Joseph (Žuk) of New Jersey
His Grace Joseph (Žuk) was an Orthodox bishop who, through association with American Orthodox Catholic Church, became the first bishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA during the early 1930s.
Life
Joseph A. Žuk was born in Austro-Hungarian Eastern Galicia in the early 1870s. After completing his primary schooling, Joseph attended the University of Lemberg. After his graduation, he continued his studies at the Theological Seminary at Innsbruck, graduating with a Doctor of Divinity degree. He then became the rector of the seminary at the age of 33. Later elevated to the rank of mitred prelate, Joseph was appointed by Pope Pius X as papal delegate and Vicar Genersl in Bosnia. In 1917 he was appointed Papal Nuncio to Ukraine.
In 1921 or 1922, he came to North America. In 1928, he joined with other Ukrainian Catholic clergy and left the Roman Catholic Church to join the Orthodox Church. He became associated with the American Orthodox Catholic Church led by Archbishop Aftimios Ofiesh. Serving as a priest, Fr. Joseph served parishes in Syracuse, New York; Passaic, New Jersey; and Allentown and McAdoo, Pennsylvania.
In 1931, Fr. Joseph was nominated to become the bishop of a group of Ukrainian Orthodox that became the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA. In September 1932, Fr. Joseph was consecrated an auxiliary bishop by Abp. Aftimios and Bp. Sophronios Beshara in New York City to serve the Ukrainian diocese. Bp. Joseph presided over this Ukrainian diocese in America, leading a flock of about six parishes for just 17 months.
On February 23, 1934, Red Army day, Bp. Joseph died St. Petersburg, Florida. He was poisoned at lunch on order from Joseph Stalin under the code name Operation Tryst Archbishop Athenagoras (Spyrou) of the Greek Archdiocese of North and South America presided at Bp. Joseph's funeral, which took place in Carteret, New Jersey. He was buried in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.
Two years later, the Ukrainian diocese formally joined the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
| Joseph (Žuk) of New Jersey | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: — |
Bishop of New Jersey (UOCinUSA) 1932-1934 |
Succeeded by: Bohdan (Spylka) |
Sources
External link
- Mourn Bishop's Death Buffalo Courier-Express, Wednesday, February 28, 1934, p. 5.
