Ukrainians* Ukrainians
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UKRAINIANS* UKRAINIANS THEIR RITE, HISTORY AND RELIGIOUS DESTINY JAMES F. COUGHLIN, K.C. 85 RICHMOND STREET WEST, TORONTO, CANADA AUTHOR'S NOTE For a number of years Papers covering a variety of subjects have been given before the American Catholic IIistorical League and the Canadian Catholic IIistorical Association, in order to preserve and make known important facts and information, and also to designate progressive paths for the future. This work often entails intensive study, research and prepar- ation, but the labour expended and knowledge imparted are well worth the efforts of the Authors, if appreciation and encourage- ment are shown by all those interested. One of the Papers given at the Annual meeting of the Canadian Catholic Historical Association held in Nicolet, Que- bec, on October 3rd and 4th, 1944, was prepared and read by the writer, and is contained in this booklet with some variations. Toronto, Canada, February 12th, 1945. (Feast of St. Ilasil, St. John Clirysostom anti St. Grcgory). JAMES F. C'OUGHLIN, K.C. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CONTENTS Page Foreword ...................................... I. Ascendancy of the Ukrainians .................. I1. Declarations of the Popes ....................... I11 . Geographical Survey ........................... IV. Ukrainians in the United States .................. V . The Ukrainian Catholics in Canada .............. V1. The Origin of Rites ............................ V11. Historical glimpses of the Ukraine : (a) St. Andrew the Apostle ................. (b) Commencement of Ukrainian Nationalism . (c) St. Vladimir the Great ................... (d) Culture in the 10th and 11th Centuries ..... (e) Invasions and the Cossacks ............... (f) Conditions in recent years ................ V111. Religious Destiny of the Ukrainians : (a) Data and reasons showing Mission ........ (b) Power of the Blessed Virgin Mary ........ (c) A11 Christians under the Sovereign Pontiff ..................... ............ FOREWORD ' Many of us are apt to think of the Ukrainians as a distant and unimportant people, to be forgotten when the interest sub- sides. But that interest should grow and develop when we are given some informative facts. For instance: (a) The Ukrainians have had a distinctive National- ity from the Sixth century. (b) I-Iistorical records show that on several occasions they have saved European nations from invasions from the East and the South. (c) There are in the United States of America one million Ukrainians, and they have come to be re- cognized as a tower of National strength. (d) With a population in the Dominion of Canada of half a million people, they are now the sixth largest Racial group in this country. (e) They have preserved their own language, customs and traditions, side by side with their American and Canadian citizenship which they ardently revere. (f) Nearly three-quarters of them in Canada are Catholics, with their own Eastern rite, while most of the rest of us have a Western rite. (g) The Ukrainians are specially fitted, and in an ad- vantageous position, to spread the light of the true Faith among all the Slav peoples who have Eastern rites. It is high time that the Ukrainians and all they stand for were better known to the American and Canadian people, because they are rapidly rising to a position of pre-eminence in both the United States and Canada. UKRAINIANS Their Rite, History and Religious Destiny I. ASCENDANCY OF THE UKRAINIANS During llie past century and more especially within the last few years, the eyes of thinking people the 1~'orld over have wit- nessed a resolute ascendancy, and a tenacity of purpose, of that wonderful people known as the Ukrainians. They are recognized as an outstanding Nationality by reason of their backgrounds of history, of education, of literature, of architecture, and last but most important of Religion. The historical events of a thousand years recall, and the re- cords of the present \\Torld war prove, that Ukrainians have re- peatedly saved European civilization. For whole decades during the middle ages, they were bulwarks on the fields of battle against nomadic tribes, and the Tartars and the Mongolians. Then, in the 17th century, the Ukrainian Cossacks together with another country gave such a blow to the Ottoman Empire, that the Turks abandoned their plans to attack the nations of Europe. At the present time we see that once again the home-lands of the Ukrainians have been devastated, while they themselves are found fighting i11 the cause of freedom in the armies of the Allied powers. -5- It is an historical fact that Ukrainian education was well ad- vanced in the tenth century. Some of their battle poems have been used for 800 years. As far back as the eleventh century, the Ukrainians had a Law codex, which served as a pattern for the governments of ~ther~nations.By nature and by instinct the Ukrainians have always been