45th Anniversary of the Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Stephen Sulyk

In 2026, we mark the 45th anniversary of the episcopal ordination of the late Bishop Stephan Sulyk — a hierarch who dedicated his ministry to the growth and spiritual strengthening of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the United States of America. 

In 1981, Fr. Stephan Sulyk was appointed bishop of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia. At the time, the Ukrainian press reported this событие with great joy, highlighting his sense of responsibility, deep awareness of his mission, and readiness for service. 

The episcopal ordination of Bishop Stephan Sulyk was conferred by His Beatitude Patriarch Josyf Slipyj. In his homily during the liturgy, the Patriarch addressed the newly ordained bishops with these words: 

“By this ordination you stand before your Church, before your great people, before your Ukraine with a great responsibility, which in Christ Jesus you are truly called to bear together with your people and with your Church in unity with them, so as to fulfill all righteousness.” 

These words became a spiritual guide for Bishop Stephan’s ministry and a testament to the profound responsibility he accepted before God and his people. 

During meetings with representatives of Church organizations, he emphasized that one of his primary tasks would be to work for the good of the Church, especially for young people, and to seek new ways to engage them in the life of the Church. The newspaper Shliakh quoted him as saying, “We must seek new methods of engaging young people so that they do not leave the Church,” and noted his commitment “to make every effort to fulfill his responsibilities in the best possible way and to assist in the development of parishes, schools, and various institutions.” This reflected his strategic vision for the development of Church life — not only spiritually, but also educationally and organizationally. 

Today, forty-five years after his episcopal ordination, we gratefully remember his devoted service, wisdom, and fatherly care for the faithful. His call to work with youth and to strengthen Church structures remains just as relevant today.