AKATHIST Hymn to The Holy Innocents

Tuesday, December 27, 2011


Hymns


Troparion (Tone 1)

We beseech You, O Lord of mankind
To accept in supplication
The suffering which Your saints endured for Your sake, O Lord,
And heal all our infirmities.

Kontakion (Tone 8)

When the King was born in Bethlehem, the Magi came from the East.
Having been led by a star from on High, they brought Him gifts.
But in exceeding wrath, Herod harvested the infants as sorrowing wheat;
The rule of his kingdom has come to an end.     
In the Byzantine Rite, the Liturgy states that there are 14,000 Holy Innocents being slain while the Syrian Rite list that there is a Estimated number of 64,000. The Coptic Rite raised that number to 144,000. The Holy Innocents are group of Infants being slaughtered upon the Orders by King Herod of Bethlehem to ensured that the Child, which is our Lord Jesus Christ, been foretold by the Magi will be also be Killed being his "rival" and assumed he is among the dead Children. The incident, like others in Matthew, is described as the fulfillment of a passage in the Old Testament read as prophecy, in this case a reading of Jeremiah: "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children."
In the name of this Blog, on behalf of the Contributors and me, as the Head Moderator, will be heeding the call of  100% KATOLIKONG PINOY, The Largest Facebook Fan Page here in the Philippines, in their statement written below, citations taken, as Intention also before this Year ends:
"Pray for the poor children who were never given the chance of living in this world, whether they were due to miscarriage, calamity, cruelty, sickness, or abortion."
By the Intercession and the Guidance by the Most Holy and Blessed Theotokos, and by the Grace and Mercy of God, this Blog also stand for the cause of Life. The Eastern Catholic Churches too is aligned with the Teachings of the Sacred Magisterium in matters of Life and Morality, and the Papal teachings on the concept of Life,  as what been defined the Encyclical "Humanae Vitae" of His Holiness Pope Paul VI and the Encyclical Evangelium Vitae of His Holiness Blessed Pope John Paul II on regards of matter of life, and thus this Feast of the Holy Innocents fits this declaration of our Blog supporting the Cause of Life here in our beloved Nation, the Republic of the Philippines.
For more about the Holy Innocent, click here on this link about their Hagiography for more Information. May the Memory of this Infants being Massacred be Eternal!!! +
 


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AKATHIST Hymn to The holy, glorious, all-laudable Apostle and Archdeacon Stephen the Protomartyr

Hymns

Troparion (Tone 4) [Holy Tradition]

O First Martyr and Apostle Of Christ,
Thou hadst fought the good fight.
And didst expose the perversion of the persecutors,
For when thou wast killed by stoning at the hands of wicked men,
Thou didst receive a crown from the right hand on high,
And didst cry out to God saying,
"O Lord do not charge this sin against them!"
Kontakion (Tone 3) [Holy Tradition]

Yesterday the Master came to us as a man,
And today his servant departs from life.
Yesterday the King was born as a man,
And today His servant is stoned to death.
For the sake of Christ Holy Stephen became the first martyr. 
 
 
 
Below is a written prayer for the First Martyr of the Christian Faith:
"Dear Saint Stephen first deacon and martyr, you are the patron saint and model for all deacons. You gave your life unafraid, valiantly speaking the truth you forgave those who were you persecutors. With love we mold our lives after yours. May we gain courage and strength from the wisdom and faith that you possessed as gifted by the Holy Spirit. Intercede for us, oh powerful Saint Stephen, that we may quietly reach out to the poor and the lonely, not seeking recognition for ourselves, but to honor the name of our Lord Jesus, the Savior. You who had the face of an angel guide our path - we ask all of this through the prayer of our Lord Jesus, the Christ. Amen."
 
Just click here about the Hagiography of St. Stephen the Protomartyr about his Life and Works.


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ERCF Statement this New Year's Eve

Monday, December 26, 2011

I have been silent for almost a Month, totally Silent. Now this is the proper time before the Year change from another New one to give a Statement, which as of now i am writing regarding some Polemical Attacks from some of our Brothers from the side of the Orthodoxy to our Brethrens in the Eastern Catholicism, namely our Byzantine Catholics brethren in Eastern Europe.

This is not a some short of a "Roller coaster ride" Message that will infuriate our Brothers in the Orthodox side, but rather defending our so called "Uniate" brothers and sisters from the snear of their attack and to persuade our brothers and sisters too in the Orthodoxy to be charitables as far as possible, no matter how true are their arguments being thrown at their Greek Catholic Counterparts

Cutting this one short, wait for my Statement here as the Head Moderator of this Blog at New Year's Eve

PRESVJATA BOGORODICE, SPASI NAS 
(MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS, PROTECT US)
GOSPODE ISUSE KRISTI, SINE BOZJI, POMILUJ GRJESNOGA
(LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER)

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Eastern Christian Nativity Chants.



From our brothers from the Eastern Rite, from our brothers in the Greek Rite, this beautiful chants being sung at the Great Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Hymn is titled "Xristos Gennatai". Again i kindly ask for those who knew this Chant to give us the Lyrics both in English and the two in Greek; the one written in the Greek alphabet and other to the Latin alphabet. Thank you very much for the People who followed our Blog. CHRIST IS TRULY BORN, LET US GLORIFY HIM!!!!!

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Ukrainian Greek Catholic Metropolitanate of Ternopil established

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Source from Religious Information Service of Ukraine (RISU):

On December 22, during the hierarchical liturgy led by Patriarch Sviatoslav of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) in concelebration with Greek and Roman Catholic clergy, the Ternopil-Zboriv Archeparchy of UGCC and the Ternopil Metropolitanate of UGCC were proclaimed.
The event was held in the ecumenical spirit with the participation of the clergy and hierarchs from Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, USA and the Vatican, including Archbishop Metropolitan Mieczyslav Mokrzycki of Lviv of the Roman Catholic Church and Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine, Archbishop Thomas Edward Gullickson. The event was also attended by representatives of the Orthodox Churches, including Bishop Nestor (Pysyk) of Ternopil and Buchach of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate.

