Holy Prophet Micah

Micah is the final prophet whose memory we celebrate in the Feast of Light. However, in many of his prophecies, he speaks out of darkness. He was an ancient prophet, of whom Jeremiah says: ““Micah of Moresheth used to prophesy in the days of Hezekiah, king of Judah, and he said to all the people of Judah: Thus says the Lord of hosts: Zion shall be plowed as a field, Jerusalem, a heap of ruins, and the temple mount, a forest ridge” (Jeremiah 26:18). Micah laments, in words that could be repeated in our own times: “The faithful have vanished from the earth, no mortal is just! They all lie in wait to shed blood, each one ensnares the other” (7:2). Yet for all that, he most clearly foretells the coming of the Prince of Peace.

Jesus is to come from the most humble town in Judah, “But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathaha least among the clans of Judah, From you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; Whose origin is from of old, from ancient times” (5,1), and the Hymn of Light for the Vigil of Theophany informs us, “In Bethlehem you were born in the flesh from a virgin, now you hasten to the Jordan to purify all the sins of those born on the earth, leading those in darkness to the light.” Micah tells us the Lord will come as both judge and man of peace, “He shall judge between many peoples and set terms for strong and distant nations; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again” (3,3). He will be our shepherd and the guarantor of peace, “He shall take his place as shepherd by the strength of the Lord, by the majestic name of the Lord, his God; And they shall dwell securely, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth: he shall be peace” (5:3-4).

Holy Prophet Micah, pray that we, as Christians, can be followers of Jesus and a people of peace.

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

University of New Haven hosts concert commemorating Holodomor and Maidan

On Saturday, December 1, the University of New Haven hosted a very well-attended concert and public forum commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor and the fifth anniversary of the Maidan Revolution of Dignity.

The concert was the brainchild of virtuoso pianist Victor Markiw, lecturer in music at the University of New Haven, and was co-organized with Olena Lennon, adjunct professor of political science at UNH.

Read the Ukrainian Weekly press on the event here.

St. Basil the Great

A blessed new year to all of you! Christ is born! Happy 2019!!!

On January 1, in addition to Circumcision of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, we remember one of the great Fathers of the Church, St. Basil the Great. He is known as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs; Basil’s life and writings inspire the work we do in the Church. Pray for the Parish through the intercession of St. Basil, that God may bless our work in 2019.

From a biography by St. Nikolai Velimirovic, The Prologue of Ohrid:

St Basil was born in the reign of the Emperor Constantine, in about 330. While still unbaptised, he spent fifteen years in Athens studying philosophy, rhetoric, astronomy and other contemporary secular disciplines. Among his fellow-students were Gregory the Theologian and Julian, later the apostate emperor. When already of mature years, he was in the Jordan together with his former tutor Ebulios. He was Bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia for nearly ten years, and died at the age of fifty.

A great champion of Orthodoxy, a great torch of moral purity and zeal for the Faith, a great theological mind, a great builder and pillar of the Church of God, Basil fully deserved his title “the Great”. In the Office for his Feast, he is referred to as a bee of the Church of Christ, bringing honey to the faithful but stinging those in heresy. Many of the writings of this Father of the Church have survived – theological, apologetic, on asceticism and on the Canons. There is also the Liturgy that bears his name. This Liturgy is celebrated ten times in the year: on January lst, on the Eves of Christmas and the Theophany, on every Sunday in the Great Fast with the exception of Palm Sunday, and on the Thursday and Saturday in Great Week.

St Basil departed this life peacefully on January l, 379, and entered into the Kingdom of Christ.

Theosis Magazine: Monthly Reflections and Daily Prayers

Theosis magazine is published as a collection of short spiritual readings on various topics and the prayers for the Saint of the Day according to the Byzantine calendar. It is full color with many illustrations and icons of each saint. It is pocket-size to carry with you and read when you have time. Some of the essays are short excerpts from books published by Eastern Christian Publications as an ongoing series. Other essays are especially written for that month, season or featured topic by various contributors. Each month also usually includes commentary from an Eastern Father like St. John Chrysostom, and a homily by a well-known Byzantine Catholic priest.

The print edition, $7.00 per month, is available as a single subscription for 12 or 24 months, or can be paid month-to-month through the website. Bulk orders are also available for quantities of five or more per shipment for parishes to make available to their faithful for spiritual reading, education and prayer. An electronic “ezine” version is available through the ECPubs app (Apple or Android), or by email at no cost (but we ask for voluntary stipends of $5-10 per month).

Subscribe to the print version, register for the electronic email version, or offer a monthly stipend on our website here: https://ecpubs.com/theosis-monthly-magazine/

Divine Liturgy on January 1, New Year’s Day

Christ is born!

