Saints Boris and Gleb

Our Church liturgically commemorates the holy protomartyrs of Rus’, Boris and Gleb, in baptism named Roman and David.

Righteous passion-bearers and true fulfillers of the Gospel of Christ, Chaste Boris and guileless Gleb, You did not resist the attacks of your brother, the enemy, When he killed your bodies but could not touch your souls. Therefore, let the evil lover of power mourn. While you rejoice with the angels standing before the Holy Trinity. Pray that those who honor your memory may be pleasing to God, And that all Orthodox Christians may be saved. (Troparion)

When the first Christian prince in the Rus’ lands, 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 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 what has become the Kievan Rus’ spirituality. (NS)

Boris and Gleb are the first saints of the Rus’ Church.

May ask Ste. Boris and Gleb to ask the Lord for the grace to forgive and love our enemies, even those who are close to us.

Blessed Basil Hopko

The Byzantine Church recalls the memory of a 20th century martyr for the faith, Basil Hopko (April 24, 1904—July 23, 1976) was a priest and bishop of the Slovak Greek Catholic Church. Hopko was beatified by Pope John Paul II for his martyrdom under Communist occupation.

Having contemporary models of holiness is important to us because it reminds us that it is possible to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A brief biography can be read here.

Here is a hymn for our holy father and confessor Basil (Hopko), Bishop of Medila composed by James Michael Thompson.

The Church of God with angel ranks
Combines to sing the praise
Of Basil, shepherd of the flock
Who served Christ all his days!
With no regard for life or wealth
He preached the Word most true;
As he so bravely lived and died,
May we thus also do!

A scholar from his early youth,
He heard Your priestly call,
And from his ordination day,
He gave to You his all.
By pastoring and teaching, too,
His patient, faithful life
Became a shining model for
His Church in times of strife.

When vicious persecution came,
Upon him, hands were laid,
And he was made a bishop then,
A leader firm and staid.
Though seized, imprisoned, sick and worn,
He never turned away,
And through his good example, helped
All those who thought to stray.

O Father, lover of us all,
O Christ, our Master true,
O Spirit, holy Paraclete:
All praise we sing to You!
O Triune God, O One-in-Three,
We give you thanks today:
As blessed Basil followed You,
Help us to walk his way!

(Tune: Pod tvoj pokrov/We Hasten to Your Patronage)
(c) 2005, J. Michael Thompson

St Mary Magdalene

The Church recalls the memory of the holy myrrhbearer and equal of the apostles, Mary Magdalene.

There are several Marys mentioned in the New Testament. The surname Magdalene distinguishes this Mary as the one from the town of Magdala. Luke’s gospel mentions that Jesus relieved her of seven devils, which could have simply been some kind of physical or mental illness. Scripture gives evidence of her life as a devoted follower of Christ whose loyalty remained firm when even the faith of the other twelve apostles wavered.

It is most likely that the unnamed woman who washed Christ’s feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, and then anointed them was Mary Magdalene, as depicted in many icons of her.

The Church gives Mary Magdalene special honor as the most faithful companion of Jesus as she was at the foot of the cross when he was crucified, and was the first to witness his resurrection. Her encounter with Christ on her way to perform the funeral anointing, as recorded by John, earned her an apostles’ task, for it was she who was commissioned to tell the other apostles that Christ had risen. Thus it becomes clear that not only was she “equal to the apostles” but as scripture shows, she was “apostle to the apostles.” (NS)

“O Mary Magdalene, you were the first to witness the divine Resurrection of the First Cause of all good things, who has compassionately deified our nature; and you were the first to be the herald of the good news to the Apostles, crying out to them: Lay aside your sadness! Receive great hope instead! Come and see the risen Christ who grants the world great mercy! (Doxasticheron, Tone 6, at Psalm 140)

The Holy Prophet Ezekiel

The holy prophet Ezekiel is commemorated today.

Ezekiel was born into a priestly family and became a priest near the time of the Babylonian captivity. At first, he remained in Jerusalem, where he received his call. When Jerusalem fell in 586 BC, he was included with the Jewish exiles. Ezekiel’s gifts of imagery and poetic expression make his book one of the great works of ancient literature.

His teaching centers on the need for inner conversion. Thus, each person must make a “change of heart”, and God himself will infuse a new spirit. These themes form the basis for the theology of grace and repentance in the Church. Ezekiel also serves as the source of subsequent apocalyptic tradition. The several visions which characterize his prophecy made a very perceptible influence on the Book of Revelation. It is on Ezekiel’s apocalyptic vision that the iconographic portrayals of the Pantocrator have traditionally been based.

