Oldest Bishop is Petro Kryk, Youngest is Mykola Semenyshyn: Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Begins in Rome
On June 30, the working sessions of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) began at the Ukrainian Pontifical College of St. Josaphat in Rome.
Forty-six bishops from Ukraine, Western and Central Europe, North and South America, and Australia have gathered in Rome for the 2025 Synod. Among them are 33 ruling bishops, eight auxiliary bishops, and four emeritus bishops.
Guests attending the Synod include Archbishop and Metropolitan Jonáš Maxim of Prešov; Bishops Theodore Matsapula and Nil Luschak of the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Mukachevo; Fr. Yuriy Kolasa, Vicar General of the Archbishop of Vienna for the Eastern Catholic faithful in Austria; Fr. Andrés Martínez Esteban, Vicar of the Archbishop of Madrid for Eastern Catholics; Fr. Vasyl Hovera, Apostolic Administrator for Catholics of the Byzantine Rite in Kazakhstan and Central Asia; and Fr. Vasyl Kolopelnyk, Vicar General for Ukrainian Greek Catholics in Romania.
The oldest participant in this year’s Synod is 80-year-old Bishop Petro Kryk, retired Apostolic Exarch for Ukrainians of the Byzantine Rite in Germany and Scandinavia. The youngest is 43-year-old Auxiliary Bishop Mykola Semenyshyn of the Ivano-Frankivsk Archeparchy.
Since last year’s Synod, several personnel changes have taken place. Bishop Teodor Martynyuk is participating for the first time as Metropolitan of Ternopil-Zboriv, following his enthronement on December 8, 2024. Bishop Petro Loza is also attending for the first time as the ruling bishop of the Sokal-Zhovkva Eparchy, having been enthroned on December 1, 2024. Likewise, Bishop Maksym Ryabukha is attending as a ruling bishop for the first time, following his enthronement as Exarch of Donetsk on November 21, 2024.
Additionally, the Apostolic Exarchate for Ukrainian Catholics in Italy has a new head. On March 7, 2025, Bishop Hryhoriy Komar, formerly Auxiliary Bishop of the Sambir-Drohobych Eparchy, was appointed Apostolic Administrator, according to a statement from the Apostolic See.
Another significant event from last year was the elevation of Bishop Mykola Bychok to the College of Cardinals. On December 7, 2024, during a Consistory of Cardinals at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, Pope Francis named him Cardinal-Priest. He currently serves as Bishop of the Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul in Melbourne, which ministers to Ukrainian Greek Catholics in Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania.
The Synod’s first session, held on June 30 and presided over by His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the UGCC, included opening remarks, the introduction of guests and Synod officials, confirmation of a quorum for voting, adoption of the agenda, and scheduling of session days.
The working sessions of the 2025 Synod of Bishops of the UGCC will continue until July 10.
Press Service of the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
