, and this led to the formation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada[2].

Some members of the “Ukrainian Union of Teachers in Canada”[3] established the newspaper “The Ukrainian Voice”[4]. They called national conventions ("narodni zyizdy") at which they discussed the need to organise the “Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada”.[5] In July, 1918, the National Committee ("Narodny Komitet") called a meeting in Saskatoon, at which it was resolved to establish the “Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada”[6]. This meeting formed a brotherhood, and condemned the Union of Brest of 1596[7].

Although the Ukrainian settlers who took part in the organisation of this Church body were not theologians, they were aware of the canon law that a Church body cannot exist without a bishop. Thus, the brotherhood contacted Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky) of the Russian Orthodox Mission in North America — who initially accepted to become the temporary bishop of the UGOCC[8] and to preside at its first “Sobor”[9], but who later refused.[10] The first “Sobor” took place anyway on 28 December, 1918, without the presence of a bishop[11] and this led to the establishment of the first seminary, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan[12].

Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadi)

The second Sobor was held on 27 November, 1919, with the presence of the Antiochian Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadi)[13], who accepted to head the UGOCC until such a time that would have its own bishop[14]. He headed the Church for 5 years, until 1924[15].

In 1924, Archbishop John (Theodorovych) arrived in the USA from the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, to lead the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA. Knowing about the presence of a Ukrainian bishop on the American continent, the fourth Sobor of the UGOCC, held on 16-17 July, 1924, decided to invite Archbishop John to become the ruling bishop of the UGOCC. He accepted, and he thus began visiting Canada during the summers. During his absence in winter, when he was in the USA, his administrative functions were carried out by a priest-administrator at the consistory (headquarters offices) in Winnipeg, Father Semen Sawchuk[16].

However, soon Archbishop John became the subject of polemics regarding his uncanonical ordination to the rank of bishop[17]. For this reason, he was forced to resign from his office as ruling bishop in 1946[18].

In 1947, during an extraordinary Sobor, Bishop Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) was accepted as Archbishop of Winnipeg and all Canada[19]. He was ordained during the administration of the Warsaw Metropolitanate on the freed Ukrainian lands in 1942. But, because of some misunderstandings between him and the Consistory, he was forced to resign from his office in 1950, at the Tenth Sobor[20].

Then the Consistory asked Metropolitan Polikarp (Sikorski), who presided at the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops, ordained by the administration of the Warsaw metropolitanate on the freed Ukrainian lands, (and in the aftermath of the war found themselves in the emigration), for assistance. He agreed then to lead the UGOCC.

The Formation of the Metropolitanate

In 1951, up to the time of the extraordinary Sobor, the Consistory had found four candidates for the office of ruling bishop. They were all canonically elected and ordained by the Holy Synod of the Warsaw Metropolitanate (Autocephanous Orthodox Church in Poland). Of these candidates, 3 came to Canada : the Metropolitan of Kholm and Pidliasha Ilarion (Ohienko), who fled with his flock during the war, and came to Canada in 1947 at the invitation of the Holy Protectress Cathedral (Sobor) in Winnipeg ; Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy), who came to Canada in 1951 at the invitation of the Consistory ; and Bishop Platon (Artemiuk) who came to Canada in 1951 with the blessing of Metropolitan Polikarp (Sikorski), but who prematurely fell asleep in the Lord. The extraordinary Sobor decided to follow the canonical system of a metropolitanate to administer the UGOCC, creating thus a metropolitanate with 3 eparchies (dioceses) : central, east, west.

Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)

Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) was chosen to be the Metropolitan of Winnipeg and all Canada, and Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy) became the Archbishop of Toronto and the Eastern Eparchy[21].

More is to be said about Metropolitan Ilarion. He was, in fact, the first ruling bishop of the UGOCC in the full sense of the term, since he was permanently living in Canada and taking care of the spiritual needs of his spiritual children. Therefore, he became the pillar upon which the further development of the UGOCC leaned. Having become the metropolitan of UGOCC, he took care of his spiritual children with great pastoral love, and with an understanding of their good will and efforts in the organisation of the UGOCC. However, he paid particular attention to the canonical-disciplinary order and the liturgical life of his flock. As a new “Petro Mohyla,” he began to administer the Church with great authority, and thus brought the UGOCC into canonical order and he normalised the liturgical life by the publication of liturgical books.

He also developed the Faculty of Theology of Saint Andrew’s College (founded in 1946). He served as its dean for several years, and thus raised the level of knowledge of the clergy. He also kept in mind the spiritual and educational growth of the faithful, for whom he published informative pamphlets and booklets[22].

Thus, the metropolitanate was growing, and the need for new bishops arose. In 1959, Archimandrite Andrew (Metiuk) was ordained to be the Bishop of Edmonton and the Western Eparchy. In 1963, Archimandrite Boris (Yakovkevych) was ordained to be the Bishop of Saskatoon and Vicar-Bishop of the Central Eparchy[23].

