Ive heard the terms Melkite Byzantine, Ruthenian Byzantine, and Ukrainian Byzantine uses. Whats the difference between them?
In essence, there is little difference. The main difference is their ethnicities. These sub-branches of the Byzantine Catholic Church are known as Jurisdictions. Ruthenians are from the Hungarian and Slovakian regions of Eastern Europe. o St. Michael Parish is of the Ruthenian Byzantine Rite. In the USA, the Ruthenians’ church is the largest Byzantine Jurisdiction, and has become a melting pot of different nationalities. Melkites are made up of Arab ethnicities. Ukrainians are from the Ukraine. In Canada, the Ukrainians have a strong presence.
