Volunteers needed for Ukrainian Day

Christ is in our midst!

Volunteers are needed for the Ukrainian Day on Sunday at St. Basil’s Seminary.

The Committee will submit letters for students for Community Hours. Please call Gloria Horbaty to volunteer or for information 203-269-5909/cell 203-508-0306.

The committee is in need of help in the following areas:

Outside Serving Area:  12:30 – 2:30   (need 4)

Cashiers – Outside Kitchen Area:  12:00 – 2:00;   2:00 – 3:30;   3:30 – 5:00,   5:00 – 6:30  (need 2 each hour)

Beer Stand:   11:30 – 2:00;   2:00 – 3:30;   3:30 – 5:00;   5:00 – 6:30  (need 2 each hour)

Raffle Stand:  after 1:00 (one hour shifts)

Moon Walk:  after 1:00   – Middle and High School students

Note:  Advance Admission ($5) and Raffle Tickets ($1 each; $5/book) are still available at the New Haven Ukrainian Credit Union from Larissa Swartwout.

St Moses the Prophet

Today we celebrate St Moses the Prophet, according to tradition was born a Jew in Egypt at a time when the Jewish population was enslaved to the Egyptians. Moses was abandoned by his mother only to be adopted by the Egyptian royal family. Eventually Moses was called by God to be a leader to the Jewish people, interceding for them before Pharaoh, demanding their liberation, “Let my people go!” What followed is one of the earliest recorded campaigns of mass unarmed resistance in history. Trusting not in force of arms, but in the Lord, the Jewish people prayed, and God delivered them. They won their freedom, but it was not given easily. They marched out of Egypt in search of a promised land, but Pharaoh and his army followed, only to be once again routed by the work of God.

Moses then became the great lawgiver and one of the earliest monotheists, carrying down the commandments from the Lord’s mountain: Do not worship other gods. Do not lie. Do not kill. These words, and the example of liberation on which they are borne have forever changed society.

(Hagiography: In Communion)

How to celebrate the New Year in Faith

The previous post (see below) speaks of the new liturgical year. It’s a new year of Grace. Here are some suggestions as to “dig into our new year.”

~Build and/or grow the icon corner in your home

~Make it church frequently as possible

~Pray with Scripture, start with the Gospel of Matthew, reading only a paragraph at a time

~Give yourself an hour of quiet time —without cell phone or TV/radio/computer

~Engage in Byzantine prayer practices

  • pray before and after meals
  • say the Jesus prayer several times a day: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”
  • say thank you to God upon waking and before closing your eyes at bedtime
  • get a Byzantine Hours prayer book and use it

~Do spiritual reading

~Do something charitable for someone in need.

New Liturgical Year September 1

Happy New Year!—The Beginning of the New Liturgical Year

For the maintenance of their armed forces, the Roman emperors decreed that their subjects in every district should be taxed every year. This same decree was reissued every fifteen years, since the Roman soldiers were obliged to serve for fifteen years. At the end of each fifteen-year period, an assessment was made of what economic changes had taken place, and a new tax was decreed, which was to be paid over the span of the fifteen years. This imperial decree, which was issued before the season of winter, was named Indictio, that is, Definition, or Order. This name was also adopted by the emperors in Constantinople.

At other times, the latter also used the term Epinemisis, that is, Distribution (Dianome). It is commonly held that Saint Constantine the Great introduced the Indiction decrees in A.D. 312, after he beheld the sign of the Cross in Heaven and vanquished Maxentius and was proclaimed Emperor in the West. Some, however (and this seems more likely), ascribe the institution of the Indiction to Augustus Caesar, three years before the birth of Christ. Those who hold this view offer as proof the papal bull issued in A.D. 781 which is dated thus: Anno IV, Indictionis LIII -that is, the fourth year of the fifty-third Indiction. From this, we can deduce the aforementioned year (3 B.C.) by multiplying the fifty-two complete Indictions by the number of years in each (15), and adding the three years of the fifty-third Indiction.

There are three types of Indictions: 1) That which was introduced in the West, and which is called Imperial, or Caesarean, or Constantinian, and which begins on the 24th of September; 2) The so-called Papal Indiction, which begins on the 1st of January; and 3) The Constantinopolitan, which was adopted by the Patriarchs of that city after the fall of the Eastern Empire in 1453. This Indiction is indicated in their own hand on the decrees they issue, without the numeration of the fifteen years.

This Indiction begins on the 1st of September and is observed with special ceremony in the Church. Since the completion of each year takes place, as it were, with the harvest and gathering of the crops into storehouses, and we begin anew from henceforth the sowing of seed in the earth for the production of future crops, September is considered the beginning of the New Year. The Church also keeps festival this day, beseeching God for fair weather, seasonable rains, and an abundance of the fruits of the earth. The Holy Scriptures (Lev. 23:24-5 and Num. 29:1-2) also testify that the people of Israel celebrated the feast of the Blowing of the Trumpets on this day, offering hymns of thanksgiving.

In addition to all the aforesaid, on this feast we also commemorate our Savior’s entry into the synagogue in Nazareth, where He was given the book of the Prophet Isaiah to read, and He opened it and found the place where it is written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for which cause He hath anointed Me…” (Luke 4:16-30).