The proclamation of the metropolitanate took place on the patronal feast of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary and on the day of the anniversary of the priestly ordination of Metropolitan Vasyl (Semeniuk) of the Ternopil Metropolitanate. Therefore, the events were held under the sign of the Virgin Mary, which fact was repeatedly mentioned by Patriarch Sviatoslav.

It was repeatedly stressed during the liturgy that the changes in the church are not only institutional.

“It is in the church where one can revive. Another very important center of the revival of the person and Ukrainian nation is opened,” said Patriarch Sviatoslav.

Metropolitan Vasyl (Semeniuk) of Ternopil explained that the activity of the metropolitanate will facilitate the improvement of the church cooperation not only at the general church level but also between the Ternopil-Zboriv Archeparchy and Buchach Eparchy of UGCC, which are now united under one jurisdiction.

“I encourage everyone to pray zealously for the good work of the newly established metropolitanates and fulfillment of dreams of our fellow-countryman Patriarch Josyf. To ensure that the success of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church should be crowned with the recognition of the patriarchate,” said the metropolitan.

 Video clip of the Enthronement of the new Metropolitan Archbishop of Ternopil, Vasyl Semeniuk, by the Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk

Проповідь митрополита Василія Семенюкa 
Video clip Link of the Homily given by His Excellency Vasyl Semeniuk, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Ternopil 

Many years to His Excellency Vasyl, Mnohaya Lita!!!



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GREAT FEAST, NATIVITY ACCORDING TO THE FLESH OF OUR LORD, GOD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST

Saturday, December 24, 2011



Hymns

Troparion (Tone 4) 
Your Nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shone to the world the Light of wisdom!
For by it, those who worshipped the stars,
Were taught by a Star to adore You,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know You, the Orient from on High.
O Lord, glory to You!
Kontakion (Tone 3)
Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One,
And the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One!
Angels with shepherds glorify Him!
The wise men journey with a star!
Since for our sake the Eternal God was born as a Little Child!
CANON OF THE NATIVITY Ode 1 Christ is born, glorify him. Christ is from heaven, go to meet him. Christ is an earth, be ye lifted up. Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing out with gladness, all ye people. For he is glorified.
Ode 3 'To the Son begotten of the Father without change before the ages, and in these last times without seed made flesh from a Virgin, to Christ God let us cry aloud: Thou hast exalted our horn. Holy are Thou, O Lord!'
Ode 4 Rod of the root of Jesse, and flower that blossomed from his stem, O Christ, Thou hast sprung from the Virgin. From the Mountain overshadowed by the forest Thou hast come, made flesh from her that knew not wedlock, O God who art not formed from matter. Glory to Thy power, O Lord.
Ode 5 'As Thou art God of peace and Father of mercies, Thou hast sent us Thy Angel of great counsel, Who grants us peace; so we are guided by the knowledge of God, watching before dawn we glorify Thee, only Lover of mankind'.
Ode 6 'The monster from the deep spat Jonas from its bowels like a new born babe, just as it had received him; while the Word having dwelt in the Virgin and taken flesh, came forth, yet kept her incorrupt, for being himself not subject to decay, he preserved his mother free from harm'.
Ode 7 'The Youths brought up together in godliness, scorning the impious decree, feared not the threat of fire, but standing in the midst of the flame they sang: God of our Fathers, blessed are Thou!'
Ode 8 'The furnace moist with dew was the image and the figure of a wonder past nature; for it did not burn those it had received; even as the fire of the Godhead did not consume the Virgin's womb into which it has descended. Therefore in praise let us sing: Let all creation bless the Lord, and highly exalt Him to all the ages'.
Ode 9 Magnify, O my soul, the most glorious Theotokos, more honourable and more glorious than the hosts on high. 'I behold a strange and wonderful mystery, heaven is the Cave, the Cherubim thrown -- Virgin, the Manger the Place in which Christ lay, the God whom nothing can contain. Whom we praise and magnify.'
That God so love the World that he gave his only Son. This might sound Protestant but in the Eastern Christian Spirituality, in the fullness of time, our Lord Jesus Christ was revealed to us by being Born by the Most Holy Theotokos, the Blessed Virgin Mary. On the Forefeast of the Nativity we have prepared ourselves in this coming of our Saviour. For more, click on the Information regarding this Great Feast of the Nativity, and the Liturgical Services held on its Forefeast, Vigil and the same day of the Great Feast.


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Year 2011: Eternal Memory and Blessed repose to the Souls of Eastern Catholic Hierarchs

Friday, December 23, 2011

His Beatitude Hovhannes Bedros XVIII Kasparian (1927-Jan. 16,2011)
Patriarch Emeritus of Cilicia, Armenian Catholic Church

His Grace Most. Rev. Julian Gbur, SVD (1942-Mar. 24,2011)
Eparch of Stryj, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

His Grace Most. Rev. Ioan Sisestean (1936-Apr. 12, 2011)
Eparch of Maramures, Romanian Greek Catholic Church

His Excellency Salim Ghazal, B.S (1931-Apr. 29, 2011)
Bishop of Curia of the Patriarchate of Antioch and Archbishop ad Personam, Melkite Greek Catholic Church

His Beatitude Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, C.SS.R (1927-Apr. 1, 2011)
Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly, Syro Malabar Catholic Church

His Excellency George Gutiu (1924-May. 8, 2011)
Eparch of Cluj-Gherla and Archbishop ad Personam, Romanian Greek Catholic Church

His Grace Most. Rev. John Perumattam, M.S.T (1921-Jun. 18, 2011)
Eparch of Ujjain, Syro Malabar Catholic Church

His Grace Most. Rev. Slavomir Miklovs (1932- Jul. 21, 2011)
Eparch of Krizevci, Croatian Byzantine Catholic Church

His Grace Most. Rev. Andrew Pataki (1927- Dec. 8, 2011)
Eparch Emeritus of Passaic, Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Church


