The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew

At the beginning of the Fast before Christmas, we celebrate the feast of St. Matthew, who wrote one of the Gospels of the birth of our Lord. (St. Luke is the other.) St. Matthew’s purpose was to show how the prophecies of the Covenant were fulfilled in Jesus. Therefore, he is the son of Abraham and the Son of David. He fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that a virgin would give birth, the prophecy of Micah that he would be born in Bethlehem, the prophecy of Jeremiah that the innocents would die, and that he would be called a Nazorean. Matthew tells us of the visit of the Magi, the massacre of the innocents, and the flight into Egypt. It is also Matthew who presents to us the model figure of St. Joseph. Just as the Joseph of the Old Testament saved his people in Egypt, so the Joseph of the New Testament saves the hope of the people, Jesus, by taking him to Egypt. We have no better model of human fatherhood. Joseph is a righteous man (Matthew 1:19), who is open to God’s revelation through his messenger angel that the child of Mary is of God, a faith that goes beyond human knowledge. It is Joseph who protects the child, his foster son, so that Jesus, the Savior, could someday fulfill the plan of the heavenly Father. It is Joseph who re-orders his whole life for the sake of his beloved child. Joseph, then, is a model of divine fatherhood, “from whom every fatherhood in heaven and on earth is named. (Ephesians 3:15)”

In Christmas, we must be filled with the righteous of the holy Joseph.

Troparion at Glory …, Ode 3 of the Feast of St. Matthew:

Matthew, the divinely-minded trumpet made the teachings about God resound. He has poured out the radiant life of the Trinity upon the peoples as he revealed to them the Incarnation of the Word in you, O pure Virgin.

Meditation by Archpriest David Petras

A Prayer for the Nativity Fast

Lord Jesus, You have come so many times to us and found no resting place; forgive us for our overcrowded lives, our vain haste, and our preoccupation with self. Come again, O Lord, and though our hearts are a jumble of voices and our minds overlaid with many fears, find a place however humble, where You can begin to work Your wonder as You create peace and joy within us. If in some hidden corner, in some out-of-the-way spot, we can clear away the clutter and shut out the noise and darkness, come be born again in us, and we shall kneel in perfect peace with the wisest and humblest of men.

Help us to enter into this Christmas Fast with humility yet with You. And, finally, Lord, give us Christmas from within that we may share it from without, on all sides, all around us, wherever there is need. God help us, every one, to share the blessings of Jesus in Whose name we keep Christmas holy. Amen.

(From: Daily Meditations & Prayer for the Christmas Advent Fast and Epiphany by Presbytera Emily Harakas and Father Anthony Coniaris)

Philip’s Fast (Pylypivka)

All Christian churches prepare for the feast of the birth of Christ by some sort of period of penance. The Western church calls this the period of Advent, connected with the Latin word for “come,” since we are waiting for Christ to come into our lives. We may be celebrating an event in the past, the birth of Jesus, the first coming of God into our world, but we are also celebrating the present, God coming into our own lives and into the world of today, and the future expectation of Christ’s second coming, when he will come in glory to judge tote world in righteousness.

The Roman Church once began the Christmas preparation on St. Martin’s Day, Nov. 11, which gave forty days until the winter solstice on Dec. 21, and the church of Milan in Italy still has a forty-day preparation beginning on Nov. 15.

