This chart shows the various Catholic liturgical families
(rites) and their ancestry. Jerusalem, the place of the founding
of the Catholic Church, came first in time. Then three major
branches eventually formed within the Church: Roman, Antiochian
and Alexandrian. The Ukrainian Catholic Church is part of the
Antiochian branch, specifically coming under the Byzantine rite.
The
Catechism, quoting from
Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Second Vatican Council's
Constitution on Divine Liturgy, states:
"The liturgical traditions or rites presently in use
in the Church are the Latin . . . and the Byzantine,
Alexandrian or Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, Maronite
and Chaldean rites. In 'faithful obedience to
tradition, the sacred Council declares that Holy
Mother Church holds all lawfully recognized rites to
be of equal right and dignity, and that she wishes
to preserve them in the future and to foster them in
every way.'"
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1203