Before this Year end, this Blogspot remembers the following Hierarchs from different Eastern Catholic Churches that have fallen asleep to our Lord in this year. Rest assured that we lift our prayers for the Blessed repose of their Souls. Vichnayat Pamyat (MEMORY ETERNAL!!! +)
"O God of spirits and of all
bodies, who trampled down
death and overcame the devil,
and bestowed life on your
world, yourself O Lord set to
rest the soul of your servants
who has fallen asleep, in
a place of light, in a place of
green pastures, in a place of
rest whence all pain, sorrow
and sighing have been driven
away. Forgive him every
transgression committed in
word, in deed, or in thought,
for you are a good God, the
Lover of mankind; yet there is
no man born who does not"
- Panikhida



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AKATHIST Hymn to our venerable and God-bearing Father Saint Francis, Wonderworker of Assisi

Monday, December 19, 2011



Kontakion 1
O Holy Father Francis, we, your spiritual children gather to sing a hymn of praise in your honour, glorifying Christ Who first called you from His Cross to follow Him and renew His Church. Marveling at your unsurpassed virtues of humility and poverty as a living icon of Jesus Crucified, who received the hundred-fold reward in His Kingdom, we exclaim:
Rejoice, Holy Francis, Wonderworker of Assisi, bearing on your body the Marks of the Lord Jesus!
Ikos 1
You are an aromatic fragrance of the Myrrh from on High that has perfumed Christ's Church on earth, O Father Francis, filling it with the streams of Divine Grace that flow from the Wounded Side of our Saviour. What praise can we offer you that is worthy of the manifold greatness bestowed upon you by God? Although we are at a loss, nevertheless we sing:
Rejoice, Holy River overflowing with the Grace of God!
Rejoice, Harp of the Holy Spirit!
Rejoice, Renewer of the Church of God!

Rejoice, Protector of the poor and dispossessed!
Rejoice, Example of the charity of Christ!
Rejoice, Poor Man of Umbria!

Rejoice, Image of Christ Crucified!
Rejoice, Partaker to the fullest of His Sacrifice!
Rejoice, Planter of His Cross in our souls!

Rejoice, Lover of God the Creator of the world!
Rejoice, Friend and helper of all His creatures!
Rejoice, Carefree Bird of Paradise whose spirit soared through the heavens on the wings of prayer and fasting!

Rejoice, Holy Francis, Wonderworker of Assisi, bearing on your body the Marks of the Lord Jesus!


Kontakion 2
Early in your life you learned to disdain the sinful ways of the world, even though you were brought up in pompous wealth. Your mind was once clouded by a great fever, but your spirit clearly saw the folly of the pride of life. Turning to the Cross, you were enlightened by Divine Wisdom that turned your heart to God forever, crying: Alleluia!
Ikos 2
O Holy Father Francis, you were like the rich young man of the Gospel who came to Christ asking what he ought to do to inherit eternal life. But, unlike him, you did not turn away at His command to give up all fleeting material things to the poor in order to follow Him with your whole heart. Blessing you, we sing:
Rejoice, New Mary of Bethany, who chose the "better part!"
Rejoice, New Matthew, leaving the money table to follow Christ!
Rejoice, New Peter, leaving the nets of the world to become a fisher of men!

Rejoice, for you surpassed the wealthy young man of the Gospel in obedience!
Rejoice, for you tasted true freedom in poverty!
Rejoice, for you took up the cause of the needy!

Rejoice, for God is your All!
Rejoice, for you became rich in Christ beyond all measure!
Rejoice, for your heart sings continually and joyfully in the Spirit!

Rejoice, for you are clothed with the armor of God!
Rejoice, for you are girded with His Power!
Rejoice, for you have put on the helmet of salvation!

Rejoice, Holy Francis, Wonderworker of Assisi, bearing on your body the Marks of the Lord Jesus!


Kontakion 3
Your father beat you when he witnessed your great compassion for the poor and your generosity for the needy. Seeking to reject you as his heir, you declared yourself to be an heir to the Kingdom of the Heavenly Father alone. You gave yourself to the Lord in single-minded devotion. Casting off worldly fortune and impious ostentation, you cried: Alleluia!
Ikos 3
Heeding the command of our Saviour in the Gospel that "he who loves Me more than father or mother is unworthy of Me," you did claim God as your Father and the Church as your Mother. Naked did your parents bring you into the world, and naked are you now received by your new Guardians. Praising your love for Christ, we sing:
Rejoice, for Christ calls those who do the Will of the Father His brothers!
Rejoice, for the Lord deems you worthy of Him!
Rejoice, for it is well as He calls you to Himself!

Rejoice, for you are robed with His Grace and Mercy!
Rejoice, for the Mother of God covers you with her Mantle of Protection!
Rejoice, for the Angels keep you under the covert of their wings!

Rejoice, for the Sun has become your brother!
Rejoice, for the Moon is your Sister!
Rejoice, for all living creatures seek their Guardian in you!

Rejoice, for you have found the Truth that has made you free!
Rejoice, for through poverty you obtained great spiritual wealth!
Rejoice, for through bodily want your spirit ached in desire for God!

Rejoice, Holy Francis, Wonderworker of Assisi, bearing on your body the Marks of the Lord Jesus!


Kontakion 4
Praying before the miraculous Cross, you heard Christ's Voice calling you to rebuild His Church and repair what was tattered. You at first understood this command to mean you must rebuild the ruined stones of church buildings. Later you came to recognize that you must work to recreate the image of God in the souls of the tepid to form them into living stones for God's spiritual Temple, crying: Alleluia!

Ikos 4
Gazing upon the holy icon of the Cross of San Damiano, we listen with you for the Voice of Christ to us and for His command to build up His Body that is the Church. You teach us to study the Cross as the great book revealing the secrets of the Saviour's love for us and all people, as we sing:
Rejoice, for when Christ was uplifted on the Cross, He drew all to Himself!
Rejoice, for Christ showed you His pierced Hands and Feet!
Rejoice, for we bow to Christ in the pine, the cedar and the cypress!

Rejoice, for with you we worship at the Footstool of God!
Rejoice, for Christ willingly laid down His Life for us!
Rejoice, for we worship Jesus of Nazareth, the King of Glory!

Rejoice, for from His Wounded Side flows Water and Blood, Mercy and Forgiveness!
Rejoice, for Jesus on the Cross thirsts for our souls!
Rejoice, for He is truly the Son of God!

