Posted on 12/04/2002 11:46:55 AM PST by Polycarp
Kyivan Orthodox Bishop Denies That He Became Traditionalist Catholic
LVIV, UKRAINE, Nov 22, 02 (RISU.org.ua) – According to the website of the Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen (CMRI), Bishop Yurii Yurchyk of Donetsk and Mariupol of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP) repudiated his church and joined a traditionalist Catholic Church in the USA on 24 October 2002. On 19 November 2002, however, the website of the UOC-KP posted a statement by Bishop Yurchyk in which he refuted the story.
According to the CMRI website, Bishop Yurchyk was accepted into the Catholic faith by Bishop Mark Pivarunas, CMRI, of the USA. The CMRI is not in communion with Rome and rejects the Second Vatican Council. The website of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) repeated the story on 18 November 2002, and also Internet sites also covered it.
In his statement of19 November 2002, posted on the site of the UOC-KP, Bishop Yurii denied the story. He called the publication of the UOC-MP “libel, targeted at discrediting not only my title of bishop, but also the whole Kyivan Patriarchate and the whole church.”
“Concerning my contacts with heterodox churches in the USA, they really took place. However, there was no transfer to Catholicism on my part whatsoever… As the bishop of Donetsk, I maintain such contacts… and believe that this is a normal and civilized phenomenon. Regarding my ‘repentance’ of ‘schism’ or my acceptance of Catholic doctrines, this is inaccurate information. I was and remain a hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate,” reads the statement of Bishop Yurii Yurchyk.
The site of the UOC-KP also reported that on 19 November at a session of that church’s Holy Synod a resolution was passed, at the request of Bishop Yurii Yurchyk, to designate an episcopal vicar for the Donetsk eparchy.
Sources: www.cmri.org/yurchik.html, www.orthodox.org.ua, www.kievpatr.org.ua
HDMZ, as our resident CMRI member, do you care to comment?
patent
By the way, what is the view of the validity of the Thuc line?On balance, I find myself slightly doubtful. It is certainly not something I would bet my salvation on, and if the only people you are receiving the Sacraments from are these types of people, you are very much doing just that.
It is a risk you take with nearly any “independent” priest these days, much less a Bishop.
Dominus Vobiscum
patent +AMDG
Bishop Yurchk is definitely suffering in his stand for Christ. Prayers, instead of snide remarks, would be greatly appreciated.I find your request for prayers instead of snide remarks to be hypocritical. JPII has been shot for his faith, and so has suffered at least as much as this Bishop has. Yet, instead of prayers for him, all you have are snide remarks, such as repeatedly calling him an “apostate pig.” There isn’t a “snide remark” by anyone on this thread that remotely compares to yours in the past. You ask for prayers here, and suggest we should behave better. Perhaps you should use this as an opportunity to examine your own conduct as well.
As far as damage control, if you can’t produce the Bishop, its going to be quite effective damage control.
patent +AMDG
Based on my contacts, Bishop Yurchyk is back in the Ukraine and suffering GREATLY for his stand. He has rented a building to be used as a Catholic Church and at this time has four of his seventy priests standing with him.
Judging from a recently unrelated post, there are now four different Orthodox groups operating in the Ukraine. Two are KGB: the group linked to the Russian patriarchate and also the "official" Ukarianian patriarchate. When one bishop died a few years back, a melee' took place at his funeral over the burial location.
Formerlib,
Care to ask the Orthodox Caucus to weigh in on this? I'd like to know the Truth of this matter.
At this point in time, the only mention (on the internet) of the Bishop leaving the Orthodox faith comes from the website referenced in the original article.
Until something more concrete can be produced, we must put this down as wishful thinking at best on the part of the authors.
At worst, it is slander intended to drive a wedge between the Bishop and his flock!
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