April 2018 Issue Of

Eastern Catholic Life Official Publication of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic

VOL. LIV, NO. 4 APRIL 2018 Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! Truly this Man was the Son of God Bishop Kurt’s Pastoral Message for Pascha

nd behold, the curtain the earth, he even describes that is lost in a dark forest on the eve of ments are not seen, but Aeneas can of the temple was torn gravity changes directions when Good Friday, pursued by animals hear the screams and groans of the in two, from top to they reach the center of the earth that represent the sins of weakness, criminals inside Tartarus—a prison bottom;“A and the earth shook, and and begin their journey towards the the sins of violence, and the sins with triple walls. His guide tells him the rocks were split; the tombs also other side. (If you are good at phys- of malice. He is found by the an- that within there are found those were opened, and many bodies of ics, you know that isn’t quite accu- cient Roman poet Virgil, who leads who hated their brothers, or struck the saints who had fallen asleep were rate, but it is a poem, remember, not Dante on his journey through hell their master, or duped a client, or raised, and coming out of the tombs a science book.) When they reach where they see the punishments brooded in solitude over their ac- after His resurrection they went into cumulated wealth without caring the holy city and appeared to many. for their relatives, or were slain in When the centurion and those who adultery, or committed treason or were with him, keeping watch over betrayal against their countries or Jesus, saw the earthquake and what masters. took place, they were filled with awe, and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of As Dante and Virgil travel down God.’” Saint Matthew describes through the earth starting on the vividly the earthquake and resurrec- night before Good Friday in the tions that accompanied the death year 1300, they travel down through of the Messiah on Mount Calvary. a series of concentric circles much Saint Luke tells us that there was like an open pit mine, and in each “darkness over the whole land” from circle Dante sees the damned be- the sixth hour to the ninth hour ing punished for their sins. The “while the sun’s light failed.” organization of hell teaches the the- ology and psychology of sin. The Some thirteen centuries after the worst sins are at the bottom, and death and resurrection of Jesus, an the least are at the top. The punish- Italian wrote a remarkable poem ments are designed to explain the describing an imaginary journey evil of each sin. For example, the through the globe, first through hypocrites (people who cared only hell, then climbing the mountain for the appearance of good) are of purgatory, and finally traveling forced to walk constantly wear- through heaven itself. TheCom - ing heavy lead garments that are media by Dante Alighieri is recog- gold on the outside. As they travel nized as one of the greatest works through the inferno, there are con- of world literature. The work was so stant references to the journey that influential that it established Christ made into the underworld Italian as a language, and also set the 13 centuries earlier. There are bro- dialect of Florence as the standard for The Harrowing of Hades ken boulders and cracked cliffs from Italian. The poem assumes as the earthquake that occurred at the common knowledge that the earth purgatory on the other side of the for each sin; the mountain of pur- death of the Messiah, and Virgil is a globe. Contrary to what we earth, he describes the constella- gatory where they see the penance reminisces about this event. At one were told in school, people before tions in the sky that would be differ- required to reject the seven deadly point, as they try to climb down from Columbus did NOT believe that the ent from the ones on the other side sins; and then a tour of heaven filled one ring to the next, the cliffs are too earth was flat. The ancient Greeks of the earth! Interestingly enough, with the rewards of the virtues. Be- high, but they find a fissure strewn calculated the diameter of the Dante also describes the importance ing an unbaptized pagan, Virgil has with boulders that was opened up earth somewhat accurately. Saint of doing experiments to check natu- to hand over the tour to another by the earthquake described in the Gregory of Nyssa actually describes ral phenomena, centuries before the guide part way through the journey. Gospel of Saint Matthew. the shadow of the earth as a cone, era of so-called modern experimen- Interestingly enough, there is a simi- In our icons, the “Harrowing of because he says the sun is much tal science. lar journey into the underworld in larger than the earth, and both the Hades” is one of the ways that we Virgil’s great poem, the Aeneid, and depict the great mystery of the Res- sun and the earth are spherical. Dante’s Commedia begins with evil men in the underworld are eter- what we would call “mid-life cri- urrection. According to the strict In his poem, Dante not only nally punished according to their rules of iconography after the icono- sis.” He considers himself halfway crimes. Unlike the Commedia, in assumes that the earth is a ball, through his life at the age of 35 and clast fight, we should not depict any- but on their journey through Virgil’s poem, the actual punish- thing that was not seen or at least ...continued on page 2 Great and Holy Week Obituaries—p3 Diaconate program accepting A Journey from Holy Week Schedule at Saint Michael inquiries and ByzanTEEN to the Resurrection—p8-9 Cathedral, Passaic—p3 Youth Rally 2018—p5 Page 2 Eastern Catholic Life APRIL 2018 Bishop Kurt’s Paschal Message Pastoral Reflections of Bishop Kurt “Truly This Man was the Son of God” Continued from page 1

freely. With each betrayal, we retreat from our How can we escape from this dark view of life, childlike nature and start to put conditions on a life in which we become less trusting and less other people. The most important condition for loving each time we perceive deceit or betrayal? love is called “trust.” I believe that the greatest The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is God’s answer sin is betrayal because it strikes at the very root to this question. Jesus Himself suffered the most of love. The trees in my front yard fell over in horrific execution after His betrayal by one of His the last storm because their roots were destroyed trusted inner circle. But because God is love, Je- described in Scriptures. Since no one saw Jesus over many years by excess water. In the same way, sus conquered sin, including the sin of betrayal. rise from the dead, rather the witnesses only met betrayal destroys trust, and our childlike ability On His journey into the underworld, He freed Him afterwards, in the strict rules we do not de- finally falls over like a tree and can’t be propped all the prisoners of sin who were willing to accept pict the Resurrection itself. (Of course, artists up any more because the roots are dead. That is His grace. Isaiah prophesied about the Messiah, don’t always follow the strict rules.) So instead why Dante quite rightly put traitors at the bottom “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because we have icons of Jesus appearing to Mary Mag- of hell, traitors to their friends, traitors to their the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news dalen when she thought He was the gardener, we families, traitors to their employers, and traitors to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the bro- have icons of Jesus appearing to the disciples in to their countries. kenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives the locked room, and we also have icons of His and release from darkness for the prisoners.” Just descent into the underworld. Now you may ask, One of the most damaged men that I ever met as Jesus had the power to raise people from the “Why can we paint the descent into Hades? I believed in God, but also believed that he was be- dead, and even to raise Himself from the dead, don’t remember reading that in the Bible.” Well trayed by God when his newborn son died. He just as Jesus had power in hell to liberate sinners actually, it is described in the Bible, not in the descended from one self destructive sin to the and chain the demons, He has the power now to Gospels with the other stories about the Resur- next, living in an earthy hell. Steeped in cynicism, heal our wounds, and restore in us our trust in rection, but in one of the letters of Saint Peter. he lashed out at anyone who was close to him or God, our trust in love. The Resurrection of Jesus Saint Peter says, “He was put to death in the flesh, anyone who seemed happy. On the precipice of Christ is the ultimate answer to the challenges of but made alive in the spirit, in which He also went death, a special intervention of grace allowed him the world. The Resurrection proves that God is and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, to see the death of his son differently, not as a loss more powerful than our mistakes, God is more who in former times did not obey.” In Dante’s view of sin, the least evil sins are the sins of weakness such as lust and gluttony, and these are at the top of the inferno. In these sins, we mostly hurt ourselves. The next group of sins are the sins of violence in which we hurt oth- ers rather than ourselves. These sins could also be considered sins of weakness because we lose control of ourselves. The most evil sins are the sins of malice, the sins in which we deliberately choose evil. In these lower circles, Dante places the deceivers and frauds, the false counselors, the conspirators, and descends down to the bottom where the betrayers are found. In the bottom of hell with the worst sins, Dante chose not to have fire, but rather ice. On the lowest plain, the traitors are in a lake of ice, sub- merged in different degrees according the amount of their evil. Some are only up to their feet, some are halfway, some are up to their heads, and the worst are completely under the ice with their fac- es visible to the travelers as they walk over them. God is love and virtue is about love, while sin is the lack of love or even hate, and so Dante chose ice rather than fire to show the complete lack of love in the worst sinners. You could also say that virtue is about life, and sin is about death, and there is no life in ice. Although the Commedia is a work of fiction, it does make us think deeply about the nature of sin and conversion. Why is betrayal seen as the worst sin by Dante? The answer to that ques- tion depends on another question, why did God make us and what is our purpose? According to The Celestial Pilot by Gustav Doré Saint John, God is love. We Christians believe to the parent but as a life in heaven for the child. powerful than our sins, God is more powerful that God made us to love and to be loved. Love When he began to trust God again, his conver- is our very reason for existence. When we are than betrayal, and God is more powerful than sion was as sudden as Saint Paul’s conversion. He hate and evil. According to Saint Mark, when children and not yet damaged by the world, we was like the spirits liberated from prison by the love freely. Whomever we perceive as our family Jesus died, when the curtain in the temple was descent of the Christ into the underworld. Like torn in two from top to bottom, the centurion we love strongly and unconditionally. We form Dante, he was delivered from the dark forest of new friendships quickly and easily. But then as who stood facing the crucifixion said, “Truly this his mid-life crisis and the fierce animals of sin man was the Son of God.” we get hurt in life, we lose that ability to love that pursued him into the underworld. APRIL 2018 Eastern Catholic Life Page 3 Cathedral of Saint Michael the Archangel, Passaic Schedule of Divine Services For Great Week and Pascha Flowery Sunday/Annunciation Great and Holy Saturday 5:00 PM (Chapel) Saturday Vigil Divine Liturgy 9:00 AM (Cathedral) Jerusalem Matins at the Grave 9:00 AM (Cathedral) Divine Liturgy 12 NOON (Cathedral Auditorium) Blessing of Paschal Foods 11:00 AM (Chapel) Divine Liturgy Pascha—The Great Day Great and Holy Monday —The Resurrection of our Lord 9:00 AM (Cathedral) Bridegroom Matins 8:00 AM (Cathedral) Resurrection Matins and Divine Liturgy —followed by Blessing of Paschal Foods Great and Holy Tuesday 11:00 AM (Chapel) Divine Liturgy 9:00 AM (Cathedral) Bridegroom Matins —followed by Blessing of Paschal Foods