Rejoice, for the Tomb is empty!
Rejoice, for Christ is risen from the dead!
Rejoice, for He sits at the right hand of the Father!

Rejoice, Holy Francis, Wonderworker of Assisi, bearing on your body the Marks of the Lord Jesus!





Kontakion 5
You acquired the true Spirit of Peace, O Francis, and you spread the Peace of Christ throughout the Church and the world. You reconciled the Mayor of Assisi with his enemy, singing canticles unto the Lord. Although the people of Assisi at first mocked you as a fool, they came to see in you the grace of a true Fool for Christ's Sake, exclaiming: Alleluia!
Ikos 5
Holy Father Francis, we ask you for the great gift of peace in our times, peace in our families, in our communities, and most of all, in the Church herself. Inspire in us compassion, bearing one another's faults and forgiving each other for the sake of the Lord Jesus. Inspired by your life-long example, we sing:
Rejoice, for blessed are you, holy peacemaker!
Rejoice for you are an instrument of the Peace of Christ!
Rejoice, for where there was hatred, there you sowed love!

Rejoice, for where there was injury, there you gave pardon!
Rejoice, for where there was doubt, there you planted faith!
Rejoice, for where there was despair, there you inspired hope!

Rejoice, for where there was darkness, there you enkindled light!
Rejoice, for where there was sadness, there you brought joy!
Rejoice, for you consoled without seeking to be consoled yourself!

Rejoice, for you loved without seeking to be loved in return!
Rejoice, for in giving and pardoning, we receive the abundance of mercy and peace!
Rejoice, for in dying we are born to eternal life!

Rejoice, Holy Francis, Wonderworker of Assisi, bearing on your body the Marks of the Lord Jesus!


Kontakion 6
Standing in spirit on Mount Tabor before the transfigured Christ, you adored the Saviour Who transforms all creation through Theosis in His Divine Incarnation and redemption of the world. You were lost in wonder and awe before the great Wisdom of the Holy Trinity Who had so ordained it thus. And your spirit dances before the Ark of the New Covenant, like David the King and Prophet of old, crying: Alleluia!
Ikos 6
O vagabond troubadour of God's greatness in His created beings! You did ceaselessly praise the Lord for the wonders of nature. Inspire in us the same love for and responsibility toward the gifts that God has given us in His glorious world. May we be ever mindful of our close relation to nature and always honour God's Image that is to be found in it, singing:
Rejoice, for Brother Sun is beautiful and bears God's likeness!
Rejoice, for Sister Moon and the stars in the heavens are bright, precious and fair!
Rejoice, for Brothers Wind and Air show how much God cherishes what He has made!

Rejoice, for Sister Water is humble, precious and pure!
Rejoice, for Brother Fire is a playful light in the night!
Rejoice, for our Sister, Mother Earth, sustains us with fruits, coloured flowers and herbs!

Rejoice, for the rabbit you saved from the snare remained with you as friend!
Rejoice, for the ravenous wolf obeyed you as his most compassionate guardian!
Rejoice, for the birds of the air studiously listen to your preaching!

Rejoice, for they even now make their nests in your image at Assisi!
Rejoice, for the rosebush gave up its thorns rather than suffer you to be pierced by them!
Rejoice, for, as in the Second Coming of Christ, the lamb and the lion lie down beside you!

Rejoice, Holy Francis, Wonderworker of Assisi, bearing on your body the Marks of the Lord Jesus!


Kontakion 7
O Seraphic Father Francis! You led the Angelic life while still on earth and did rebuild the Portiuncula of Our Lady of the Angels. You continually praised the Mother of Christ through whom our Lord came into the world to redeem and transfigure it, thanking the Lord for His great gift to us from the Cross, crying: Alleluia!
Ikos 7
May we learn from you to seek evermore the riches of the mystery of the Incarnation of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Theotokos, our Protection and our great Intercessor before the Heavenly Throne of Her Son. Inspired by your filial love for the Mother of God, we sing:
Rejoice, great subject of the Holy Queen!
Rejoice, servant of the Mother of God, Ever-Virgin!
Rejoice, giving constant praise to Her who was chosen by the Holy Trinity!

Rejoice, Preacher of the Palace of God!
Rejoice, for you prayed day and night at His Tabernacle!
Rejoice, for you were covered by God's Robe!

Rejoice, for you were assisted by His Handmaid!
Rejoice, for Christ on the Cross bestows on us the gift of His Mother!
Rejoice, for the Theotokos makes us faithful servants of God!

Rejoice, for she is the Daughter of God the Father!
Rejoice, for she is the Mother of God the Son!
Rejoice, for she is the Spouse of the Holy Spirit!

Rejoice, Holy Francis, Wonderworker of Assisi, bearing on your body the Marks of the Lord Jesus!


Kontakion 8
Our Lord favoured you, O Holy Father Francis, with the imprint of His own Wounds suffered during His Passion and death for our salvation. Appearing to you in the form of a fiery Seraphim, as you prayed and fasted at the feast of the Exaltation of His Precious and Life-Giving Cross, our Lord transformed you into a living icon of His Crucifixion. As we silently honour God's unfathomable gift to you, honouring your stigmata, we cry: Alleluia!
Ikos 8
With Saint Paul, you can truly say that you bear on your body the Marks of the Lord Jesus. Help us to keep the Cross of Christ forever in our hearts and minds, reflecting on our Lord's great Sacrifice to free us from the power of sin and the evil one. As we praise God's great lovingkindness toward all people, we sing:
Rejoice, Icon of Christ Crucified!
Rejoice, pierced with the Love of God!
Rejoice, for in Christ thou didst become a "wounded healer!"

Rejoice, partaker to the full in the mysteries of our redemption!
Rejoice, for Christ on the Cross embraces thee!
Rejoice, on fire with love for the Passion of Christ!

Rejoice, who bore Christ's Wounded Side!
Rejoice, great Athlete of God, adorned with the Trophies of the Risen Christ!
Rejoice, mystic martyr for the love of the Lord Jesus!

Rejoice, for you joined the sorrowful company on Calvary!
Rejoice, for Christ invites you to drink from His Cup!
Rejoice, for Christ assures you that you will be with Him in Paradise!

