The persecution of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in the opinion of the inhabitants of Pokuttia in the Western Ukraine
The persecution of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in the opinion of the inhabitants of Pokuttia in the Western Ukraine

Summary/Abstract: The Church structure of the UGKC was conserved due to secret consecrationsof bishops and ordinations of priests. Between 1945 and 1989 altogether20 bishops, of which five were titular bishops, were consecrated. Titular bishopshad the right of succession in the case that a titular bishop should die orbe arrested. All underground bishops were persecuted by the soviet state. Sevenof them, experienced soviet labor camps in 1940–1950 and five of the bishopswere repeatedly arrested and imprisoned within the years 1950–197028.The opportunities of Episcopal ministry were extremely limited and confinedas a rule to the administration of the priestly ordination. The new priestswho were ordained by an underground bishop, were distinguished by a selfsacrificein their pastoral work. The very presence of the bishops and theemergence of a young clergy gave a vivid evidence of the stability of the faith29.Numerous works of contemporary scholars clarify the plan of liquidationof the UGKC. The UGKC only did not want to be dependent of soviet authorities,as it happened with the Russian Orthodox Church, but it also was underthe jurisdiction of the Vatican, which condemned the communist ideologyand the state policy of the USSR. For the liquidation of the church one used analmost religious script (scenario) – through a Church Council.

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