Great and Holy Wednesday Bright Monday 9:00 AM (Cathedral) Office of Holy Oil for Spiritual Healing 9:00 AM (Cathedral) Divine Liturgy with 7:00 PM (Chapel) Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts Paschal Procession with Anointing 7:00 PM (Chapel) Divine Liturgy with Paschal Procession Great and Holy Thursday 7:00 PM (Cathedral) Great Vespers with the Divine Liturgy Bright Tuesday of Saint Basil the Great 9:00 AM (Cathedral) Divine Liturgy of Pascha Great and Holy Friday 9:00 AM (Cathedral) Office of Matins and the Reading of the twelve Passion Gospels 3:00 PM (Cathedral) Vespers with the Shroud Procession

Father + Frank G. Eles Reposes in the Lord Retired Priest of the Eparchy of Passaic

ather Frank G. Eles, age 91, a retired priest Byzantine Catholic churches in Florida for over of the Eparchy of Passaic, fell asleep in 20 years. Father Frank also served for a decade theF Lord on Monday, February 26, 2018, at his as a volunteer literacy tutor for the Palm Beach home. Father Frank was born in New Brunswick, County Literacy Coalition. Besides his parents, NJ, to the late Frank and Mary (Kis) Eles. After he was predeceased by his sister, Mary Popov- graduating from Highland Park High School, he ics. Father Frank is survived by his nephews, proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy dur- Alexander (Joanne) Popovics and Thomas (Su- ing WWII. A late vocation to the priesthood, he san) Popovics; and niece, Alice (Peter) Popov- entered the Saints Cyril and Methodius Byzan- ics Clark and three great nieces, Laura Popovics, tine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA. Upon Sarah Popovics, and Kristin Kealey and their completion of his theological studies, he was families. ordained to the holy priesthood by then-Bishop Stephen J. Kocisko on March 21, 1965. Father The Office of Christian Burial for a Priest Frank’s parochial assignments were at Saint Mi- was celebrated at Saint Nicholas Melkite Greek chael Church in Perth Amboy, NJ; Exaltation of Catholic Church in Delray Beach, FL, on the Holy Cross Church in New York City; and Thursday, March 1, 2018. An interment service his home parish of Saint Joseph Church in New was celebrated on Saturday, March 3, at Saint Brunswick, NJ. After retiring to Boynton Beach, Peter Cemetery in New Brunswick, NJ, where FL, in November of 1994, he actively assisted Father Frank was laid to rest next to his parents.

Father + Michael Chubirko, SDB, Enters Eternal Rest Retired Salesian Priest who served the Eparchy of Passaic

ather Michael Chubirko, a Salesian Priest a priest on March 25, 1960. Father Mike was a evening of in the Order of Saint John Bosco, fell asleep math teacher, a catechist, and a spiritual guide March 8 and in Fthe Lord on Monday, March 5, 2018. Father for young people at Don Bosco Tech in Paterson, a funeral Mass Michael was a native of PA and spent most of NJ; Salesian High School in New Rochelle, NY; on March his religious life serving in Byzantine Catho- and Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, NJ. His longest 9. There was lic Churches in NJ and PA. He was born on assignment was at Saints Peter and Paul Byzan- also a Memo- November 10, 1923, to Olga Suson and Mike Chi- tine Catholic Church in Elizabeth, NJ. Father rial Mass at bircha. He was baptized on November 21, 1923, Michael came to Tampa, FL, to live at Saint Phil- the Salesians’ at Saint Mary Greek Catholic Church in Braden- ip Residence at Mary, Help of Christians Center retreat house ville, PA. In 1948, he began his life as a Salesian in 2009. He was a confessor for retreatants and in NY the fol- of Don Bosco at Don Bosco College in Newton, a strong advocate for Cristo Rey Tampa High lowing week. NJ. After the completion of the novitiate year he School at Mary, Help of Christians. Funeral ser- made his first profession on September 8, 1950. vices were celebrated at Mary, Help of Christians He studied theology in Rome and was ordained Parish in Tampa, FL, with visiting hours on the Page 4 Eastern Catholic Life APRIL 2018 People You Know Around the Eparchy In Annandale...

Father John Basarab blesses the incoming officers of Epiphany of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Father John Basarab, pastor of Epiphany of Our Lord Parish, Church Men’s Club. From left to right are: Secretary Gregory Puhak, Treasurer Anthony accepts a “check” from Jeff Nashwinter, Epiphany Men’s Club President, Fazio, President Jeffrey Nashwinter, and Vice-President Thomas Soyka. representing funds raised by the organization for the church building fund in 2017: $119,000! In Cary... Museum Field Trip

id you know there are more than 1,500 depictions of the martyrs, Saints Cosmas and Damian, Unmercenary Healers, who lived in theD third century, performing a leg transplant? On Tuesday, February 27, a group of catechism students from Saints Cyril and Methodius Parish in ary, NC, visited the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, NC, and were able to view one of those paintings. Youth and adults alike were fasci- nated by scenes of miracles occurring on the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt;souls falling and rising toward Christ in the Last Judgment; Mary giving alms to the poor in the background of a meat vendor’s stall. Gianna T. observed, “I liked the painting of the dentist, how his patient was cling- ing to his rosary!” Exquisite paintings and statues gave form and substance to the beauty and truth of our Catholic faith. A museum field trip enriched our students’ understanding of the history, culture, and beliefs that contrib- Saints Cyril and Methodius catechism students examine “The Last Judgment” uted to our society today. by Crispijn van den Broeck In Westbury... est meets East at Saint Andrew Byzantine Catholic Church in Westbury, Long Island, NY, during the Great Fast. Canon Regu- larW of Saint Augustine, who have bi-ritual status with our Eparchy, came to Saint Andrew Parish to experience and learn how to celebrate the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. At the same time, four seminarians from the Archdiocese of New York studying at the college seminary in Queens, NY, also came to learn about the Liturgy and how to serve in our Eastern Church. All had a very uplifting and prayerful experience. Father Nicholas Daddona is the administrator of Saint Andrew Parish.

