Eastern Rite Catholic Filipinos: May 2011

HIS BEATITUDE CARDINAL JOSYF SLIPYJ (1892-1984), Confessor of Faith and First Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Of all the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Hierarchs who have been sent to the Soviet Gulag, tortured, starved, even Executed or Assasinated, only Patriarch Josfy the Confessor came out alive and to lead the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on its Diaspora. Sadly that he never see himself going back to Ukraine alive when he die in 1984, and Six years later bringing back his remains in Lviv in 1992.

Prayer for the Beatification and Canonization of Confessor Patriarch Josyf Slipyj
Most Holy Trinity, glory and honour to You for the graces bestowed upon the Pastor of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, the Servant of God Josyf Slipyj, and for giving us a shining example of unshakeable faith and heroic perseverance of a defender of Your persecuted Church and an authentic witness of the Crucified Christ, throughout 18 years of severe hardship in Siberia.
Through his merits and intercession, grant us the strength to follow Christ on His Way of the Cross and help us obtain the grace, which we most need and for which we ask....(name it). May this received grace lead to the elevation on the altar of the Blessed your good, strong and faithful son of Your Church. For to You belongs all glory, honour, adoration, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

FILIOQUE CLAUSE: proceeds from the Father or proceeds from the Father THROUGH the Son???

‎"When we pray to "our" Father, we personally address the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. By doing so we do not divide the Godhead, since the Father is its "source and origin," but rather confess that the Son is eternally begotten by him and the Holy Spirit proceeds from him. We are not confusing the persons, for we confess that our communion is with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, in their one Holy Spirit. The Holy Trinity is consubstantial and indivisible. When we pray to the Father, we adore and glorify him together with the Son and the Holy Spirit." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2789)

Indeed it has been said right!!!!! both of the formula are indeed valid at all. There is no such as Double Procession but a Single one, knowing that the Father and the Son are indeed one cause they are only separated as Persons with the Holy Spirit in the Holy Trinity, but One God, as it was expressed to the Athanasian Creed, in the Union of Brest in 1595 it is also accepted that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father through the Son, though they do not use "Filioque" in the Liturgies, but they accept not only in the Liturgy but as a Dogmatic teaching from the Catholic Church.

Blogspot Overhaul

CHRIST AMONGST US!!! IT IS AND ALWAYS BE +

We have just post a little on this cause i have to edit everything in the Blog and to meticulously look that everything is arranged and proper order, specially the Labels here regarding the Eastern Catholic Churches, specially this coming Month of June, where more information, videos and links explaining different aspects of Eastern Catholicism according to each Rite will be post here, alongside commentaries on some Issues that are left not to be tackled by others because of "Ecumenism", being misinterpreted by majority though we are Ecumenical themselves here, but we rather say that it is Christian Charity cause of Hostility on each side through the Years.

Also i encourage all to Visit us here, to post Comment and anything you want to say regarding Eastern Catholicism, the different Rites and how it complement with the Western Latin Rite in terms of Theological and Liturgical emphasis

CHRISTO VOKRESE, VOISTUNI VOKRESE!!! AXIOS +

Greek Catholic Deacon at the Papal Inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI

Traditionally, in the Papal Mass of the old Roman Rite before the Vatican II Ecumenical Council, it is not just the Deacon of the Byzantine Rite who is there to read the Gospel but a Subdeacon too to read the Epistle in Greek, Traditionally they came from the Italo-Albanese Byzantine Catholic Monastery of Santa Maria de Grottaferrata

Even if the Solemn Papal High Mass was abolished, still some unique aspects are still retained and one of these is the Participation of the Byzantine Catholic Clergies as Deacon and Subdeacon, though during the time of Blessed Pope John Paul II, only the Deacon participates and at this time, it is also a Byzantine Catholic Deacon not just of Grottaferrata but of the Romanian, Ukrainian and even Melkite Eastern Catholic Sui Iuris Churches of the Greek Rite, until and the Pontificate of Benedict XV of which he restores the Subdeacon in the Epistle and recently, the most controversial i think, is the Greek Orthodox Deacon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople read the Gospel at the Papal Mass as their Patriarch assist in the Liturgy of the Word, and even expanded the participation when at the Holy Mass for the Sunod of Bishops in Middle East, a Greek Rite Archpriest reads the Gospel instead of the Deacon doing it.

Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Divine Liturgy in St Paul outside the Walls,, Rome

Monday, May 30, 2011

Notice that they celebrated in one of the Four Major Basilicas in Rome, and it is in 2008, the year of St. Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles, for the Melkite Pilgrimage and the Patriarch of Antioch and of all east, of Alexandria and Jerusalem of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church Gregorios III Laham

Because the Church has no Iconostasis, it is required that there should be a Icon of the Christo Pantocrator and the Theotokos and plus the Patron Saints icon, if there are any, and it is also applicable for other Eastern Catholic Churches under the Byzantine Rite, though it is likely the most required are the Icons of Christo Pantocrator and the Most Holy Theotokos.

