The archeparch (equivalent to an archbishop in the Latin Church) is also, ex officio, the metropolitan bishop of the metropolis.

Following the partitions of Poland, the Habsburg monarchy gained control of extensive lands in the region of Galicia.

Together with Carpathian Ruthenia lands of the Kingdom of Hungary, they included large minorities who adhered to Eastern Catholicism.

As a result, Empress Maria Theresa, with the approval of the Holy See, decided to establish ecclesiastical territories on Habsburg-controlled lands.

On 27 June 1787, the "Vicariate of Košice" was established on territory that was formerly in the western part of the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Mukachevo.