Rejoice, Holy Francis, Wonderworker of Assisi, bearing on your body the Marks of the Lord Jesus!


Kontakion 9
You preached the Gospel to all nations, O Father Francis, and burned with a great desire to bring Christ to the Muslim world. Fearlessly, you went to see the leader of the Muslim armies to sow peace and to announce to him the Good News of salvation in Christ. Awed by the aura of your holiness and by your being imbued with the Spirit of Peace, we cry: Alleluia!
Ikos 9
The Muslim leader had to turn his face away at the brightness shining from your face, O Holy Father Francis. Agreeing to treat his Christian prisoners with greater mercy, he could not oppose the great grace he saw emanating from you, and your great conviction concerning the truth of the Gospel of Christ. We ask you to help us all become icons reflecting the light of Christ to all nations that do not yet know Him, and we sing:
Rejoice, Equal to the Apostles, bringing Christ to all!
Rejoice, ready to be martyred for the Gospel of Christ!
Rejoice, fearless preacher of Grace!

Rejoice, reflecting the Light of the Light-Giver!
Rejoice, who proclaimed Christ Crucified!
Rejoice, for you sowed the seeds of Truth!

Rejoice, witness to the Cross!
Rejoice, beacon of salvation!
Rejoice, leading all to the Saviour!

Rejoice, compassionate friend of all seeking enlightenment!
Rejoice, teaching the faith by word and example!
Rejoice, intrepid missionary and father of missionaries!

Rejoice, Holy Francis, Wonderworker of Assisi, bearing on your body the Marks of the Lord Jesus!



Kontakion 10
Many began to seek you out, Father Francis, to become your spiritual children and learn the ways of holiness and the life in Christ from you. Even many people living in the world sought you out to have you as their teacher and guide in their spiritual life. You did not turn any away, but did wisely and rightly order their lives according to the discipline of the Gospel and monastic life. Thanking God for these great gifts of His Grace in you, we cry: Alleluia!
Ikos 10
"If anyone seeks to follow Me, let him sell all he has, and take up his Cross," commands the Lord. The lesser brothers and sisters who are your spiritual children strive to grow in the life in Christ through closer imitation of you, Father Francis. Giving up everything to receive the hundred-fold reward in the next life, they sing:
Rejoice, for the Gospel is our Rule of Life!
Rejoice, for Christ's Yoke is light and sweet!
Rejoice, for anyone putting his hand to the plough and turning back is unworthy of the Lord!

Rejoice, for you are the joy of St Clare and St Agnes!
Rejoice, for they teach their followers to be lost in adoration of Christ!
Rejoice, for they serve Christ in the poor and rejected of the world!

Rejoice, for your followers living in the world have put on the Lord Jesus Christ!
Rejoice, for they witness to Christ in their daily lives to all!
Rejoice, for their good works lead others to glorify their Father Who is in Heaven!

Rejoice, Holy Hermit of Assisi and Umbria!
Rejoice, drawing continual grace and strength from heartfelt prayer!
Rejoice, leading us to the spiritual riches of the Wounded Side of Christ!

Rejoice, Holy Francis, Wonderworker of Assisi, bearing on your body the Marks of the Lord Jesus!


Kontakion 11
Everywhere you go, Father Francis, the people greet you exuberantly and proclaim the miracles of God's Grace in you. Like John the Baptist at the River Jordan, you taught all to "make straight the way of the Lord" in their lives. As with the Apostles after Pentecost, people throw themselves in your shadow, seeking to cut pieces of cloth from your raiment, and the sick try to touch the edge of your garments to receive abundant healing. Glorifying God Who is glorified in you, we exclaim: Alleluia!
Ikos 11
You are a light to the world, Father Francis, and do shine brightly with miracles. Bodily ailments leave the people, and souls are turned toward God. Asking your intercession for similar graces for us today, we sing:
Rejoice, Holy Wonderworker, exuding the spiritual Myrrh of healing!
Rejoice, pouring the unction of the Holy Spirit over our sinful souls!
Rejoice, bringing us to our complete conversion unto the Lord!

Rejoice, Fountain irrigating our passions with the coolness of Divine Grace!
Rejoice, Noetic Enlightener, helping our unbelief!
Rejoice, Fragrant Flower perfuming all in the Vineyard of Christ!

Rejoice, Holy Mystic, licking thy lips to gather the spiritual honey of the Name of Jesus!
Rejoice, Teacher of Divine precepts!
Rejoice, drawing the grace of God down through prayer and sacrifice!

Rejoice, for the prayer of the Righteous Man is powerful before God!
Rejoice, for you anoint us with the spiritual balsam of healing oil!
Rejoice, God is pleased in the prosperity of His servant!

Rejoice, Holy Francis, Wonderworker of Assisi, bearing on your body the Marks of the Lord Jesus!


Kontakion 12
Toward the end of your holy life, O Father Francis, you admonished your friends and followers to hold fast to the Way of Christ in the Gospel as they were taught by you. You reminded them of the fleeting nature of all material things and that we carry nothing with us after our repose. Blessing everyone, you received the visitation of Sister Death, crying to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 12
With what hymns of praise may we adequately praise your voluntary trials and tribulations, O Holy Father Francis? In the midst of your great sufferings and illness, a brother, in his ignorance, told you to ask the Lord that He might have greater compassion on you, His servant. Falling in your weakened state to the ground and kissing it, however, you thanked God for your suffering and submitted to His Will, saying you were ready to receive even more pain, if this be according to God's Providence. Help us to bear the trials and tribulations of life with like long-suffering resignation to God's Will, as we sing:
Rejoice, who did suffer spiritually with Christ in His Agony!
Rejoice, who was entirely conformed to the Will of God!
Rejoice, for nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ!

Rejoice, for all suffering is to be accounted as nothing for the sake of the Lord Jesus!
Rejoice, for you pray before God for our infirmities and temptations!
Rejoice, for whose sorrow can compare to that of the Lord on the Cross?

Rejoice, for you bless us now and always!
Rejoice, for you pray for us in heaven!
Rejoice, for we run to you in all our needs and sufferings!

