Jurisdiction: | Apostolic Exarchate |
Italy | |
Latin: | Exarchatus Apostolicus Italiae |
Coat: | Coat of arms of Apostolic Exarchate of Italy (UGCC).svg |
Coat Size: | 140 |
Coat Caption: | Coat of arms of the Apostolic Exarchate |
Country: | Italy, San Marino |
Headquarters: | Rome, Italy |
Area Km2: | 301,340 |
Catholics: | 70,000 |
Sui Iuris Church: | Ukrainian Greek Catholic |
Rite: | Byzantine |
Established: | 11 July 2019 |
Cathedral: | Sts. Sergius & Bacchus Cathedral, Rome |
Parishes: | 174 |
Priests: | 80 |
Major Archbishop: | Sviatoslav Shevchuk |
Bishop: | Dionisio Lachovicz, O.S.B.M. |
Bishop Title: | Apostolic Exarch |
Map: | EU-Italy.svg |
Website: | Official Website |
The Ukrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Italy (la|Exarchatus Apostolicus Italiae Ucrainorum) is an Apostolic Exarchate (pre-diocesan jurisdiction) of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church covers its faithful in Italy and San Marino.
At the end of the 20th century, Greek Catholics had only three churches in Italy. They all were in Rome. However, with the onset of emigration from Ukraine to Italy, thousands of people arrived for which mission stations were established. On 16 October 2001, by agreement between Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Episcopal Conference of Italy was appointed pastoral coordinator, Rev. Vasyl Potochnyak, with a task to coordinate these missionary stations. Also on 14 January 2003 was appointed Apostolic visitor, bishop Hlib Lonchyna, who was deputed to investigate circumstance of the Ukrainian faithful in country, and to submit a report to the Holy See and to the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. He was replaced by bishop Dionisio Lachovicz in 2009.[1]
It was established on 11 July 2019 by Pope Francis for the 145 Ukrainian Greek Catholic parishes. The circumscription encompasses the entire Italian territory. The Church of Santi Sergio e Bacco, that is located on Piazza Madonna dei Monti in the rione of Monti in Rome, become the cathedral.[2]
On 31 May 2021, the Ukrainian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Italy decided to to the Gregorian calendar from 1 September 2021.[3]
As for November 2022 the Apostolic Exarchate has 170 parishes,[4] and as for May 2024 there are 174 parishes, 80 priests (38 of them are married) and 5 seminarians.[5]