Ruthenian Catholic Exarchate of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto, Apostolic exarchate in Toronto, Canada.
The Ruthenian Catholic Exarchate of Saints Cyril and Methodius of Toronto is an Eastern Catholic jurisdiction based in Toronto, Canada, serving Ruthenian Greek Catholic communities across the country. It belongs to the Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh and encompasses several parishes that follow the Byzantine rite.
The jurisdiction was established in 1980 by Pope John Paul II to care for Ruthenian Catholics living in Canada. In 2022, it received formal exarchate status and was transferred to the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church.
The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Toronto celebrates liturgy in both Church Slavonic and English, following the Byzantine rite. Visitors attending a service will notice the chanting, the use of incense, and a worship style that differs visibly from the Latin Catholic tradition.
The main cathedral is in Toronto and is open to visitors during regular services, though times can vary according to the Byzantine liturgical calendar. It is worth checking in advance, as some feasts and fasting seasons fall on different dates than in the Western Catholic tradition.
Saints Cyril and Methodius, who give the exarchate its name, are credited with creating the Glagolitic alphabet in the 9th century to write the Slavic languages. Their connection to literacy and faith made them patron saints of a large part of Europe.
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