Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox bishops in Kolomyia, Ukraine have joined in a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a new church, which they are building as a joint project to celebrate the 1022nd anniversary of the "Baptism of the Rus," the establishment of Christianity in Ukraine.
The joint project is a remarkable breakthrough in a country that has seen persistent tensions between the Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, according to the True Orthodox and Ecumenical News website.
Catholic Bishop Mykola Simkaylo and his Orthodox counterpart, Ivan Boychuk, said that the new church reflects their "joint purpose: to build a unique church in Ukraine. By holding joint events, we unite our faithful in one Christian family."
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church -- by far the largest of the Eastern-rite churches faithful to the Holy See -- has long sought to establish a Catholic patriarchate in Ukraine.
A Greek Catholic patriarchate in Ukraine is opposed by the leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church, who claim Ukraine as "canonical territory." The Ukrainian Orthodox Church became divided into two patriarchates -- the new independent Kiev Patriarchate and the traditional Moscow Patriarchate -- after the collapse of Soviet Russia in 1991.
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