Kyivan Metropolitanate General Procurator in Rome of 1760–1772, Fr Ignatius Volodzko’s Assistance Concerning the Canonical Creation of the Mukachevo Eparchy
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: The paper describes the Kyivan Metropolitanate Basilian general procurators’ in Rome activities to support the Mukachevo eparchy during the 17–18 centuries. The author studies the vectors and forms of this work by analyzing sources. The direct aim of this investigation is to examine the engagement of Fr Ignatius Volodzko OSBM, the general Basilian procurator of 1760–1772, in the case of canonical erection of the Mukachevo Eparchy of Byzantine Rite and its emancipation from the Eger Diocese of Latin Rite control. The historian ascertained that Fr Volodzko systematically communicated with the Mukachevo bishop Manuel Olshavsky. Fr Volodzko contacted Roman Apostolic Holy See officials to defend the Mukachevo Eparchy’s rights and interests and to speed up the official canonic erection of it in 1771. The researcher reconstructed a list of cardinals and dignitaries in close contact with Fr Volodzko and defined problems they had helped resolve. He also characterized Fr Volodzko’s recommendations to the bishop concerning the struggle for the Eparchy canonical erection in Vienna and Rome. Henceforth the author anatomized and published in attachments two of Fr Volodzko’s letters to bishop Olshavsky from 1766. This correspondence complements the research with information about many events and details during the Mukachevo Eparchy's contention for liberation from the Eger Diocese's “wardship.” The author concludes that the Basilian general procurator in Rome, who indeed officially represented the whole Kyivan Metropolitanate, at the same time was the Mukachevo bishop's deputy in Rome. Bishop Olshavsky trusted Fr Volodzko highly and delegated him largescale authority. As a result, this general procurator and the Kyivan Metropolitanate helped the Mukachevo Eparchy preserve itself and ensure future development. Keywords: Kyivan Metropolitanate, Mukachevo eparchy, Basilian Order of St Josaphat, Manuel Olshavsky, Ivan Bradach, Andrii Bachynskyi, Ignatius Volodzko.
Author: Volodymyr MOROZ
Language: English
Subfield: History
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4387623331