It is the Preparation Prayers of the Divine Liturgy thats is being documented in the Video and notice the beginning at the benediction of one Hierarch using a Gospel Book to make the Sign of the Cross.

CURRENT EASTERN CATHOLIC MAJOR ARCHBISHOPS

HIS BEATITUDE GEORGE ALENCHERRY, MAJOR ARCHBISHOP OF ERNAKULAM-ANGAMALY OF THE SYRO-MALABAR CATHOLIC CHURCH

HIS BEATITUDE SVIATOSLAV SHEVCHUK, MAJOR ARCHBISHOP OF KYIV-HALYCH OF THE UKRAINIAN GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH

HIS BEATITUDE LUCIAN MURESAN, MAJOR ARCHBISHOP OF FAGARAS SI ALBA IULIA OF THE ROMANIAN GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH

HIS BEATITUDE CATHOLICOS MORAN MOR BASELIOS CLEEMIS THOTTUNKAL, MAJOR ARCHBISHOP CATHOLICOS OF TRIVANDRUM OF THE SYRO-MALANKARA CATHOLIC CHURCH

"In the Eastern Catholic Churches, major archbishop is a title for an hierarch to whose archiepiscopal see is granted the same jurisdiction in his autonomous (sui iuris) particular Church that an Eastern Patriarch has in his. The title is used archbishop of episcopal sees that were founded more recently than the patriarchal sees and are therefore less prestigious. Consequently, there are differences between the two offices. Major archbishops rank immediately below patriarchs in the order of precedence of the Catholic Church. Like patriarchs, major archbishops are elected by the synod of the sui iuris Church, but their election requires confirmation by the Pope, not mere notification and granting of communion required of patriarch"

And 2 of the Largest Major Archeparchy are petitioning to the Holy See on their Elevation as Patriarchate, and until now they are not considered due to some "Ecumenical" situations, though the Ukrainian Greek Catholics named their Major Archeparch Patriarch and the way they addressed him.

We have just started, and things will Light up!!!!! +

We have so many posts on the last couple of Days, that i do not even knew we are just counting a day before June enters, and having set my first commentaries, expect more and this will one is a heated up commentary when it comes to Issues regarding Eastern Catholicism and involving it, we are just beginning and later on many of Post here will be focusing on such though we never forget to concentrate in Spirituality and Theological Emphasis of Eastern Christianity, which is the basis of the teachings of Eastern Catholic Churches and its different Rite.

See how they also complement with the Majority Latin of the Catholic Church, how they, as a whole, involve themselves on some serious matters, namely their Participation in the Ecumenical Councils and how they make a Impact at the whole Church, even influencing the Popes

Many more information, videos and links will be post as we have just begun this Blog, again we pray to God our Almighty Father, with his Son our Lord Jesus Christ and the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos to guide us all always, AMIN!!!!!

CHRISTO ANESTI, ALISTHO ANESTI +

More Informative Links for Eastern Catholic Churches

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Cause it seem that the Two links from the Wikipedia might not be enough to our readers on appreciating the Eastern Catholic Churches. after i have finished all my House works, i started researching on some reliable sites concerning Eastern Catholic Churches and find them helpful, though as i say many times before all of this are Copy Paste and not really a trusted source to all of this

Here i am finding 5 Sites that will be add more Information of Eastern Catholic Churches:

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Definition of an Eastern Church - Just like the Wikipedia Link about Eastern Christianity, it also explain not just the Eastern Catholic but other Family of Eastern Christian Churches as well, though some info are out of date already
The Eastern Catholic Churches - This one focuses on mainly on Eastern Catholic Churches, and even the importance of how their Liturgical, Theological and Canonical Traditions are retained on the Ecumenical Councils, namely the Vatican II which has produced many Documents concerning Eastern Catholicism
Eastern Catholic Churches (Ortho Wiki) - Well it comes obviously from a Orthodox source, and the it also shows the Counterpart Churches of Eastern Catholic Churches under the Byzantine Rite, Syro-Oriental Rite, Antiochene Rite, Alexandrian Rite and Armenian Rite
Eastern Rite Churches - Might help though it has small content into it. Eastern Rite referring to the Catholic ones and not the other Eastern Rite, namely the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox, including the Assyrians also
what are some differences between the eastern orthodox and the catholic church - Emphasizing on some Difference among their Counterpart, mainly the Papal recognition

Again, i hope this Sites may help, though i appreciate if you will ask Questions in the Comment here, if you have one Hehehehe later on more Commentaries, Videos, Links and some Post for this Blog.