The icon of Christ enthroned in the apse of [the church] … is an expression of this tradition; it is an image of the fullness of Ezekiel’s vision of the “glory of the Lord”. (NS)

Saint Ezekiel, pray for us.

St Elijah the Holy Prophet

Today, we liturgically remember Elijah the Prophet. It is a day to request a blessing for the car and motorcycle.

Prophet Elijah of great renown, seer of the mighty mighty works of God, by your command you held back the rain! Pray for us to the only Lover of mankind! (Kontakion)

Elijah was a prophet of the northern kingdom of Israel during the 9th century reign of Ahab and his consort Jezebel. The first book of Kings records the prophet’s fight against the ingratitude and apostasy of the chosen people, a battle colorfully portrayed in Elijah’s contest with the priests of Baal.

Later Judaic tradition came to regard Elijah’s fiery departure as a prophetic sign in itself, and his return was awaited as the herald of the Messianic age. Thus in the New Testament, both John the Baptist and Christ were mistakenly thought to be the reappearance of Elijah. However, at Christ’s transfiguration, Elijah does make his second appearance in fulfillment of this ancient expectation.

Elijah is one of the most dramatic and inspiring of the Old Testament prophets. His many feats of power over the elements of fire and water made him a popular saint in the oldest folk traditions of the Middle East and Russia. The Church remembers the prophet as a prototype of Christ, and events from his life are read on the feasts of Pascha, Theophany, and the Transfiguration. (NS)

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ

Sunday, 7/19, 7th Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m. +Michael and Anna Lipcan requested by Barbara and Patrick Bagley
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Romans 15:1-7
Gospel: Matthew 9:27-35, Tone 6

Monday, 7/20, The Holy Great Prophet Elijah
8:00 a.m. +Lajos Komondy (15th Anniv.) requested by Chris Komondy

Tuesday, 7/21, The Holy Prophet Ezekiel; Our Venerable Father Simeon and companion John
8:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Michael Muryn requested by Mary Muryn

Wednesday, 7/22, Mary Magdalene equal to the apostles
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 7/23, Holy Martyrs Trophimus, Teofil
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Friday, 7/24, The Holy Martyrs Boris and Gleb
8:00 a.m. no intention for the Divine Liturgy

Saturday, 7/25, The Dormition of Anna
8:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Michael Muryn

Sunday, 7/26, 8th Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m. +Francis Dmyterko (14th Anniv.) requested by the Family
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Gospel: Matthew 14:14-22, Tone 7

Parish announcements

Christ is among us!

This week vigil light is offered to God’s glory in memory of Francis Dmyterko requested by the Family.

Dear Parishioners, please close your phones during the Divine Liturgy. Your phones make our stream live difficult. Thank you!

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.

We are asking for volunteers to come and paint the front and back entrance to our rental building at 573 George St. If anyone would like to volunteer for this project, please contact Fr. Iura Godenciuc, either in person or you may call the rectory at (203) 865-0388. Thank You.

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

  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmichaelnewhaven
  • Website: https://stmichaelukrainian.org

Helping the suffering in Ukraine
As most of you are aware, in June , parts of western Ukraine were hit by torrential rains that caused devastating floods over wide areas. The Oblasts of Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi were the worst affected. As a result of the rains, over 4600 homes were lost or flooded, and 550 km of roads and 90 bridges were washed out. Three people lost their lives and thousands of others were forced to evacuate their homes and leave their possessions. Our suffering brothers and sisters in Ukraine need our help. Our Patriarch, His Beatitude Sviatoslav has written an appeal letter on their behalf, asking us: “to show Christian solidarity and social service, so that those who are suffering might receive assistance as soon as possible. I appeal to all communities of our church in Ukraine and throughout the world, to act in the spirit of the Good Samaritan of the Gospel, to support those who are deprived of their homes and have face-to-face with misfortune”. We will conduct a special collection in our parish to help our brothers and sisters in need. 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.

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St Vladimir the Great (of Kiev)

The Kievan Rus’ Church –to which we belong– today liturgically recalls the memory of Vladimir. The holy Vladimir the Great, grand prince of Kiev and equal of the apostles, in baptism named Basil.

