Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate Sighetu Marmaţiei
Encyclopedia
The Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate Sighetu Marmaţiei is a vicar
iate of the Romanian Orthodox Church
serving Eastern Orthodox
believers from Romania
's Ukrainian community
.
Most of Romania's Ukrainians belonged to the Greek-Catholic Church
until the newly-established Communist regime
outlawed it in 1948. Following their conversion to Orthodoxy, they were organised into a vicariate headquartered at Sighetu Marmaţiei
, including parishes in Maramureş
, Transylvania
, Crişana
and the Banat
. In 1952, the vicariate became a Ukrainian archpriest
's district, headquartered at Poienile de sub Munte
and governed by the Diocese of Cluj. The district continued to function in this manner until 1990, receiving annual financial contributions from the Romanian Patriarchy
.
After the 1989 fall of the Communist regime
, the vicariate was re-established, again directed from Sighetu Marmaţiei and with two archpriest's districts, there and at Lugoj. As of 2008, there were 33 parishes operating in 33 church buildings, 27 priests, one nunnery
at Rona de Sus
, and approximately 53,300 members. The vicariate is under the Romanian Orthodox Church's jurisdiction, but is administratively autonomous. Unlike in the rest of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Julian calendar
is used.
The Lugoj district was established in November 1990, following efforts by the local Ukrainian cultural organization. Initially, there were six parishes; later, the one at Copăcele
reverted to the ordinary structure of the Romanian Orthodox Church, but nine other parishes were added, the total reaching fourteen by 2005. The ones at Criciova
, Cornuţel
and Zorile
operate in pre-existing churches, while the remainder are new buildings, except the one at Remetea Mică
, which holds services in the local Roman Catholic church.
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
iate of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Romanian Orthodox Church
The Romanian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church. It is in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox churches, and is ranked seventh in order of precedence. The Primate of the church has the title of Patriarch...
serving Eastern Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
believers from Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
's Ukrainian community
Ukrainians of Romania
The Ukrainians are the third-largest ethnic minority in Romania. According to the 2002 Romanian census they number 61,091 people, making up 0.3% of the total population. Ukrainians claim that the number is actually 250,000-300,000. Ukrainians mainly live in northern Romania, in areas close to...
.
Most of Romania's Ukrainians belonged to the Greek-Catholic Church
Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic
The Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic is an Eastern Catholic Church which is in full union with the Roman Catholic Church. It is ranked as a Major Archiepiscopal Church and uses the Byzantine liturgical rite in the Romanian language....
until the newly-established Communist regime
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
outlawed it in 1948. Following their conversion to Orthodoxy, they were organised into a vicariate headquartered at Sighetu Marmaţiei
Sighetu Marmatiei
Sighetu Marmației , formerly Sighet, is a city in Maramureş County near the Iza River, in north-western Romania. It administers five villages: Iapa, Lazu Baciului, Șugău, Valea Cufundoasă and Valea Hotarului.-Geography:...
, including parishes in Maramureş
Maramures
Maramureș may refer to the following:*Maramureș, a geographical, historical, and ethno-cultural region in present-day Romania and Ukraine, that occupies the Maramureș Depression and Maramureș Mountains, a mountain range in North East Carpathians...
, Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
, Crişana
Crisana
Crișana is a geographical and historical region divided today between Romania and Hungary, named after the Criș River and its three tributaries: the Crișul Alb, Crișul Negru and Crișul Repede....
and the Banat
Banat
The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small...
. In 1952, the vicariate became a Ukrainian archpriest
Archpriest
An archpriest is a priest with supervisory duties over a number of parishes. The term is most often used in Eastern Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic Churches, although it may be used in the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church instead of dean or vicar forane.In the 16th and 17th centuries, during...
's district, headquartered at Poienile de sub Munte
Poienile de sub Munte
Poienile de sub Munte is a commune in Maramureş County, northern Romania. It is one of the oldest places in Maramureş, being mentioned for the first time in 1353. It is the biggest commune in the county and is composed of a single village, Poienile de sub Munte....
and governed by the Diocese of Cluj. The district continued to function in this manner until 1990, receiving annual financial contributions from the Romanian Patriarchy
Romanian Orthodox Church
The Romanian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church. It is in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox churches, and is ranked seventh in order of precedence. The Primate of the church has the title of Patriarch...
.
After the 1989 fall of the Communist regime
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
, the vicariate was re-established, again directed from Sighetu Marmaţiei and with two archpriest's districts, there and at Lugoj. As of 2008, there were 33 parishes operating in 33 church buildings, 27 priests, one nunnery
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
at Rona de Sus
Rona de Sus
Rona de Sus is a commune in Maramureş County, Romania. It is composed of two villages: Coştiui and Rona de Sus....
, and approximately 53,300 members. The vicariate is under the Romanian Orthodox Church's jurisdiction, but is administratively autonomous. Unlike in the rest of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Julian calendar
Julian calendar
The Julian calendar began in 45 BC as a reform of the Roman calendar by Julius Caesar. It was chosen after consultation with the astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria and was probably designed to approximate the tropical year .The Julian calendar has a regular year of 365 days divided into 12 months...
is used.
The Lugoj district was established in November 1990, following efforts by the local Ukrainian cultural organization. Initially, there were six parishes; later, the one at Copăcele
Copacele
Copăcele is a commune in Caraş-Severin County, western Romania with a population of 1,357 people. It is composed of four villages: Copăcele, Ohaba-Mâtnic, Ruginosu and Zorile villages.-References:...
reverted to the ordinary structure of the Romanian Orthodox Church, but nine other parishes were added, the total reaching fourteen by 2005. The ones at Criciova
Criciova
Criciova is a commune in Timiş County, Romania. It is composed of four villages: Cireşu, Cireşu Mic, Criciova and Jdioara....
, Cornuţel
Paltinis, Caras-Severin
Păltiniş is a commune in Caraş-Severin County, western Romania with a population of 2683 people. It is composed of five villages: Cornuţel, Delineşti, Ohabiţa, Păltiniş and Rugi...
and Zorile
Copacele
Copăcele is a commune in Caraş-Severin County, western Romania with a population of 1,357 people. It is composed of four villages: Copăcele, Ohaba-Mâtnic, Ruginosu and Zorile villages.-References:...
operate in pre-existing churches, while the remainder are new buildings, except the one at Remetea Mică
Masloc
Maşloc is a commune in Timiş County, Romania. It is composed of three villages: Alioş, Maşloc and Remetea Mică. It also included Fibiş until 2004, when it was split off to form a separate commune....
, which holds services in the local Roman Catholic church.