“O Jesus enthroned on high together with Your eternal Father and divine Spirit ….”  (Troparion of the Circumcision)

Divine Liturgy on January 1, New Year’s Day. On Tuesday, we liturgically remember that 8 days ago we celebrated Christmas. Today according to Jewish custom, we recall Jesus underwent the Circumcision.

It is also the feast day of Our Father Among the Saints, Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia. Father Iura will use the Eucharistic prayers of St. Basil.

~10:45 a.m. Lytia and blessing of Bread
~11:00 a.m. For the people of the parish with the Anointing – Myrovann

Following the Divine Liturgy we will have some champagne in the church hall; please bring something sweet to eat to celebrate the —New Year’s Day 2019!

PS: the image is of St Basil the Great from our parish.

The Theophany Leap

Usually in the week before Theophany, the course readings of Scripture in the Divine Liturgy (the daily Epistles and Gospels) have to be adjusted, so that the Sunday of Zacchaeus (the 32th Sunday after Pentecost) is read the week before the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee. Because Pascha is so late in 2019 (April 21), this means that the Sunday of Zacchaeus is February 3, and so, on Monday, December 31, we adjust the calendar to repeat from the 28th Week after Pentecost. This will mean, of course, a number of repetitions on weekdays, but because of the special Sunday before and after Christmas and Theophany, there will be only one Sunday repetition (January 20). This is fine with me, after all, we cannot hear the gospels enough, but I know some pastors don’t like repetition, and will read the gospels from the Menaion rather than the course readings. They might also replace the one Sunday repetition with the Matthew Gospel of the Caanite Woman (Matthew 15:21-28). The Greeks and Melkites regularly do this.                                        (DPetras)

The Sunday after Christmas

On this Sunday, we commemorate three men who had a relationship with Jesus: David, his forefather; Joseph, his foster father; and James, his brother through Joseph. Each of these man were shown mercy by God. David committed a great sin, to win the wife of Uriah, he had Uriah put into the front lines of battle, so that he was killed. The prophet Nathan brought this sin to light and David did repentance and lost his son. Joseph found Mary pregnant and decided to divorce her, but an angel told him to take her as his wife. James was among Jesus’ relatives who did not accept him as a prophet, but after the resurrection, he repented and became the leader of the church at Jerusalem.

We might remember also three women who were among Jesus’ foremothers. Rachel was the wife of Jacob, who loved her more than Leah. However, when Jacob worked for seven years for Laban to win Rachel’s hand, Laban insisted he marry his eldest daughter Leah. Jacob then worked another seven years for Rachel. However, Rachel was barren until finally she gave birth to Joseph, Jacob’s favorite son. Jacob took his family and fled Laban, and Rachel stole Laban’s family icons. When Laban caught up with Jacob, Jacob cursed the thief of his icons, not knowing that it was his beloved wife Rachel. The curse was fulfilled when Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. Rachel is mentioned in today’s Gospel as weeping when the children of Bethlehem are massacred by King Herod, but the gospel says, “no comfort for her, for they are no more.”

We might also mention Ruth, who was a foreigner – like the Magi. She married a Hebrew man from Bethlehem who died, and Ruth followed her mother-in-law back to Bethlehem, and there tricked Boaz into marriage, becoming the great-grandmother of David and ancestor of our Lord. We might also mention Tamar, who lost her husband, whose brother refused to have children by her. She disguised herself as a prostitute and became pregnant with her father-in-law, Judah, who wanted to have her executed for prostitution until he was shown to be the father. So she, too, became an ancestor of Jesus through trickery. Does not today’s feast remind us that we all have a relationship now with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and we are all in need of his mercy.

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Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Christ is born!

Sunday, 12/30, Sunday after Christmas —Commemoration of the Holy and Just Joseph, King David; James. Brother of the Lord according to the Flesh

9:00 a.m. +Nicholas Krenta requested by Alicja Krenta
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Galatians 1:11-19
Gospel: Matthew 2:13-23, Tone 5

Monday, 12/31, The Leave-taking of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, Christmas; Our Venerable Mother Melania the Roman
9:00 a.m. +Michael Lipcan (Pan.) requested Barbara and Patrick Bagley

Tuesday, 1/01, The Circumcision of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ; Our Father Among the Saints Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia —New Year’s Day 2019!

10:45 a.m. Lytia and blessing of Bread
11:00 a.m. For the people of the parish with the Anointing – Myrovann

Wednesday, 1/02, Fore-feast of Theophany; Our Holy Father Sylvester
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for the Zinych and Musiy Family

Thursday, 1/03, Fore-feast of Theophany; The Holy Prophet Malachi
9:00 a.m. +Vira Walnycky (Pan.) requested by the Family

Friday, 1/04, Fore-feast of Theophany; The Synaxis of the Seventy Holy Apostles
9:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Paul Paluha requested by Jaroslaw Paluha

Saturday, 1/05, Theophany Eve. The Holy Martyr Theopemptus and Theonas
9:00 a.m. +Paraskevia Paluha (Pan.) requested by Jaroslaw Paluha

Note: Today is a day of fasting (meat may not be eaten; however, eggs and dairy products are permitted).