EASTERN CATHOLIC LIFE 445 Lackawanna Avenue Father James Badeaux, Editor Woodland Park, NJ 07424 Father Ronald Hatton, Associate Editor (USPS 165-600) (ISSN 0894-9786) Phone: 973-890-7777 Fax: 973-890-7175 Father Lewis Rabayda, Layout Editor Official Publication of the Postage paid at Little Falls, NJ, and additional Mrs. Diane Rabiej, Copy Editor Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic office at Bellmawr, NJ. Mrs. Maureen French, Circulation Editor Subscription Rate: $15.00 per year. ([email protected]) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: News and Photo Services: Eastern Catholic Life E-Mail us at: Member of the Catholic Press Association of 445 Lackawanna Avenue [email protected] America. Woodland Park, NJ 07424 Eparchial Website: Published monthly by the Most Reverend Bishop Kurt Burnette Eastern Catholic Press Association President and Publisher www.EparchyofPassaic.com APRIL 2018 Eastern Catholic Life Page 5 18th Annual Saints Cyril and Methodius Lecture sponsored by the Byzantine Catholic Seminary Presents Archbishop Alexander

popular speaker and gifted teacher, Arch- ple apocalypses, and of the later Jewish Ezekial bishop Alexander [Golitzin] will speak at chariot-throne mystics of whom he was a likely theA 18th annual Saints Cyril and Methodius Lec- contemporary. ture of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary. Held on Wednesday, May 16, at 7:00 PM at Saint John Ca- Archbishop Alexander was born in Burbank, thedral Center in Munhall, Pennsyvlania, Arch- CA, in 1948, and was raised attending Saint In- bishop Alexander will address ”The Place of the nocent Orthodox Church. He received a Bach- Presence of God: Aphrahat of Persia’s Portrait of elor of Arts degree in English from the University the Christian Holy Man.” of California at Berkeley and a Master of Divin- ity degree from Saint Vladimir Seminary. He The annual lecture series is sponsored by the pursued doctoral studies at Oxford University in Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Saints Cyril and England under His Eminence, Metropolitan Kal- Methodius, a community of mentors, teachers, listos [Ware]. During this time, he also spent two and students forming leaders for the Church in years in Greece, including one year at Simonos an environment of Christian unity, integrity, and Petras Monastery on Mount Athos. After receiv- missionary spirit, with a commitment to ecu- ing his D.Phil., Archbishop Alexander returned menism. to the U.S. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1982 and to the priesthood two years later. In Aphrahat, the Persian sage, is the earliest writer 1986, he was tonsured to monastic orders. He in Christian Syriac of whom we have proof. Writ- served O.C.A. missions in northern California ing in the 330s and 340s in the vicinity of modern and headed the Diocese of the West’s mission Iraqi Kurdistan, his works are notable for their committee. From 1989 to 2012, Archbishop Al- email [email protected]. Saint John Cathedral Cen- relative freedom from the lexicon and thought exander taught in the Theology Department at ter is located at 210 Greentree Road in Munhall, world of Greek philosophy; neither does he ap- Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. In May PA. pear to know any prominent, pre-Nicene Church 2012, he was consecrated Bishop of the Bulgarian Founded in 1950, the Seminary is a free- Fathers. Although unacquainted with Greek and Diocese of the Orthodox Church in America and standing, English speaking theological seminary, Latin patristic literature, Aphrahat clearly pos- in 2016 additionally was named as Bishop of the welcoming all those seeking the knowledge pos- sessed considerable authority in the Church of Diocese of the South. In 2017 he was elevated to sessed by the Eastern ecclesial traditions. The the Persian Empire. Archbishop Alexander will the rank of Archbishop. examine the portrait Aphrahat paints of the holy seminary is authorized to grant the Master of man in his fourteenth Demonstration. The idea The seminary expects this year’s lecture by Arts in Theology and Master of Divinity degrees of transformation, of becoming divine, is clearly Archbishop Alexander to be of great interest and by the Commonwealth of PA and is accredited by central to Aphrahat. While the language of the seating is limited. There is no charge but registra- the Commission on Accrediting of the Associa- Greek Fathers’ theosis is absent, he phrases it in tion is required by April 30, 2018. Please regis- tion of Theological Schools. an idiom much more akin to that of Second Tem- ter online at www.bcs.edu, call 412-321-8383 or New Byzantine Catholic Community Forming in Greater Charlotte, NC, Area Divine Liturgy on Saturdays at 4 PM: April 7, 14, 21, & 28