After 21 years of zealous archpastoral ministry, Metropolitan Ilarion fell alseep in the Lord on 29 March, 1972. His departure was felt as a great loss for the UGOCC.

Metropolitan Michael

Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy) was chosen to replace him, and he was at the head of the Metropolitanate until 1975, when he resigned from the office of primate[24].

Metropolitan Andrew

Then Archbishop Andrew (Metiuk) became the primate of the UGOCC. He remained its metropolitan for 10 years, until his blessed repose on 2 February, 1985[25]. During the time of his administration new bishops were ordained : Bishop Nicholas (Debryn) in 1975[26] ; Bishop Wasyly (Fedak) on 16 July, 1978, who became the primate of the UOCC after the death of Metropolitan Andrew in 1985[27] ; and Bishop John (Stinka) on 27 November, 1983.

Metropolitan Wasyly

During the term of office of Metropolitan Wasyly, Archimandrite Yurij (Kalistchuk) was ordained to be the Bishop of Saskatoon on 22 October, 1989[28].

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada (UGOCC) was officially renamed “The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada” (UOCC) by an Act of Parliament in 1990.

Canonical Ordering

Fulfilling the desires and intentions of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Ilarion, Metropolitan Wasyly, assisted by the Consistory, and with the help of God, concluded the canonical ordering of the UOCC[29].

After a few visits and discussions with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the UOCC was received into the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1990, during the time of the service of Patriarch Demetrios I. Thus, the UOCC came into normal relations with the other Orthodox Churches. This happened officially on 1 April, 1990, when Bishop Yurij celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Constantinople (Istanbul) and received Holy Communion from the common Cup. The faithful of the UOCC received this historical act positively, by approving this establishment of eucharistic and canonical union almost unanimously at the Eighteenth Sobor of the UOCC, in July, 1990. In this way, they showed their trust in their Church leaders[30].

According to the Patriarchal Decree[31], upon entering the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the UOCC remained a metropolitanate with full internal autonomy, having as its canonical head the Ecumenical Patriarch to whom it has canonical reference in all things. This status recalls the days, when the Kyivan Metropolitanate was a part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and when there were very close Church relations between Constantinople and Kyiv, for the good of these 2 important Church centres.

The following written by the Mitred Archpriest Ihor George Kutash presents some information about these events :

 'How the Eucharistic Communion Between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and the Ecumenical 
 Patriarchate of Constantinople came about : Articles of Agreement Between the UOC of Canada and the 
 Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople' (Eclessia Publishing Corporation, Winnipeg, 2000)
 
 The achievement of canonical relations by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada - that is, the 
 normalization of its life in the fabric of world Orthodoxy - is a matter of colossal significance. It 
 was achieved by UOCC representatives, Bishop Yurij (Kalistchuk) and Protopresbyter Stephan JARMUS  
 concelebrating the Divine Liturgy and communing from one Chalice with the clergy of the Patriarchate of 
 Constantinople in the Cathedral of St. George in Constantinople, and by the UOCC's XVIII Sobor in 1990 
 ratifying the Articles of Agreement... 
 
 Ukrainian Orthodox leaders have made numerous attempts throughout the twentieth century to obtain some 
 sort of recognition from the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The current successful achievement of this goal 
 grew from a decision, as we prepared to celebrate the Ukrainian Orthodox Millennium (1988), to inform 
 Eastern Orthodox leaders about our Church (and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in general), to invite 
 them to celebrate with us, and to propose our formula for rapprochement with them. 
  
 Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak) proposed that we visit these leaders. This idea, expressed during the 
 spring Consistory Meeting May 7-9, 1987, was approved... 
  
 Some interesting matters transpired regarding this visit. Although the idea of visiting Orthodox 
 centres by the Metropolitan and Fr. S. Jarmus was not widely publicized, it must have come to the 
 attention of Moscow for on June 15, 1987, only five weeks after the above-mentioned Consistory Meeting, 
 the Consistory received an unexpected visit from Metropolitan Nicodemus of L'viv and Ternopil. During 
 his visit he suggested that we need not got to Constantinople for recognition. He guaranteed that we 
 could receive autocephaly from the Patriarchate of Moscow. He dismissed any doubts about our 
 canonicity: 'We build fences but God's sun warms us on one side and the other' ...

Metropolitan John

After the repose of Metropolitan Wasyly in 2005, Archbishop John (Stinka) was elected to serve as the primate, and he was elevated to the dignity of metropolitan. Metropolitan John served as the primate of the UOCC until 2010, when he retired.

Metropolitan Yurij

After the retirement of Metropolitan John in 2010, Archbishop Yurij (Kalistchuk) was elected to serve as the primate, and he was raised to the dignity of metropolitan. Metropolitan Yurij continues to lead the UOCC since then.

