Armenians in Lviv to Greet Holy Father

The Armenian Church in Lviv belonged to the Armenian Catholics for many centuries up until 1939. There is, however, no longer an active Armenian Catholic community today. Members of Lviv’s Armenian Apostolic Church were given use of the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv at the beginning of 2001. Following Ukraine’s independence in 1991 the Cathedral became the center of Armenian national life in the city, regardless of confessional differences.

The community of the Armenian Apostolic Church works in co-operation with other confessions and takes part in ecumenical activities. Armenians have been in Lviv since the beginning of the 14th century. Interestingly, one can still see some Armenian inscriptions on a few buildings in Lviv. In the 14th century they built their cathedral, which has changed somewhat over the centuries seeing the additions of various styles. Near this Cathedral were placed the Archbishop’s residence and a monastery for women religious. The first decade of the 20th century saw an addition to the structure of the Cathedral. The interior saw the addition of frescoes by the artist Jakiv Rosen. On one of these frescoes St. Benedict is depicted with the face of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) at the beginning of the 20th century. In light of this fact it seems that the Armenian community held the leader of the UGCC in high regard.

A witness confirms that Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky was in good relations with Joseph Theodorovich, the Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Lviv. The Armenians of Lviv continue to maintain good relations with Catholics and prepare to greet the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Echoing a traditional Ukrainian greeting, lady parishioner of the Armenian Cathedral heartily announces “May God grant John Paul health and many years! We are waiting for him with great impatience!”