It should be noted that to the present day, the Eastern Church has always celebrated the beginning of the New Year on September 1. September 1 is still festively celebrated as the New Year at the Patriarchate of Constantinople; among the Jews also the New Year, although reckoned according to a moveable calendar, usually falls in September. The liturgical service of the Menaion for January 1 is for our Lord’s Circumcision and for the memorial of Saint Basil the Great, without any mention of its being the beginning of a new year.

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Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Sunday, 9/01, 12th Sunday after Pentecost —Beginning of the Indiction, that is, the New Year
9:00 a.m.+Ivan and Halyna Lobay requested by Maria Lobay
10:30 a.m. For our parishioners

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Gospel: Matthew 19:16-26, Tone 3

Monday, 9/02, The Holy Martyr Mamas —Labor Day (US civil holiday)
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, 9/03, The Holy Priest-Martyr Anthymus
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, 9/04, The Holy Priest-Martyr Babylas, the Holy Prophet Moses Who saw God
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 9/05, The Holy Prophet Zachary and Elizabeth, Parents of John the Baptist
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 9/06, Commemoration of the Miracle Performed at Colossus in Chone by the Archangel Michael
9:00 a.m. No intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 9/07, The Fore-feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God
9:00 a.m. +Myroslaw Trojan requested by Nadia Trojan and Family

***Note: On a Sunday or holy day nearest to today – 35th anniversary of the death of Patriarch Joseph Cardinal Slipyj in 1984 – one of the bination Divine Liturgies is to be offered for the repose of his soul, following the Liturgy, a panakhyda is to be offered. (Cf. Stamford Diocesan Memorandum No. 472/92)

Sunday, 9/08, 13th Sunday after Pentecost —Birth of the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For our parishioners

Epistle: Galatians 6:11-18 and Philippians 2:5-11
Gospel: John 3:13-17, Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28, Tone 4

Parish announcements this week

Christ is in our midst!

This week’s vigil light is offered to God’s glory by Cathy Kolesnik for God’s blessings and good health for Barbara and Patrick Bagley.

Reposed: Last week Sophie Ciukenda fell asleep in the Lord. Please pray for the repose of her soul. May her memory be eternal!

During my vacation, you can call Fr. Stepan Yanovski (203) 468-0367, or Fr. Ivan Mazuryk (203) 367-5054. Blessings, Fr. Iura Godenciuc

THANK YOU to the Estate of Pauline Kurylo for her generous donation of $2,000.00 to our church. Pauline Kurylo was a wonderful person who was loved by many. She will be missed. May her memory be eternal!

The next Sestrechi meeting will be held on Sunday, September 8th after the 9:00 Divine Liturgy. The meeting will be held in the Church Hall Classroom 1.

The next meeting of Knights of Columbus Blessed Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Ukrainian Council will be held on Monday, September 9th, 7:00 p.m. in the Holy Name Room.

We have for sale frozen pierogies (varenyky) 2 dozen $14.00, borsht $5.00, cabbage and sausage (kapusta and kovbasa) $10.00. You can buy after each Divine Liturgy.

PYROHY PROJECT: We will make Pyrohy for the Ukrainian Festival in Stamford on Saturday, September 7th. Our next pyrohy project for regular orders will be September 14th Please come and help. Due to recent legislation, we will no longer be providing plastic bags. Please bring your own shopping bags.  Thank you, Walter Ushchak

The Connecticut State Ukrainian Day Committee wishes to invite all parishioners to attend this year’s Ukrainian Day Festival to be held on Sunday, September 8. The Festival will be held on the grounds of St. Basil’s Seminary, 161 Glenbrook Rd., Stamford, CT. Advance general admission tickets are $5.00 per person, 12 and over and are available from Luba Dubno. Tickets purchased at the gate will be $10.00 per person. We also have raffle tickets for sale 5 tickets $5.00. This festival can exist only if volunteers sign up during the day to help out. Please make that effort to volunteer.

The Immaculate Conception Society (Sestretsi) is cordially inviting all St. Michael’s parishioners and friends to attend its lasagna dinner to be held on Sunday, October 6, 12:00 noon, at our church hall. Come to enjoy good food, deserts and the company of parishioners and friends. Tickets are $20.00 for adults and free admission to those under the age of 12. Tickets sellers will be announced at a later date. For more information see Maria Sobko-Treasurer

STAMFORD CHARITIES APPEAL

REMINDER: Please don’t forget to donate to the Charities Appeal. Forms are designed for each family of our parish. Attached to the form is an envelope into which you can place your contribution. Please enclose the form with your contribution into the envelope and place it into the collection basket during church services. Kindly make checks payable to the
Byzantine Rite Eparchy of Stamford. DO NOT MAIL THIS FORM TO THE CHANCERY OFFICE. We sincerely ask all parishioners to make generous contributions.

September 1 – Happy New Year! – The Beginning of the New Liturgical Year

The beginning of the new liturgical year for the Byzantine Church, that is, our Kievan Church, does not correspond with the civil new year. The ordering of the year, the “indiction” has a long and complicated history which needs some attention to understand how and why we pray the Liturgy the way we do.

