Category: Byzantine Liturgy

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, 4/30/17     Third Sunday of Pascha of the Myrrh-Bearing Women
10:30 a.m.  Pro Populo

Epistle: Acts 6:1-7
Gospel: Mark 15:43-16-8, Tone 2

Monday, 5/01/17 Holy Prophet Jeremiah
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, 5/02/17    Holy Father Athanasius the Great
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Mary Ann Yursha requested by the Sestrichi

Wednesday, 5/03/17    Passing of Theodosius of the Cave
9:00 a.m.  +Ivan and Halyna Lobay  requested by Maria Lobay

Thursday, 5/04/17    Holy Venerable Martyr Pelagia
8:00 a.m.  no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 5/05/17    Holy and Glorious Martyr Irene
8:00 a.m.  no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 5/06/17    The Holy and Righteous Job
8:00 a.m.  no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Sunday 5/07/17    Fourth Sunday of Pascha of the Paralytic
10:00 a.m. Pro Populo

Epistle: Acts 9:32-42
Gospel: John 5:1-15, Tone 2

Thomas Sunday

Today is the eighth day of the celebration of the eighth day. Pascha! The Resurrection of our Lord! The Feast of Feasts!

It is a time of absence and presence.

Absence – when the risen Messiah comes to his apostles through locked doors, by divine providence, Thomas is not with them. May he come through the locked doors of our hearts!

Presence – when the risen Messiah comes to Thomas a week later, the doubting apostle gives the proclamation of faith that resounds through the ages: “My Lord and my God!

Absence – when the women come to the tomb, the body of Jesus is not there. “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” the angels ask.

Absence – the disciples on the road to Emmaus do not recognize the Lord.

Presence – they do recognize him in the breaking of the bread, “were our hearts not burning when he explained the Scriptures to us?”

Absence – we do not stand in the presence of the Lord in the same way as the apostles did.

Presence – the Lord is with us in Holy Communion, as he comes to us more intimately than we could imagine.

Absence – “But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. (John 16:7)”

Presence – “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20)”

Today the Gospel tells us – “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (John 20:29)”

Are not our two Christian greetings exactly the same:

Christ is risen! Indeed, he is risen!
Christ is among us! He is and he will be!

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

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, 4/23/17  – Thomas Sunday  —Holy and Glorious Great Martyr, Victory-bearer and Wonderworker George

9:00 a.m. Special Intention

Distribution of Artos (Blessed leavened bread)

10:30 a.m. Pro Populo

Epistle: Acts 5:12-20
Gospel: John 20:19-31, Tone 1

Monday, 4/24/17 – Holy Martyr Sabbas Stratelates
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Liturgy

Tuesday, 4/25/17 – Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark
9:00 a.m. +Ella Sowa requested by Ihor & Maria Kihiczak

Wednesday, 4/26/17 – Holy Priest-Martyr Basil, Bishop of Amasia
9:00 a.m. +Ella Sowa (40 days, Pan.) requested by Bohdan Sowa

Thursday, 4/27/17 – Holy Priest-Martyr Simeon, Relative of Lord
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Liturgy

Friday, 4/28/17 – Holy Apostles Jason and Sosipater
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Liturgy

Saturday, 4/29/17 – Nine Holy Martyrs of Cyzicus
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Liturgy

Sunday, 4/30/17 – Third Sunday of Pascha of the Myrrh-Bearing Women —Holy Apostle James, Brother of Saint John the Theologian

10:30 Pro Populo

Epistle: Acts 6:1-7
Gospel: Mark 15:43-16-8, Tone 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!

Easter Sunday, 4/16/17 Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ
8:30 a.m. Procession and Paschal Matins
9:30 a.m. Pro Populo

Blessing of Artos (leavened bread)
Blessing of Easter Foods

Epistle: Acts 1:1-8
Gospel: John 1:1-17, Tone 7

Bright Monday, 4/17/17 —Venerable Father Simeon of Persia
10:00 a.m. +Bohdan Antonyshyn (Pan.)

Bright Tuesday, 4/18/17 —Venerable Father John, Disciple of Gregory the Decapolitan
9:00 a.m. +Ella Sowa (Pan.)

