Category: Byzantine Liturgy

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost — Sunday of All Saints of Rus’ – the Ukraine

9:00 a.m.  For the people of the parish
10:30 a.m. +Emil Wysowskyj requested by Maria Wysowskyj

Epistle: Romans  6:18-23
Gospel: Matthew 8:5-13, Tone 3

Monday, 7/03/17 Holy Martyr Hyacinth
8:00 a.m. +Ivan & Halyna Lobay requested by Maria Lobay

Tuesday, 7/04/17 Our Father Andrew of Jerusalemite, Archbishop of Crete
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, 7/05/17 Venerable Father Athanasius of Athos
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 7/06/17 Venerable Father Sisoes the Great
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 7/07/17 Venerable Father Thomas of Maleum
8:00 a.m. no special intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 7/08/17 Holy Great Martyr Procopius
9:00 + Maria Godenciuc, Anna Lupsac (Pan.)

Sunday, 7/09/17  5th Sunday after Pentecost, Holy Priest-Martyr Pancratius, Bishop of Tauromenia

9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Romans 10:1-10
Gospel: Matthew 8:28-9:3, Tone 4

Third Sunday after Pentecost

On this Third Sunday after Pentecost, the Church proclaims the Gospel of Matthew (6:22-34). Let us seek the Kingdom of God –together.

Our Lord today confronts one of the dilemmas of human life: how do we gain control of our lives? A lot of people want maximum control, but Jesus points out the foolishness of this: “Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life span? (v. 27) Of course, we should all strive for some control of our lives, as St. Paul tells us: “We boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope. (v. 4)” One of the problems of life, however, is that over-control weakens our faith in God, and trespasses on the welfare of others. One of the most obscene sayings of the present age is Frank Sinatra’s song, “I did it my way.” We don’t have absolute control, St. Paul tells us, “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. (v. 8) and Christ admonishes us, “Your heavenly Fathers knows that you need” food and drink and clothing. (vv. 31-32)

The resolution to this tension is at the end of the Gospel, in the teaching of our Lord, “Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be given to you besides. (v. 33) But what is the Kingdom of God. At his trial, Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. (John 18:36)” This does not mean it is somewhere up there in outer space, but that it is a voluntary sovereignty over our hearts. Governments must impose the laws by external force, they are not concerned with our souls, but the kingdom of God comes from our hearts and minds and souls. Only God can “control” our lives.

“Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.(Matthew 6:28-29)”

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

Second Sunday after Pentecost

On the First Sunday of the Great Fast, we heard the words from Hebrews, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. The whole forty-day journey through the Great Fast, to the Holy Week of our Lord’s Passion, and then through the fifty days of his resurrection and glorification, sending us the Holy Spirit to be with us always, we have kept our eyes fixed on Jesus. With open hearts we will find the perfection of our faith. This Epistle was repeated on All Saints’ Sunday, for those who have given themselves to Christ are the cloud of witnesses that support and strengthen our faith.

The Great Fast and the Holy Pentecostarion take up almost a third of the year of faith. Today we begin a second “third,” the proclamation of the Gospel of St. Matthew, which we read until the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. This period again begins by summoning us to always “keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.” Today we are Simon and Andrew and James and John, hearing the voice of Jesus, “Come, follow me.” Today we hear the Lord calling us calling us to a life like his of caring for others and proclaiming the gospel, if not by words, by our actions and lives.

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ

Sunday, 6/18/17  Second Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m.  For all fathers of the Parish, living and deceased requested by Sestrichi
10:30 a.m. For the People of the Parish

Epistle: Romans 2:10-16
Gospel: Matthew 4:18-23, Tone 1

Monday, 6/19/17 Holy Apostle Jude, Brother of the Lord According to the Flesh
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, 6/20/17 Holy Priest-Martyr Methodius, Bishop of Patara
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, 6/21/17 Holy Martyr Julian of Tarsus
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 6/22/17 Holy Priest-Martyr Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 6/23/17 Holy Martyr Agrippina
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy
7:00 p.m. Moleben to Jesus Christ

Saturday, 6/24/17 Nativity of the Honorable and Glorious Prophet John, Forerunner and Baptist of Christ
9:00 a.m. Special Intention

Sunday, 6/25/17 Third Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m. +Rosemary Waselik (8th Anniversary) requested by the family
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Romans 5:1-10
Gospel: Matthew  6:22-33, Tone 2

All Saints Sunday

Over the last fifty-some days, we have celebrated the Paschal mystery – the central mystery of our faith, from our Lord’s crucifixion, resurrection, ascension to his sending the Holy Spirit on his followers. This Sunday, after all that has been proclaimed, we add a great “Amen!” “So be it!” This “Amen” will be great only if we make it more than just words but also actions. The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples that they might be witnesses to the Paschal mystery – our Lord’s death and resurrection, and the Greek word for “witness” is “martyr.” This Sunday was originally called the Sunday of All Martyrs – because those who witnessed to Christ had to be ready to give their lives for him. Many Christians did and still do. This is what it means to be a saint – the readiness to give our lives for the Lord. Therefore the Lord says in today’s Gospel, “Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. (Matthew 10:32)” We should not seek to be killed for the gospel, but our priorities should be: 1) God; 2) God’s people, the “others” in our lives and 3) ourselves. Being human, and living in an individualistic society, we often reverse these priorities: 1) ourselves, no. 1; 2) others and 3) God, and putting God third is a practical atheism.

