Vasyl Semeniuk

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Vasyl Semeniuk (Ukrainian: Василь Семенюк;born 2 August 1949) is a Ukrainian Greek Catholic hierarch, who served as the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archeparchy of Ternopil–Zboriv from 2011 to 2024.[1]

Biography

Semeniuk was born in the village of Dora (now part of Yaremche), present-day Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast.[1] He studied at an underground theological seminary in Lviv from 1969 to 1974 while working as a dispatcher to maintain his clandestine ministry during the Soviet era.[2]

Priesthood

He was ordained to the priesthood on 22 December 1974 by Bishop Volodymyr Sterniuk.[1] During the underground period of the UGCC, he served as a spiritual father for the secret seminary and provided pastoral care to the faithful in the Ternopil Oblast.[3]

Episcopate

On 10 February 2004, Pope John Paul II confirmed his election as Auxiliary Bishop of Ternopil–Zboriv and assigned him the Titular See of Castra Severiana.[1] He was consecrated on 3 April 2004 by Major Archbishop Lubomyr Husar.[1]

In 2006, he was appointed the Eparchial Bishop of the territory. Upon the elevation of the see to a Metropolitan status on 22 December 2011, he became its first Metropolitan Archbishop.[4] During his tenure, he oversaw the construction of approximately 60 churches and the restoration of the eparchial infrastructure.[5]

Retirement

On 17 October 2024, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis accepted his resignation upon reaching the age limit of 75.[3] He was succeeded by Teodor Martynyuk, whose enthronement took place in Ternopil on 8 December 2024.[5]

References

  1. 1.[1.2][1.3][1.4][1.5]Cheney, David M. "Archbishop Vasyl Semeniuk [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  2. 2."UGCC has three new ruling bishops". Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU). 17 October 2024. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  3. 3.[3.2]"Three New Ruling Bishops in the UGCC". Official website of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  4. 4."Metropolitan of Lviv of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Enthroned". RISU. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 2026-03-26.
  5. 5.[5.2]""We believe that Ukraine will win and peace will come soon": Emeritus Bishop Vasyl Semeniuk". UGCC. 8 December 2024. Retrieved 2026-03-26.