Bright Wednesday, 4/19/17  —Venerable Father John the Ancient Hermit
9:00 a.m.  no intention for the Liturgy

Bright Thursday, 4/20/17 —Venerable Father Theodore Trichinas
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Liturgy

Bright Friday, 4/21/17 —Holy Priest-Martyr Januarius and companions
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Liturgy

Bright Saturday, 4/22/17 —Venerable Father Theodore of Syceum
8:30 a.m.  All the deceased of Parish —Sorokousty

Thomas Sunday, 4/23/17   —Holy and Glorious Great Martyr, Victory-bearer and Wonderworker George

9:00 a.m.  Special Intention for the Liturgy
Distribution of the Blessed Artos and Anointing

10:30 a.m. Pro Populo
Distribution of the Blessed Artos and Anointing

Epistle: Acts  5:12-20
Gospel: John 20:19-31, Tone 8

Palm Sunday –Christ the King

Christ the King

The Roman Church has a separate feast of Christ the King in 1925, with Pius XI’s encyclical Quas Primas. It was to counter the rise of secularism by proclaiming that Christ is the only true king of the believers.

The original and ancient feast of Christ the King, however, is today, Palm Sunday. The Gospels record that Jesus is received in Jerusalem, imitating King David by riding into the city on a humble donkey. This is to become a central theme in Holy Week. The Sanhedrin will condemn Jesus for blasphemy, but will give him over to Pontius Pilate for execution for political reasons, that he set himself up as a rival king to the Emperor, a crime of treason. This is, in fact, the crime for which Pilate judges him, putting the accusation on the cross, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The feast today is of immense spiritual importance, but, unfortunately, got tangled up with the concept of “king” that the people had. They wanted a political Messiah who would free them from Roman rule. Instead, Jesus tells Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world,” and he forbids his followers to fight for him. The kingdom of God is not a kingdom of worldly power, but a kingdom of our hearts and minds given freely to Jesus, the Son of God, that we may live in peace with our neighbor and with the will of God, and may grow in wisdom and understanding.

St. Paul describes what the kingdom of God is like in today’s epistle: “ … whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8). We must question ourselves today, do we want a king like the mobs did, a political king who will validate our nationalism and support our ideologies, or do we want a king that deifies our souls and hearts and minds? Only the one, true, authentic King can be our redemption and spiritual glorification, in a kingdom established on love of God and love of neighbor. On Holy Saturday, then, we sing, “Let all mortal flesh keep silence and with fear and trembling stand … for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is coming to be sacrificed and to give himself as food for the faithful” (Cherubic Hymn, Paschal Vigil Liturgy).

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Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Palm Sunday, 4/09/17   – the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem

—Second Parish Mission

8:40 a.m. Lytija and Blessing of Bread
9:00 a.m. +Mary Plaskonos requested by Sylvia & Tony Plaskonos

Blessing of Pussywillows and anointing with the holy oil (myrovannia) of the faithful and distribution of blessed prosfora.

10:30 a.m. Pro Populo

Epistle: Phil.4:4-9
Gospel: John 12:1-18, Tone 6

Holy Monday, 4/10/17   Holy Martyrs Terence, Pompeius, and companions
8:00 a.m no intention for the Liturgy

Holy Tuesday, 4/11/17   Holy Priest-Martyr Antipas, Bishop of Pergamos
9:00 a.m. +Mychajlo, Evdokia, Volodymyr Stadnicki (Pan.) requested by Stadnicki family

Holy Wednesday, 4/12/17   Venerable Father and Confessor Basil, Bishop of Parios
9:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Holy Thursday, 4/13/17   Holy Priest-Martyr Artemon and companions
8:00 a.m. God’s blessing & health for Pyrohy Workers requested by Joan Nast
7:00 p.m. The Proclamation of the Lord’s Passion in the Gospels

Good Friday,  4/14/17   Holy Father Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome
4:00 p.m. Vespers and Veneration of the Holy Shroud

Great Saturday, 4/15/17   Holy Apostles Aristarchus, Pudens and Trophimus
8:00 a.m.  Divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great
4:00 p.m. Blessing of Easter Foods
6:00 p.m. Blessing of Easter Foods
7:00 p.m. Prayer at the Tomb

Easter Sunday, 4/16/17  —The Glorious and Holy Sunday of the Resurrection of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ
8:30 a.m. Procession and Paschal Matins
9:30 a.m. Pro Populo

Blessing of Artos (leavened bread)
Blessing of Easter Foods

Epistle: Acts  1:1-8
Gospel: John 1:1-17, Tone 7

****During coming days, Bright Week, there is no fasting.

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Sunday, 4/02/17  Fifth Sunday of Great Lent —Commemoration of Our Venerable Mother, Mary of Egypt
9:00 a.m.  +Ella Sowa requested by Walnycky family
10:30 a.m. Pro Popolo

