Uniate Church (Noun)
Meaning
Any of several churches in eastern Europe or the Middle East that acknowledge papal authority but retain their own liturgy.
Classification
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects.
Examples
- The Ukrainian Catholic Church is a Uniate church that combines elements of Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions.
- The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is a Uniate church in the Middle East, having re-established communion with the Pope in 1724.
- Historically, many of the Uniate churches emerged due to the efforts of Catholic missionaries in Eastern Europe during the 16th to 18th centuries.
- The Maronite Catholic Church, while not a traditional Uniate church, has maintained ties with Rome while preserving its own liturgical customs and practices.
- A significant portion of the Uniate churches can be found in Eastern Europe, primarily in Ukraine, Slovakia, and Romania.