Category: News

Parish news

Christ is risen

This week vigil light is offered by Chris Komondy in memory of +Helmut Heinrich.

STAMFORD CHARITIES APPEAL: Please don’t forget to donate for Charities Appeal. The forms are designed for each family of our parish. Attached to the form is an envelope into which you can place your contribution. The form along with your contribution, we ask you enclose in the envelope and place it in the collection basket during church services. Please make check 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.

For sale: Varenyky (pierogis) 2 dozen for $20, borsht for $7 per container; kapusta and hot-dog $12 per container; prime rib $15 per container, pascha bread $15, kapusta (cabbage) with cutlet and chicken $10 per container.

The Panakhyda Service at the Gravesites will take place on Saturday June 7, at 11:00 am at All Saints Cemetery and Sunday June 8, at 1:00 pm at St. Lawrence Cemetery. Please call the rectory office for appointment.

We will be making Pyrohy (varenyky) on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Please come and help.

Recruiting new members.Our local Andrey Sheptytsky Knights of Columbus Council here at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church is looking for a few good men. Please join us in our work to support our parish, provide aid to war-torn Ukraine, and work for the betterment of our community. For further information please contact Myron Melnyk: mmelnyk@yahoo.com or 203-397-2087. We are planning an induction ceremony for new members on Sunday, May 18th at 12:00 noon, after the Divine Liturgy.

1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea

Approaching the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, you’ll start to hear a lot of really bad and stupid arguments. One is that Constantine originally supported the Athanasian line of thought against the Arian line and that’s why the Council decided the way they did. Here’s the the thing: no! And here’s why –

“The story of 1st Nicaea and (especially) its aftermath is not just not what e.g. Dan Brown claimed: it’s literally the opposite.
Constantine didn’t interfere at the council on behalf of what is now orthodoxy. If anything, he was sympathetic to Arianism, but mainly he was against a creed that would exclude the Arians: he wanted everyone to stop *fussing*. He was complicated, but *probably* at least on many levels wanted a Christianity that was a syncretistic popular religion to tie together the empire and provide continuity with paganism, an easy fuzzy-minded baptism of Sol Invictus.

That is what he didn’t get.

He *tried* to interfere theologically at one point after the council: he commanded Athanasius to rescind Alexander’s anathematization of Arius.

Athanasius responded thusly: “What concern had the emperor with it? When did a decision of the Church receive its authority from the emperor? Or rather, when was his decree even recognized? There have been many [local] councils in times past, and many decrees made by the Church; but never did the fathers seek the consent of the emperor for them, not did the emperor busy himself in the affairs of the Church….The Apostle Paul had friends among those who belonged to the house of Caesar, and in the writing to the Philipians he sent greetings from them: but never did he take them as associates in his judgment”.

In other words, Constantine was, for at least part of his life, *really trying* to be in a Dan Brown novel. Like, his level best. Not the part about deciding what books were in the Bible, but the part about patching together an imperially helpful compromise syncretistic religion. That religion would have been Arianism: a platonic high God with a Jesus who was a sort of highest in the created order Sol Invictus divine son. Who one was allowed to worship. This religion would have been amenable to all kinds of both gnostic and demi-pagan developments: you could bolt on an emanation or two; old gods could sneak back in as Arian “saints” to be worshiped, because if you could worship a created being in Jesus, why not worship other lesser created beings? As a treat?

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We have a pope

Today, the cardinals elected the 267th successor to St. Peter, Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost, OSA. He is the second American to be elected to the throne of St Peter following Francis. He is the first Roman Pontiff from the United States of America.

Pope Francis dies at 88

Statement of Kevin Cardinal Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church on the death of Pope Francis:

“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

In paradisum deducant te Angeli; in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem. Chorus angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere æternam habeas requiem.

Adrian Walter Lodynsky fell asleep in the Lord

Adrian Walter Lodynsky fell asleep in the Lord on Thursday, April 17, 2025.

He was born on May 16, 1957 to Vlodko (Walter) and Nadia Lodynsky.

Adrian was christened at St Michael’s where he spent his life.

Halia, his wife of many years survives Adrian.

The arrangements are noted here.

In Christian charity please remember Adrian and his family in prayer.

May Adrian’s memory be eternal.

Parish news

Christ is risen!

This week vigil light is offered by the children in memory of Roman and Joanna Oleschuk.

Dear parishioners and guests, after each Divine Liturgy, a social hour with coffee and hard rolls and assorted snacks are available in the church hall. Please feel free to join us.

The traditional Easter parish “SVIACHENE” will be held on May 4, following the Divine Liturgy. We will celebrate only one (1) Divine Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. We will be running a raffle. If you would like to donate any items to be raffled, please bring them to our church hall on Sunday, May 4. Tickets are $35.00 for adults, $15.00 for youth from 12 to 18. Free for altar boys, and under 12. Also, we ask you to donate cakes for desert. We trust that all parishioners will join this parish gathering and through their presence attest to cherishing in our hearts a love for one another which builds our PARISH FAMILY. We will not sell tickets at the door. All profit is to cover the expenses of church hall renovation.

The Panakhyda Service at the gravesites will take place on Saturday, June 7, at 11:00 a.m. at All Saints Cemetery and Sunday, June 8, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Lawrence Cemetery. Please call the rectory office for appointment.

On Sunday, May 11, Mother’s Day, we will celebrate only one (1) Divine Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. in English and Ukrainian languages and after the Divine Liturgy the Knights of Columbus members and male from our Parish invites all women in the church hall for luncheon and celebration Mother’s Day.

