“The Church began in the upper room at Jerusalem and spread throughout the Roman Empire, eventually making its way to Kyivan Rus’ via Constantinople (Byzantium). In 988 AD, the Kyivan Rus’ were baptized into Byzantine Christianity, which spread throughout the eastern Slavic lands. “The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is the Church of Kyiv. From the time of the baptism of Kyivan Rus’ in 988, she accepted her Church tradition from the Church of Constantinople, and carefully nurtures it to the present time.” The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has undergone its own period of persecution in the catacombs of the Soviet totalitarian regime of the twentieth century. Both the first persecution as well as the Soviet totalitarian persecution of the twentieth century proved what Tertullian had stated in his Apologeticus, namely, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

“At the dawn of the third millennium of Christianity and the twenty first century, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church finds itself in a unique situation. Various historical situations contributed to the need for many Ukrainian Greek Catholics to relocate from their native lands to other parts of the world. Ecclesiastical structures such as parishes, monasteries, schools, and seminaries were eventually formed across the continents. In time, Ukrainians would intermarry with non-Ukrainians, particularly in the pluralized societies of Western nations. Furthermore, many people with no ethnic connections to Ukraine have been led to encounter the Risen Lord by means of the Byzantine Christian traditions of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Consequently, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is now a worldwide phenomenon boasting a truly universal character.”

“The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is experiencing what the Second Vatican Council affirmed of the universal Church, namely, that she “in virtue of her mission and nature... is bound to no particular form of human culture, nor to any political, economic, or social system...” The Church, “sent to all peoples of every time and place, is not bound exclusively and indissolubly to any race or nation, any particular way of life or any customary way of life recent or ancient.” “Christ and the Church bears witness to Him by preaching the Gospel, transcend every peculiarity of race or nation and therefore cannot be considered foreign to anywhere or to anybody.” “The salvation which God has wrought, and the Church joyfully proclaims, is for everyone.” -- Excerpt from “Catch the World: Pastoral Vision for Evangelization and Mission.

This mission was formed to bring the Ukrainian Greco Catholic faith to the American Indian peoples of North and South Carolina. Its primary mission is charitable, educative and religious in nature. We are a private association of the faithful. 

Headquartered in Georgia, the organization also works in its "own backyard" to provide help to the homeless and less fortunate of Georgia, while also seeking to build positive relationships with the native peoples of Georgia. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. 

To do this, we are a member of the Tekakwitha Conference and also work actively with native peoples to bring about the message of Jesus Christ. 

I am a practicing Roman Catholic, can I join the services for the Ukrainian Church? 
Yes! We are in communion with Rome, which means we all have the same universal leader, Pope Francis, the Pope of Rome. While our particular church does have its own Head, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuck, we recognize Pope Francis as the universal and spiritual head of the entire Catholic Church. We are one of 23 churches in communion with Rome. 

What type of work do you do? 
We currently strive to work and build relationships with the Native tribes of the Carolinas and Georgia. At this time we are working to create food pantries, provide service opportunities and faith formation to native peoples. We reserve funds for faith formation amongst native peoples, help to rebuild during storms and provide humanitarian relief to native american peoples in Georgia and the Carolinas.