Secret divine services of the Stanislaviv Diocese of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the underground period (1946-1989)
Considering the period of underground activity of the Stanislaviv diocese of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, we see the difficult challenges that fell to its lot. The harder the Soviet system persecuted Greek Catholics with a satanic purpose of their complete destruction, the more the Church has evolved. Remaining underground, the believers of UGCC prayed constantly. The main part of Greek Catholic divine services was the Holy Liturgy, which was performed in the houses, behind closed churches, in the forest, in the cemeteries, in the open air. Basically, where there were priests and believers of the Greek Catholic Church, there was the Holy Liturgy performed. The secret divine services usually were performed at night behind closed doors, with curtains drawn. At the Divine Liturgy were normally present from several to several dozen people. If one could not personally participate in the Liturgy, he could listen to the Holy Liturgy performed in Vatican on the radio at home. For safety reasons, a priest, when visiting his flock, did not carry with him any church inventory, all that was necessary was delivered by the accompanying persons. Funeral services were served at home and only in exceptional cases people went in procession to the cemetery.