Redemptorists - The First Latin Order to found an Oriental Rite Branch

Iconostasis in the Redemptorist Monastery church in Ternopil, Western Ukraine

When Ruthenia, the old designation of those lands which today form the eastern part of Slovakia and the western parts of Ukraine and Byelorussia, reunited in 1595 with the Roman Church no one thought of establishing a branch of the Oriental rite among the Latin Institutes. No one dared to execute such a very bold scheme until in 1906 Fr Achilles Delaere, C.SS.R., took the first step with the consent of St Pius X and of his own religious superiors.  In 1913 the Congregation was established in Ukraine itself.

Despite very great difficulties, not least a World War, the Redemptorists thrived in these lands. Sixteen years later in 1930 they counted 32 priests, 16 students, 35 brothers, 6 novices, 100 juvenists and were preaching up to 40 missions a year. †

The Oriental monk is quite at home in the Redemptorist monastery where he is able to follow the asceticism and traditions of the Desert Fathers. (Left)) Rev. Br Yousef Marie, Oriental Rite Redemptorist receives the ‘Angelic Habit’ in the monastery’s Oriental Rite chapel where the Divine Liturgy is sung by the monks every Sunday in Old Church Slavonic. (Right) Bl. Nicholas Charnetsky, C.SS.R.

Extra Ecclesia Nullus Salus Outside the Church there is no salvation

The Novus Ordo Church has now officially abandoned all missions for the conversion of the Orthodox. Therefore the Transalpine Redemptorists persist in their humble determination to re-establish their traditional mission to these abandoned souls so dear to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. As for the Russian people, we make our own the words of Sr Lucy: “Our Heavenly Mother loves the Russian people and I love them also; uniting myself to the secret designs of Her Immaculate Heart, I ardently desire their return to the right road which leads to Heaven. I know that the Russian people are great, generous and cultured, that they are capable of walking on the paths of justice, truth and good. No sooner had I seen the kindness of the Mother of God in their regard than I began to look on them as brothers, and I wish nothing more than their salvation.” The Orthodox in Russia are now more abandoned in their need for Catholic missionaries than ever before. †

Redemptorists vow:

“to labour for the salvation of the most abandoned souls
especially those who live in the country.”
[Text of the Redemptorist vows]

Over 85% of Ukrainian and Russian people
are most abandoned souls living in the country.

Mission to the abandoned souls living in the village of Zabolotsiach
(literally Over-the-Mud village), Ukraine, 1938

Bl. Nicholas Charnetsky, C.SS.R. and Redemptorist confrères at the visitation of an Orthodox parish newly reconciled to the Catholic Church in the 1930s.