Blessed Theodore Romzha was bishop of the Ruthenian Catholic Eparchy of Mukachevo from 1944 to 1947.
Assassinated by NKVD on Oct 31, 1947 in Uzhhorod, Ukraine.
He was beatified as a martyr by Pope John Paul II on 27 June 2001.
More on Blessed Theodore may be read here.
St Luke, convert, evangelist, physician, artist
On our liturgical calendar today, the Church remembers a saint many have not heard of, Moses of Skete in Egypt, sometimes called “Moses the black” or “Moses the Ethiopian.”
A biographer writes,
Moses must have been from Ethiopia or the Sudan, which would explain his surname. Before his conversion he lived as an outlaw in the Nitrian wilderness. The sayings about Moses in the Apothegmata stand out for their warmth and compassion, and even gentle humor.
In Skete, Moses was a disciple of Abba Isidore, and, like him, was made a priest for the monks of Skete. He was teased about being black, even on the day of his ordination, when he was robed in white, but Moses always had an answer that reflected wisdom rather than resentment.
The fathers were able to reform his character, but much of the personality of the old outlaw enlivens his stories, such as when he overcame four thieves who tried to rob his cell. He tied them up and carried them to the church. Dumping them on the ground, he asked the startled brothers, “I am not allowed to harm anyone; so, what is to be done with these?” (NS)
May St. Moses of Skete, intercede for us before God.
August 13 is the feast-day of St. Maximus. Because it is also the leave-taking of the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord, the liturgical commemoration is transferred to Saturday. Today Maximus is considered one of the “pillars of Orthodoxy,” and Fr. John Meyendorff called him “the father of Byzantine theology.” His accomplishments are many – he was martyred because of his faithful defense of the incarnation of our Lord, that he was truly human in every way (except sin) and had a human will. He had to live many years in exile.
[Maximus] has become much more respected in recent years, I think, because his theology has much to say to the modern world. His theology of deification calls us to see the world as more than “materialism,” only what we can see or hear or touch. He teaches us that there is more to our existence, a spiritual dimension that surpasses bodily passions and concerns. Reading Maximus, however, can be very difficult. He was committed to Greek literary and rhetorical styles, appearing in long. convoluted sentences. He also used the vocabulary of Neo-Platonism, which few can understand today. Many of his works have been translated into English, and his best are the Four Centuries on Love, his Commentary on the Our Father and his work on the Liturgy, The Church’s Mystagogy. All are found in the Paulist Press series “The Classics of Western Spirituality,”: Maximus Confessor: Selected Writings,” translated by George Berthold.
Today, we pray: “Taking its abode within your heart, the thrice-brilliant light made you a chosen vessel. It has revealed heavenly things in you, O blessed saint. You made deep and complicated ideas clear to us, and you preached the eternal Trinity to everyone, O Maximus.“ (Kontakion)
Meditation by Archpriest David Petras
Today, the Byzantine Church commemorates the holy protomartyrs of the Kievan-Rus’, Boris and Gleb, in baptism named Roman and David. They sit in opposition to the common approach to leadership and power among people.
When Russia’s first Christian prince, St Vladimir, died in 1015, his eldest son, Svyatopolk, attempted to consolidate his own position by eliminating his two half-brothers, Boris and Gleb. When Boris heard of his brother’s plans, he refused to defend himself and faced his death without fear or hatred. His younger brother also accepted his assassination without opposition.
Such murders were typical of the extremes of political struggle for power in a pagan society. Boris and Gleb sincerely believed that the good news of Jesus Christ, so recently preached in their own land, must change all of this. Thus, by their voluntary sacrifice to their brother’s lust for power, they bore witness to the command of Christ to love one another. The impact of their witness deeply affected the character of Russian spirituality.
These saints of the Orthodox faith were recognized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1724. (NS)
The image of God was truly preserved in you, O Mother, For you took up the Cross and followed Christ. By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away, But to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal. Therefore your spirit, O Holy Mother Macrina, rejoices with the Angels! (Trop. 8)
The Byzantine Church commemorates today St. Macrina, recalled as “Our venerable mother, sister of saint Basil, the great.” It has been said that the family is where the seed of sanctity is planted and that saints beget saints. This is true for Macrina and her family: she is a saint among a family of saints. For us, Macrina is a certain guide to a deeper communion with the Most Holy Trinity. Holiness is possible.
Macrina was the older sister of the saints Basil and Gregory. After the early death of her husband, Macrina devoted herself to the education of her younger brothers. It was at this time, also, that she took up the monastic life, and it was due to her influence that her brothers learned the value of the spiritual life and dedication to the service of the Church.
The mother of this remarkable family, St. Emelia, guided a small community of nuns on the family estate in Pontus. Macrina succeeded her mother as the head of the monastery, and in time founded other communities for women.
She spent her last days (she died in 380) with her brother, St. Gregory, the bishop of Nyssa. The funeral oration he said over his sister is a moving testament to the love and esteem not only of a brother, but also one of many who were spiritually enriched by her example. Macrina was buried with her parents.