Byzantine Catholic community is forming is now offering weekly  Divine Liturgy in the area. like to participate in any way, or have questions at Saint Philip Neri Church, 292 Munn This community will serve the northern part of please contact Ron Somich at 440.477.6389 or Rd.,A Fort Mill, SC. Please join us as we grow our South Carolina as well as Charlotte, NC. Please [email protected]. The website https://  community and celebrate the Byzantine Divine share this information with your friends and family carolinabyzantine.com/ will be coming soon Liturgy. Father Steven Galuschik of All Saints – especially those who have moved “down South.” – ^ƚŶŶLJnjĂŶƚŝŶĞĂƚŚŽůŝĐŚƵƌĐŚplease check that out for news, upcoming  Byzantine Catholic Church in North Fort Myers, We will be celebrating the Byzantine Divine gatherings,,ĂƌƌŝƐďƵŐ͕W and service times.  WĂƌŝƐŚĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶĂůĞŶĚĂƌ^ƉƌŝŶŐϮϬϭϴ FL, celebrated Liturgy at the end of October and Liturgy on Saturdays at 4 PM. If you would        ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ ϭϳ͕ϮϬϭϴĨƌŽŵϭϬDͲϯWD͗WLJƐĂŶŬLJtŽƌŬƐŚŽƉƚĂƵŐŚƚďLJDĂƌŝĂŝĐĂƌĞůůŝĂŶĚĂƐƐŝƐƚĞĚďLJ<ĞŝƚŚ   <ŽƐŚƵƚĞ͘&ĞĞ͗ΨϱƉĞƌĨĂŵŝůLJ͕ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůƐ͘   tĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ&ĞďƌƵĂƌLJϮϭ͕ϮϬϭϴ^ĂŵĞƐĞƐƐŝŽŶŐŝǀĞŶĂƚEŽŽŶEϲWDĨŽůůŽǁĞĚďLJƉƌĂLJĞƌ͗WĂƌŝƐŚ>ĞŶƚĞŶ   ĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶƐĞƐƐŝŽŶǁŝƚŚ&ƌ͘:ŝŵ^ƉĞƌĂ“Living As Missionary Disciples” ;ƐŶŽǁĚĂƚĞtĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ &ĞďϮϴͿ  Saint Ann Byzantine Catholic Church  ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJDĂƌĐŚϯ͕ϮϬϭϴĨƌŽŵϭϭ͗ϯϬDͲϯWD͗WĂƌŝƐŚĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶĂLJŽŶŶĚͲŽĨͲ>ŝĨĞ /ƐƐƵĞƐĂŶĚƚŚŝĐƐǁŝƚŚDƌ͘  ŽŵŝŶŝĐ>ŽŵďĂƌĚŝ Harrisburg, PA   ^ƚŶŶLJnjĂŶƚŝŶĞĂƚŚŽůŝĐŚƵƌĐŚ  ^ƵŶĚĂLJDĂƌĐŚϮϱ͕ϮϬϭϴĂƚϵD͗WĂůŵ^ƵŶĚĂLJΘdŚĞ&ĞĂƐƚŽĨƚŚĞŶŶƵŶĐŝĂƚŝŽŶ>ŝƚƵƌŐLJĨŽůůŽǁĞĚďLJWĂƌŝƐŚƌƵŶĐŚ  ĂŶĚĂƐƚĞƌŐŐ,ƵŶƚParish Education Calendar:,ĂƌƌŝƐďƵŐ͕W Spring 2018   ĨƌŽŵϭϬD–WĂƌŝƐŚĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶĂůĞŶĚĂƌϯWD͗WĂƌŝƐŚĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶĂLJǁŝƚŚ^ƉƌŝŶŐ&ƌ͘ůĞdžĞŝDŝĐŚĂůĞŶŬŽǁŝƚŚϮϬϭϴ ^ƌ͘sŝĐƚŽƌŝĂĂŶĚ  ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ:ƵŶĞϮ͕ϮϬϭϴ  ^ƌ͘DĂƌLJŶŶŽĨƚŚĞŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJŽĨƚŚĞDŽƚŚĞƌŽĨ'ŽĚŽĨdĞŶĚĞƌŶĞƐƐ;D'dͿ    , “Living As Missionary Disciples”   ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJůůƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƐƚĂŬĞƉůĂĐĞĂƚ^ƚ͘ŶŶLJnjĂŶƚŝŶĞĂƚŚŽůŝĐŚƵƌĐŚ͕ϱϰϬϴ>ŽĐƵƐƚ>ĂŶĞ͕,ĂƌƌŝƐďƵƌŐ͕WϭϳϭϬϵ͘&ŽƌŵŽƌĞ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ ϭϳ͕ϮϬϭϴĨƌŽŵϭϬDͲϯWD͗WLJƐĂŶŬLJtŽƌŬƐŚŽƉƚĂƵŐŚƚďLJDĂƌŝĂŝĐĂƌĞůůŝĂŶĚĂƐƐŝƐƚĞĚďLJ<ĞŝƚŚ   <ŽƐŚƵƚĞ͘&ĞĞ͗ΨϱƉĞƌĨĂŵŝůLJ͕ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůƐ͘ĚĞƚĂŝůƐŽŶĞǀĞŶƚƐ͕ůŽĐĂƚŝŽŶ͕ŽƌƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ͕ƉůĞĂƐĞĐŽŶƚĂĐƚŶŐĞůĂ^ĞĚƵŶĂƚ^ƚŶŶLJnjǀĞŶƚƐΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵŽƌĂƚϳϭϳ ͲϰϵϬͲ  ϭϮϴϰ͘  tĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ&ĞďƌƵĂƌLJϮϭ͕ϮϬϭϴ^ĂŵĞƐĞƐƐŝŽŶŐŝǀĞŶĂƚEŽŽŶEϲWDĨŽůůŽǁĞĚďLJƉƌĂLJĞƌ͗WĂƌŝƐŚ>ĞŶƚĞŶ   ĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶƐĞƐƐŝŽŶǁŝƚŚ&ƌ͘:ŝŵ^ƉĞƌĂ“Living As Missionary Disciples” ;ƐŶŽǁĚĂƚĞtĞĚŶĞƐĚĂLJ &ĞďϮϴͿ  ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJDĂƌĐŚϯ͕ϮϬϭϴĨƌŽŵϭϭ͗ϯϬDͲϯWD͗WĂƌŝƐŚĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶĂLJŽŶŶĚͲŽĨͲ>ŝĨĞ /ƐƐƵĞƐĂŶĚƚŚŝĐƐǁŝƚŚDƌ͘  ŽŵŝŶŝĐ>ŽŵďĂƌĚŝ  ^ƵŶĚĂLJDĂƌĐŚϮϱ͕ϮϬϭϴĂƚϵD͗WĂůŵ^ƵŶĚĂLJΘdŚĞ&ĞĂƐƚŽĨƚŚĞŶŶƵŶĐŝĂƚŝŽŶ>ŝƚƵƌŐLJĨŽůůŽǁĞĚďLJWĂƌŝƐŚƌƵŶĐŚ  ĂŶĚĂƐƚĞƌŐŐ,ƵŶƚ ByzanTEEN  ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ:ƵŶĞϮ͕ϮϬϭϴĨƌŽŵϭϬD–ϯWD͗WĂƌŝƐŚĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶĂLJǁŝƚŚ&ƌ͘ůĞdžĞŝDŝĐŚĂůĞŶŬŽǁŝƚŚ^ƌ͘sŝĐƚŽƌŝĂĂŶĚ  ^ƌ͘DĂƌLJŶŶŽĨƚŚĞŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJŽĨƚŚĞDŽƚŚĞƌŽĨ'ŽĚŽĨdĞŶĚĞƌŶĞƐƐ;D'dͿ, “Living As Missionary Disciples” Deacons represent a great and visible sign of the  ůůƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƐƚĂŬĞƉůĂĐĞĂƚ^ƚ͘ŶŶLJnjĂŶƚŝŶĞĂƚŚŽůŝĐŚƵƌĐŚ͕ϱϰϬϴ>ŽĐƵƐƚ>ĂŶĞ͕,ĂƌƌŝƐďƵƌŐ͕WϭϳϭϬϵ͘&ŽƌŵŽƌĞYouth Rally 2018  ĚĞƚĂŝůƐŽŶĞǀĞŶƚƐ͕ůŽĐĂƚŝŽŶ͕ŽƌƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ͕ƉůĞĂƐĞĐŽŶƚĂĐƚŶŐĞůĂ^ĞĚƵŶĂƚ^ƚŶŶLJnjǀĞŶƚƐΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵŽƌĂƚϳϭϳͲϰϵϬͲ working of the Holy Spirit through a life of ϭϮϴϰ͘  July 5-8, 2018 service in the Church.  New class will be forming June, 2019. “Who is My Neighbor?” If you want to explore the possibility of serving God and your Eparchy as a Byzantine Deacon, contact: St. Vincent College Rev. Nicholas Daddona 516 457-5617 Latrobe, PA [email protected] www.byzanteen.com Page 6 Eastern Catholic Life APRIL 2018 What’s Cooking for Pascha? By Georgia Zeedick lavic people everywhere will ½ cup sugar 3 bottles horseradish (Do not use 2 eggs be taking baskets loaded with l cup melted butter creamed horseradish.) ½ cup honey (optional) holidayS foods to church for the tra- ½ large cake yeast or equivalent Combine sugar and nuts. Beat Grind beets, using fine grinder at- ditional Paschal blessing which is a portion of dry yeast eggs and add to mixture, add honey tachment. The juice can be saved for must prior to eating those exquisite 12 to 14 cups flour. and milk. Cook over medium heat, soup. Add horseradish to beets; mix foods. In a large bowl, combine milk, stirring constantly. Bring to boil, re- sugar, with butter and cool to luke- well, refrigerate. An empty horse- move from stove; let cool. Roll out Neatly arranged in the baskets warm. Save 2 tablespoons of the radish jar (washed, label removed dough to ½-inch thick; brush with will be sunka (ham), slanina (ba- eggs and add the rest of the eggs and dipped in boiling water to steril- butter; place filling on dough and con), chrin (beets with horserad- to the milk mixture. In a separate ize it) can be filled with the mixture roll up. Bake. ish), salt, pascha, kolbassi, hrudka bowl, crumble yeast in water and let and placed in the Easter basket. The (sirets), butter, pysanki (ornately stand for 10 minutes. Add to above jar’s cap can be disguised with alu- Poppyseed Filling decorated eggs for decoration), col- mixture. Add flour, about 2 cups at minum foil, thus hiding any adver- l lb. ground poppyseed ored eggs for eating, and kola- a time, until the dough can be han- tisement. ½ cup honey chi. Some people may add candy dled. Kolachi______½ cup sugar and a bottle of wine (or other items 2 Tsp. butter, melted of Lenten sacrifice) to their baskets. Knead on floured board for 15 minutes. Place dough in greased (Nut and poppyseed) ½ cup milk After the foods are placed in the bowl, grease top and let rise in a Combine sugar with poppyseed. 8 egg yolks Add melted butter. Then add honey basket, an embroidered cloth cover warm place for about 1½ hours. 8 cups flour is placed over them and a blessed and milk. Cook over medium heat, Punch down, and let rise a second ½ lb. butter stirring constantly until blended. candle is fastened upright near the 1 cake yeast time for about 45 minutes. Cool and spread over dough that basket handle. I cup sugar 2 cups scalded milk has been rolled out to ½-inch thick- For the first-timers who have After second rising, shape into ness and brushed with butter. Roll four balls and place into greased 4 tbs. shortening never put together a Paschal bas- Beat eggs and sugar. Melt butter up and bake. ket, let alone prepared foods for pans. Small, 1½ quart enameled saucepans can be used for baking. and shortening in hot milk, saving it, the whole process can be mysti- ½ cup for the yeast. Dissolve yeast Ham______fying. Every cook has his or her fa- Let rise. Brush tops with 2 table- spoons eggs to which some milk has in lukewarm milk and let stand for The ham is decorated and baked vorite way of preparing these foods a few minutes. Combine both mix- according to your favorite recipe. and of measuring the ingredients for been added. To achieve that glazed appearance on the loaves, brush tures in large bowl. How large a ham you buy and use them, and asking for recipes can re- depends on how many people you sult in confusion. are serving. For a 20-pound ham: To take some of the mystery out Cut it in half, decorate the halves, of the preparation of the traditional bake them and place one of them in foods, here are a few recipes gleaned the basket. from my own experience and a few Slavic cookbooks. Kolbasi______Again, the amount of kolbasi pur- Hrudka (Sirets)______chased depends on how many eager 1 doz. eggs eaters you are serving. 1 or 2 tsp. vanilla 1 qt. milk Place the kolbasi in a pan, cover ½ cup sugar with water and boil for about 45 minutes. Some cooks, after the kol- Combine all ingredients in a white bassi is boiled, place a few into a enameled pan. Cook over medium baking pan and sprinkle them with to low heat, stirring constantly, un- about 2 tablespoons of brown sugar til mixture curdles. Pour mixture and honey. This is then popped into into a colander that is lined with the oven for about 15 minutes at 350 several thicknesses of cheese- degrees. Cool before refrigerating. cloth. Once mixture is drained, Photo by Bob Bruce. pick it up, cheesecloth and all, and Butter______shape into a ball by twisting the top tops several times prior to removing Add flour and mix well with hands If you prefer not to use already part of the cheesecloth. Tightly tie them from the oven. Bake at 325 de- until dough leaves the hands. Re- prepared butter for the Easter feast- open end with string, placing string grees for about 1 hour. frigerate overnight. In the morning, ing, the butter can be made by whip- very close to top of ball. Caution: divide the dough into eight balls ping heavy cream. Use either one This will be hot. Hang over sink un- Note: Before placing dough in and let rise for one hour. Roll out on pint or one-half pint heavy whip- til cool. Remove cheesecloth when pans, about 1 cup of the dough can floured board and spread with fill- ping cream. Place in bowl and mix cool; wrap and refrigerate. (The be saved and shaped into designs ing. Roll up gently, tucking in ends. with hand beater until butter forms. whey from the hrudka can be saved (plaits, crosses, etc.) and placed on Place sample of butter in a small and used when making pascha. To top of the unbaked paschy. These Bake at 350 degrees until brown, fancy bowl and decorate for use in conserve the whey, place the colan- fancy shapes can be prevented from about 45 minutes. Easter basket. der over a large pot before pouring scorching in the oven by placing mixture into cheesecloth.) aluminum foil on top of the pascha Brush tops of rolls, prior to put- (The above is a revised version of an article during baking. ting into oven, with an egg-milk that originally appeared in the April 10, 1979, Pascha______mixture. Doing so produces beauti- edition of the Homestead, PA, Daily Messen- Hrin ______fully browned, shiny rolls. ger.) 3 cups scalded milk, or enough scalded milk added to whey (Beets with Nut Filling from hrudka to make 3 cups ½ tsp. salt Horseradish) 1 lb. ground walnuts 6 beaten eggs 8 cans whole beets, drained 1 cup canned milk ½ cup lukewarm water ½ cup sugar APRIL 2018 Eastern Catholic Life Page 7

