Changes

The metropolitanates of Belarus and Lithuania were abolished, with only the eparchy of Chełm in present-day Poland remaining. Russian influence completely eliminated Greek Catholicism, and about 7 million faithful joined the Russian Orthodox Church. The dissolution of the Greek Catholic Church in Russia was completed in 1875 with the abolition of the eparchy of Chełm.<ref>''St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Winnipeg, Historical Timeline of the Basilian Order of St. Josaphat''</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stnicholaschurch.ca/content_pages/osbm/art_osbm.timeline.005.htm|title=St. Nicholas Church }}</ref>

The metropolitanates of Belarus and Lithuania were abolished, with only the eparchy of Chełm in present-day Poland remaining. Russian influence completely eliminated Greek Catholicism, and about 7 million faithful joined the Russian Orthodox Church. The dissolution of the Greek Catholic Church in Russia was completed in 1875 with the abolition of the eparchy of Chełm.<ref>''St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Winnipeg, Historical Timeline of the Basilian Order of St. Josaphat''</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stnicholaschurch.ca/content_pages/osbm/art_osbm.timeline.005.htm|title=St. Nicholas Church }}</ref>

In the 18th century, most of the western territories came under the rule of the [[Russian Empire|Tsars of Moscow]], who began a systematic persecution of Uniate church. Only the western part of [[Austrian Galactica]], with [[Lvov]] as its capital, and later [[Polish Second Republic]], was able to preserve ecclesiastical communion with Rome. This Church thrived under the charismatic leadership of Metropolitan [[Andrey Sheptytsky]], who served as [[Archbishop of Lviv]] from 1900 to 1944.

In the 18th century, most of the western territories came under the rule of the [[Russian Empire|Tsars of Moscow]], who began a systematic persecution of Uniate church. Only the western part of [[Austrian Galicia]], with [[Lvov]] as its capital, and later [[Polish Second Republic]], was able to preserve ecclesiastical communion with Rome. This Church thrived under the charismatic leadership of Metropolitan [[Andrey Sheptytsky]], who served as [[Archbishop of Lviv]] from 1900 to 1944.

The Austrians granted freedom of worship to the Greek Catholic Church and eliminated Polish influence. They also ordered that seminarians receive formal higher education (previously, priests had been informally educated by their parents) and organized institutions in [[Vienna]] and [[Lemberg]] to serve this purpose.<ref>Himka, John Paul. (1999). ''Religion and Nationality in Western Ukraine.'' McGill-Queen's University Press: Montreal and Kingston. Pg. 6.</ref> However, there was some fear in [[Rome]] that some elements of the Church might succumb to Orthodox apostasy:<ref>Conde, 1903, p. 448 "The sympathies that the [[Ruthenia]]ns had for the Russians, largely justified by the [[despot]]ism of the [[Pole]]s, led to repeated attempts at emancipation and a manifest tendency to strengthen ties with [[Russia]]. Though this tendency has almost completely disappeared today, it still remains a great danger for the Church, due to the political influence of [[Pan-Slavism]] fostered by the growing power of the Muscovite Empire and the efforts of some schismatics"</ref>. The Pope in 1891 sent Cardinal [[Agostino Ciasca|Ciasca]], who held the Lviv Synod from September to October of the same year; the Augustinians of Spain considered the Synod to be highly successful.<ref>Conde, 1903, p. 450"It is not in our plan to rework the history of the Lviv Synod, a significant event in the religious life of that country: suffice it to know that the people, agitated by internal discord, with wavering faith, and inclined towards the Russian schism, have been regenerated by the decisions of the Council, and are now strongly aligned with Rome."</ref>

The Austrians granted freedom of worship to the Greek Catholic Church and eliminated Polish influence. They also ordered that seminarians receive formal higher education (previously, priests had been informally educated by their parents) and organized institutions in [[Vienna]] and [[Lemberg]] to serve this purpose.<ref>Himka, John Paul. (1999). ''Religion and Nationality in Western Ukraine.'' McGill-Queen's University Press: Montreal and Kingston. Pg. 6.</ref> However, there was some fear in [[Rome]] that some elements of the Church might succumb to Orthodox apostasy:<ref>Conde, 1903, p. 448 "The sympathies that the [[Ruthenia]]ns had for the Russians, largely justified by the [[despot]]ism of the [[Pole]]s, led to repeated attempts at emancipation and a manifest tendency to strengthen ties with [[Russia]]. Though this tendency has almost completely disappeared today, it still remains a great danger for the Church, due to the political influence of [[Pan-Slavism]] fostered by the growing power of the Muscovite Empire and the efforts of some schismatics"</ref>. The Pope in 1891 sent Cardinal [[Agostino Ciasca|Ciasca]], who held the Lviv Synod from September to October of the same year; the Augustinians of Spain considered the Synod to be highly successful.<ref>Conde, 1903, p. 450"It is not in our plan to rework the history of the Lviv Synod, a significant event in the religious life of that country: suffice it to know that the people, agitated by internal discord, with wavering faith, and inclined towards the Russian schism, have been regenerated by the decisions of the Council, and are now strongly aligned with Rome."</ref>