(NS)
The Holy and Pre-Eminent Apostles Peter and Paul
Gods’ love, mercy and compassion shine forth most clearly in the feast of these two apostles. Peter was enthusiastic in his faith in Christ, “Peter said to him, ‘Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.’ And all the disciples spoke likewise. (Matthew 26:35)”
When the trial came, however, Peter did deny Christ three times, and all the apostles, except one, ran out of fear. Yet Peter wept for his weakness, and his weakness turned to strength, though not of his own human power, but by the grace of God. For when he confessed Jesus to be the Messiah, the Lord told him: “Simon Peter said … ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus said to him in reply, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father,’ (Matthew 16:16-17) and it was on this rock of faith that the Church was established. Likewise, Saul closed his eyes to the truth, and persecuted Christians. But even as he was seeking Christians to persecute, the grace of God transformed his life, “On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do. (Acts 9:3-6)” It is the great Apostle Paul who later tells us: “[The Lord] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)”
This is Christian faith: in weakness there is strength, in foolishness there is wisdom, in death, there is life. This the world does not understand. Today, as we honor these pre-eminent apostles, we, too, pray, “O God of mercy, love and compassion, give me the gift of your Spirit for strength in faith and hope and love, and that I may also show love, forgiveness and compassion to my neighbor.”
Today, the Ukrainian Catholic Church honors the memory of Blessed Nykyta (Nicetas) Budka (1877-1949) in the Liturgy. He was a priest-martyr (hieromartyr) of the Church and St. John Paul II beatified him in 2001.
The Catholic Church in Canada remembers Blessed Budka on June 27, the day of his beatification along with other Ukrainians beatified. He died on 28 September 1949.
In history, Bishop Budka is an important figure in Ukrainian, Canadian, and Catholic history. His appointment, on 15 July 1912, was the first time the Church of Rome named an Eastern Catholic bishop with full jurisdiction outside of the old continent of Europe.
As such, he had concern, as an educator of the Ukrainian people who supported the aspirations of political and cultural freedom. He understood his mission was to sustain Canadian Ukrainian Greek-Catholics in their faith.
Bishop Budka attained from the government the recognition of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada as a legal entity. Facing the reality of assimilation –which could have meant the dissolution of the Byzantine Ukrainian Catholics– he encouraged his flock to become good Canadians and to be faithful to their Church. He also dedicated himself to preserving Ukrainian religious and cultural identity.
For 17 years the saintly bishop was a moral support and spiritually accompanied the many Ukrainians who suffered under oppressive Polish, Nazi and Soviet regimes. Together with his fellow Ukrainian Catholic bishops, clergy, religious, and laity, he was arrested, tried, and condemned by Soviet authorities. He died in a prison camp in far-away Kazakhstan.
Bishop Budka’s as a life of obedience, work, and love of the Lord Jesus Christ and God’s pilgrim people.
In addition to the Solemnity Annunciation celebrated today, we also have Blessed Emilian Kovch (1884-1944), a married Eastern Catholic priest and father of six who was persecuted under Communism and Nazism. Father Kovch died on March 25, 1944. He was beatified by St. John Paul II on 27 June 2001.
Emilian Kovch, a son of a Greek Catholic priest. Himself ordained the year following (1911) his marriage and began to work as a parish priest. Fr. Kovch spent 1919-1921 as a military chaplain. He was captured and briefly held as a prisoner of war. This time in confinement was a preview what came later.
Kovch lived a life of Christian virtue in his care for orphans and the poor, teaching, working for social and political liberty, he preached respect for others at all times, and he preached on the duty to fight anti-Semitism. He was a organizer of Eucharistic congresses and pilgrimages.
On the point of anti-Semitism, Father Kovch acted heroically when he placed himself in harm’s way when he protected the local synagogue by blocking the entry of soviet soldiers from entering.
Kovch’s social engagement gained the attention of the government, especially the Polish and later soviet leaders that made him vulnerable to the intrusive games of the military when they searched his home 40 times; and on at least one occasion he was fined and imprisoned in a monastery. Father Kovch preached passionately against the actions of his fellow Ukrainians taking anti-Polish actions; it is said he was deeply disappointed that his people looted Polish homes when the Soviets came.
Father Kovch was arrested at what turned out to be the near-end of Soviet oppression. The priest and his two daughters escaped; history reveals that all the prisoners in their group had been murdered by the Soviets as the Nazis approached. As the only Catholic priest in his group of prisoners, he became a source of strength and light in a very dark time. When his family attempted to have him released, he begged them to leave him there:
I understand that you are trying to get me released. But I beg you not to do this. Yesterday they killed 50 people. If I am not here, who will help them to get through these sufferings? They would go on their way to eternity with all their sins and in the depths of unbelief, which would take them to hell. But now they go to death with their heads held aloft, leaving all their sins behind them. And so they pass over to the eternal city.
May we follow the excellent example of Blessed Emilian Kovch. May he intercede for us when we face discouragement and the temptation to abandon the practice of Catholic faith.