50th Anniversary of Establishment of Apostolic Exarchate for Ukrainian Catholics of France Celebrated in Paris

Pope John ХХIII established three exarchates for Ukrainians in the Western Europe, in Germany, France and England. The Apostolic Exarchate for France was established on 22 July, 1960.

Pope John ХХIII established three exarchates for Ukrainians in western Europe – in Germany, France, and England. The Apostolic Exarchate for France was established on July 22, 1960. Fr. Volodymyr Malanchuk, who was then the protohegumen of the Redemptorist Fathers in Canada, was appointed exarch. He headed the exarchate till 1983. He was succeeded by Bishop Mykhail Hrynchyshyn, who provided pastoral care not only for France but also for Switzerland and the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxemburg).

The celebration of the jubilee began with a mission, which was conducted from September 28 to October 1 by Bishop Hlib Lonchyna, the apostolic administrator of the Greek Catholic Exarchate in Great Britain and apostolic administrator for Ukrainian Greek Catholics of Ireland.

On October 2, in the City Council of Paris, a celebratory event and spiritual concert of the choir of the Cathedral of St. Volodymyr the Great was held. The celebration ended in the cathedral with a thanksgiving hierarchical Divine Liturgy on October 3.