Apostolic Administration of Kazakhstan and Central Asia
The Apostolic Administration of Kazakhstan and Central Asia is an Apostolic Administration (pre-diocesan jurisdiction) and is exempt, i.e. directly subject to the Holy See, that extends its jurisdiction over all the Eastern Catholic faithful of the Byzantine Rite who live in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Apostolic Administration of Kazakhstan and Central Asia | |
|---|---|
 Holy Protection of the Mother of God Cathedral | |
| Location | |
| Territory |  Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan |
| Ecclesiastical province | Immediately subject to the Holy See |
| Headquarters | Karaganda, Kazakhstan |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 4,003,451 km2 (1,545,741 sq mi) |
| Population - Catholics | 10,000 |
| Information | |
| Sui iuris church | Eastern Catholic Churches |
| Rite | Byzantine |
| Established | 1 June 2019 |
| Cathedral | Holy Protection of the Mother of God Cathedral in Karaganda |
| Secular priests | 8 |
| Language | Church Slavonic (de facto Ukrainian) |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Apostolic Administrator | Rev. Vasyl Hovera |
| Map | |
 Territory of the Apostolic Administration | |
| Website | |
| https://www.ugcc-kazakhstan.com/ | |
Pre-History
The presence of Catholic faithful of the Byzantine rite in Central Asia dates back to the 17th century, but was sporadic until the 20th century, when their number increased considerably due to the forced mass deportations carried out in the Stalinist era. From 1939 to 1953, some 150,000 faithful of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church were transferred to Central Asia: most of them were to Kazakhstan. About 150 priests were deported with the faithful, including the blessed martyrs Oleksiy Zarytskyi and Nykyta Budka, and the Servant of God Alexander Chira.
After 1991, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union the activities of the Catholic Church, even of the Byzantine rite, became normal. Greek-Catholic parishes were erected in Karaganda, Pavlodar, Astana, Satbayev, Shiderty and Almaty: in addition to these parishes the Byzantine rite Catholics form a dozen communities, scattered in other places. In 1996 here was appointed by the Holy See an Apostolic Visitor, who was replaced in 2002 by Apostolic Delegate and depended from the Congregation for the Oriental Churches.[1]
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History
It was established on 1 June 2019 by Pope Francis for all the Byzantine Rite (mainly Ukrainian Greek Catholic) parishes. The circumscription encompasses Kazakhstan and others four Central Asia states.[2] The Holy Protection of the Mother of God church, that is located in Karaganda, in Kazakhstan, become as the Cathedral.
On 7 February 2023, by decree of Vasyl Hovera, it was established that the Apostolic Administration for Catholics of the Byzantine rite in Kazakhstan and Central Asia from 1 September 2023 switches to the Revised Julian calendar following the UGCC in Ukraine and Poland.[3]
Hierarches
Apostolic Visitor
- Wasyl Medwit, O.S.B.M. (December 1996 – 11 November 2002), Titular Bishop of Hadriane
Apostolic Delegate
- Rev. Vasyl Hovera (11 November 2002 – 1 June 2019)
Apostolic Administrator
- Rev. Vasyl Hovera (since 1 June 2019)
References
- "Как живет Греко-Католическая Церковь в Казахстане?". Website of the Siberian Catholic newspaper (in Russian). Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "Erezione dell'Amministrazione Apostolica per i fedeli cattolici di rito bizantino in Kazakhstan e nell'Asia Centrale con sede a Karaganda e nomina dell'Amministratore Apostolico". Official Website of the Holy See (in Italian). Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "The UGCC parishes in Kazakhstan and Central Asia will also live according to the new style". Українська Греко-Католицька Церква (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 22 March 2023.