Rejoice, for by your intercession the Lord blesses us and keeps us!
Rejoice, for the Lord makes His Face to shine upon us and is gracious to us!
Rejoice, for the Lord lifts up His Countenance upon us and grants us His Peace!

Rejoice, Holy Francis, Wonderworker of Assisi, bearing on your body the Marks of the Lord Jesus!


Kontakion 13
O Holy Father Francis, Icon of Christ Crucified, whose heart was aflame with the love of God in all His creatures! Pray unto God for us that our hearts may be freed of the cares of this world and its material enticements so that we too may spiritually soar through the heavens toward God on the wings of faith and prayer in all sincerity of spirit. Guide us always with your intercession and may we keep your teachings by word and example before us always until we reach the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Kontakion 13 is repeated three times)


(Then Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1 are repeated here).
Prayer to our Venerable and God-Bearing Father, St Francis of Assisi
O Father Francis, we ask you to accept this humble hymn in praise of your life in Christ lived in all simplicity, poverty and humility! Cover us with your holy mantle of protection and keep our hearts in the love of God in Christ that surpasses all understanding. Lead us in the ways of God, which are not the ways of this world. And after our struggles here, bring us to the eternal enjoyment of what eye has not seen, and what ear has not heard, for those who love God and do His Will, following Him wholeheartedly in simplicity and holiness. Amen.


_____________________________________________


One of the composed Akathist of Alexander Roman, a Ukrainian Greek Catholic Doctor of Theology from his Ukrainian Orthodoxy, this one are among the few dedicated Akathist to St Francis of Assisi and other Saints from the Latin Rite. For more, click here for the Hagiography of this Holy Founder of the Monastic Catholic Franciscan Order

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New Metropolitanate (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church)

Friday, December 16, 2011

From the UGCC Information Department:

On December 13, 2011, the day of St. Andrew, the primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) in Ivano-Frankivsk announced the formation of the Ivano-Frankivsk Metropolitanate of the UGCC and enthroned its first metropolitan – Bishop Volodymyr (Viytyshyn).
The metropolitan received powers and obligations under Canons 131-139 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. He will convoke the metropolitan synod and prepare useful questions on the activity of church in a particular territory to be discussed in it, will have the right to ordain and enthrone bishops in his metropolitanate, oversee that the faith and ecclesiastical discipline are accurately observed, conduct a canonical visitation, if the eparchial bishop neglected it, and also erect a metropolitan tribunal.
“The UGCC is heading toward the approval of the patriarchal system and opportuneness of these efforts is recognized by the Roman Pontiff,” Patriarch Sviatoslav said in the Decree on the Proclamation of Three New Metropolitanates of the UGCC. And to further strengthen the patriarchal structure of the Church of Kyiv and Halych, the Synod of Bishops resolved to establish on land of the Kyiv and Halych Church three new metropolitanates, namely, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Ternopil-Zboriv – and raise the Ivano-Frankivsk and Ternopil-Zboriv eparchies to the dignity of archeparchy. These decisions are blessed and approved by Pope Benedict XVI.
The decree on the proclamation also mentions the history of the UGCC, its difficult path, the legalization of the UGCC and the return of the see of UGCC head to Kyiv.
Archbishop Volodymyr (Viytyshyn), Metropolitan of Ivano-Frankivsk, thanks God and Pope Benedict XVI, Patriarch Sviatoslav, and the Synod of Bishops for the creation of Ivano-Frankivsk Metropolitanate and for their trust in him. The metropolitan also gave “special thanks” to his “dearest” people who were present in the church – his father and mother. “They gave me life, a Christian upbringing, and supported my choice to become a priest in the time of the underground,” said Bishop Volodymyr.
He also said that the creation of the Ivano-Frankivsk Metropolitanate was the “crowning of work of people of different generations, their vicissitudes, suffering and persecution for their commitment in serving God and His holy Church.”
To the newly created Ivano-Frankivsk Metropolitanate consists of the Ivano-Frankisk Archeparchy and the Kolomyia and Chernivtsi Eparchy. The cathedral of the metropolitanate is the Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection of Christ in Ivano-Frankivsk.
As we reported earlier, on November 29, 2011, the head of the UGCC Patriarch Sviatoslav raised the dignity of Lviv Archeparchy to a metropolitanate. The metropolitanate is headed by Archbishop Ihor (Vozniak). It consists of the Lviv Archeparchy, and the Sokal-Zhovkva, Sambir-Drohobych and Stryi eparchies.
On December 22 the creation of Ternopil-Zboriv Metropolitanate will be proclaimed. It will include the Ternopil-Zboriv Archeparchy and the Buchach Eparchy. The cathedral of the metropolitanate will become the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Ternopil, and its archbishop will be Bishop Vasyl (Semeniuk).
Now the UGCC will have seven metropolitanates. In addition to the newly created ones, the other metropolitanate of the UGCC in Ukraine is the Kyiv and Halych Metropolitante, headed by His Beatitude Sviatoslav. It consists of Kyiv Archeparchy and the Donetsk-Kharkiv, Odesa-Crimea, and Lutsk exarchates. In addition, the UGCC has the Przemysl and Warsaw Metropolitanate in Poland, the Philadelphia Metropolitanate in the United States, and the Winnipeg Metropolitanate in Canada.
Historical Background
Since Kyivan Rus’ adopted Christianity in the Byzantine Rite, its church had the status of metropolitanate of the Constantinople Patriarchate with a See in Kyiv. The head of the church was given the title Metropolitan of Rus' (later Kyiv), with whom all the bishops of the Kyivan state concelebrated. In 1303, the Galician Metropolitanate appeared in the Galician-Volyn principality, and from 1401, the head of the Church of Kyiv received the title Metropolitan of Kyiv, Halych, and All Rus'.
Metropolitan Isydor, who participated in the Ferrara-Florence unification council in 1439, bore the title of Metropolitan of Kyiv and Halych. Metropolitan Mykhailo (Rahoza), who confirmed the unification of the Kyivan Church with the Roman Apostolic See in Brest in 1596, was also Metropolitan of Kyiv, Halych and all Rus’.
In view of the persecution the Uniate Kyiv-Halych Church under Tsar Peter I and Catherine II, Pope Pius VII in 1808 blessed the regular division of the Kyiv-Halych metropolitanate. The Greek Catholic eparchies of Galicia – Lviv, Przemysl and Kholm – were removed from under jurisdiction of the Uniate Metropolitan in Tsarist Russia, the Galician metropolitan was restored, and the titles of Galician Metropolitan, Archbishop of Lviv and the Bishop of Kamianets-Podilsk with the See in the Cathedral of St. George in Lviv were recognized.
In this way, through the recognition of all rights and powers which belonged to the Metropolitan of Kyiv and Halych, the legal continuity of the UGCC was secured, which later gave grounds to Galician primates, in particular, Metropolitan Andrey (Sheptytsky), to regard themselves as administrators of the temporarily vacant throne of Kyiv and its episcopate, and St. Pope Pius X confirmed this right of the Galician Metropolitan in 1908.
In 1939-1941 Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky appointed exarchs for pastoral care of the faithful on the lands of Great Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, and worked in trying to return the title of Metropolitan of Kyiv and Halych. Similar requests were repeated by a UGCC delegation in December 1944. Unfortunately, all these efforts led to the imprisonment of the hierarchs and started the era of martyrdom, underground activity and the heroic confrontation with the wicked totalitarian regime, which lasted almost half a century.
Galician Metropolitan Josyf (Slipyj), after his release from 18 years in prisons and his arrival in Rome in 1963, was recognized as the Major Archbishop, equal to patriarch in rights based on powers that Kyivan metropolitans always had.
His successor Myroslav Ivan (Lubachivsky), having returned to Lviv in 1991, began restoring structures of the Kyiv-Halych Metropolitanate, which, on the basis of historical continuity and fairness, provided for the return of its leadership in Kyiv. The return of the See of the UGCC head to the capital of Ukraine took place in 2005 under His Beatitude Lubomyr (Husar). This decision of the Synod of Bishops of the UGCC was blessed by Pope John Paul II.


