The AFUO congratulates the Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul of Melbourne for Ukrainian Catholics in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the blessing of the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in North Melbourne.
Displaced Ukrainians who came to Australia in the late 1940’s – early 1950’s did not have their own churches. The faithful gathered and started fundraising to purchase plots of land and construct Ukrainian places of worship.
In Melbourne, construction of the new church began in 1961 and was completed in 1962. On Easter in April 1963, 3,000 people attended the Cathedral’s blessing.
In 1982, Pope John Paul II raised the Exarchate of Melbourne to the level of an Eparchy with his bull. The Melbourne Cathedral Parish is the seat of the ruling Bishop, currently Bishop Mykola Bychok.
Today, we wish the faithful a joyous Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral and a festive lunch in the Ukrainian House, Essendon. We thank the Eparchy for their vital work in our community. With God we will prevail, pray for peace and justice for Ukraine, and nurture our spirituality and Ukraine culture.
