Union of Uzhhorod
The Union of Uzhhorod (Rusyn: Ужгородьска унія, romanized: Uzhhorodska uniia), was a decision by 63 Ruthenian priests of the Orthodox Eparchy of Mukachevo (then divided between the Principality of Transylvania and Royal Hungary of the Habsburg monarchy) to join the Catholic Church made on April 24, 1646. Until rediscovery of its founding document in 2016, academics had debated the actual date of union, whether a document had been signed, and even whether the Union of Uzhhorod had even transpired at all.
| Union of Uzhhorod | |
|---|---|
The front and reverse of the Union of Uzhhorod containing the document text and signatures of priests. | |
| Material | "contemporary paper" |
| Height | 31.5 centimetres (12.4 in) |
| Width | 19.5 centimetres (7.7 in) |
| Writing | Latin |
| Symbols | Latin |
| Created | April 24, 1646 Uzhhorod, Royal Hungary |
| Discovered | 2016 Drugeth of Humenné Collection State Archive of Prešov, Slovakia |
| Discovered by | Juraj Gradoš |
| Culture | Ruthenian |
The terms outlined within the document are similar those of the 1596 Union of Brest from the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. As outlined initially, the Union only concerned the manorial estates of the Drugeth family of Royal Hungary. However, it eventually grew to govern Eastern Catholics throughout Ukraine, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania through subsequent agreements. The modern result of this union is the Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church.