CHRISTO VOKRESE, VOISTUNI VOKRESE!!!!! +

To be a Patriarchate or To remain a Major Archiepiscopate??!!!

Actually not just His Beatitude Sviatoslav, but His Predecessor beginning to His Beatitude Cardinal Josyf Slipyj who insist of elevating it to one, but the Popes beginning to Blessed Pope John XXIII to Pope Benedict XVI refused to do so, creating this Structure of Major Archbishopric being first in the Catholic Church Hierarchy and until today it is still petitioned of being elevated in such!!!!!!

Everyone knows, Kyiv is the original seat of Rusyn Christendom, extending not just to the Rusyn and Ukrainians but the Russians as wells.

To be honest, out of some Bribery done in the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1589 they just granted Moscow as a separate Autonomous Patriarchate in Eastern Orthodox, and it is the reason why in 1595 the Union of Brest came to finality, making Ukrainian Hierachs lead by Mikhail Rogoza united once more and in Communion with the Catholic Church, and the birth of the modern day Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

Yes it is right and just to say, He is the True and Only Patriarch of Kyiv and All Rus of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, with or without the approval of Rome itself, Everyone knows there is a Patriarchate existing and it is not recognized cause of some "Ecumenical Tactics!!!"

Everything will be heated up soon i have my commentaries here Hehehehe regarding this issue, i am just warming up ^_^

A bit of Information for our Eastern Catholic brethren

Though i see this one as a copy paste information, it might have a little help to our brothers who are studying and interested about Eastern Catholicism. here are the helpful Links from Wikipedia

Eastern Christianity (Wikipedia)

It explains not just the Eastern Catholic Churches, but the whole Eastern Christianity in particular, namely the Families of Churches including the Assyrian Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and the Eastern Orthodox. how do they evolved and the History of the split of these Churches which has inflicted pain in Christendom for centuries

Eastern Catholic Churches (Wikipedia

Now we have Eastern Catholic Churches, who are before are part of either the Oriental or Eastern Orthodoxy who have decided to return back in Communion with the Catholic Church, except those who claimed that they never separated like the Maronite Catholics, Syro Malabar Catholics and Italo-Albanese Byzantine Catholics. we see how they evolved and the development of these Churches with the Guidance of the Holy Father the Pope in centuries and remained still in Union amidst persecution and backlash

NOTE: This are the valuable sources that i got, if you have any other known source, please shared and we are please to be knowledgeable more about the Sui Iuris Eastern Catholic Churches ^_^
CHRIST AMONGST US!!!!! +

THE 3 HOLY HIERARCHS: ST BASIL THE GREAT

The principal theological writings of Basil are his Treatise on the Holy Spirit (Lat. De Spiritu Sancto), a lucid and edifying appeal to Scripture and early Christian tradition to prove the divinity of the Holy Spirit, and his Refutation of the Apology of the Impious Eunomius, written in 363 or 364, three books against Eunomius of Cyzicus, the chief exponent of Anomoian Arianism. The first three books of the Refutation are his work; the fourth and fifth books that are usually included to do not belong to Basil, or to Apollinaris of Laodicea, but probably to Didymus The Blind.

Troparion (Tone 1)

Your proclamation has gone out into all the earth

Which was divinely taught by hearing your voice

Expounding the nature of creatures,

Ennobling the manners of men.

O holy father of a royal priesthood,

Entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion (Tone 4)

You were revealed as the sure foundation of the Church,

Granting all men a lordship which cannot be taken away,

Sealing it with your precepts,

O Venerable and Heavenly Father Basil.

Notice that on every icon of St. Basil, it is always depicted his hand the manner in which Eastern Christian Priest and Bishop, both Catholic and Orthodox, gives their blessing; the Priest using the right hand while the Bishops bless using two hands in the same manner as St. Basil's hand is depicted

Santa Maria de Grottaferatta Monastery Website

Saturday, May 28, 2011

http://www.abbaziagreca.it/en/index.asp
This Monastery is a Territorial Abbacy of the Italo-Albanian Byzantine Catholic Church, one of the remaining 11 Territorial Abbacies within the Structure of the Catholic Church Hierarchy

Anyways it has a beautiful Music Background of a Byzantine Chant composed by St. Nilus, and still i am trying to figure out what is the title of this Hymn, though i listened to it man times since now

His Eminence Beatitude Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil (1927-2011), CSSR, Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro Malabar Catholic Church

May his Memory be 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 servant

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

"Grant them eternal rest, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon them.

A hymn becomes you, O God, in Zion,

and to you shall a vow be repaid in Jerusalem

Hear my prayer;

to you shall all flesh come.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon them."

