Rome-Ruthenia is the ecclesiastical and temporal designation used by the United Roman-Ruthenian Church and the Pontifical Imperial State. It expresses a union of Roman and Ruthenian (Old Russian) inheritance rather than a modern territorial state.
Meaning
“Rome” refers to the Petrine and Western apostolic patrimony, while “Ruthenia” refers to the Christian inheritance of Rus’ (Old Russia), its Eastern ecclesiastical culture, and related historic jurisdictions. Together the terms convey the Church’s vocation to preserve and unite authentic elements of East and West.
Use
The designation appears in the titles of the Church, the Diocese, the Catholicate, the papal office, and the pontifical state. In Russian-language usage the Church generally employs terms derived from Rus’ and russkiy rather than the Latin exonym “Ruthenian.”