We often have the misconception that to be a “saint” means only a life of misery and self-denial, but people who put their own pleasure and comfort first usually end up all “messed up.” A saint is really someone who has their life in the right order, and so is full of the joy of the Spirit: “a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2).”

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ

Sunday, 6/11/17 First Sunday after Pentecost — Sunday of All Saints
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Hebrews 11:33-12:2
Gospel: Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38, 19:27-30, Tone 8

Monday, 6/12/17 Venerable Father Onuphrius the Great
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, 6/13/17 Holy Martyr Aquilina
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, 6/14/17 Holy Prophet Elisha
9:00 a.m.  + Joseph Levitzky (Pan.) requested by Joseph M. Levitzky

Thursday, 6/15/17 Holy Prophet Amos
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 6/16/17 Our Father and Wonderworker Tychon of Amathus
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy
7:00 p.m.  Moleben to Jesus Christ

Saturday, 6/17/17 Holy Martyrs Manuel, Sabel, and Ismael
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Sunday, 6/18/17 Second Sunday after Pentecost — Father’s Day
9:00 a.m.  For All the Fathers of the Parish, living and deceased requested by Sestrichi
10:30 a.m. For the People of the Parish

Epistle: Romans 2:10-16
Gospel: Matthew 4:18-23, Tone 1

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Christ is Risen – Indeed He is Risen!
Christos Anesti! – Alithos Anesti!
Christos voskrese – Voistinu voskres!
Al Maseeh Qam! – Haqqan Qam!
Christus resurrexit! – Vere resurrexit!

Sunday, 6/04/17 Holy and Glorious Pentecost
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Acts 2:1-11
Gospel: John 7:37-52; 8:12, Tone 7

Monday, 6/05/17 Monday of the Holy Spirit
9:00 a.m. Special Intention

Tuesday, 6/06/17 Venerable Father Bessarion the Wonderworker
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, 6/07/17 Holy Hieromartyr Theodotus
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 6/08/17 Transfer of the Holy Relics of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 6/09/17 Holy Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy
7:00 p.m. Moleben to Jesus Christ

Saturday, 6/10/17 Holy Priest-Martyr Timothy, Bishop of Prussa
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Sunday, 6/11/17 First Sunday after Pentecost —Sunday of All Saints
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Hebrews 11:33-12:2
Gospel: Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30, Tone 8

Sunday of the First Ecumenical Council

On this Sunday, we commemorate the First Ecumenical Council held in the year 325. This Council defined our faith in Christ, that he was truly God, who had been born of the Virgin Mary as a human being, therefore uniting God and us. The proclamation of faith that they composed is now read at every Divine Liturgy. It was completed in its present form at the Council of Constantinople in 381, with a fuller definition of the nature of the Holy Spirit. When the Creed is about to be read, the deacon intones, “Let us love one another, that with one mind we may profess: (we then recite the Creed).” In our faith, we profess the love of God for us, because he has come to be with us, and has sent the Spirit of truth in our hearts, to “ … guide you to all truth. (John 16:13)” The truth is this: that Jesus the Messiah is truly the Son of God, that he is our Redeemer, and that he has ascended into glory, but has not left us orphans, sending his Spirit into our hearts and minds and souls. Jesus told us, “I am the way and the truth and the life. (John 14:6)” If this is indeed the truth, then, as the deacon in the Liturgy says, we must profess it “in one mind.” We conclude the prayer of the Anaphora by saying, “Grant that with one voice and one heart we may glorify and praise your most honored and magnificent name, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

Today’s Gospel tells us that this is exactly how we are united to God, and become “partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4): “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are. (John 17:11)” There is no unity more perfect than the unity of the Trinity, and in our life of faith, we share in that unity. Throughout the history of the Church, there have been those who have erred either by saying that Jesus is not perfect man or by saying that he is not perfect God. We too often let our own self-righteousness dominate the transcendent truth of the faith. However, the deacon says one thing even more profound – this unity must proceed from love, for he says, “Let us love one another that we may profess … “ The world today seems to thrive on a rhetoric of hate rather than love, and the false ideas of the world can easily infect the Church. The feast today is directly opposed to hatred, it tells us that we can achieve the unity that God desires only through love, for “God is love. (1 John 4:8)”

Pages: 1 2

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Christ is Risen – Indeed He is Risen!
Christos Anesti! – Alithos Anesti!
Christos voskrese – Voistinu voskres!
Al Maseeh Qam! – Haqqan Qam!
Christus resurrexit! – Vere resurrexit!

Sunday, 5/28/17 Seventh Sunday of Pascha, Holy Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council of Nicea
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Acts 20:16-18, 28-38
Gospel: John 17:1-13, Tone 6

Monday, 5/29/17 Venerable-Martyr Theodosia the Virgin
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, 5/30/17 Venerable Father Isaac, Abbot of the Dalmatin Monastery
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Wednesday, 5/31/17 Holy Apostle Hermas; the Holy Martyr Hermes
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 6/01/17 Holy Martyr Justin the Philosopher and Companions
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 6/02/17 Holy Father Nicephorus the Confessor
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 6/03/17 Holy Martyr Lucillianus and Companions
9:00 a.m. +Ivan & Halyna Lobay (Pan.) requested by Maria Lobay

Sunday 6/04/17 Eighth Sunday of Pascha  —Holy and Glorious Pentecost
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Acts 2:1-11
Gospel: John 7:37-52; 8:12, Tone 7