- Requiem

First day of the Eastern Rite Catholic Filipino Blog

Since we have begin this Blog yesterday afternoon, we have 11 posts regarding Eastern Catholicism and we will post more on the following days until the end of the Month of May.

And beginning this Next Month of June, i will post some important matters about the Spirituality and Theological emphasis of Eastern Catholicism, and some commentaries about topics, discussions and issues involving Sui Iuris Eastern Catholic churches.

Praying for the grace of Patience, to God our father, his Son, our risen Lord Jesus Christ, and the protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, blessing to all of us!!!!! + CHRISTO ANESTI, ALISTHO ANESTI

Russian Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy

Currently though the Russian Byzantine Catholic Church has 2 Apostolic Exarchates, there is no Hierarchy and there are 20 Parishes scattered all around the World, and one of this is St. Andrew Russian Catholic Parish in El Segundo, California. Some of this Parishes are being served by other Eastern Catholic Clergies, namely Ruthenians, Romanian Greek Catholic, Melkite Greek Catholic and majority are Ukrainian Greek Catholic; some Jesuit who have Biritual faculties; and former Russian Orthodox Priests, 3 of them serving the Russian mainladns, and one of them is a Old Ritualist using the Medieval rite of the Old Believers.

AKATHIST Hymn to Our venerable and God-bearing Father St. John of Damascus

Troparion (Tone 8)

Champion of Orthodoxy, teacher of purity and of true worship,

the enlightener of the universe and the adornment of hierarchs:

all-wise father John, your teachings have gleamed with light upon all things.

Intercede before Christ God to save our souls.

Kontakion (Tone 4)

Let us sing praises to John, worthy of great honor,

the composer of hymns, the star and teacher of the Church, the defender of her doctrines:

through the might of the Lord¹s Cross he overcame heretical error

and as a fervent intercessor before God

he entreats that forgiveness of sins may be granted to all.

St. John of Damascus, has many nows him, is famous for his "Three Apologetic Treatises against those Decrying the Holy Images", which he shows his Opposition against the Heresy of Iconoclasm and his 101 Chapter dealing the Ishmaelite Heresy, indeed the very first Christian polemical writing against Islam

St. John of Damascus, we pray for you to intercede for our Protection against Heretics and Saracens You can clink here at St. John of Damascus Hagiography from Wikipedia about his life and writings as Church Father from the East.

A PASTORAL LETTER OF HIS BEATITUDE SVIATOSLAV MAJOR ARCHBISHOP OF KYIV-HALYCH

Friday, May 27, 2011

“...therefore, like children, we also carry signs of victory and cry out to You the conqueror of death: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Tropar of Palm Sunday)

Dear Beloved Youth in Christ!

On the Feast of the triumphant entry of our Lord to the capital city of Jerusalem, I address you with my first pastoral letter after my installation as the Father and Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
A tradition has developed in the Catholic Church that on Palm Sunday special attention is given to youth. On this day in St. Peter's Square in Rome hundreds of your peers from around the world gather to pray together with the Holy father. I want to take advantage of this opportunity to appeal to you, by means of this letter, to reassure you my personal concern and to invite you to dialogue with the Word of God, which the Holy Church preaches.

Palm Sunday — this is a day that makes us participants of an extraordinary event. Jesus Christ comes to the culmination of his salvific mission. His crucifixion, death and resurrection are drawing near. And here, on the eve of His passion, the God of Israel in human flesh comes to His people. This advent was prefigured by King David, ceremoniously carrying into Jerusalem the Ark of the Covenant adorned with the images of the cherubim that signalled the presence of the One Who is enthroned upon the Cherubim. A visible sign of the presence of the Almighty was for the Israelites an assurance of their invincibility, because God Himself dwelt among them.

Today, Almighty God meets His People, albeit, without the assistance of some inanimate object. Today He, Son of the Heavenly Father, filled with the Holy Spirit, comes personally and in a visible form! Jesus Christ opens to us the possibility of a personal encounter with Him. It is exactly to this meeting that the Church of Christ prepares us and invites us by the words of Saint Andrew of Crete: “Come let us ascend together to the Garden of Olives to meet Christ, Who today ... freely approaches His holy and blessed suffering in order to complete the mystery of our salvation (Discourse 9 on Palm Sunday)

Venerable Andrew points out the spontaneity of such a meeting from both sides. From the side of God — this movement of love of the Creator toward His creation... a love that leads Him to suffering, a total sacrifice of the Son of God for each one of us. From the human side — this spontaneous response of young to God's approach. It is particularly the young people of Jerusalem that felt this movement of love toward them. Their reaction was spur-of-the-moment, unplanned and even unthinkable for the religious and political elite of that day. The Evangelist Luke tells us that, “some of the Pharisees, who were present in the crowd, told Him, 'Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!”. He answers them, “I tell you that if these were silenced, the very stones would cry out!”(Lk 19:39-40). It was the children and the youth that recognized in Christ the incarnate God of Israel and began to shout, “Hosanna!” - which means “save us!” The desire of a young person to love and to be loved opened them to Divine Love, because to save means to give one's life in love — life eternal.