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! Page 8 Eastern Catholic Life APRIL 2018 A Journey from Holy Week to the Resurrection the gallows of wealth and loses both temporal Annunciation should fall on the same day, then and divine life. the Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom is celebrat- ed before the service just described. During the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great, the bishop blesses the chrism and the antimensia. Holy Saturday Then, before the dismissal, he washes the feet of twelve persons, usually clerics or persons with Holy Saturday is dedicated to the memory of minor orders, symbolizing Christ’s washing the Our Savior’s entombment and to His descent feet of the twelve apostles. The particular cere- into Hades to save the souls of the just and to mony is a very old one and is already mentioned open for them the gates of Heaven. This, too, is a by Saint Augustine (430 AD). day of mourning. It is numbered among the fast days, although originally in the East, no Saturday Good Friday was kept as a fast. But the sadness of the day is already lightened by the approaching Resurrec- In the morning the Matins (Office of the Suffer- tion. This anticipation of Christ’s victory is al- ings of our Lord Jesus Christ) is performed. The ready evident in the Liturgy. characteristic feature of this service is the read- Passion Week or Great Week ing of twelve Gospel passages selected from the On Holy Saturday the Divine Liturgy of Saint four evangelists. These twelve readings describe Basil the Great is celebrated together with Ves- The Liturgical theme of Passion Week is the in detail the passion of our Lord, beginning at pers. Instead of the trisagion (since formerly on suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. The the Mystical Supper where He conducted the this occasion the catechumens used to be bap- services therefore reflect the terrible tragedy of holy and touching discourse with His apostles tized) another hymn based on Galatians 3:27 Calvary. During the first three days, the Church prior to His departure for Gethsemane. The en- is substituted: “All you who have been baptized invites us to pray in the words of the troparion: tire service has its aim on stirring up in the hearts into Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia.” “Behold, the Bridegroom comes at midnight and of the faithful sympathy and love for Jesus, who blessed is the servant whom He shall find awake.” willingly laid down His life to reconcile man with The priest begins Vespers and the Divine Lit- Then, step by step, she leads us to every place His heavenly Father and, thus, to obtain eternal urgy in dark vestments, but before the Gospel which our Lord blessed by His presence at the salvation for us all. he changes into white vestments because in the end of His earthly life. Gospel of the day, Christ’s resurrection is already The day of our Lord’s passion is universally re- mentioned. During the Divine Liturgy, instead of The triumphant entrance of our Lord to Je- garded as a day of mourning and sadness. There the Cherubic Hymn another hymn is sung: “Let rusalem provoked the anger of the Jewish lead- is scarcely any other point on which such perfect all mortal flesh keep silence.” ers to a point where they decided to put Him to agreement exists in all lands and in all periods of death. This is why the liturgy on the evening of Christian history. In the Middle Ages, however, a Palm Sunday asks us to hasten “from palm and discussion arose over the question as to why the branches to the fulfillment of the August and sav- days of saints’ deaths were kept as feastdays, but ing passion of Christ.” Having suffered the passion for us, Good Friday as a day of mourning. The answer is On Holy Thursday, three events are recalled obvious. Christ, unlike the saints, attained a yet in the liturgy: the institution of the Eucharist, higher degree of glory through His resurrection. Jesus Christ, Son of God, the washing of the feet of the disciples, and the He died not for His own sake, but for our sake. betrayal of Judas. Throughout the liturgy the fol- On Good Friday, the Church strives to express lowing idea is repeated over and over again, as have mercy on us! her mourning over the passion and death of Je- expressed in the troparion: “Receive me today, O sus in every possible way. She even goes so far as Son of God, as a partaker of Your Mystical Sup- to forbid the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. The Resurrection Period per, for I will not reveal the Mystery to Your en- Because Matins have already been celebrated, emies nor give You a kiss as did Judas, but like the For a long time, by many prayers, liturgical the Daily Hours are altered. They are somewhat repentant thief I will confess to You: Remember services and ceremonies, the Church has been expanded with sticheras, and readings from the me, O Lord, in Your kingdom.” “Let no one, O preparing us for the glorious day of Christ’s Res- Old and New Testaments. They are called “Royal believers, fail to join in the Lord’s Supper, let no urrection, Pascha. Hoping that during Lent ev- Hours” because usually the emperor (or king) at- one whatsoever approach the table, like Judas, erybody had an opportunity to be cleansed from tended them. During these, the Church asks us with deceit.” his personal sins, the Church now celebrates ex- to read once again the history of Christ’s suffer- ternally and with beautifully joyous ceremonies The wickedness of Judas is expressed very real- ings and death as described by the four evange- the final triumph and life-giving Resurrection istically. Judas is called “law-breaker,” “son of vi- lists. During the Royal Hours, the psalms, read- of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. After the pers,” and the “murderer” who sets up for himself ings and hymns refer to the passion of Christ. long ages of darkness brought about by the Fall,

