On December 2, the St. Martin's Cathedral in Mukachevo hosted the enthronement of the ruling bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mukachevo in Ukraine. Bishop Mykola Luchok was inaugurated as the ruling bishop.
This was reported by CREDO.
The solemn Divine Liturgy was attended by the Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, Roman and Greek Catholic bishops, priests, and numerous faithful.
As previously announced, on October 7, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Mykola Luchok as the ordinary of the RCC Diocese of Mukachevo. During the Liturgy, the papal bull of appointment was read.
Metropolitan Archbishop Mieczysław Mokshitsky of Lviv handed Bishop Mykola the pastoral staff—a symbol of pastoral authority—during the official enthronement.
Bishop Mykola Luchok delivered his sermon, beginning with an explanation of the symbolism behind the pastoral staff, adorned with olive leaves symbolizing peace. He emphasized the longing for true peace, achievable only through the Risen Christ.
The Divine Liturgy and the sermon were conducted in two languages: Ukrainian and Hungarian. Bishop Mykola highlighted the use of multiple languages within the RCC Diocese of Mukachevo, possibly five or more.
Bishop Mykola Luchok, born on March 26, 1974, in Mukachevo, joined the Order of Preachers in 1994 and made perpetual vows in 2000. He received theological education at the Dominican Philosophical-Theological College in Krakow, Poland. After his priestly ordination on June 24, 2003, he served in various locations before being appointed auxiliary bishop of the RCC Diocese of Mukachevo by Pope Francis on November 11, 2019.
His episcopal consecration occurred in Mukachevo on December 10, 2019. Later, on January 28, 2022, Pope Francis appointed him as the administrator of the RCC Diocese of Mukachevo, and on October 7, 2023, as the ordinary.