Vladimir descended from the Slavic-Viking line of Rurik. He began his princely career in Novgorod, and eventually, by cunning as much as by prowess, he took over his older brother’s inheritance and became Grand Prince of Kiev and the whole land of Rus’. His motives for becoming Christian were complex, but must have included the example of his grandmother, Olga, the conversion of a Viking cousin who proved Christianity could be a manly religion, and the prospects of allying himself to the Byzantine Empire through marriage. Nonetheless his decision was a momentous one, for it affected his entire domain. The sincerity of his reception of the Gospel is borne out by the effect it had on his rule. At a time when Europe and even the Byzantines were barbaric in punishing criminals, and even slight offenders, Vladimir outlawed torture, mutilation, and capital punishment. He sent food from his own stores to the poor and the sick, and organized social services unknown to any other city in Europe.

Much of the prince’s life was embellished by the legends of the early chronicles and epics have colored the liturgical texts. Tradition relates that he sent envoys to observe the organized religions of his prominent neighbors. What they experienced in Constantinople has remained a by-word for Orthodox liturgy. After attending services in Hagia Sofia, they reported to Vladimir: “We did not know whether we were in heaven or on earth!” In 988 a mass baptism was held in the Dnieper River by command of the prince, and Greek and Bulgarian missionaries began to spread the Gospel throughout Kievan Rus’.

[The Slavic peoples]… have celebrated the millennium of this event, and our own church in America can trace its roots to that first taste of “heaven on earth.”

Vladimir died on this date in 1015 with a prayer on his lips. By mid-thirteenth century he was honored as a saint. In 1313 the first church was dedicated to him, in Novgorod, where he was first prince. (NS)

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ

Sunday, 7/12, 6th Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m. +Rose Mary Deren requested by Cathy E. Kolesnik
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Romani 12:6-14
Gospel: Matthew 9:1-8, Tone 5

Monday, 7/13, Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel
8:00 a.m. +Alicja Krenta (Pan.) requested by Osyp Danko

Tuesday, 7/14, Holy Apostle Aquila
8:00 a.m. +Fr. Richard Rohrer (Pan.) requested by John and Mariangeles Burger

Wednesday, 7/15, Vladimir the Great
8:00 a.m. God’s blessing and health for Michael Muryn requested by the Chermak Family

Thursday, 7/16, The Holy Bishop Martyr Athenogenes
8:00 a.m. +Fr. Vladimir Levitzky (44th Anniv., Pan.) requested by Joseph M. Levitzky

Friday, 7/17, The Holy Great Martyr Marina
8:00 a.m. +Mychajlo Zvarych(1st Anniv., Pan.) requested by Stefania Zvarych

Saturday, 7/18, Holy Martyrs Hyacinth and Emilian
9:00 a.m. +Lillian & James Ryzewski (Pan.) requested by Jayne Ryzewski

Sunday, 7/19, 7th Sunday after Pentecost
9:00 a.m. +Michael and Anna Lipcan requested by Barbara and Patrick Bagley
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Romans 15:1-7
Gospel: Matthew 9:27-35, Tone 6

Parish announcements

Christ is among us!

Jesus Heals A Paralytic
“Which is less trouble to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?
“To help you realize that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”
He then said to the paralytic, “Stand up! Roll up your mat, and go home.”
(Matthew 9: 5-6)

This week vigil light is offered to God’s glory by Family of Waselik family for all their beloved deceased.

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

  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmichaelnewhaven
  • Website: https://stmichaelukrainian.org

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.

Volunteers Needed: We are asking for volunteers to come and paint the front and back entrance to our rental building at 573 George St. If anyone would like to volunteer for this project, please contact Fr. Iura Godenciuc, either in person or you may call the rectory at (203) 865-0388. Thank 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.

One Pair of Hands
by Carroll Roberson

One pair of hands formed the mountains,
One pair of hands formed the sea.
One pair of hands made the sun and the moon,
Every bird, every flower, every tree.
One pair of hands formed the valleys,
The oceans, the rivers and the sand.
Those hands are so strong, so when life goes wrong,
Put your faith into one pair of hands.
One pair of hands healed the sick,
One pair of hands raised the dead.
One pair of hands calmed the raging storm,
And thousands of people were fed.
One pair of hands said “I love you”,
And those hands were nailed to a tree.
Those hands are so strong, so when life goes wrong,
Put your faith into one pair of hands.

“Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you.”
(Psalm 55: 23)