Mитрополія УГКЦ у Івано-Франківську від 13.12.2011

Подяка Блаженнішого Cвятослава Шевчука

Hовий митрополит УГКЦ чин введення

MNOHAYA LITA! MAY GOD GRANT YEARS TO THE NEW METROPOLITAN!!

Подяка Mитрополита Bолодимира Війтишина



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On the Nativity Fast, or the Phillipian Fast

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Unlike in the Latin Rite Roman Catholicism, which has started to observed the Advent Season, in the Eastern Rite Churches, both Catholic and Orthodox, observed a 40 days period of Fasting and Abstinence which is called St. Phillip's fast (Why it was called Phillipian fast), because it traditionally falls on November 14, so the reason it is the name of this season in the Eastern Rite. Here is a excerpt from a Explanation given in the Website byzcath.org, of the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholics in the United States, because being a Latin Rite Catholic, i cannot this explained this Devotional Tradition among our brethrens in the Eastern Rite, besides the fact i cannot explained such, still try to learned much more.

THE PREPARATORY SEASON FOR THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD - THE PHILLIPIAN FAST

 Rev. Msgr. Russell A. Duker
Archdiocese of Pittsburgh


"The oldest Christian feast is the Resurrection of our Lord (Pascha).  This Holy Day includes a whole cycle of feasts such as the Ascension and Pentecost.  It is the great feast of our redemption and sanctification.  Later Holy Days followed slowly until the fourth century.  After the Church won official recognition and full freedom of worship and evangelization, our present calendar of festal celebration began to develop.  This development was motivated by the Church's desire to honor both the  events in the life our our Lord and the memory of the holy martyrs.  Eventually the Church established a full year Christian calendar.
We are familiar with the preparatory period before the Resurrection.  This is the "Great Fast" or the "Holy Forty Days' Fast".  The celebration of the birth of our Lord cannot be ascertained before the middle of the fourth century.  The Church at Rome was the first to celebrate our Lord's birth.  Many think that the date of December 25 was chosen to supplant the feast of the god Mithra and the solemn celebration of the birth of the invincible sun god.  Others think that the date was chosen for the same reason that the Roman pagans honor the victory of the sun.  It is around this date that the sun overcomes the darkness and the days become longer.  Several times the prophets call Jesus Christ "Sun of Justice."  It was deemed proper to choose the day when the sun begins its victorious cycle of light by shortening the duration of the night.
According to some sermons of St. Gregory of Nazianzus, he introduced this feast into the Eastern Church about the year 379 or 388.  After his departure from Constantinople the celebration of Christ's Nativity on December 25 was neglected.  In 395 Emperor Honorius reinstituted the celebration.  St. John Chrysostom tells us how he introduced this feast at Antioch sometime around 380.  He explicitly says how he introduced it in imitation of the Church at Rome.  St. John believed that the Roman Christians knew the date of Christ's birth better than anybody else since the imperial city archives were accessible to them.
The first mention of a preparatory period before Christmas is mentioned in a decree of the Council of Saragossa (380).  The Council Fathers stated that every Christian should daily go to church from December 17 until the Theophany (January 6th). At the Synod of Mac (581) in present day France it was decreed that from November 11, the day of St. Martin, until December 24 every Christian should fast 3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday).
Our pre-Nativity period of preparation developed rather late.  Scholars do not agree about the exact time it began.  Some hold that it began in the sixth century.  Others believe it began in the seventh or eighth century. The present liturgical pre-Nativity season was finally established at the Council of Constantinople (1166).  The Council decreed that the fast would begin on November 15 and last until December 24 inclusive.  Thus, there was created another 40 day fast. 
The pre-Nativity fast is often called "Phillip's Fast" because it begins on the day after the feast of St. Phillip.  The fast was introduced to prepare the Church for a worthy celebration of the great and holy day of the Birth of Christ. The regulations for the fast were far more lenient than the Great Fast before Pascha.  Only Monday, Wednesday, and Friday were days of strict fasting without meat, dairy products or oil (in Slavic countries).  On Sundays fish was permitted.  Lay people were at first permitted to eat fish on other days, too, until the monastic rigoristic influence prevailed.  It is interesting to observe that the famous 12th century Byzantine canonist Balsamon expressed the opinion that it would be enough if the lay people fasted only one week before Christmas.  In 1958 a modern Greek author, Christos M. Enislides, welcomes Balsamon's suggestion and believes that the best solution would be for the Church at large to abstain from meat and dairy products for 33 days.  During the last seven days of the fast everybody should observe the strict fast.
To worthily meet our Lord and Savior, we should sanctify this pre-Nativity season of the Phillipian Fast.  Sanctifying means spending our time in faith and in the service of God and in kindness towards our neighbor, especially those who are in need of our assistance.  And we should think of what we would have been had Christ not come to our lowliness and poverty.  Together with the whole of the Byzantine Church we should try to meet Christ as he deserves to be met and as it will, in His mercy, best serve our spiritual benefit!"


