The doctoral dissertation of Msgr. Peter Skrincosky, M.A., S.E.O.D., “The Liturgical Legislator in the Ukrainian Church,” (1963) is finally available, having been published by the Most Rev. Basil H. Losten.

In 1941 the Holy See, assuming, in a practical and effective manner, the legislative authority for liturgical matters in the Ukrainian Catholic Church, promulgated a liturgikon for the Ruthenians. It followed this in 1944 with the Ordo Celebrationis which spelled out in detail the manner of celebrating the Divine Liturgy, matins and vespers. It subsequently published six other service books for the Ukrainian Catholic Church during the following 15 years.

In 1957, Pope Pius XII promulgated his Motu Proprio Cleri Sanctitati in which he clearly defined what had already been established for the Latin church in the Code of Canon Law, namely, that the supreme liturgical authority in the Eastern rites is the Holy See. Previously, some moral or physical person was responsible for any new liturgical laws and authentic interpretations thereof. Msgr. Skrincosky aim in this dissertation is to determine who the traditional legislator is, not for all Oriental rites, but specifically for the Byzantine-Ukrainian rite.

The dissertation was directed by the renowned liturgist Father Alphonse Raes, S.J. of the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome.

“The Liturgical Legislator in the Ukrainian Church,” (x+98pp. 6”x 9”) [$15 post-paid] is available from Basileos Press, 14 Peveril Rd., Stamford, CT 06902.