Congregation for the Oriental Churches

Created in 1573 by Pope Gregory XIII as the Congregation for the Affairs of the Greeks, its tasks included the reformation of the Basilian Order and the maintenance of the Byzantine rite. On June 22, 1622 , Pope Gregory XV, Bulla Inscrutabili divinae providentiae , transferred issues related to the Eastern Catholic Churches to the Congregation of the Propaganda of the Faith, within the framework of which Pope Urban VIII in 1627 created a separate commission for eastern ritual affairs. Pope Benedict XV May 1, 1917 created an independent Congregation for the Affairs of the Eastern Churches.

After the Second Vatican Council, in the framework of the reform of the Roman Curia in 1967 , separate congregations were formed in the congregation for the Alexandrian, Antiochian, Byzantine and Armenian rites, the cardinal prefect was appointed the head of the congregation, and the Catholic Eastern patriarchs , the supreme archbishops equated to them, and also became members cardinal heading the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity .

The congregation pays special attention to the development of ecumenical dialogue. The Congregation for Eastern Churches includes the Special Commission for Liturgy , the Special Commission for the Study of the Christian East, the Special Commission for the Preparation of Clergy and Monks, the Catholic Association for the Assistance to the Middle East, the Pontifical Mission for Palestine, and others.

The Congregation directed the work of the Russian Apostle to Abroad , within the framework of which well-known representatives of the emigration of the 20th century worked, and persons associated with the Russian Diaspora , among them:

• Plenipotentiary Visitor of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches for Russian Catholics of the Byzantine Rite who are abroad - Andrei Katkov
• Protopresbyter George Roshko, plenipotentiary visitor of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches for the leadership of the Russian Catholic ministry in the world.
• Counselor to the Congregation since 1928 - Bishop Peter Bucis
• Consultant of the Russian Commission of the Eastern Congregation with Priest Cyril Royal
• Consultant of the Russian Commission of the Eastern Congregation since 1935 Priest Sergius Verigin
• Congregation delegate for South America hieromonk Philippe de Regis sj

At the plenary session of the Holy Congregation for the Affairs of the Eastern Church 10.01. In 1938, it was decided to carry out a standard publication of liturgical books in Church Slavonic, common in use, both for Ukrainian, Ruthenian, Bulgarian, Serbian, and so-called. synodal (Russian) rites. Ivanov, Vyacheslav Ivanovich participated in the work of this liturgical commission.

By decision of the Congregation, a Russian convent was created in Rome in honor of the Assumption of the Mother of God , the Russian-language publishing house Life with God in Brussels and other structures.

Cardinal Secretaries ^[1]

• Niccolo Marini ( 1917 - 1922 );
• Giovanni Tacci Porcelli ( 1922 - 1927 );
• Luigi Sinchero ( 1927 - 1936 );
• Eugene-Gabriel-Gervais-Laurent Tisserand ( 1936 - 1959 );
• Amleto Giovanni Cicognani ( 1959 - 1961 )
• Gabriel Akasius Kussa ( 1961 pro-prefect, 1962 prefect);
• Gustavo Testa ( 1962 - 1967 ).

Cardinal Prefects

• Gustavo Testa ( 1967 - 1968 );
• Maximilien de Furstenberg ( 1968 - 1973 );
• Paul-Pierre Philippe ( 1973 - 1980 );
• Vladislav Rubin ( 1980 - 1985 );
• Duraisami Simon Lourdusami ( 1985 - 1991 );
• Achille Silvestrini ( 1991 - 2000 );
• Ignatius Moussa I Daud ( 2000 - 2007 );
• Leonardo Sandry ( 2007 - present).

Congregational Secretaries

• Mario Brini ( 1965 - 1982 );
• Miroslav Stefan Marusin ( 1982 - 2001 );
• Antonio Maria Velho ( 2001 - 2009 );
• Cyril Vasil SJ ( 2009 - present).

• Congregation for Eastern Churches on the Giga-Catholic website ;
• "Syro-Malancar Catholic Church ;
• Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church .
• Gusterin P.V. Contribution of Maronites to the Arab-European cultural cooperation (XVI — XVIII centuries)