IVAN BUCHKO – BICHOP IN EXILE

Abstract

Features of the church work and public activities of Archbishop Ivan Buchko of The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) – Apostolic Visitor of Ukrainian Catholics in Western Europe, nominated assistant to the papal throne and count of Rome, titular archbishop with the title of Leocadian, consultant of the Congregation of Eastern Churches are shown. Ivan Buchko steadfast position in the defense of the national rights of Ukrainians in the Second Polish Republic during the pacification period are considered; the contribution of pastor Ivan Buchko in the publicity of the events of the Ukrainian famine in Soviet Ukraine in 1932–1933 among the diplomats of European states and before the Vatican are shown.The role of the bishop in the conduct of the Catholic action on the territory of Galicia in the 1930s, in particular the holding of the «Ukrainian Youth to Christ» days are highlighted.Attention is focused on the associational activities of Ivan Buchko as an assistant bishop to Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyi. The role of Bishop I. Buchko in the activities of the Ukrainian Relief Committee in Rome and his role in rescuing from the repatriation of former soldiers of the Division of the SS Halychyna from the Rimini camp is studied. It is noted the role in the charitable mission for Ukrainian refugees, his work in establishing the educational and scientific life of the Ukrainian diaspora in Western European countries after the end of the Second World War. It is analyzed that Ivan Buchko’s contribution to the development of the dioceses of the UGCC in Europe and Australia, the creation of new exarchates in North and South America.