Dear Young people! Christ today approaches you too! He enters His city — Jerusalem, which is each one of our communities, each of our groups and the heart of each one of us. Today the Church needs your spontaneity and your intuitive openness to the reality of God Who is present among us. It is you are the voices by which the Church welcomes its King singing: “Blessed is He, Who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Jn 12:13).

In our day, unfortunately, this innate youthful devoutness and the search for that eternal Love, which is God - are both often wounded and purloined. It is difficult for us to allow ourselves to love, because we are afraid of being deceived or used. Moreover, sometimes we are incapable of loving. We give more value to things, virtual amusement and communication in social networks, rather than real living persons who are near to us. These characteristics of today's culture isolate us, close us into ourselves and render us incapable of meeting others. That is why the contemporary young person often feels deeply lonely even in a noisy and cheerful crowd of friends. Not having encountered the Lord, one cannot encounter oneself.

Nevertheless, today the Lord victoriously approaches Jerusalem. Let us boldly go out to meet Him! The green branches, with which we welcome Him, are a symbol of a person's victory over isolation and loneliness in relation to God and our neighbour. Oh how much we need in our day this green sign of awakening, this fresh air of spring that shatters stereotypes and prejudices, that overcomes doubts and suspicions and recognizes Him who comes to each of us. On this day, it is to us - the young Church (which the Prophets often referred to as the bride of the Lord) that the words of the Prophet Zachariah are addressed as he calls upon us not to fear, “Rejoice O Daughter of Zion, ... lo, your King comes to you, ...riding on a colt!” (Zach 9:9)
On this festal day, that brings us closer to Easter, do not be afraid to meet with Christ and do not be embarrassed to identify yourselves as Christians even before those that may want to forbid you from doing this. If you remain silent, then the stones will shout out. Regardless of how strange this may sound in the modern culture of the young, let us not fear to shout to Him, “Hosanna in the highest!” Today we do not simply take into our hands blessed branches with symbols of the springtime renewal of nature — we take into our hands symbols of victory over sin and death, and through them we receive the strength of Him, Who goes to the Resurrection. Let us experience this encounter together today — and let us become inspired with the strength of Love, with which we build our future together.

Blessed is He, who comes in the name of the Lord!”

+Sviatoslav

Issued in Kyiv at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of our Lord, Palm Sunday, 17 April 2011 AD

<a href="http://risu.org.ua">Джерело публікації: risu.org.ua</a>

<a href="http://risu.org.ua">Джерело публікації: risu.org.ua</a>

AGNI PARTHENE: Angels singing praising and honouring the Holy theotokos, Mother of God

My Favorite Chant, though it was not chanted in Original Greek version but in Slavonic
It is used by the Eastern Catholic Sui Iuris Churches under the Byzantine Rite

A Orthodox Monk composed this!!! So is there any problem???
Nothings "Heretical" or Schismatic about this Hymn at all

"Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!

O Virgin pure, immaculate/ O Lady Theotokos

O Virgin Mother, Queen of all/ and fleece which is all dewy

More radiant than the rays of sun/ and higher than the heavens

Delight of virgin choruses/ superior to Angels.

Much brighter than the firmament/ and purer than the sun's light

More holy than the multitude/ of all the heav'nly armies."

LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI TO HIS BEATITUDE BÉCHARA BOUTROS RAÏ, PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH FOR MARONITES ACCEPTING HIS REQUEST FOR ECCLESIASTICAL COMMUNION

To His Beatitude
Béchara Boutros Raï
Patriarch of Antioch for Maronites

The election of Your Beatitude to the Patriarchal See of Antioch for Maronites is a very special event for the whole Church and I receive your request for Ecclesiastical Communion with great joy. The whole Church, particularly the Maronite Church, gives thanks to the Blessed Trinity for the gift she has been granted in you, Your Beatitude.

I address to you my most fraternal and cordial congratulations. My fervent prayer is raised to Christ Our Lord and our God, that he may accompany you in carrying out this new mission.

I wholeheartedly grant to you, venerable Brother, the Ecclesiastical Communion, in conformity with the Tradition and the wishes of the Catholic Church. Being united with the Successor of Peter from the beginning is a cause of pride for your Church. Peter was called by Jesus to keep his One Church in unity, truth and love. In accordance with a beautiful and ancient tradition, the name of Peter has been added to the Patriarch’s first name.