Traditionally, the Byzantine Church also begins its Christmas preparation on Nov. 15. Since this follows the feast of St. Philip the Apostle, it is called the Philip’s Fast. There is a legend about St. Philip, that when he was about to be martyred, he delayed his entrance into heaven by forty days in order to do penance for the sake of his persecutors. This is certainly only a legend, since Philip was not connected with the pre-Christmas fast until the ninth century, but it does point out one aspect of fasting – it is an act of charity for others. Some contemporary groups have expressed this by introducing the custom of setting aside the money they save by fasting to buy food for the poor. St. Philip is the apostle who leads us to Christ. When Jesus called him to be a disciple, his first action was to go and tell Nathaniel. When Nathaniel questioned him about Jesus, Philip replied, “Come and see” (Jn 1:46). Later in the Gospel, some Greeks (Gentiles, representing all nations) wanted “to see Jesus” (Jn 12:21), and it is Philip and Andrew that lead them to Christ. At the Last Supper, it is Philip that asks the question, “Master, show us the Father,” and Jesus replies, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn 14:8¬9). In the face of Jesus our Lord, we are able to see the love of the Father for us. The holy Apostle Philip, therefore, leads us to Christmas, to see for the first time the face of God, who came into the world to break down the barriers between humanity and God (Eph. 2:14).

Pages: 1 2 3

Blessed Theodore Romzha

Today we honor the memory of Blessed Theodore Romzha, a martyr for Christian faith.

Though the godless poured poison into your veins, your heart still beats with love for Christ, O bishop Theodore, martyred father, who now raise your prayers before the Throne of God.

Bishop Paul to visit parish

Our parish will be hosting the visit of Bishop Paul Patrick Chomnycky, OSBM, on Sunday, September 13. He will be serving both Divine Liturgies at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

This is Bishop Paul’s first visit in about five years.

Please join us in person or online.

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ

Sunday, 9/13, 15th Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m. +Michael Waselik (35th Anniv.) requested by the Family
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Galatians 6:11-18
Gospel: John 3:13-17, Tone 6

Monday, 9/14, Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Today is a day of abstinence.)
9:00 a.m. +Bohdan Iwaniw (Pan.) requested by Emilia Iwaniw

Tuesday, 9/15, Holy Great Martyr Nicetas
8:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Adrian, Natalia, Orest requested by Vira Pokeza

Wednesday, 9/16, Holy Great Martyr Euphemia
8:00 a.m. +Stefan Pospolita (Pan.) requested by Olha Pospolita

Thursday, 9/17, Holy Martyrs Sophia, Faith, Hope
8:00 a.m. +Hryhorij Dubno (Pan.) requested by the Family

Friday, 9/18, Our Venerable Father Eumenius
8:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Irena, Andrij, Sophia, Ostap requested by Vira Pokeza

Saturday, 9/19, Holy Martyrs Trophimus, Sabbatius
8:00 a.m. no intention

Sunday, 9/20, Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
9:00 a.m. For the people of the parish
10:30 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Emanuela Martone

Epistle: Galatians 2:16-20
Gospel: Mark 8:34-9:1, Tone 7

Parish announcements

Christ is among us!

This week vigil light is offered by Michael and Mary Muryn in memory of
all those who perished on September 11, 2001.

Dear Parishioners: If you would like to have Confession or Holy Communion please call the the rectory at 203-865-0388.

We would like to congratulate Orest and Natalia Pasichnyk on the occasion of the Holy Baptism and Chrismation of their son Adrian Peter, which took place on Sunday, September 6, 2020 in our church.

Every Sunday you can watch the Divine Liturgy live-streamed on the parish Facebook page at 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy in the English language and 10:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy in the Ukrainian language.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmichaelnewhaven

We continue a special collection in our parish to help our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. Please make checks payable to the “Eparchy of Stamford” with the notation “Flood in Ukraine”. You can place your donation in the collection basket or send to the rectory office. Your donation, no matter how small or large, will change someone`s life for the better. Thank you for your generosity.

Dear Parishioners: if anyone needs help such as going to the store to buy groceries, going to a doctor’s appointment or the pharmacy, or any other type of special assistance, you may contact the rectory at 203-865-0388 and arrangements will be made to help you.

STAMFORD CHARITIES APPEAL
REMINDER: Please don’t forget to donate for Diocesan Charitable Fund. 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 DIOCESE OF STAMFORD. DO NOT MAIL THIS FORM TO THE CHANCERY OFFICE. We sincerely ask all parishioners to make generous contributions.