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Orthodox vs Ukrainian Catholic: Same Liturgy, Different Communion

Orthodox vs Ukrainian Catholic

If you grew up Ukrainian, you almost certainly know that there are two Ukrainian churches in Tampa Bay: ours (Ukrainian Orthodox) and Epiphany of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church in St. Petersburg. The Sunday Liturgies in both look almost identical. The chant, the icons, the vestments, the language, the calendar, the structure of the service: nearly the same. Most visitors cannot tell them apart from the inside of the church.

The difference is real but does not appear in the Liturgy itself. It is a question of communion: whom each parish recognizes as the visible head of the Church.

What we share

  • The same Byzantine Rite Divine Liturgy (Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Liturgy of St. Basil)
  • The same liturgical year, the same feast days, the same fasting seasons
  • The same iconography and church architecture
  • The same Ukrainian language tradition in the services
  • The same seven Holy Mysteries (sacraments)
  • The same veneration of the Theotokos and the saints
  • The same married priesthood tradition
  • The same beloved Ukrainian liturgical music
  • The same care for Ukrainian language, culture, and heritage

Where we differ

1. The Pope of Rome

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) recognizes the Pope of Rome as the visible head of the universal Church. The Ukrainian Catholic patriarch (currently His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk) is in communion with the Pope.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church does NOT recognize the Pope of Rome as having jurisdiction over the whole Church. We recognize the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (currently His All-Holiness Bartholomew) as a place of honor (first among equals) but not as a universal authority. Our bishops are answerable to the synod of bishops, not to Rome.

2. Theological differences inherited from the East-West Schism

Because the UGCC is in communion with Rome, it accepts (in principle) the post-Schism doctrinal developments of the Latin Church:

  • Papal infallibility (defined in 1870)
  • The Filioque (the Holy Spirit “proceeds from the Father AND the Son”) added to the Creed
  • Purgatory
  • The Immaculate Conception of the Theotokos

In practice many Ukrainian Greek Catholic priests downplay these and emphasize the Byzantine character of their tradition. But the doctrines are part of what they accept by being in communion with Rome.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church does not accept any of the above. See Orthodox vs Catholic for a fuller explanation of those points.

3. History

The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was formed by the Union of Brest in 1596, when a portion of the Orthodox bishops of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth entered communion with Rome while keeping their Byzantine liturgical tradition. The political pressure of the time (the Catholic Polish state) played a role in the decision.

Most of the Ukrainian people remained Orthodox at that time, and the Orthodox Church in Ukraine continued. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA (our jurisdiction) traces its life back to the original Orthodox tradition of Kyivan Rus, which received baptism from Constantinople in 988 AD.

4. Communion at the chalice

Both Orthodox and Ukrainian Greek Catholic Liturgies offer Communion under both kinds (Body and Blood) from a common spoon, the way it has been done in the East for centuries. The visual experience is identical.

By the rules of each Church, however, Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic faithful are not in full sacramental communion with each other. The UGCC may grant Communion to Orthodox visitors in emergencies; Orthodox practice does not allow our faithful to receive Communion in Catholic churches. This is not unkindness. It expresses the truth that we are not yet one.

What does this mean in practice?

For most Ukrainian families in Tampa Bay, the practical answer is straightforward: both parishes welcome you. Both parishes preserve the Ukrainian Orthodox/Catholic liturgical tradition. Both parishes are anchors of Ukrainian identity in our region.

The deeper question, which parish to belong to, is a question of conscience. It depends on:

  • Where your family has historical roots (Western Ukraine has been more Greek Catholic; central and eastern Ukraine more Orthodox)
  • Whether you believe full communion with Rome is essential to belonging to Christ’s Church
  • Practical considerations (proximity, language, schedule)

We do not say to anyone “you must come to us.” We say: if you want to understand the Orthodox tradition, we are here, our doors are open, and our Liturgy is yours to attend any Sunday.

Holy Protection Ukrainian Orthodox Parish in Dover

If you live in eastern Hillsborough County (Brandon, Riverview, Wesley Chapel, Land O Lakes), there is a second Ukrainian Orthodox parish closer to you than St. Michael: Holy Protection of the Mother of God Ukrainian Orthodox Parish in Dover, FL. They are our sister parish under the same Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.

For directions and what to expect, see our Cities We Serve page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Ukrainian Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic the same thing? No. They look and sound the same on Sunday but they are in different communions. Ukrainian Orthodox are in communion with the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Orthodox world; Ukrainian Catholics are in communion with the Pope of Rome.

Can a Ukrainian Catholic become Ukrainian Orthodox? Yes. The process is typically Chrismation (anointing with Holy Chrism) rather than re-baptism, because Catholic Trinitarian baptism is recognized. There is usually a period of catechesis with the priest. See Becoming Orthodox.

Can a Ukrainian Orthodox attend a Ukrainian Catholic Mass? Yes, you may attend. By Orthodox practice, you should not receive Communion at a Catholic Mass.

Can a Ukrainian Catholic attend an Orthodox Liturgy? Yes, you are welcome. By Orthodox practice, only Orthodox Christians who have prepared with fasting and confession receive Communion. You are warmly welcomed to receive the antidoron (blessed bread) at the end of the service.

Why does any of this matter if the Liturgies look the same? Because the question “who is the Church?” matters. The Church is one body. We pray that Orthodox and Catholic Christians may one day be fully reconciled. Until then, the difference is not a quirk; it is a real division.

Why is there a Ukrainian Catholic church if there is also a Ukrainian Orthodox church? The Union of Brest in 1596 brought a portion of the Orthodox Church in what was then the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth into communion with Rome. Those communities kept their Byzantine liturgical tradition. They came to be called Greek Catholic, Ruthenian Catholic, or Ukrainian Catholic. They are not the same as Roman Catholic (Latin Rite), but they are in communion with Rome.

Learn More

If you have questions or want to talk through the differences with a priest, Fr. Stephen Siniari is glad to meet with you. There is no pressure and no recruitment. We are happy to explain, and we are happy if you understand the Orthodox tradition more deeply, whatever you decide.

St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Church 9201 60th St, Pinellas Park, FL 33782 Phone: 727-777-4450