Joseph Sembratovych
Encyclopedia
Joseph Sembratovych was the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
from 1870 until his resignation in 1882.
. Since 1841 he studied in Wien
and at the end of his studies, on 7 October 1845 he was ordained Priest
. He remained in Wien where he obtained a doctorate in theology in June 1846. Returned to Galicia
, he started his career in the Seminary
of Lviv
, moving later in 1852 to Wien where he was appointed vice-rector of the Greek Seminary, and later he appointed Professor of Biblical Studies
in the University of Lviv.
On 24 March 1865 he was appointed titular bishop of Nazianzus
, and consecrated Bishop
in St. George's Cathedral, Lviv
on 11 June 1865 by Metropolitan Spyrydon Lytvynovych
. He moved to Rome where he became the prelate of the Greek-Rite
students at College of the Propaganda. In 1867 he was appointed apostolic Administrator
of the Archeparchy of Przemyśl.
On 18 May 1870 Joseph Sembratovych was designated Metropolitan of Lviv, i.e. the primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria
and so confirmed by Pope Pius IX
on 27 June 1870. The enthronement occurred on 7 August 1870.
Even if before his appointment as Primate Joseph Sembratovych was supported by the Polish
Galicians and unpopular with the Ukrainophils
and the Ukrainian Russophiles
, Joseph Sembratovych during his reign fully espoused the Russophile movement on a level which collided with Ukrainophil politic of the Austria-Hungary
government. He also displeased the Polish because his campaign against drunkenness which deprived them of considerable profits. The case that finally led to his resignation was the affair of Ivan Naumovich
, a priest who favored the conversion of a whole village to the Russian Orthodox Church
. The Austrian government asked and obtained his resignations, tendered on 22 December 1882.
After his resignation, he moved to Rome
where he died on 23 October 1900.
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church , Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva), is the largest Eastern Rite Catholic sui juris particular church in full communion with the Holy See, and is directly subject to the Pope...
from 1870 until his resignation in 1882.
Life
Joseph Sembratovych was born on 8 November 1821, son of a priest of the Archeparchy of PrzemyślUkrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Przemysl–Warsaw
The Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Przemyśl–Warsaw is an archeparchy located in the cities of Przemyśl and Warsaw in Poland.-History:In 1087 the Eparchy of Przemyśl was established....
. Since 1841 he studied in Wien
Wien
Wien is the German language name for Vienna, the city and federal state in Austria.* Wien , in Vienna, Austria* Theater an der Wien, a theater in Vienna located at the former river WienWien may also refer to:...
and at the end of his studies, on 7 October 1845 he was ordained Priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
. He remained in Wien where he obtained a doctorate in theology in June 1846. Returned to Galicia
Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria
The Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria was a crownland of the Habsburg Monarchy, the Austrian Empire, and Austria–Hungary from 1772 to 1918 .This historical region in eastern Central Europe is currently divided between Poland and Ukraine...
, he started his career in the Seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
of Lviv
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
, moving later in 1852 to Wien where he was appointed vice-rector of the Greek Seminary, and later he appointed Professor of Biblical Studies
Biblical studies
Biblical studies is the academic study of the Judeo-Christian Bible and related texts. For Christianity, the Bible traditionally comprises the New Testament and Old Testament, which together are sometimes called the "Scriptures." Judaism recognizes as scripture only the Hebrew Bible, also known as...
in the University of Lviv.
On 24 March 1865 he was appointed titular bishop of Nazianzus
Nazianzus
Nazianzus is a Roman Catholic titular metropolitan see in the former Roman province of Cappadocia Tertia.-History:Nazianzus was a small town the history of which is completely unknown...
, and consecrated Bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
in St. George's Cathedral, Lviv
St. George's Cathedral, Lviv
St. George's Cathedral is a baroque-rococo cathedral located in the city of Lviv, the historic capital of western Ukraine. It was constructed between 1744-1760 on a hill overlooking the city. This is the third manifestation of a church to inhabit the site since the 13th century, and its prominence...
on 11 June 1865 by Metropolitan Spyrydon Lytvynovych
Spyrydon Lytvynovych
Spyrydon Lytvynovych was the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church from 1864 until his death in 1869.-Life:Spyrydon Lytvynovych was born on 6 December 1810 in Nadrichne, in Berezhany Raion, Ukraine. He graduated of philosophy and theology at the University of Lviv...
. He moved to Rome where he became the prelate of the Greek-Rite
Byzantine Rite
The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite is the liturgical rite used currently by all the Eastern Orthodox Churches, by the Greek Catholic Churches , and by the Protestant Ukrainian Lutheran Church...
students at College of the Propaganda. In 1867 he was appointed apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
of the Archeparchy of Przemyśl.
On 18 May 1870 Joseph Sembratovych was designated Metropolitan of Lviv, i.e. the primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of...
and so confirmed by Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
on 27 June 1870. The enthronement occurred on 7 August 1870.
Even if before his appointment as Primate Joseph Sembratovych was supported by the Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
Galicians and unpopular with the Ukrainophils
Ukrainophilia
Ukrainophilia is the love of and/or identification with Ukraine and Ukrainians; its opposite is Ukrainophobia. The term is used primarily in a political and cultural context. "Ukrainophilia" and "Ukrainophile" are the terms used to denote pro-Ukrainian sentiments, usually in politics and...
and the Ukrainian Russophiles
Ukrainian Russophiles
The focus of this article is part of a general political movement in Western Ukraine of the nineteenth and early 20th century. The movement contained several competing branches: Moscowphiles, Ukrainophiles, Rusynphiles, and others....
, Joseph Sembratovych during his reign fully espoused the Russophile movement on a level which collided with Ukrainophil politic of the Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
government. He also displeased the Polish because his campaign against drunkenness which deprived them of considerable profits. The case that finally led to his resignation was the affair of Ivan Naumovich
Ivan Naumovich
Ivan Naumovich , was a priest, member of parliament, writer, and major figure in the Russophile movement in western Ukraine. His article Glimpse into the future was considered the most important manifesto of Galician Russophilism -Background:...
, a priest who favored the conversion of a whole village to the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
. The Austrian government asked and obtained his resignations, tendered on 22 December 1882.
After his resignation, he moved to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
where he died on 23 October 1900.