I have seen the Ukrainian Catholic Church celebrate the Divine Liturgy according to the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom both in English and in Ukrainian. The Liturgy of St. Basil is also celebrated 10 times years: January 1, the five Sundays during Great Lent, the Eve of the Nativity of Christ, Theophany (Epiphany in the West), Great and Holy Thursday and Great and Holy Saturday. The main difference between the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil is the Anaphora and the Erimos. Otherwise, they are practically identical. These liturgies are different than the Western liturgies which Roman Catholics are familiar with, but they are substantially the same. (Indeed, many vestigial elements of the Western liturgy come to light and make sense when observed in the Eastern liturgies.)
The Western Liturgy tends to be very business-like, stressing "noble simplicity" and, often, function over form. Just the opposite is true in the various Eastern celebrations: for one, you will rarely, if ever, be able to get out in less than an hour (how that betrays a "Roman" way of thinking!). There is also a prevailing sacramental/iconic/artistic aesthetic which points beyond this world without falling into Western habits of exploiting art for functional or world pleasure.
A Roman Catholic visitor will notice that the deacon has a very, very significant role in the liturgy, unlike Western deacons in the contemporary or even the traditional Roman rite. (No doubt the virtual suppression of the donate in the West, except to candidates going on to priesthood, went hand-in-hand with the minimization of the diagonal ministry during the Roman liturgy.)
Also notable, nearly everything in the liturgy is sung unaccompanied. The particular parish I visited, the people sang the various prospers in Miltie-part harmonies from memory... the music was completely organic to the celebration, unlike the (unfortunate) practices of 'commercial music' which have developed in contemporary Roman Catholic worship. Interestingly, the Roman Liturgy is the only liturgy of the Catholic Church which is regularly and habitually spoken rather than sung in most parts of the world. (This is not meant to be so: the sung ("high") Mass of the traditional Roman liturgy is the proper form of Roman Mass historically. The "Low Mass" of the Tridentine era which most people experienced as the norm before the Second Vatican Council was a no-frills alternative (deviation, actually) from the otherwise-universal norm of sung Liturgy across the different rites of the Church.)
Roman Catholics and Ukrainian Catholics are fully in communion with one another. To attend each others liturgies and participate fully with the reception of Communion is not only possible, but a wonderful sign of diversity within the Universal Church we share. Of note, in the Ukrainian Church, communion is received a bit differently. Communion (called the Mysteries in the East) is given in the form of leavened Bread that has been soaked with the Precious Blood. Holy Communion is given to the communicant with a spoon. The Precious Body has been soaked with the Precious Blood. Therefore, "oral communion" is the only way. In order to receive, one merely open the mouth wide, tilts the head back slightly so that the priest may "drop" the Sacred Body and Blood into your mouth. DO NOT close your mouth over the Communion Spoon! It would be best to arrive before Liturgy and introduce yourself to the priest and let him know you are Catholic and would like to receive the Mysteries. Father will be happy to explain the custom in greater detail.
ignore that guy. Ukraine is a SEPARATE COUNTRY it is NOT a state in Russia. I am Ukrainian, i take that offensive. Roman Catholic is probably just a name because of where it started. there are roman Catholics in Ukraine too. i think your referring to the orthodox church.
I'm a Roman Catholic and have wondered for quite a while what differences we have with our Ukranian Catholic brothers and sisters.
Though, what we have in common is what is of most importance:
-our belief the True Body and Blood of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, not to mention all the others Sacraments such as Confession and Confirmation.
Which brings me to where I may be able to shed a little light---the priest at the Ukrainian Catholic Church in my city is married, although his wife lives about 4 or 5 hours, In talking to an elderly lady who is very Catholic, she told me that the priest still follows the Pope.
I find it mixing up but I take comfort in the fact that I can receive Jesus in that Church (which I hope to go one day) and also be able to receive the Sacrament of Confession.
Not much. At Saint Paul University, in Ottawa, Canada, Ukrainian Catholics study (along with Anglicans), although it is a Roman Catholic Pontifical university. There are a few differences: Ukrainian Catholic priests can get married in some places (e.g., the Ukraine, but not Canada), and some other small things. The style of worship is different; almost Orthodox, although they do acknowledge the Pope. Basically, they are Catholic, but with an Orthodox flavor to their worship and ideas. Sort of 1/2 way between the two.
Great singers! They sing the services, and make the most beautiful harmonies.
Same core doctrines concerning the Trinity, Salvation, Saints, and Sacraments.
Differ on the role of St. Peter.. the Apostle.
Also, differ in terms of customs, traditions, and practices.
Ukranian Orthodox Catholics may have some additional saints which the Roman Catholic church does not officially recognize or hasn't yet canonized.
But BOTH are Catholic... in their core beliefs.
Think of them as States within a Nation.
Orthodox Catholic churches were started by an Apostle.. so they have Apostolic Succession like the Roman Catholic faith.
But they understand the role of St. Peter differently.
In a nutshell:
Ukranian Orthodox Catholics view Peter as "The first amongst EQUALS"
Roman Catholics view Peter as "The FIRST amongst equals"
Anotherwards, Orthodox Catholics believe that things should be decided more democratically, by all the Patriarchs (Bishops with links back to an Apostle)
Roman Catholics believe that while Peter was amongst equals, he still was the head of Christ's church and exercised authority over his fellow Apostles. So while things SHOULD be decided by ecumenical council.. the Pope, as successor to St. Peter, has veto rights as the vicar of Christ.
They are primarily divided on this one issue.. and this keeps them from being in FULL communion with each other.
the liturgy of the mass is the same world wide ,even down to the readings of scripture, however there are different cultural actions that many countries have that visitors may find different to what they are used to at home .
the beliefs regarding "faith and morals." are the same
"Ukrainian Catholic" is one of the particular rites of the Catholic Church.
"Roman Catholic" is a pejorative used to refer to *any* Catholic regardless of the rite, be they Latin Rite, Ukrainian Byzantine rite, Greek Rite, etc. However, many people unwittingly use this to refer to Catholics in the Latin Rite.
There are many rites in the Catholic Church, but they are all part of one Church with one set of doctrines, and all in communion with the Holy See.
Some of the traditions may vary. For example, I am sure we have all heard about the "sit, stand kneel" thing that Catholics do in the Latin Rite. In the Ukrainian Byzantine there is no kneeling. Every mass I've been to at a Ukrainian church also has no music.
The Latin Rite prefers to select men that are not married to be priests (because you can be married and become a priest, just not marry once you *have* become a priest) where as other rites tend to have married priests. In some parts of the world, that is the norm.
ukranian catholics and roman catholics/ the difference?