This “Indiction” begins on the 1st of September and is observed with special ceremony in the Church. Since the completion of each year takes place with the harvest and gathering of the crops into storehouses, and we begin anew from henceforth the sowing of seed in the earth for the production of future crops, September is considered the beginning of the New Year. The Church also keeps festival this day, beseeching God for fair weather, seasonable rains, and an abundance of the fruits of the earth. The Holy Scriptures (Lev. 23:24-5 and Num. 29:1-2) also testify that the people of Israel celebrated the feast of the Blowing of the Trumpets on this day, offering hymns of thanksgiving.

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In good relations with God

“A good interior relationship with God is an indispensable ingredient for a happy life. For only when this basic relationship is in order can all other relationships prosper. That is why it is important to learn and practice all one’s life long, from childhood on, to think with God, to feel with God, to will with God, so that love will follow and will become the keynote of my life. When that occurs, love of neighbor will follow as a matter of course. For if the keynote of my life is love, then I, in my turn, will react to those whom God places on my path only with a Yes of acceptance, with trust, with approval, and with love.”

— J. Ratzinger

The Passion of St John the Baptist

The Church recalls the event of St. John the Baptist’s death today. The following meditation helps give perspective.

Today is the memorial of the Passion of John the Baptist, who was killed by the corrupt King Herod for condemning the monarch’s illicit marriage (Mk 6:17-29). For John, this was the culmination of a life of sanctity announced by an angel even before his conception (Lk 1:11-17). This divine decree presents a curious paradox. God, being all-powerful, was able to determine the course of John’s life before his birth (ST I q. 23, a. 6), but at the same time, God respected John’s free will (ST II-I q. 6, a. 4, ob. 1). How is it that God can determine what we will freely choose?

Modern thinking often seems to suppose that freedom of the will means that our choices have no cause other than the will, as if the will depends on nothing. Thomas explains instead that the will is free because it proceeds from an interior principle, namely knowledge, that allows us to act for an end which we know (ST II-I q. 6, a. 1, 4). God did not ‘force’ John the Baptist to give up his life; rather, by his grace he enlightened John the Baptist so that he would understand the good of preaching the truth even when it endangered him. As a rather crude analogy, consider how a parent can teach a child to make good choices, not by compulsion, but by education. Keep in mind also that some knowledge is abstract, as when a smoker who is trying to quit knows that his habit is bad for him, but rationalizes that away each time he smokes. John’s knowledge was entirely practical; he knew clearly that in his situation the only thing worth doing was to tell the truth. He saw clearly the disappointment inherent in every other course, and so he was free to act for the sake of the truth.

Furthermore, there is never competition between divine and human causality. Two human agents can operate on the same level, when for example two men pull on a rope. In that case, we can ask who pulls harder, and if the men are pulling in opposite directions, maybe the rope will not move at all. But God operates on a completely different level. He is the one who created humans and ropes and set all things in motion. As another crude analogy, if I write with a pencil, both I and the pencil are equally truly causes of the writing, but in very different ways. Even though I am “in charge,” I do not force the pencil to do anything unnatural. God has even more causal power, because he created pencil-materials in the first place. In the same way, God created John the Baptist as the kind of person who would give up his life for the sake of the truth. God is the first cause on which all else depends. Nothing escapes his causal power, not even the interior life of John (ST I q. 19, a. 6, ad. 3).

You might have noticed that, left to our own devices, there are actually significant limits on our freedom. Those who struggle with sin or addiction will know well the painful cycle of repeatedly making a bad choice. If only for the briefest moment, we convince ourselves that just one more can’t hurt, and so the will continually inclines toward damaging action, misapprehended for the moment as a good. Our choices are rather dependent on our own fallen selves, and so we will not always be able to avoid deceiving ourselves and making poor choices. True freedom, then, can only be found outside ourselves, in grace given freely by God that can break us out of our own self-imposed prison. It is by such grace that John’s interior movements were so perfected that he was able to freely give his life. It is only by such divine grace, and not by some creative act of the will, that we can truly draw closer to God.

Br. Raymond La Grange, O.P.
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Parish communications

New ways to keep communication going for our parish.

Even if some are not using all the platforms, it is good to get this info out…

Follow the St. Michael the Archangel Church on our updated social media platforms!

We have recently refreshed our social media presence and invite you to connect with us for matters pertaining to the Kievan Catholic Faith, the latest news from the UGCC, updates on parish groups, as well as learn about events at the parish, others parishes and the Eparchy of Stamford.

Follow our new Twitter account to read the latest news from us: @StMichaelNH

Like us on Facebook and stay up to date on St. Michael’s news matters of Faith and parish events: @stmichaelnewhaven

Check out our updated website for information on how to get involved with the Parish community: https://stmichaelukrainian.org

Are you and your friends receiving our eNews? Sign up here: stmichaelchurchgc@gmail.com

Do you want to send your pyrohy order via email? Send it to The Pyrohy Project: orderpyrohynh@gmail.com