Lists of leaders of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
This is a list of Leaders of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Note, due to historical circumstances first hierarchs of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church carried titles without mentioning of Kyiv. Although sometimes being referred to as primates out of all hierarchs only Mykhailo Levitsky officially carried the title of primate which was granted by the Austrian Emperor as the Primate of Halychyna and Lodomeria, but not approved by the Pope of Rome.
Brief overview
Following the Union of Berestia, in the 16th century the Eastern OrthodoxMetropolitan of Kyiv, Halych and all Rus located in the Polish-Lithuania Commonwealth broke relations with the Patriarch of Constantinople and placed themselves in communion with the Patriarch of the West, thus establishing what later was known as "Ruthenian Uniate Church" or "Ruthenian Catholic Church". Certain dioceses in the Carpathian region including Halychyna and Subcarpathian Ruthenia stayed loyal to the Patriarch of Constantinople for another 100 years. In 17th century dioceses in Halychyna eventually joined the Union of Brest, while the Orthodox diocese in Subcarpathian Ruthenia came under communion with the Pope of Rome through the Union of Uzhhorod and was temporarily placed under the Latin bishop of Eger. Following the partitions of Poland, the Russian Empire occupied most of the territory of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Carpathian region with Halychyna and Subcarpathian Ruthenia was passed to the Habsburg Monarchy. The Russian Emperor refused to have primates of the Uniate Church to be approved by the Pope. The Uniate Church under Habsburg Monarchy was forced to reorganize. After losing its main archdiocese in Kyiv, the Uniate Church had its historical metropolis of Halych reinstated, centered in the archdiocese of Lemberg. At the same time, the diocese of Munkacs was ceded from the jurisdiction of the Latin bishop of Eger, but instead of rejoining the Uniate Church it was given a self-rule on demand of the Rákóczi family. In 19th and 20th centuries the Church lost most of its dioceses, most of which were taken over by the Russian Orthodox Church. During this time, some emigrants of Austria-Hungary established the Ruthenian Catholic Church in the United States. In 20th century dioceses were created in various parts around the globe.
In 1807 the Russian Empire continued to appoint its own primates for the Ruthenian Uniate Church without confirming them with the Pope. Metropolitans of Kiev:
Following the Synod of Polatsk, the Ruthenian Uniate Church was forceably abolished on the territory of the Russian Empire, and its property and clergy transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Upon the partition of Poland, Eparchies that ended up within the Habsburg Monarchy were reorganized. The Eparchy of Lviv was converted into archeparchy and its bishop became a Metropolitan bishop governing the rest of the eparchies of the former Ruthenian Uniate Church. The new Metropolia received name of Halych and in way became a successor of the 14th century Metropolia of Halychyna. All primates were approved by the Pope. Metropolitan of Halych and Archbishop of Lviv:
In 1945 Josyf Slipyj as leading bishop of the Greek Catholic Church was arrested by the Soviet authorities. Following the Lviv Council, the Greek Catholic Church was forcibly abolished on the territory of the Soviet Union, and its property and clergy transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church.
In 2005 Exarch of Kyiv and Halych was transformed into a diocese and converted into an archdiocese. The new archdiocese was also turned into the Major Archbishop's see and reinstating the Kyiv see since the 1838 Synod of Polotsk.