Sunday, 1/06, The Holy Theophany of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ
9:00 a.m. Great Compline
10:00 a.m. For the people of the parish
Great Sanctification of Water with the Anointing – Myrovann

Epistle: Titus 2:11-14 and 3:4-7
Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17, Tone 6  

Parish announcements this week

Christ is in our midst!

WELCOME NEW PARISHIONERS! New parishioners are always welcomed in our parish. If someone wants to register with our parish please contact Father Iura Godenciuc at (203) 865-0388 or our financial secretary Natalia Chermak.

PARISH COFFEE HOUR: Dear parishioners and guests, after each Divine Liturgy, coffee and hard rolls are available in the church hall.

VIGIL LIGHT: This week vigil light is offered to God’s glory by Luba Kopylec for a special intention.

2019 NEW YEAR: Best wishes to all our parishioners for a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! May God shower you with all His blessings for a joyous and peaceful 2019. Fr. Iura and Family

***Note: No fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays until the Leave-taking of Holy Theophany (January 14, 2019).

***Note on Saturday, January 5, Theophany Eve: Today is a day of fasting (meat may not be eaten; however, eggs and dairy products are permitted).

ASLEEP in the LORD: Vira Walnycky. Please remember her in your prayers. Eternal Memory!

Schedule for New Year’s Day, Holy Theophany on January 6 and

Christmas (Julian Calendar) on January 7

~New Year’s Day: Divine Liturgy at 11:00 a.m.

~Holy Theophany January 6: 9:00 a.m. Great Compline followed 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy and 11:15 a.m. Great Sanctification of Water

~Christmas (Julian Calendar) January 7: 9:30 a.m. Great Compline and 10:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

STAMFORD CHARITIES APPEAL REMINDER: Please don’t forget to donate for the Charities Appeal. Please make your check payable to the BYZANTINE RITE DIOCESE OF STAMFORD. DO NOT MAIL THE FORM TO THE CHANCERY OFFICE IN STAMFORD. We sincerely ask all parishioners to make generous contributions.

If someone would like to buy a frozen pierogies (varenyky) during the week please call the rectory at (203) 865-0388.

The Ukrainian National Women’s League of America Branch 108 New Haven and the Parish will be preparing a Prosphora, a traditional Ukrainian Christmas meal, on Sunday, January 20, after the one (1) Divine Liturgy at 10:30. Tickets are $20.00 for adults, free for students Ridna Shkola and altar boys. We will be running a raffle. Please donate items for raffle and cakes for desert. Tickets are on sale in the church hall every Sunday after both Divine Liturgies. You can buy tickets from Luba Dubno or members of UWLA Branch 108. Please buy tickets in advance.

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We have found the Messiah

As we think theologically and personally about the meaning of Christmas, these words from a homily on the Gospel of John by Saint John Chrysostom may help us focus on what it means to say we have a Messiah.

After Andrew had stayed with Jesus and had learned much from him, he did not keep this treasure to himself, but hastened to share it with his brother. Notice what Andrew said to him: We have found the Messiah, that is to say, the Christ. Notice how his words reveal what he has learned in so short a time. They show the power of the master who has convinced them of this truth. The reveal the zeal and concern of men preoccupied with this question from the very beginning. Andrew’s words reveal a soul waiting with the utmost longing for the coming of the Messiah, looking forward to his appearing from heaven, rejoicing when he does appear, and hastening to announce so great an event to others. To support one another in the things of the spirit is the true sign of good will between brothers, of loving kinship and sincere affection.

Notice, too, how even from the beginning, Peter is docile and receptive in spirit. He hastens to Jesus without delay. He brought him to Jesus, says the evangelist. But Peter must not be condemned for his readiness to accept Andrew’s word without much weighing of it. It is probable that his brother had given him, and many others, a careful account of the event; the evangelists, in the interest of brevity, regularly summarize a lengthy narrative. Saint John does not say that Peter believed immediately, but that he brought him to Jesus. Andrew was to hand him over to Jesus, to learn everything for himself. There was also another disciple present, and he hastened with them for the same purpose.

When John the Baptist said: This is the Lamb, and he baptizes in the Spirit, he left the deeper understanding of these things to be received from Christ. All the more so would Andrew act in the same way, since he did not think himself able to give a complete explanation. He brought his brother to the very source of light, and Peter was so joyful and eager that he would not delay even for a moment.