Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London Eparchia Sanctae Familiae Londiniensis
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Location | |
Country | Great Britain |
Territory | England and Wales & Scotland |
Statistics | |
Area | 229,848 km2 (88,745 sq mi) |
Population - Total - Catholics |
(as of 2014) 60,003,000 15,000 (0.017%) |
Parishes | 18 |
Information | |
Sui iuris church | Ukrainian Greek Catholic |
Rite | Byzantine Rite |
Established | 10 June 1957 |
Cathedral | Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile |
Patron saint | Holy Family in Exile |
Secular priests | 17 |
Current leadership | |
Pope | Francis |
Patriarch | Sviatoslav Shevchuk |
Bishop | Hlib Lonchyna |
Vicar General | Fr. Andrew Choma |
Website | |
cerkva.org.uk |
The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London (Ukrainian: Єпархія Пресвятої Родини у Лондоні; Latin: Eparchia Sanctae Familiae Londiniensis) is the eparchy (bishopric) for Ukrainian Greek Catholics in Great Britain. It is one of two Eastern Rite Catholic dioceses in Great Britain, along with the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Great Britain.
Unlike many other nations outside Ukraine to which the Ukrainian diaspora have emigrated, such as Canada and Australia, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Great Britain did not have eparchal status (equivalent to diocesan status in the Latin Church) until 18 January 2013, when the apostolic exarchate was promoted. In addition, vis-a-vis other Latin Church dioceses in Britain, due to the comparatively small number of faithful in the eparchy, there are fewer services, such as schools and care centres, that are provided.
Since the late 19th century, many Ukrainians have been migrating to England, most noticeably to London and the Red Bank area of Manchester. These immigrants have been known as 'old immigrants', or stari emihiranty.
After the Second World War, more and more immigrants were flocking to the British Isles from Eastern Europe, amongst them included numerous Ukrainian Catholics, as most of the Ukrainian immigrants were from Western Ukraine. Initially, many of the Eastern European Catholics worshipped in industrial hostels, as these were common locations where immigrants found cheaper accommodation. Some also worshipped in local Latin Church parish churches, but not in their Byzantine liturgy.