Epistle: Heb. 9:11-14
Gospel: Mark 10:32-45, Tone 5

Monday, 4/03/17  Venerable Father and Confessor Nicetas, Abbot of the Monastery of Medicius
8:00 a.m. +Ivan and Halyna Lobay requested by Maria Lobay

Tuesday, 4/04/17  Our Venerable Fathers Joseph the Hymnographer and George of Maleum
9:00 a.m. +Mary Plaskonos (40 days, Pan.) requested by the Plaskonos family

Wednesday, 4/05/17  Holy Martyrs Theodulus and Agathopedes and companions
9:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Thursday, 4/06/17  Repose of Our Holy Father Methodius, Teacher of Slavs
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 4/07/17  Venerable Father George, Bishop of Mitylene
7:00 p.m.  Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Saturday, 4/08/17  Lazarus Saturday —Holy Apostles Herodion, Agabus, Rufus, Asyncretus, Phlegontus, and Hermes
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Sunday, 4/09/17  Palm Sunday —the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem
8:40 a.m. Lytja and the Blessing of Bread
9:00 a.m. Special Intention

Second Sunday of the Parish Mission preached by Father Robert Markovitch

Blessing of Pussywillows and Anointing
10:30 a.m. Pro Popolo

Epistle: Phil. 4:4-9
Gospel: John 12:1-18, Tone 6

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Sunday, 3/26/17 Fourth Sunday of Lent —Commemoration of St. John Climacus
9:00 a.m +Mary Plaskonos requested by Cathy Kolesnik
10:30 a.m. Pro Populo

Epistle: Hebrews 6:13-20
Gospel: Mark 9:17-31, Tone 4

Monday, 3/27/17 Our Holy Mother Matrona of Thessalonica
8:00 a.m.  no intention for the Liturgy

Tuesday, 3/28/17 Our Venerable Father Hilarion the New; the Holy Stephen, the Wonderworker
8:00 a.m. +Carol Floramo requested by the Walnycky family

Wednesday, 3/29/17 Our Venerable Father Mark, Bishop of Arethusa; the Deacon Cyril and Others Martyred during the Reign of Julian the Apostate
9:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts

Thursday, 3/30/17 Our Venerable Father John Climacus, Author of The Ladder of Divine Ascent
8:00 a.m +Ivan Bodnaruk requested by the Walnycky family

Friday, 3/31/17 Our Venerable Father Hypatius, Bishop of Gangra
7:00 p.m. Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts

Saturday, 4/01/17 Our Venerable Mother Mary of Egypt
9:00 a.m. +Wolodymyra Basladynska (Pan.) requested by Dionizia Brochinsky

Sunday, 4/02/17 Fifth Sunday of Lent —Commemoration of Our Venerable Mother, Mary of Egypt
9:00 a.m. Special Intention
10:30 a.m. Pro Populo

Epistle: Hebrews 9:11-14
Gospel: Mark 10:32-45, Tone 5

Annunciation of Mary, the Mother of God

Annunciation of Mary, the Mother of God (Theotokos), March 25th
 
The Solemnity of the Annunciation is a Holy Day of Obligation. Our Worship begins at 9:45 a.m. with Lytijia and Blessing of Bread and at 10:00 a.m. with the Divine Liturgy, followed by anointing.
 
“Today is the Prelude of joy for the whole world. Let us then anticipate the feast and celebrate with glee, for behold, Gabriel is on his way with the glad tidings for the Virgin; he is about to cry out in fear and amazement: ‘Hail, O Woman full of grace! The Lord is with you!'” (Troparion)

Our Liturgy

In our Church, the Divine Liturgy is served according to three orders, those of the bishops, Saint John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great, and that of the Presanctified Gifts. Ordinarily it is the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom that is celebrated. The liturgy of St. Basil the Great is celebrated 10 times a year, namely: on all five Sundays of Great Lent, on Great and Holy Thursday, on Great and Holy Saturday and on the feast of St. Basil the Great. From Monday to Friday during Lent, as a sign of the anticipation of Christ’s Pascha and the glorious second coming, the Church does not offer the Eucharistic oblation, that is, the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom or St. Basil the Great. (Christ Our Pascha, 393)