Category: Prayer

Blessing of Fruit for the Transfiguration feast August 6

August 6th is the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord.

Many churches and monasteries in Byzantine tradition will observe the custom of blessing fruit (grapes, apples, peaches) at end of the 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy tomorrow. Just prepare some and bring it in for the blessing.

Saint John Chrysostom wrote: “Plowman receives fruit from the earth not so much for his labor and diligence, as out of the goodness of God Who grows this fruit, because neither is he that plants anything, neither he that waters, but God that gives the increase”.

All are welcome.

Second Saturday of All Souls

Today is the 2nd All Souls Saturday. The Divine Liturgy will be offered at 9:00 a.m. Remembering our beloved dead at the Divine Liturgy on these All Souls’ Saturdays is a supreme act of Love and Justice.

At every Divine Liturgy, we saying the profession of the Nicene Creed, “I expect the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.” Our saying that our deceased loved one has “fallen asleep”, is a biblical echoing of the words of Jesus, who said of his friend Lazarus, when he was about to raise him from the tomb after four days: “our friend, Lazarus, is asleep ” (John 11:11).

Finally, one of the spiritual works of mercy is praying for the dead. That is, we ask for the Lord’s continued care for our loved ones. See 2 Maccabees 38-46.

BYZANTINE CATHOLIC PRAYER FOR THE DECEASED

(Attributed to St. John Chrysostom)

O God of all spiritual and corporeal be­ings,
You trampled death, broke the power
of Satan and granted life to the whole world.

Now, O Lord, grant also rest to the soul of
Your departed servant N. in a place of light,
freshness, and peace, where there is no
pain, sorrow, or mourning.

As a gracious God and loving mankind, forgive him (her)
every transgression committed by him (her)
in word, deed, or thought, since there is no
man alive who has not sinned. You alone
are without sin and Your justice is everlast­ing
justice, and Your word is always the truth.

For You are the resurrection, the life and
the rest of Your departed servant N., O
Christ our God, and we render glory to You,
together with Your Eternal Father, and Your
most Holy, gracious, and life-giving Spirit,
now and ever and forever. Amen.

Service of Prayer on the First Anniversary of the Ukrainian War

On Friday, February 24, at 6:00 p.m. we will have a service of prayer (Moleben to the Mother of God and Panachyda) commemorating the Ukrainian War. Our Patriarch, His Beatitude, Sviatoslav declared February 24 as Day of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is important we gather in prayer for those who have sacrificed their lives and those who experience the negative and disastrous effects of the War: physical, psychological and spiritual wounds, poverty, hunger, homelessness. Secure parking across the street from the Church.

St Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Church
569 George Street
New Haven, CT

Bring a friend!

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI reposes in the Lord

His Holiness, Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI has fallen asleep in the Lord today after a long life and a distinguished life of service.

“With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican. Further information will be provided as soon as possible.”

Statement of Matteo Bruni
Director of the Holy See Press Office

Archbishop Georg Gaenswein writes: “Papa emerito said to me and to all those who accompanied him in his last hours, “Please pray for me!” –I would like to pass on this request of the Pope Emeritus to all those whom his death touches. For myself, his death means a great and personal loss. I am deeply grateful and at the same time very sad.”

Let us pray.

O God of all spiritual and corporeal be­ings,
You trampled death, broke the power
of Satan and granted life to the whole world.

Now, O Lord, grant also rest to the soul of
Your departed servant Benedict XVI in a place of light,
freshness, and peace, where there is no
pain, sorrow, or mourning.

As a gracious God and loving mankind, forgive him
every transgression committed by him
in word, deed, or thought, since there is no
man alive who has not sinned. You alone
are without sin and Your justice is everlast­ing
justice, and Your word is always the truth.

For You are the resurrection, the life and
the rest of Your departed Benedict, O
Christ our God, and we render glory to You,
together with Your Eternal Father, and Your
most Holy, gracious, and life-giving Spirit,
now and ever and forever. Amen.

(Attributed to St. John Chrysostom)

Prayers requested for Benedict XVI, pope emeritus

Pope Francis today at the end of the weekly address, asked for prayers for Pope Benedict XVI, saying he is “very sick” and asking God “to console and sustain him in his witness of love for the church until the end.”

There is no official announcement from the Vatican yet.

Pray for Pope Benedict.
St Michael the Archangel, pray for Pope Benedict.

Praying for peace in Ukraine

Today, several of our parishioners –with many others from around CT– made the journey to The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Litchfield to join Bishop Paul and several of the clergy to pray for peace in Ukraine.

Here are some action photos.

We can never underestimate prayer wrapped in community.

 

Praying the Jesus prayer

The sun is setting in Kyiv. They have started praying the Jesus prayer in the Patriarchal Sobor (Church). His Beatitude Sviatoslav is gathered with some clergy.

As the bombs fall, maybe you’ll pray with them?

The Jesus Prayer is the following sentence repeated: Lord Jesus. Have mercy on us, sinners.

#prayforpeace

 

Sign of the Holy Cross

Often we make the Sign of the Cross without thinking of the meaning of this gesture. It is easy to forget; hopefully it is easy to get back to the center, too. In the days following the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross, perhaps we can stop to think and “feel” our making the Sign of the Cross with love and appreciation for what Jesus did (and does) for us. St. Cyril of Jerusalem calls the Sign of the Cross the seal.

Many thanks to Carrie Chuff for the wonderful illustration of how we make the Sign of the Cross!

Thanks to God With Us Online.