ON JAN. 28, CLERGY and the faithful proclaimed “Axios! Axios! Axios!” (Greek for “He is worthy”) as Fr. Artur Bubnevych was consecrated a bishop and enthroned as the Sixth Bishop of the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix during a ceremony at Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church in Anaheim.
The Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church (known as the Byzantine Catholic Church in the United States) is one of 23 Eastern Rite Catholic Churches. Some may be unaware that both the Eastern and Western (Latin) Rites are part of the Catholic Church.
BISHOP-ELECT ARTUR BUBNEVYCH KNEELS BEFORE THE ALTAR PRIOR TO PLACING HIS HEAD ON THE CENTER OF THE ALTAR WHERE THE BOOK OF GOSPELS IS HELD OVER HIS HEAD WHILE THE PRAYERS OF CONSECRATION ARE READ. PHOTOS BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
The ceremony of episcopal consecration and enthronement was in the presence of Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America, and by the laying of hands of Most Rev. William C. Skurla, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, Most. Rev. Kurt Burnette,
Bishop of the Eparchy of Passaic Apostolic Administrator of the Exarchate of Sts. Cyril and Methodius of Toronto, and Most Rev. Robert Pipta, Bishop of the Eparchy of Parma.
Also in attendance were several Eastern and Western bishops, including Bishop Kevin Vann and Bishop Timothy Freyer.
The ordination of a new bishop in the Byzantine Rite takes place during the Diving Liturgy (Mass) immediately before the epistle reading. Bishop-elect Bubnevych was led around the altar three times by the three consecrating bishops where he kissed each of the four corners of the altar while the “Dance of Isaiah” was sung during the final pass.
This is the same text that is used at every priestly ordination and during the Mystery of the Crowning (Sacrament of Marriage) — as a man is the head of his
family, each ordained man shares in the image of Christ as head of the Church. Bishop-Elect Bubnevych then knelt before the altar, placing his head on the center. The Book of Gospels was held above him while the three consecrating bishops laid their hands on his head and recited the prayers of consecration. Then the newly consecrated bishop was vested with his episcopal vestments, notably the sakkos, a long tunic with wide sleeves; omophorion, a long scarf worn around the neck and shoulders; the epigonation, a diamond-shaped vestment worn over the right knee; and the crown, or miter (mitra), and crozier, or staff.
The Divine Liturgy then continued until Holy Communion. Bishop Bubnevych was then led to the throne in the sanctuary and seated. The consecrating bishops then bestowed upon him a kiss of peace. At this time, all the priests and deacons of his Eparchy welcomed him with the sign of peace and vowed obedience to their new bishop as the head of the Eparchy of Phoenix.
Bishop Bubnevych was born in Perechyn, Ukraine, which was then part of the Union Soviet of Socialist Republics (USSR). He was secretly baptized by a Byzantine Catholic priest and later entered seminary in Austria. He was later ordained to the subdiaconate following graduation in 1998.
After coming to the United States as a missionary for the Byzantine Catholic Church, he was ordained as a priest in 2014.
Fr. Bubnevych was assigned as pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Albuquerque, N.M. and concurrently served on the following commissions: Youth and Young Adults, the Vocation’s Board, Eparchial Pension Committee and Intreparchial Commission on Sacred Liturgy.
Although there are differences in liturgical practices — such as Eastern Rite Catholics refer to Mass as Diving Liturgy — they use icons instead of statues and allow priests (but not bishops) to be married before ordination. They are fully Catholic and in full communion with the Holy Father, Pope Francis.
In his 1995 encyclical Ut Unum Sint #54, Pope St. John Paul II said, “The Church must breathe with her two lungs!” in reference to the Eastern and Western Rites. With this, the pope implied that both the Eastern and Western traditions of the Catholic Church are equally important parts of the one Church — that is, the Body of Christ — and that there needs to be unity and dialogue between the East and the West to be completely alive and effective in its mission.
Bishop Bubnevych reflected on this special day.
“I am very grateful to God for the gift of the episcopacy,” he said. “I look forward to the challenges and responsibilities that accompany this and I’m looking forward to serving my people with the grace of God.”
For more information on the Byzantine Catholic Church and the Eparchy of Phoenix visit https://ephx.org/