Our local Andrey Sheptytsky Knights of Columbus Council here at St. Michael’s is looking for a few good men. Please join us in our work to support our parish, provide aid to war-torn Ukraine, and work for the betterment of our community. For further information please contact Myron Melnyk: mmelnyk@yahoo.com or (203) 397-2087.

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Sunday, 4/13, Palm Sunday — Blessing of Pussywillows and Anointing
8:40 a.m. Lytija and Blessing of Bread
9:00 a.m. For the people of the parish
10:30 a.m, God’s blessing and health for Jacek Smigelski

Epistle: Philippians 4:4-9
Gospel: John 12:1-18, Tone 7

Monday, 4/14, Great and Holy Monday Our Holy Father Martin, Pope of Rome
9:00 a.m. +Roman Markiw (Pan.) requested by the Yanovski family

Tuesday, 4/15, Holy Apostles Aristarchus, Pudens
9:00 a.m. Special Intention

Wednesday, 4/16/25 Great and Holy Wednesday, Holy Martyrs Agape, Irene and Chionia
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 4/17, Great and Holy Thursday
7:00 p.m. Matins with the proclamation of the Passion Gospels

Friday, 4/18, Great and Holy Friday
—Today is a day of fasting and strict abstinence: meat and dairy products are forbidden
5:00 p.m. Vespers and Veneration of the Holy Shroud

Saturday, 4/19, Great and Holy Saturday
9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy (Blessing of Bread)
4:00 p.m. Blessing of Easter Foods
6:00 p.m. Blessing of Easter Foods
Prayer at the Tomb

Sunday, 4/20, Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
—Blessing of Arthos, Anointing, and Blessing of Easter Foods

9:15 a.m. Procession and Paschal Matins
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

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

Parish news

This week vigil light is offered by Katia and Andrew Bamber in memory of Wasylyna Yukash.

A special thanks to Rudolph Brezicki for donating the beautiful pussywillows for today, Palm Sunday.

The 20th Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by New Haven’s UNA, Branch 414, will be held on Palm Sunday, Sunday 13, at Noon, on the Parish Grounds. It is open to parish youth and Ridna Shkola students from ages 0-13.

We will have the Ukrainian Easter Bazaar, Sunday, April 13th from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm. You can buy Easter baskets, Ukrainian jewelry, candles, souvenirs, Easter cards, embroidery clothes, pastries, homemade food, Egg decorating supplies, etc.

The traditional Easter parish “SVIACHENE” will be held on May 4, following the Divine Liturgy. We will celebrate only one (1) Divine Liturgy at 10:30 A.M. We will be running a raffle. If you would like to donate any items to be raffled, please bring them to our church hall on Sundays before our “Sviachene” or on Sunday May 4. Tickets are $35.00 for adults, $15.00 for youth from 12 to 18. Free for altar boys, and under 12. Also we ask you to donate cakes for desert. We trust that all parishioners will join this parish gathering and through their presence attest to cherishing in our hearts a love for one another which builds our PARISH.FAMILY. We will not sell tickets at the door. All profit is to cover the expenses of church hall renovation.

Please join us for special screening of the film TIMESTAMP ay Yale on Wednesday, April 16, 7:30 pm at HQL01, 320 York St, New Haven. This film is a documentary feature by renowned Ukrainian director Kateryna Gomostai. Set in schools across wartime Ukraine. Timestamp offers an intimate observational portrait of daily life for students and teachers stiving to sustain education and normalcy. Filmed without interviews or narration, the documentary presents a raw, mosaic-like view of school communities adapting to learning under the constant threat of violence.

The Panakhyda Service at the Gravesites will take place on Saturday June 7, at 11:00 am at All Saints Cemetery and Sunday June 8, at 1:00 pm at St. Lawrence Cemetery. Please call the rectory office for appointment.

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Parish News

Christ is among us!

This week vigil light is offered by Marion Piggott in memory of all deceased of Piggott and Waselik families.

Our parish mission will be preached by Fr. Bohdan Tymchyshyn rector of St. Basil Seminary on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6. The Mystery of Penance (Confession) will be available.

Our parish will be taking orders for Easter paska (Easter bread) until April 6. The paska will be available for pick up on Sunday, April 13. To place an order call Natala Lyalka at 203-824-8567. All profits will help to cover the expenses of the church hall renovation.

The traditional Easter parish dinner “SVIACHENE” will be held on Sunday, May 4, following the Divine Liturgy. We will celebrate only one (1) Divine Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. We will be running a raffle. If you would like to donate any items to be raffled, please bring them to our church hall on Sundays before our “Sviachene” or on Sunday, May 4. Tickets are $35.00 for adults, $15.00 for youth from 12 to 18. Free for altar boys, and under 12. Also we ask you to donate cakes for desert. We trust that all parishioners will join this parish gathering and through their presence attest to cherishing in our hearts a love for one another which builds our parish family. We will not sell tickets at the door. All profits will help to cover the expenses of church hall renovation.

Sorokoutsy — All Souls’ Saturdays will be celebrated March 22, March 29 and June 7. Please take a book found at the entrance of the church, fill it out, place it in envelope, and drop it in the collection basket. Let us remember all our loved ones who have gone to their heavenly reward. Eternal Memory!

FOOD DONATIONS: A container is in our church vestibule for non-perishable food for those in need. Please give generously new items within the expiration date. These items will be given out to the poor in our community. Thank you for your generosity and support.