I am certain, Your Beatitude, that with the good advice of your Predecessor, H.B. Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, and the collaboration of the Fathers of your Patriarchal Synod, in communion with the Episcopal College and above all with the power of Christ who, with his Resurrection triumphed over evil and death, you will have all the zeal, illuminated by wisdom and tempered by prudence, that you need to guide the Maronite Church. She will be able to go forth to the encounter with her Spouse, Our Saviour, clad in the glory of St Maron and of the throngs of Lebanese Saints, St Charbel, St Nimatullah, St Rafqa and Bl. Estéphan.

May the Lord help you in your ministry as “Father and Head” to proclaim the word that saves, so that it may be lived and celebrated in accordance with ancient spiritual and liturgical traditions of the Maronite Church! May all the faithful who are entrusted to you find consolation in your fatherly care!

May the Holy Mother of God, Our Lady of Lebanon, the Virgin of the Annunciation whose baptismal name you bear, make you a herald of unity so that the Lebanese nation — also thanks to the contribution of all the religious communities present in your country and with ecumenical and interreligious enthusiasm — may play its role of solidarity and peace in the East and throughout the world.

I greet you, Your Beatitude, “with the kiss of love” (1 Pt 5:14), in the Lord Jesus, the Good and Eternal Shepherd, and, as I assure my prayers for the whole Church entrusted to your care, I impart to you and to everyone, Bishops, priests, men and women religious and the faithful, my Apostolic Blessing.

From the Vatican 24 March 2011

BENEDICTUS P P. XVI

THE PAPAL BULL OF EXCOMMUNICATION TO PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE MICHAEL CERULARIUS IN 1054

Humbert, cardinal bishop of the holy Roman Church by the grace of God; Peter, archbishop of Amalfi; and Frederick, deacon and chancellor, to all the children of the catholic Church.

The holy, primary, and apostolic see of Rome, to which the care of all the churches most especially pertains as if to a head, deigned to make us its ambassadors to this royal city for the sake of the peace and utility of the Church so that, in accordance with what has been written, we might descend and see whether the complaint which rises to its ears without ceasing from this great city, is realized in fact or to know if it is not like this.

Let the glorious emperors, clergy, senate, and people of this city of Constantinople as well as the entire catholic Church therefore know that we have sensed here both a great good, whence we greatly rejoice in the Lord, and the greatest evil, whence we lament in misery. For as far as the columns of the imperial power and its honored and wise citizens go, this city is most Christian and orthodox.

But as far as Michael, who is called patriarch through an abuse of the term, and the backers of his foolishness are concerned, innumerable tares of heresies are daily sown in its midst.

Because like Simoniacs, they sell the gift of God;
Like Valesians, they castrate their guests and promote them not only to the clergy but to the episcopacy;
Like Arians, they rebaptize those already baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity, and especially Latins;
Like Donatists, they claim that with the exception of the Greek Church, the Church of Christ and baptism has perished from the world;
Like Nicolaitists, they allow and defend the carnal marriages of the ministers of the sacred altar;
Like Severians, they say that the law of Moses is accursed;
Like Pneumatomachoi or Theomachoi, they cut off the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Son;
Like the Manichaeans among others, they state that leave is ensouled (animatum);
Like the Nazarenes, they preserve the carnal cleanness of the Jews to such an extent that they refuse to baptize dying babies before eight days after birth and, in refusing to communicate with pregnant or menstruating women, they forbid them to be baptized if they are pagan;
And because they grow the hair on their head and beards, they will not receive in communion those who tonsure their hair and shave their beards following the decreed practice of the Roman Church.

For these errors and many others committed by them, Michael himself, although admonished by the letters of our lord Pope Leo, contemptuously refused to repent.

Furthermore, when we, the Pope's ambassadors, wanted to eliminate the causes of such great evils in a reasonable way, he denied us his presence and conversation, forbid churches to celebrate Mass, just as he had earlier closed the churches of the Latins and, calling them "azymites," had persecuted the Latins everywhere in word and deed. Indeed, so much [did he persecute them] that among his own children, he had anathematized the apostolic see and against it he still writes that he is the ecumenical patriarch.

Therefore, because we did not tolerate this unheard of outrage and injury of the first, holy, and apostolic see and were concerned that the catholic faith would be undermined in many ways, by the authority of the holy and individuated Trinity and the apostolic see, whose embassy we are performing, and of all the orthodox fathers from the seven councils and of the entire catholic Church, we thus subscribe to the following anathema which the most reverend pope has proclaimed upon Michael and his followers unless they should repent.