WHY DO WE KEEP PHILLIP'S FAST

Steve Puluka

"Unlike the Great Fast before the Feast of the Resurrection (Pascha), the Phillipian fast is seldom known or practiced in the Byzantine Church.  Often it is confused with the Roman Catholic practice of Advent.
Since the Nativity / Theophany events hold less importance than Pascha - the Feast of Feasts - (the Resurrection), a detailed structure never evolved for the Phillipian Fast.  Yet the Phillipian Fast is an ancient practice in preparation for the Incarnation and Theophany of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This 40 day fast is important and should be preserved and practiced.  The Phillipian Fast can help us to better understand and appreciate all of God's saving plan.
Without the structure and public events to guide us, the practice of the Phillipian Fast has gradually fallen off.  Theologically, the birth and the public ministry of Christ are inextricable linked.  The Phillipian Fast was created to prepare us to receive Christ into the world and begin His public ministry.  They are two sides of a single coin.  The Phillipian fast prepares us to receive the public ministry of Christ announced at Theophany.
On arriving at Bethlehem and the Nativity on December 25th, we begin to prepare for the Theophany.  We do not stop at the Nativity.  In our joy at God's arrival, we press forward and see the Theophany.  With Theophany we experience the beginning of Christ's revelation to us of the mysteries of God.  Most important of all, this event points out the Mystery of the Trinity, a mystery long hinted in the Old Testament."

______________________________________________

All of this are cited and i do not take all of this Explanation mine but from these Scholarly learned People who have give their reflections on this 40 days preceding the Nativity of our Lord.


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AKATHIST Hymn to Our father among the saints Nicholas of Myra, Wonder-worker.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011


Hymns

Troparion (Tone 4)
In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,
an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;
your humility exalted you;
your poverty enriched you.
Hierarch Father Nicholas,
entreat Christ our God
that our souls may be saved.
Kontakion (Tone 3)
You revealed yourself, O saint, in Myra as a priest,
For you fulfilled the Gospel of Christ
By giving up your soul for your people,
And saving the innocent from death.
Therefore you are blessed as one become wise in the grace of God.
St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, was both venerated by the Eastern Rite, both Catholics and the Orthodox because of the Intercessions attributed to him and the miracles reported. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus. For more about his Hagiography, click here and another one here. 


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Not all are Happy on the Christmas "Gift"

Monday, December 5, 2011

Last November 29, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Lviv was elevated to become a Metropolitan, and with its Archeparch His Excellency Ihor Vozniak, C.SS.R, promoted into Metropolitan Archbishop. In December 13 and 22, the Eparchies of Ivano Frankivsk and Ternopil will be Elevated in Metropolitan Archeparchies too, But the Russian Orthodox Church are not that "Quite" happy on this Development as it was states on the Article from the site Religious Information Service in Ukraine regarding this Issue


First, let us clarify that i do not Copy paste the whole Article from that site, even if i make a citation. I will only cite some Important message the People are involve here. Just click the link below to read the Article.


Here is a Quote from their Secretary of  the Department of External Church Affairs,  Fr. Dmytro Syzonenko:




"We are always concerned over activization of Catholics at the territories which are not considered Catholic. Ukraine is not considered a Catholic region. Reforms of the Church structures are an internal matter of UGCC but establishment of metropolitanates is an indication that they strengthen their positions which will inevitably cause tension in the Orthodox-Catholic relations in Ukraine"



Another comment from their Eparch His Grace Yevstratii (Zoria):




"It is obvious to everyone that UGCC has a significant number of faithful and clergy in the three Galician regions and its historic presence in that region is considerable. Therefore, it is not surprising that UGCC decided to establish the structural units in Ukraine as it has metropolitanates abroad. The statements of ROC [Russian Orthodox Church] as to complication of the dialogue because of UGCC are just an element of the diplomatic game of Moscow with the Vatican. ROC has used these scary tales of destroyed eparchies, confiscated churches with one purpose, namely, to get something from the Vatican"


Now from the side of the Ukrainian Greek Catholics:



Another quote from the Auxiliary Eparch of the newyl promoted Ukrainian Greek Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lviv, His Grace Benedict Aleksiychuk:



"If someone is happy with that, we will be glad, if someone is irritated, we should understand that we can not satisfy everyone. This is an internal development of our church, of our structures"


To make a Summary, on the side of the Ukrainian Greek Catholics, it is obvious, being the largest of all Eastern Catholic Churches comprising 8 Million adherents, it is a must to have this Elevation, specially in the Western part of Ukraine, where Byzantine Catholicism comprised the largest Community there. On the Russian Orthodox, i better ask why the worry?? the Kyivan Orthodox under Filaret makes the right comment: That's a Internal Affair. What did not affect you will not Kill you Hehehe and specially that Area in Galicia has been Catholic since the time of Union of Brest in 1595, and Uzhorod in 1646. Here again the Moscow of all Rus, making a Cock a Doodle Poo Wiw 

For some i am just making my Statements clear, and to clarify, this is not RANTING :P And please do not ever try to expose those History of Uniate "Violence", it has nothing to do with this one, Honestly 

Reminds me of this Article of that Russian Metropolitan Cry Baby, really the Situation there in Ukraine is not that far from over, and the Eastern Rite Catholic Filipino Blogspot will closely look and monitor all this.







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