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During the 16th century, Ukrainian bishops decided to seek official support and protection from Rome. As Russian Orthodox propaganda infiltrated Ukraine, Polish Latinism was also gaining ground, and new sects were emerging, increasing the number of Protestants.

During the 16th century, Ukrainian bishops decided to seek official support and protection from Rome. As Russian Orthodox propaganda infiltrated Ukraine, Polish Latinism was also gaining ground, and new sects were emerging, increasing the number of Protestants.

This desire was achieved in [[1596]], when with the support of the [[List of monarchs of Poland|King of Poland]], [[Sigismund III Vasa]], the entire Ukrainian ecclesiastical hierarchy concluded the union with Rome, proclaiming the "official communion" between Kyiv and Rome at the [[Union of Brest]].

This desire was achieved in 1596, when with the support of the [[List of monarchs of Poland|King of Poland]], [[Sigismund III Vasa]], the entire Ukrainian ecclesiastical hierarchy concluded the union with Rome, proclaiming the "official communion" between Kyiv and Rome at the [[Union of Brest]].

Empress [[Catherine II of Russia]] issued a decree on April 22, 1794, to remove all obstacles for the incorporation of the Uniates to Orthodoxy. The Metropolis of Kiev, with the eparchies of Lutsk and Ostroh, [[Eparchy of Volodymyr-Brest|Volodymyr-Brest]], Pinsk and Turaŭ, Polatsk and Smolensk, was abolished by the Russian authorities in 1798 after the disappearance of Poland as a result of the [[Partitions of Poland]] in 1772, 1793, and 1795. The part that remained under Russian control included the [[Right Bank of Ukraine]] and modern Belarus, while the eparchies of Lviv, Chełm (or Kholm), and Przemyśl (Eastern Galicia) remained under Austrian control (now part of Ukraine's Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and part of Ternopil oblasts). In 1798, the eparchies of Volodymyr-Brest, and of Lutsk and Ostroh were restored. The Polish uprising of 1806 allowed for the restoration of the metropolis based in Polatsk, but the tsar only accepted the name of "Metropolis of the Uniate Church in Russia" <ref name="encyclopediaofukraine_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CH%5CI%5CHistoryoftheUkrainianchurch.htm|title=History of the Ukrainian church}}</ref>. On September 26, 1808, the Pope transferred the primacy from the Metropolitan of Kiev-Halych and all Rus to the new Metropolitan of Lviv in the [[Austrian Empire]], whose suffragan eparchies were [[Ivano-Frankivsk]] and Przemyśl.

Empress [[Catherine II of Russia]] issued a decree on April 22, 1794, to remove all obstacles for the incorporation of the Uniates to Orthodoxy. The Metropolis of Kiev, with the eparchies of Lutsk and Ostroh, [[Eparchy of Volodymyr-Brest|Volodymyr-Brest]], Pinsk and Turaŭ, Polatsk and Smolensk, was abolished by the Russian authorities in 1798 after the disappearance of Poland as a result of the [[Partitions of Poland]] in 1772, 1793, and 1795. The part that remained under Russian control included the [[Right Bank of Ukraine]] and modern Belarus, while the eparchies of Lviv, Chełm (or Kholm), and Przemyśl ([[Eastern Galicia]]) remained under Austrian control (now part of Ukraine's Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and part of Ternopil oblasts). In 1798, the eparchies of Volodymyr-Brest, and of Lutsk and Ostroh were restored. The Polish uprising of 1806 allowed for the restoration of the metropolis based in Polatsk, but the tsar only accepted the name of "Metropolis of the Uniate Church in Russia" <ref name="encyclopediaofukraine_1">{{cite web |url=http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CH%5CI%5CHistoryoftheUkrainianchurch.htm|title=History of the Ukrainian church}}</ref>. On September 26, 1808, the Pope transferred the primacy from the Metropolitan of Kiev-Halych and all Rus to the new Metropolitan of Lviv in the [[Austrian Empire]], whose suffragan eparchies were [[Ivano-Frankivsk]] and Przemyśl.

In the more eastern regions of [[Podolia]], the population mostly reverted to Orthodoxy. Initially, the Russian authorities were tolerant of the Greek Catholic Church and allowed it to operate without restrictions (calling adherents Basilian). However, the clergy soon divided into pro-Catholic and pro-Russian factions, with the former tending to convert to Latin Rite Catholicism, while the latter group was led by Bishop [[Iosif Semashko]] (1798-1868).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackwellreference.com/public/tocnode?id=g9780631232032_chunk_g978063123203213_ss1-16 |title=Iosif Semashko : The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity: Blackwell Reference Online |publisher=Blackwellreference.com |date= |accessdate=11 May 2011}}</ref> In 1828, the Church in the Russian Empire was reorganized, creating the metropolitanates of Polatsk in Belarus and Lithuania with its seat in [[Žyrovičy]].

In the more eastern regions of [[Podolia]], the population mostly reverted to Orthodoxy. Initially, the Russian authorities were tolerant of the Greek Catholic Church and allowed it to operate without restrictions (calling adherents Basilian). However, the clergy soon divided into pro-Catholic and pro-Russian factions, with the former tending to convert to Latin Rite Catholicism, while the latter group was led by Bishop [[Iosif Semashko]] (1798-1868).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackwellreference.com/public/tocnode?id=g9780631232032_chunk_g978063123203213_ss1-16 |title=Iosif Semashko : The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity: Blackwell Reference Online |publisher=Blackwellreference.com |date= |accessdate=11 May 2011}}</ref> In 1828, the Church in the Russian Empire was reorganized, creating the metropolitanates of Polatsk in Belarus and Lithuania with its seat in [[Žyrovičy]].