Michael, neophyte patriarch through abuse of office, who took on the monastic habit out of fear of men alone and is now accused by many of the worst of crimes; and with him Leo called bishop of Achrida; Constantine, chaplain of this Michael, who trampled the sacrifice of the Latins with profane feet; and all their followers in the aforementioned errors and acts of presumption: Let them be anathema Maranatha with the Simoniacs, Valesians, Arians, Donatists, Nicolaitists, Severians, Pneumatomachoi, Manichaeans, Nazarenes, and all the heretics — nay, with the devil himself and his angels, unless they should repent. AMEN, AMEN, AMEN.

Kick-off Start in Blogspot

Most of all, I would like to thank my comrade admins Gino and Jared which has start all endeavor we have on having the Eastern Catholic Community here in the Philippines where there are transient communities, mostly of Syro Malabar Catholics, most of their priests have bi-ritual faculty and some smaller communities of Maronites who have been absorbed to the Roman Catholic Church.Since last October, we have been striving so hard to let majority of Roman Rite Filipinos know that there is also the other lung of the Catholic Church, which is the East.

We also face trials and challenges as the then twin group and fan page of Eastern Rite Catholic Filipino progress until outsiders around the Eastern Catholic side came to help in anyways possible, mostly Priests, Religious, Laity and even a Bishop came to support our interest. Then later on I was advice by the Vicar General of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Eparchy of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, Very Rev. Olexander Kenez, to form a study group that we might have a massive information drive about Eastern Catholic Churches, plus to this are very few Filipino Eastern Catholics living in North America, mostly are under the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the largest sui iuris Church with 10 million adherents headed by His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Galicia.

I also thank the 95 Members of the Group and the 296 fan page member for the unceasing support and for liking or joining either of the Fan Page and the Group. Knowing how the Eastern Catholic Churches are not being promoted cause of some do not appreciate it

Eastern Rite Catholic Filipino - Fan Page

To those who want to join the group here is the link above and below is the fan page

Eastern Rite Catholic Filipino - Group

The primary aim of this blog is not just to have a massive information drive but to promote the Eastern Christian Theology and Spirituality, which is the basis of the Eastern Catholics, for their teachings are heavily based to the Works of the Church Fathers of the East, namely the Cappadocian Fathers and the 3 Holy Hierarchs and Patristic influence of other Eastern Doctors.

We will also will update of news around Eastern Catholicism. Again I thank you all of those that we will promote this blog and our advocacy! + CHRISTO VOKRESE, VOISTUNI VOKRESE

1054 AD: A Turning Point for the Universal Church

Michael Cerularius I

It was there that the influence of the Western Church grew, ever since the Franks were Christianized, and the Normans in Italy were becoming powerful. The Byzantines noticed this.

The Normans in Italy were said to have been forcing the use of Latin in the liturgies of the Greeks. And it was then that the Patriarch of Constantinople Michael Cerularius I forced the use of Greek in the liturgies of the Latins in the city.

A very significant fact, however, was Cerularius’s attack on the Latins’ use of unleavened bread for the Eucharist, considering it to be a heresy.[1] Cerularius considered the use of unleavened bread to be Judaic, and symbolizes death rather than life. He also stated that it contradicts what is written in the synoptics, as Jesus said to have used bread, despite the fact that the Last Supper was a paschal meal. It is in the Jewish law that during Passover, unleavened bread or azyme was to be used. Cerularius’s opinions also do not even have any clear foundations at all.[2]

During that time, Byzantine bishops were in control of the Church in Alexandria, Jerusalem and Antioch. Since this is the case, Constantinople most likely had power over them.

Cerularius then declared war on the Western Church. His chancellor Nicephorus burst open the Latin tabernacles and trampled on the Eucharists, declaring them invalid, as they were consecrated in azyme. Cerularius himself threw the Eucharist on the streets. This was blasphemy—and the Latin Church had to deal with this sacrilege.

Although Cerularius was excommunicated for a different reason where he struck the name of the Pope from his diptychs, the excommunication was justifiable. No man is to desecrate the Eucharist. The hostility between the Latins and the Byzantines made matters worse.

It was then that the bull was laid down on Hagia Sophia’s altar on the 16^th of July, 1054 by Cardinal Humbert, who issued the bull himself as the Pope he answered to was dead—this act of his was justifiable. The Roman [Holy] See had the power and the duty to excommunicate heretics and desecrators.[3] The Byzantine legates excommunicated Rome in return—invalidly.

This was the beginning of the schism. The Byzantine bishops in the other three Churches followed the lead of Michael I, resulting in the split of the Eastern Churches from the Western Church; the Holy See, which had the power over the other bishops.

And until now, the East and the West are still trying to reconcile their differences.

