The Holy Synod of Bishops of the UGCC

The Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, together with the Father and Head of the UGCC, constitutes the highest authority in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and manifests this Church’s unity and community. In addition, the Synod of Bishops is a legislative assembly of all bishops of the UGCC ordained in accordance with the general and particular canons of this Church. The Synod elects its own Head and Father of the Church, as well as members of the episcopate, in accordance with the common code of canon law of the Eastern Churches, and the particular canon law of the UGCC. The Synod creates the laws necessary for the UGCC and is the highest tribunal of this Church. Members of the Synod of Bishops are all ordained bishops of the UGCC: diocesan, titular or emeritus, no matter where they were appointed. Members of the Synod of Bishops are all ordained bishops of the UGCC: eparchial, titular, or emeritus, regardless of where they were appointed.

Competencies of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC include:

Care of the pastoral ministry and missionary activities of the entire UGCC;
Adoption of laws for the UGCC;
Involvement in the management of the UGCC, giving advice or consent in accordance with the common code of canon law of the Eastern Churches;
Administration of justice, as the highest tribunal;
Election of the Father and Head of the Church;
Selection of bishops and other candidates for administrative roles;
Acceptance of the resignation of the Father and Head of the Church.

The Synod of Bishops, headed by the Father and Head of the Church, canonically represents the UGCC and leads it, overseeing its mission in the world.

More about the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC can be found on the Synod’s website.

The Permanent Synod

The Permanent Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is a group of bishops that acts on behalf of the Patriarchal Synod and is an advisory body to the Head of the Church. The Permanent Synod consists of the Father and Head of the UGCC, who heads it, and four bishops appointed for five years. One of these bishops is appointed by the Father and Head of the UGCC, and the other three, among whom at least two must be eparchial (diocesan) bishops, are elected by secret ballot by the Synod of Bishops. At the same time and in the same manner, four other substitute bishops are appointed, who replace the members of the Permanent Synod in the event of their inability to attend meetings. In its activities, the Permanent Synod is governed by the norms of the general and particular law of the UGCC, the Statute of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, and the Statute of the Permanent Synod of the UGCC.

Members of the Permanent Synod

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk
Archbishop Borys Gudziak
Bishop Volodymyr Yushchak
Bishop Bohdan Dziurakh
Bishop Josaphat Moshchych

Substitute Members of the Permanent Synod

Bishop Yaroslav Pryriz
Bishop Bryan Bayda
Bishop Mykhailo Bubniy
Bishop Teodor Martyniuk

Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC

СThe Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is a subdivision of the Patriarchal Curia of the UGCC, which assists the Father and Head of the Church in preparing and conducting the Synods of UGCC Bishops and in ensuring all aspects related to the activities of the Synod in the inter-synodal period.

Permanent staff members of the Secretariat are: the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, the Substitute Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, an archivist, and other staff appointed to perform statutory tasks and fulfill the needs of the Secretariat.