In the evening, Solemn Vespers are performed. after the seemingly endless expectation of the At the end of Vespers, the priest, vested in full prophets, after the thirty hidden years and the priestly vestments, makes a procession around three years of public life, after the frightful pas- the church carrying the plashchanitsa and plac- sion which had seemed to be the end of all hope, es it in the tomb made ready to receive it. The after the three days in the depth of the tomb, plashchanitsa is a winding sheet with a picture of behold: Christ is risen! The time of weeping is Christ’s body lying dead in the tomb. In English over; now is the time for joy. Christ’s resurrection it may be called the “Holy Shroud.” During the is the greatest miracle. It is the most divine and procession the people sing the following tropar- the least human, for it took place when the Man- ion: “The noble Joseph, having taken from the Christ was in the grave. We now know that Christ cross Your most pure body, wrapped it with pure is God and we rejoice. linen and anointed it with fragrant scents, placed Resurrection it in a new tomb.” The festivities of Pascha begin with the Res- As mentioned already, there is no Divine Lit- urrection Matins. There is a procession around urgy on Good Friday. If, however, the feast of the the church during which the people chant the APRIL 2018 Eastern Catholic Life Page 9 A Journey from Holy Week to the Resurrection troparion: “Your Resurrection, O Christ our hymns appeared in the East already around the Savior, the angels praise in Heaven. Grant us on middle of the seventh century. It replaced the earth with pure heart to glorify You.” Wherever it kontakion, a type of liturgical poetry composed is not possible to have a procession outside of the of 24 short odes or strophes with the purpose of church, it is held inside. This procession symbol- conveying to the people a certain religious mes- izes the myrrh-bearing women who “very early sage. in the morning, the first day of the week” came to the tomb to anoint the body of the Lord. The Canon of the Resurrection, as any other canon, is composed of nine odes, with the excep- Following the procession, Resurrection Mat- tion of the second one, each containing three or ins begin. Preceded by candle bearers and by four troparia, the first of which is called an “ir- bearers of the processional cross, church ban- mos.” The first troparion or “irmos” contains the ners, an icon of the resurrection and the Gospel chief theme of the ode and serves as a model for book, the priest goes to the main church doors other troparia of that particular ode. The Canon and from outside, after incensing the closed of the Resurrection is a hymn of victory, both doors, he intones: “Glory be to the holy, con- an expression and a description of the joy and substantial and indivisible Trinity always, now fruits of Christ’s victory as crowned by His glo- all peoples, to the whole world. During the Eu- and ever, and forever and ever.” After the people rious Resurrection. As the Jewish Passover was charistic commemorations, instead of the usual answer with “Amen,” the priest sings the glori- celebrated to commemorate the exodus of the hymn in honor of the Mother of God, “It is truly ous Paschal troparion: “Christ is risen from the Jews from Egyptian captivity, so also the Chris- proper to glorify you ...” the Angelic Salutation dead, by death He conquered death, and to those tian Pascha is an exodus “from death to life and from the Resurrection Service with the irmos of in the graves, He granted life. After the celebrant from the earth to heaven.” A certain victorious the ninth ode is sung: “Shine, shine, O new Je- finishes, the whole congregation bursts into a atmosphere pervades the entire canon. Perhaps rusalem...” After the Communion, all hymns are joyous, jubilant singing of the same troparion the third troparion of the first ode expresses this replaced by the Paschal troparion. twice. But all this is only the beginning of the mood best: “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the jubilation. The priest sings to the Risen Christ, earth exult. Let, moreover, the whole universe, A special feature of Pascha is the blessing of “Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered, both visible and invisible, celebrate; for Christ is the Paschal food. Cleansed in body and soul, it is and let those who hate Him flee from before His risen, joy eternal.” only right that our food also should be blessed so face.” The congregation replies spontaneously: that we may in every way enjoy our pasch - great, “Christ is risen from the dead - Christos voskrese!” The prototype of the ninth ode is the song of solemn and sanctified - the feast of Christ’s glori- “As smoke vanishes so let them vanish, as wax the Mother of God, “My soul magnifies the Lord” ous and victorious Resurrection. and recalls the Angelic Salutation: “The angel exclaimed to her, full of grace: Rejoice, O pure During Vespers, instead of the usual introduc- Virgin! And again I say: rejoice! Your Son is risen tory prayers and Psalm 103, we repeat many Having suffered the passion for us, from the grave on the third day and has raised times the Paschal troparion because the Resur- the dead. O People, rejoice!” The angel brings rection of Christ is the crowning point of all the the joy of the Resurrection to Mary also, and this prophecies of the Old Testament. During the Jesus Christ, Son of God, joy is indeed a double one: Her Son is risen and procession around the altar the priest carries the by His resurrection has saved others. The words Gospel book and after the prokimenon reads the of the ninth ode are a response to words of the section which describes the apparition of the have mercy on us! Mother of God, in which she expresses her hu- Risen Christ on the evening of the first Paschal mility in the yard of Zachary’s house: “He has Sunday and the doubting of Saint Thomas the regarded the lowliness of His handmaid; for, Apostle. At the end of Vespers, the Paschal stich- eras are sung while the people kiss the cross. melts before a fire,” the priest continues. Again behold, henceforth all generations shall call me a thundering Christ is risen! closes the priest’s blessed; because He who is mighty has done Pascha is celebrated publicly as a solemn feast intonation. “So let the wicked perish at the pres- great things for me.” (Luke 1 :48) for three days. Liturgically, it is observed for the ence of God and let the righteous ones rejoice,” The Canon of the Resurrection ends with the whole week, called “Bright Week”, and its post- proclaims the celebrant. Another Christ is risen! hymns of Lauds, which exhort us “to sing hymns festive period lasts until the Ascension, that is, Then, “This is the day which the Lord has made, to Your (Christ’s) saving passion and glorify for 39 days. let us be glad and rejoice in it.” Another Christ Your Resurrection.” Christ must be glorified on (From: is risen! In conclusion the celebrant again sings, The Liturgical Year of the Byzantine Rite this day for “He has endured crucifixion, over- by Rev. Basil Shereghy, 1968, Seminary Press. Christ is risen! As he reaches the words, “and to thrown death and risen from the dead.” Today, those in the graves He granted life,” he strikes the Imprimatur: Most Reverend Stephen Kocisko, “we praise Your divine condescension and sing DD) doors with the cross. They are then opened and hymns to You, O Christ! In order to save the he enters, followed by the entire congregation. world, You were born of a virgin without leaving The priest in front of the closed doors represents the Father. You suffered as man and willingly en- the angel announcing the joyful news of the res- dured crucifixion, and You rose from the tomb. urrection. The people represent the myrrh-bear- O Lord, glory to You.” ing women. The striking of the doors with the cross and their opening symbolize the fact that The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom Christ by His death on the cross opened for us has a slight deviation from its ordinary celebra- the gates of Heaven. tion. Immediately after the initial invocation, the celebrant sings the Paschal troparion in or- The priest then comes to the altar and, after der to emphasize the joy and solemn happiness singing the Great Litany, begins the Paschal Can- brought by the glorious Resurrection of Christ. on, the Canon of the Resurrection. This Canon, The Gospel, taken from John 1:1-17, is divided composed by Saint John Damascene (675-748 into twelve verses. After reading each verse, the AD) is a series of hymns written according to celebrant pauses and all the bells are rung. The certain rules, hence its name “canon (rule).” It is Gospel is read in various languages, signifying a type of liturgical poetry, especially interesting that the redemptive work of Christ applies to because of its specific form and content. Similar Page 10 Eastern Catholic Life APRIL 2018

Catechetical Reflections Father Robert F. Slesinski, Ph.D. Man Before God Being in its Unfolding: The Primacy of Being in Truth (1)—Installment 3/9 ow from all our reflections, we can state a something we all do in our own regard—there affirmed” requires minda affirming this “being af- thesis: We as beings belong to Being; we are must be a mind affirming being. In sum, our mind firmed.” But notably anothertruth comes to the a partN of something greater than ourselves, just by (i.e., our person) affirms truth:a we, indeed, are, fore at the same time as we affirm this, namely, the very fact that we are beings—we participate in and our minds, as integral to our personhood, af- that the object of the affirming mind (intellect) Being, a greater whole than ourselves—whatever firm this truth of ourbeing . cannot but be that which is adequated to the intel- this means! But even the most “stupid” among us lect—thus the classical definition of truth:Veritas knows that, at least, we are; we are cognizant of So what more can we say? Well, it would cer- est adaequatio intellectus et rei (“Truth is the ade- our selves, we know we exist—AND we know this tainly seem that being and the mind are coexten- quation of the intellect and things.”), the fact that truly—in other words, we exist in truth, we know sive. Whatever the mind affirms is an affirmation there is a correspondence of true statements with this as a fact, yes, as an incontestable fact. of being, the truth of being. As for being itself, the actual state of affairs at hand. This affirma- it must be intelligible for the mind to affirm it; it tion itself can be restated to say that an affirming So what does this existential truth about our must present itself as truth to be affirmed. Thus, judgment about reality is true only insofar as it lowly selves mean? It means we truly are; we ex- we are in the position to grasp a foundational conforms to this external reality. ist, and this is the truth. So, it would seem, ex- truth—truth itself is a property of being. Being is istence and truth are intrinsically linked—being being only as being intelligible. Dare we say it? Dare we now say something to Pilate as he ques- and truth are at one with one another. All of us, OMG!, being and truth are convertible: being and tions Jesus? “What is truth” (Jn 18:38)? Well, the “stupid” among us included, inchoately know truth are at one with one another; they are, in our Lord himself states that “‘I am the way, and this. We understand we exist—we are in some truth, correlative to one another. Truth, in sum, the truth, and the life’” (Jn 14:6). This, OMG!, is sense “intelligible” to ourselves—we know we ex- is a property of being. A conclusion thus also quite a correspondence, indeed, between Truth ist—for whatever reason, who knows? presents itself: every being in some way is intel- and Being itself, Truth himself addressing us per- ligible, and every intelligible reality cannot but be, sonally—to the very depths of our being. OMG!. So what does our “lowly” affirmation of being i.e., enjoy being. Lord!, help me delve into this truth so that I tell us? Well, for one, it tells us this very affirma- might savor your redeeming being and presence tion cannot be without being. What? “translate” Delving deeper, with the transcendental prop- all the more fruitfully and forcefully! this for the “stupid” among us—like myself. It erty of truth (meaning, of course, it enjoys abso- means for there to be an affirmation of being— lute extension to all being), we grasp that “being