But one thing is for sure. Michael Cerularius did not only die a sinner. He founded the schismatic Byzantine Church.

by Jared Dale Combista, contributor

[1] The Orthodox Church by Kallistos Ware

[2] Byzantine Theology by John Meyendorff

[3] "If the Roman See recognizes Pyrrhus to be not only a reprobate but a heretic, it is certainly plain that everyone who anathematizes those who have rejected Pyrrhus also anathematizes the See of Rome, that is, he anathematizes the Catholic Church. I need hardly add that he excommunicates himself also, if indeed he is in communion with the Roman See and the Catholic Church of God ...Let him hasten before all things to satisfy the Roman See, for if it is satisfied, all will agree in calling him pious and orthodox. For he only speaks in vain who thinks he ought to pursuade or entrap persons like myself, and does not satisfy and implore the blessed Pope of the most holy Catholic Church of the Romans, that is, the Apostolic See, which is from the incarnate of the Son of God Himself, and also all the holy synods, accodring to the holy canons and definitions has received universal and surpreme dominion, authority, and power of binding and loosing over all the holy churches of God throughout the whole world." (Maximus, Letter to Peter, in Mansi x, 692).

Holy Qurbana of St. James of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church

Ad Orientem positioning of the Altar, Traditional look of the Church and saying aloud of Prayers by the Priest, one of the rich Liturgical Treasure of the Antiochene Rite.

This part of the Holy Qurbana is known as Hoosoyo, or the prayer of repentace and remission of sins, and it is before the Anaphora and the Language use is Malayalam, the Main Liturgical Language of both the Syro Malankara Catholic Church and the Syro Malabar Catholic Church, which uses the Holy Qurbana of Addai and Mari of the Syro-Oriental/Chaldean Rite

THE EASTERN CHURCHES CONFIRMATION OF THE ELECTION OF ARCHBISHOP Major of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-MALABAR (INDIA)

The Holy Father has granted the confirmation may be required in accordance with canon 153 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches by Bishop George Alencherry, Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Thuckalay, May 24, 2011 which was canonically elected Major Archbishop of Ernakulam - Angamaly of the Syro-Malabar Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church, which met at Mount Saint Thomas , Kakkanad, Kochi (Kerala, India).

Archbishop George Alencherry

Archbishop George Alencherry was born April 19, 1945 at Thuruthy, nell'Arcieparchia of Changanacherry.

He was ordained a priest November 19, 1972. E 'was secretary of the Archbishop of Changanacherry, assistant pastor of the Cathedral, Director of the " Sunday Schools "dell'Arcieparchia.

He studied at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Seminary St. Joseph Alwaye and earned a doctorate at the ' Institut Catholique de Paris , where he specialized in Catechesis.

On his return from Paris, he was appointed director of the Center for Catechetical dell'Arcieparchia Changanacherry. She also directed the " Pastoral Orientation Centre, Cochin , inter-ritual, which depends of the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Conference (KCBC).

E 'teaching " Pastoral Counseling "and Systematic Theology at the Faculty of" Paurastya Vidyapitham, Pontifical Oriental Institute of Religious Studies "in Vadavathoor, Kottayam, and at the Pontifical Institute of Theology and Philosophy in Alwaye. E 'was Vicar General of Changanacherry dell'arcieparchia 11 November 1996 he was appointed first Bishop of Thuckalay and was ordained Feb. 2, 1997.

On May 24, 2011 he was elected Major Archbishop. The Holy Father Benedict XVI has confirmed the election Synodal Apostolic May 25, 2011.

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CONFIRMATION OF MAJOR ARCHBISHOP Election-Halych KYIV (UKRAINE)

The Holy Father has granted the confirmation may be required in accordance with canon 153, CCEO by Bishop Sviatoslav Schevchuk, March 23, 2011 which was canonically elected Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halyč the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, meeting in Lviv (Ukraine).

SB Sviatoslav Schevchuk

Sviatoslav Schevchuk His Beatitude was born May 5, 1970 at Styj in the Lviv region.

He holds a degree in Moral Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome (1999).He was ordained a priest June 26, 1994.

He has held various positions including: Prefect of the Seminary of the Holy Spirit "of Lviv (1999-2000), Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Theology of the Academy of Theology in Lviv (2001), Vice-Rector of the Seminary of the Spirit Santo "in Lviv (2000-2007) and later rector of the same seminary (2007).

On 7 April 2009 he was ordained.On 14 January 2009, the Holy Father appointed him Titular Bishop of Castra of Galba and Auxiliary of the Eparchy of Santa Maria del Patrocinio in Buenos Aires (Argentina).

On 10 March 2010 was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the vacant seat of the Eparchy of Santa Maria del Patrocinio in Buenos Aires (Argentina).

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