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Eparchy of Sokal-Zhovkva

About

The eparchy of Sokal-Zhovkva embraces an area of 6991 km2 and 607 settlements. The eparchy includes northern districts of the Lviv region, namely Sokal, Zhovkva, Radehiv, Brody, Busk, and Kamianka-Buzka districts.

The population is 491 751 people including 321 645 Greek Catholics.

The eparchy unites 364 parish communities into 16 deaneries:

  • Belz
  • Brody
  • Busk
  • Dublyany
  • Zhovkva
  • Kamianka-Buzka
  • Lopatyn
  • Novyi Yarychiv
  • Olesko
  • Pidkamin
  • Radehiv
  • Rava Ruska
  • Sokal
  • Starobridsky
  • Tartakiv
  • Chervonohrad
Coat of arms of the eparchy of Sokal-ZhovkvaCoat of arms of the eparchy of Sokal-Zhovkva

According to the statistical data from 2015, in the eparchy, there are 266 priests of whom 236 eparchial and 30 hieromonks, 3 deacons, and 40 candidates for the priesthood who are undergoing priestly formation. Concerning consecrated to God persons, there are 82 people of whom 64 are brothers and 18 sisters.

Caring about the spiritual good of his faithful, the ruling Archbishop Mykhaylo Koltun visits the deaneries and parishes and leads eparchial pilgrimages or celebrations where he refers to the people with the moral and theological pastorals focusing on the wealth of Christian tradition and faith.

The ruling Archbishop issues pastoral letters on the occasion of Christmas, Easter, and Great Lent, or addresses to the Ukrainian servicemen.

Also, due to the blessing of the bishop, the book Miraculous Icons of the Eparchy of Sokal and a prayer for servicemen were published.

The eparchy spreads the magazine Source of Life which is published twice a month. Bookstores with Catholic books are open at churches of the eparchy. In particular, they are in Zhovkva, Chervonohrad, and Brody. Also, Christian TV and radio programs are released in Zhovkva, Sokal, Chervonohrad, Brody, and others.

Papal encyclicals and pastorals from the Head of the UGCC His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk are spreading among parish communities. Also, annual retreats and educational courses are available for priests and laymen.

The eparchy has a good collaboration with Orthodox bishops in the field of military chaplaincy. For example, it is common to participate together in pilgrimages.

Each year clergy takes part in international meetings for developing a good relationship between Polish and Ukrainian peoples (Korchmyn village, Sokal region).

Location

Bishops

Since July 21, 2000, Bishop Mykhaylo Koltun has been the ruling Archbishop of the eparchy of Sokal-Zhovkva. And the Reverend Bishop Petro Loza has been Auxiliary Bishop since July 12, 2018.

The cathedral of the eparchy of Sokal-Zhovkva is the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Sokal. Also, there is the Procathedral of the Blessed martyr Josaphat in Zhovkva.

The retreats and educational courses for priests of the eparchy are held every year. Often, eparchial and deanery meetings take place to discuss the agenda.

History

According to the decree of His Beatitude Lubomyr Husar and with the blessing of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC, the eparchy of Sokal was established through separation from the archeparchy of Lviv on July 21, 2000.

On September 18, 2007, the name of the eparchy was changed to the eparchy of Sokal-Zhovkva.

Shrines

On the territory of the eparchy, there are miraculous icons and pilgrimage sites where the faithful perform their private or national pilgrimages. These are Krystonopol miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary (first half of XVIII c.) that is kept in the monastery church of St. Yuri in Chervonohrad (Lviv region), Markopil miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary (XVI-XVII c.) that is placed in the Church of the Ascension of Christ in Markipol village (Brody district, Lviv region), Pidhirtsi miraculous icon of the Mother of God (end XVI-early XVII c.) in the monastery church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Pidhirtsi village (Brody district, Lviv region), a copy of Sokal miraculous icon of the Mother of God Consolation (end XIV c.) in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Sokal (Lviv region), a copy of Pidkamin miraculous icon of the Mother of God (first half of XVII c.) and miraculous Crucifix of Jesus Christ (XVIII c.) that is located in Pidkamin monastery of the Origin of the Tree of Christ in Pidkamin village (Brody district, Lviv region). Also, a monastery of the Nativity of Christ in Zhovkva (Lviv region) where the relics of St martyr Parthenius are kept, the Church of Holy Archangels Michael with the miraculous icon of Christ’s Heart (1900) in Boyanets village (Zhovkva district, Lviv region), the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Zhuzhelyany (Sokal district, Lviv region) where the relics of the Blessed Josaphata Hordashevska are kept who was born in this village and became the first member and co-foundress of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, the Church of Transfiguration of Christ in Kamianka-Buzka (Lviv region) where the copy of the miraculous icon the Blessed Virgin Mary is placed (XVI c.). the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Nestanychy village (Radehiv district, Lviv region)where Nestanychy miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary is kept (first half XVII c.), the church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in Ulvivok village (Sokal district, Lviv region) where there is a copy of Horodyliv miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary (XVI c.), the church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Tartakiv village (Sokal district, Lviv region) where Tartakiv miraculous icon of the Mother of God is placed (XVIII c.), the church of the Saint martyr Paraskevi in Turynka village (Zhovkva district, Lviv region) with Turynka miraculous icon of the Christ the Savior (XVII-XVIII c.), the church of Luke the Evangelist in Korsiv village (Brody district, Lviv region) where there is Korsiv miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary (second half of XVIII c.) are the shrines of the eparchy,

The most famous monastery is the monastery of the Order of St. Basil the Great in Krekhiv village where the miraculous icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Werchrata and St Nicholas are kept. Pilgrimages are held on May 22, on the Day of Translation of the relics of St Nicholas, and on October 14, on the Day of the Protection of Our Most Holy Lady. Many laymen and priests participate in these pilgrimages.

The pilgrimage of youth on the occasion of Mother’s Day (the second Sunday of May) is held for the last few years. Piligrigrims’ destination is Zahlyna village of Rava-Ruska deanery where except faithful of the eparchy of Sokal-Zhovkva many other pilgrims from different eparchies and youth communities take part in the pilgrimage. The second crowded pilgrimage at this place is the Feast of the Position of the Belt of the Blessed Virgin which is held on September 13.

St. Archangel Michael is the patron of the eparchy of Sokal-Zhovkva.

Contacts

Address: St. Lvivska, 7 а, Zhovkva 80300, Ukraine

Phone: +380 (32) 526-13-36

Email: [email protected]

Website: sokaleparchy.org.ua