Life, Love, and the Human Person By Ann M. Koshute, MTS Knowing the True God

he Incarnation of Christ is the most re- embodied the worst of human weakness and de- our own image and likeness. The golden calf was markable event in human history—yet pravity. Even the ancient Israelites sometimes never destroyed after all. evenT Christians can take it for granted. We embraced a warped view of God, like when they learned about it at home, in church, and in East- fashioned a golden calf. Impatient with Moses’ The Incarnation of God in Jesus Christ—His ern Christian Formation (known by those of a 40-day conference with God on Mt. Horeb, the conception in the womb of the Virgin, His grow- certain generation as “Greek School”). How of- people couldn’t wait to hear from the Lord (Cf. ing up in a family—and His ministry, passion, and ten do we consider the unprecedented nature of Exodus 32: 1-23). They didn’t revert to paganism death, reveal the true God who is transcendent and this event, and its gratuity? No other religious by worshipping the calf, but created a representa- immanent: the all-powerful and ever-living God tradition—not even monotheistic Judaism and tion of God in their own image, who they wanted who is Emmanuel or God-with-us. He is radical- Islam—allows for the possibility that God is one, God to be, not who He is. They were frightened of ly Other, yet the Supreme Lover who cares for us yet a communion of Persons, transcending His God’s power and glory (heightened by waiting so and our good, and desires to unite Himself with Creation, yet loving and caring for His creatures. long for Moses to return to them) so they created us in a covenant of love. The culmination of this Christianity is unique in the belief that God’s love an image of Him that was under their control. To mysterious event is Pascha: the bodily resurrec- is so great that He chose to save us by becoming them, the calf was God—a God they could con- tion of Jesus Christ, fully God, fully human, and one of us. We don’t believe that the Earth or tain. Creating the calf didn’t actually bring God the Source of our life. Early in our Faith, many animals are gods, as some indigenous peoples do. and the people closer, but limited His capacity to false beliefs and misunderstandings about the In- We don’t take the view of Eastern religions, that love, show mercy and save. When we try to make carnation infiltrated the Church. Some—includ- God is an impersonal “force,” or a “conscious- God into who we want Him to be, we end up set- ing priests and bishops—couldn’t comprehend ness” that may choose to manifest itself in an ava- ting a really low bar. that God would so ally Himself with us as to be- tar that appears human-like, but ultimately isn’t come human. They said Jesus wasn’t really God, real. Unlike believers in some world religions, “The world” rebels against rules and universal or He wasn’t really a man. Some even said that Christians don’t rely on ourselves for salvation. moral codes, an “overbearing Church” and limita- the man Jesus was crucified, but that His divinity We need a Savior, one who doesn’t transform tions on personal freedom; yet it cries out in an- “escaped” before death. How could the almighty me into my “higher self,” or a “better version of ger against a God it perceives as aloof, and who God, Creator of all, be killed by His creatures? me,” but conquers sin so that I may become my “lets evil happen.” Authentic Christian witness Impossible! authentic, unique self: an image of God. and discipleship is needed now more than ever, to show the world that God is not distant, but in- “The things which are impossible with men are Among ancient civilizations, myths presented timately connected to us. People are confused, possible with God.” (Luke 18:27) In the end, the deities so like humans one could barely tell the with some rejecting God outright, and others least educated man and the most well-respected difference between a god and a man (except that succumbing to syncretism—cobbling together theologian stand in the same place before God. men can’t hurl lightening bolts or turn people bits of other religions to fashion a “God” who is Who can explain the mystery of God’s love?! into trees.) Those gods were powerful, but they more convenient, less demanding, and made in Books are filled with words, conferences show- APRIL 2018 Eastern Catholic Life Page 11 case scholarly papers and homilies are preached tell a weary and confused world, (convinced that As we celebrate Pascha, let’s continue to seek every Sunday, all trying to uncover His mystery either salvation isn’t possible or it must be done the true God. Jesus Christ, icon of the loving Fa- a layer at a time. It’s impossible for us, of course, on our own power) that He is the true, living, ther, in communion with the Holy Spirit, is our because the deeper we go, the more depth we en- and loving God! The world doesn’t know Him, resurrection and our life. With Him we must die counter. Study and scholarly work is essential, as but we do, and we can invite others to know Him, to ourselves so that He can raise us up every mo- is our own continuing faith formation. But God too. For, “we preach Christ crucified…because ment of every day, until He raises us to eternal doesn’t call us to puzzle over Him or try to “figure the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the life. Let us shout to the world the good news: Him out.” What He wants is to love us, to be in a weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Cor Christ is Risen! relationship with us, and to save us! He calls us to 2:23, 25)

Pre-Cana Classes for those preparing for Marriage Saints Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church Sundays, April 15 and April 22 from 2-5PM Saints Peter and Paul Church, Route 93, Beaver Meadows, PA COST: $50 per couple for the two Sundays Participants are asked to contact their pastors. Pastors will contact Father James Demko to inform him of the number of couples arriving from his parish. Registration is 15 minutes before the first session.