a deeply Religious people. As colonizers in different parts of the world, the Ukrainians are showing their desirable qualities. They readily take to their new lands, ever improving and extending, and try to maintain a peaceful attitude and a high standard with all other Nationalities. They possess strong and robust physiques, which adapt them to any geographical location. They are also gifted with large families and a patriotic fervour, which ensure the perpetuation of their race, ideals and culture. IN A WORD THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS CAN BE CONSIDERED AS THE FOUNDATION ROCK, FOR UP- LIFTING THE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF GREAT GROUPS OF4 MANKIND. THEY WILL BE A POWER FOR WORLD- WIDE DEVELOPMXNT IN THE FUTURE, AND THEIR RELIGIOUS DESTINY HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY APPARENT. In the United States and Canada, the Ukrainian Catholics are called "Greek Catholics," because they use the Greek Lit- urgy and strictly follow their own Eastern rite. It is important to observe that all of the various rites are precious and must be upheld. This statement requires some elucidation, and will be dealt with under the next heading. 11. DECLARATIONS OF TI-IE POPES When we examine early Church history and rites in general, we find that some Catholic writers refer to the Church of the East and the Church of the Ifrest, which is their method of mak- ing comparisons of the branches of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, as it grew and spread in its early days. The Patriarchate of Rome was known as the Church of the West, and the Patriarchates of Antioch, Alexandria, Jerusalem and Con- stantinople were collectively known as the Church of the East. But the Pope in Rome has always exercised supreme jurisdiction, as successor in the Sec of Saint Peter the first Bishop of Rome. Evidences are clear and definite, that both priests and laymen have been urged by the highest Church authorities to become proficient in the knowledge of our Catholic brethren, of what are known as the Eastern or Oriental rites. Let us hear what the Popes have to say on this matter : 1. Pope Leo xZII in his Apostolic letter " Orientalium Dignitas", published on November 30th, 1894, declared : "The maintenance in being of the Eastern rites is of more importance than might be imagined. The august antiquity which lends dignity to these various rites is an adornment of the whole Chnrch and a witness to the divine unity of the Catholic fdth. Perhaps nothing, in fact, better proves the note of Catholicity in the Church of God than the singular homage paid by these ceremonies which vary in form, which are celebrated in languages ven- erable by their antiquity, and which are still further hallow- ed by thc usc that has been made of them by the Apostles and Fathers of the Church.'' -7- 2. The fifteenth centenary of one of the great Eastern doctors, St. John Chrysmtom, (AD. 407-1907) was the occasion for a solemn pontifical Mass in the Byzantine rite, which took place at the Vatican on February 12, 1908, un- der the presidency of Pope,Pius X. In his letter promul- gating this celebration the Sovereign Pontiff wrote on July 22, 1907: "May the Easterns separated from Us see and understand in what great and profound regard We hold all the rites alike." 3. Pope Benedict XV on May 1, 1917, by his "Motu Proprio Dei Providentis," created the Sacred Congregation for the Eastern Church and stressed the importance of the event in these words : "The Church of Jesus Christ, since she is neither Latin nor Greek nor Slav but Catholic, makes no distinction between her children, and these, whether they are Greeks, Latins, Slavs or members of other national groups, all occupy the same rank in the eyes of this Apostolic See. " . 4. Pope Pius XI (called the 'Pope of the Orient') in his Encyclical "Rerum Orientalium" issued on September Bth, 1928, requested Bishops and Religious superiors to give every facility in all colleges and seminaries for the study of Eastern questions, and in partic- ular of Eastern rites. Here are his words: "By turning the minds and hearts of the students towards Eastern doctrines and rites not a little profit is to be expected for the Church-profit not only to the advantage of the Orientals but also for the Western clergy themselves. The latter will, in fact, obtain a more adequate knowledge of Catholic theo- logy and of Latin theological disciplines, while conceiving a more ardent love for the true Bride of Christ, whose en- chanting comeliness, and unity in the diversity of the var- ious rites, will shine forth more clearly in their eyes." -8- 5. The present Pope Pius XII is taking a keen and abiding interest in the Ukrainian people. On May 21st, 1939, at his direction, a solemn Triduum begun in Rome was concluded in the Vatican Basilica with services according to their own rite. This' was in celebration of the 950th anniversary of the baptism of Saint Vladimir the great Ukrainian ruler.