Perspectives for the future

The greatest heritage of the 100-year history of the UOCC is probably the successful fulfilment of the canonical ordering of this Church body, which was organised by people of good will — faithful Ukrainian immigrants, who came to the Canadian prairies at the end of the nineteenth century. During the relatively short period of its existence, the UOCC found its natural place in the commonwealth of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and today it is in full communion with all the Orthodox world. This status within the canonical jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate can be considered to be the fruit of that seed, which was planted in good ground a century ago, and which yielded a crop.

We can only expect now that the faithful of the UOCC, under the leadership of their clergy, will develop and intensify their contacts with the throne of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as well as with other spiritual centres of world Orthodoxy (such as the Holy Land, Holy Mount Athos, other Autocephalous Orthodox Churches) and especially the holy places of the Ukrainian nation.

Nevertheless, we have to be conscious of the fact that although we should remember the origins of the seed, we ought not to neglect the land on which it was sowed. We must concentrate all our efforts to make sure that the ground is good, and that the seed yields a crop a hundred-fold. For the purpose of the sowed seed is not to conserve it, but to yield a crop and multiply. For this reason, we have to cultivate and multiply the Holy Orthodox Faith, which has been passed down to us from our ancestors on our Canadian land.

We have to save our children as well as the entire Canadian people in the Holy Orthodox Faith. And here we are confronted with thorns that are trying to choke the seeds : the thorns of materialism and hedonism, which encourage us to care only about material goods, forgetting about spiritual wealth and eternal beatitude ; the thorns of aeonism and secularism, which teach us to think in worldly categories, not in spiritual categories. Such thorns try to choke us with the greatest illusion : to forget that the Church of Christ, although it is in the world, is not of this world.

Thus, there is a great mission for the future ahead of us : to clear the ground from the ruining thorns, so that they do not choke the seeds and so that the seed can yield a crop. Against such thorns only a spiritual sickle is efficient : the weapon of prayer and fasting — so often suggested by our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel. For this reason, according to the Commandments of the Lord, which are in fact the commandments of love (John 15:12), we ought to follow the rule of prayer and fasting. Prayer, according to our Holy Fathers, is indeed the best weapon against evil. In this we could seek help from the spiritual fortresses — holy monasteries, and genuine monastics — spiritual elders. We have to pray the Lord sends us such ascetics of piety, who could take on the task of founding holy monasteries all across our Canadian land.

May the Lord help us in our spiritual warfare, through the prayers of His All-Pure Mother and of all His saints.

Centennial

2018 marked the first 100 years since the foundation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. During this year, there were various celebrations throughout the country. The chief of these was in the form of an Extraordinary Sobor in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, from 9-12 August. There were sessions at the Mohyla Institute, All Saints Church, and at Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Endnotes :

[1] Known today as “The Orthodox Church in America” (OCA).

[2] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, (Discussion paper – Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, New York, June 28-29, 1989), p. 1-3.

[3] Established in 1907.

[4] Founded in 1910.

[5] Ibid., p. 4.

[6] T. Міненко, “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді” Календар Рідна Нива на 1978р. / Calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1978, p. 91-92.

[7] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 7.

[8] The Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada. We will use this abbreviation.

[9] Thus, they are called clergy-laity conferences, at which the bishops, the priests and the laity participate.

[10] O. Trosky, “The Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada”, (Winnipeg, 1968), p. 17-18.

[11] It is interesting to note that although this conference took place without the presence of a bishop it was numbered as the first “Sobor” of the UGOCC.

[12] T. Міненко, “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, p. 92-93.

[13] Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadi) was a metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Church who was living in the USA for many years.

[14] Ibid., p. 93-94.

[15] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 14.

[16] Ibid., p. 15-16; T. Міненко, “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 94-95.

[17] Не was “ordained” bishop by the first “bishops” of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, who were not ordained according to the canons and Sacred Tradition of the Holy Orthodox Church. In fact, they were “ordained” by priests and lay people, as the canons of the Holy Orthodox Church clearly state that a bishop should be ordained by at least two or three other bishops (1st Canon of the Holy Apostles).

[18] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 18.

[19] Ibid., p. 20.

[20] Ibid., p. 21.

[21] Ibid., p. 23-24; T. Міненко “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 53. Read the life of Metropolitan Ilarion.

[22] Ilarion in the calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1997, p. 215-216.

[23] T. Міненко “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 99-100; Т. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 24.

[24] Metropolitan Michael remained Archbishop of Toronto and the Eastern Eparchy until his blessed repose on May 18, 1977.

[25] Ibid., p. 24-25.

[26] Ordination to the episcopate: December 21, 1975; fell asleep in the Lord on March 30, 1981. T. Міненко “Українська Іреко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 103.

[27] Т. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 25.

[28] Calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1991, p. 145.

[29] We should note that the name “UGOCC.” was changed to “UOCC.” (the term “Greek” being omitted) at the 1985 Sobor.

[30] [Calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1991, p. 131.

[31] Ibid., p. 117-119.

Eastern Eparchy history of the UOCC