Searching the Scriptures Father Jack Custer, S.S.L., S.T.D. The Messiah Must Suffer ccording to Saint Luke, the risen Lord ap- Servant “gives His life as an offering for sin” but Christ)” (Acts 4:25-26). peared to His disciples on two separate somehow lives to “see His descendants in a long occasionsA and gave them a Bible lesson. On the life” (Isaiah 53:10). This text clearly predicts Finally, a text which, at first glance, we probably road to Emmaus, unrecognized by Cleopas and both Jesus’ suffering on behalf of others and His find offensive. In Deuteronomy 21:23, the Law Luke, Jesus “interpreted to them what referred Resurrection. Without quoting Isaiah 53, the decrees: “God’s curse rests on him who hangs to Him in all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27). That entire Epistle to the Hebrews also explains how on a tree.” Saint Peter had this text in mind on at same night, Jesus explained to the disciples gath- Jesus’ death was actually the perfect sin offering, least two occasions as he preached the Gospel in ered in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, “every- offered once for all mankind. We hear the most Jerusalem (Acts 5:30; 10:39). The other texts we thing written about me in the law of Moses and in important selections from Hebrews on the Satur- have looked at stress Jesus’ innocence and make the Prophets and Psalms. Then He opened their days and Sundays of the Great Fast. clear that His death was a sacrifice on our behalf. minds to understand the Scriptures. And He How can Jesus be linked to a curse? In several said to them: ‘Thus it is written that the Messiah Less familiar may be Psalm 16:10: “You will places, Jesus seems to allude specifically to cru- would suffer and rise from the dead on the third not abandon my soul to Hades not let your holy cifixion (rather than the Jewish sentence of ston- day’” (Luke 24:44-47). one see decay. You will show me the paths of life; ing) as the way He had to die according to God’s you will fill me with joy in your presence.” This plan (John 12:33; 18:32). Saint Paul helps us see Unfortunately, Saint Luke didn’t record which text acknowledges Jesus’ real death and descent the meaning behind Jesus’ embrace of a particu- Old Testament texts Jesus actually explained. But into Hades and predicts His Resurrection and larly accursed death: “Christ ransomed us from it stands to reason that they included the texts the glorification at God’s right hand (see Acts of the the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us” Apostles themselves used as they tried to con- Apostles 2:25-27 and 13:36-38). (Galatians 3:13). The curse of death had been vince their fellow Jews that Jesus was indeed the hanging over mankind’s head ever since the sin Messiah and that even the Cross had been part of We know from the Gospel (Matthew 12:40) of Adam and Eve. Jesus’ sacrificial death atoned God’s plan. that Jesus predicted His three-day burial by re- for Adam’s legacy of sin and blazed a trail beyond ferring to the Prophet Jonah’s three days in the death to life through the Resurrection. One of the most important Old Testament belly of the whale (Jonah 1:17). Jesus also al- proofs is Psalm 22, which predicts the Cruci- luded to His betrayal and death with reference to In another place, Saint Paul says similarly: “For fixion in numerous details: mockery (vv. 8-9); Psalm 118:22-23: “the stone which the builders our sake, God made Him to be sin who did not thirst (v. 16); pierced hands and feet (v.17); and rejected has become the cornerstone” (Matthew know sin, so that we might become the righteous- gambling over Jesus’ garments (v.19). The final 21:42; Acts 4:11). The new structure of which ness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). section (vv. 23-32) suggests both the Resurrec- Christ is the main stone is, of course, the Church tion and the Universal Church. born from Christ’s death and resurrection (Ephe- The first time Saint Paul uses the word “sin” in sians 2:20). this verse, he may well be thinking in Hebrew and Another frequently quoted text is the prophecy using it in the sense of “sin offering.” (The Old about a “Servant” whose innocent suffering and The unlikely collusion between Pontius Pi- Testament Law frequently uses the same word, death “justify many” (Isaiah 53:11). You will late and King Herod to bring about Jesus’ death hatt’at, for both “sin” and “sin offering”; for ex- recognize this text from Good Friday Vespers: (Luke 23:6-13) was seen by the Apostles to fulfill ample: Leviticus 4:29). Read the verse again this “It was our infirmities that He bore, our suffering the first lines of Psalm 2: “Why did the Gentiles way: “God made Him—who did not know sin--- that He endured, … He was pierced for our of- rage and the peoples entertain folly? The kings to be a sin offering for us….” This is exactly what fenses, crushed for our sins. Upon Him was the of the earth took their stand and the princes the Prophet Isaiah predicted about the innocent chastisement that makes us whole. By His stripes gathered together against the Lord and against Servant who “gives his life as an offering for sin” we were healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5). The unnamed His anointed (in Hebrew: Messiah; in Greek: to “justify many” (Isaiah 53:10-11). Page 12 Eastern Catholic Life APRIL 2018

FatherUnderstanding Joseph Bertha, Ph.D. Icons Identifying a Figure in the Last Judgment Icon at Saint Ann Byzantine Catholic Church Harrisburg, PA

he west interior wall of Saint Ann seems to be the (unnamed) angel foretold by Byzantine Catholic Church in Har- prophet Daniel 12: 6-7, 10-11: risburg,T PA, displays an enormous Last Judg- “And I said to the man clothed in linen, who was ment scene between the choir loft and the above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be entrance/exit doors. This scene is usually till the end of these wonders?” The man clothed in lin- found on the western wall of monastic church- en, who was above he waters of the stream, raised es. The subject of the Last Judgment was his right hand and his left hand toward heaven; very popular in iconography in the Carpath- … Many shall purify themselves, and make them- ian region in eastern/central Europe. The most selves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do so wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but renowned example in the Byzantine realm is the those who are wise shall understand.” so-called ‘Sistine Chapel of the East,’ the Vo- ronets Monastery located in Northeast Romania. It seems reasonable to assume that this beard- The Fearsome Last Judgment there is dramati- less figure is an angel who is dressed in linen cally exhibited on the exterior west wall, painted Detail of Last Judgment icon, Saint Ann, Harrisburg and denotes the priestly office. The crown of in 1543 approximately simultaneously as Michel- his head is topped with the phylacteries, a small angelo painted the same subject in the Sistine ler, a Jesuit iconographer based in France. He de- leather box which contains scrolls inscribed with Chapel in Rome. Many of the elements of the rives his portrayal of the Last Judgment as a direct the Scriptures - written laws of the Lord. This Romanian scene were copied and imitated by quotation from the Voronets scene. (see photo). distinctive Jewish headdress signals both the rank traveling iconographers in the areas of the Car- of angels and that of prophet; in both instanc- pathian both in monasteries and in parish church- es, someone who pleads for the repentance of es, and even in the United States. sinners. The figure seems to be a depiction of the young prophet Daniel: he is shown beardless, The Scriptural and liturgical basis for with the above-mentioned attributes, and it is his the icon vision of end times which is illustrated. Also, the The Byzantine liturgical calendar does not in- figure could be an angel, described simply as “a clude scripture readings from the Book of Rev- man” in the prophecy of Daniel, who is here por- elation. The illustration of this scene is derived trayed as a youth. from the Gospel of Matthew 25: 31-46, which is read on Meat Fare Sunday on the Byzantine Further depicted in this scene are various Calendar. This reading which commemorates groups of figures, some attired in the white gar- the Last Judgment is proclaimed just one week ments of salvation, others are mere body parts be- away from the beginning of the strict Lenten Voronets, Romania ing disgorged out of the mouths of beasts of the Fast. The Gospel describes Our Lord enthroned earth. Amid the waves of the surrounding waters, as Judge in heaven. He separates the sheep from In Last Judgment scenes, priority is given to a ship with white sails can be seen, representing the goats and places them on his right (heaven) direction; right and left are keenly delineated and the ark of the Church, the faithful saved/rescued or left (hell). The gospel account concludes with illustrated. A fiery red river originates from the from the surging sea of temptations by the safety the enumeration of both the corporal and spiri- left foot of Our Savior; it twists and churns popu- of the ship of the church. At the same time, sea tual works of mercy. Those who practiced them, lated with various figures some afloat, others be- creatures and monsters out of the deep belch up the righteous attain paradise on the right; while ing swallowed by the voracious, gaping maw and bodies from the oceans depths. those who neglected to do so are condemned to jaws of death shown in the lower left-hand cor- eternal punishment, on the left. ner. On the right-hand side, to the contrary, are Conclusion found the righteous springing from the right foot The complex and vivid iconography of the Last In the Vespers for Meat Fare Sunday, an ode of our Lord seated in glory in Heaven. Judgment on the western walls in churches serve provides some details for the icon: as an exhortation to believers to remain faithful The particular scene at Saint Ann “The trumpets shall sound and the tombs shall be amidst the storms of this earthly life. The call to opened and all humanity shall come forth trembling. Parish (see photo): The Resurrection of the Dead repentance is the primary focus and role in both Those who have done good shall rejoice, as they await the parish as well as the monastery. As believers the reward they shall receive. Those who have done enter the nave of the church, the approach the evil shall shriek in terror, as they are sent to punish- ment and separated from the elect. In your goodness, East in their progression toward paradise and spare us, O Lord of glory, and grant that we may enjoy the New Jerusalem symbolized by the sanctu- a place with those who love You.” ary, the entrance located through the royal doors. During their earthly sojourn, believers have Additionally, other details are derived from been equipped to engage in war with the worldly both 1 Corinthians 15:52; and 1 Thessalonians powers by practicing the works of mercy. This 4:16: “For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead same appeal is made during the final preparation shall be raised incorruptible.” for the Great Lent when the Last Judgment ac- The Last Judgment at Saint Ann Parish count from the Gospel of Matthew is proclaimed. (see photo) By viewing this icon, believers are alerted to the As already noted the Last Judgment at Saint Last Judgment detail, Saint Ann, Harrisburg cruel world of illusions which they are about to Ann Church fills the entire west wall in anticipa- enter as they exit the nave of the church to re-en- tion that believers will take note of on their leav- In this scene at the left side of the icon, four an- ter the world of shadows. By viewing these dire ing church. The west is the direction of the setting gels sound trumpets to signal the final judgment. warnings in the icon of the Last Judgment of all, of the sun; the end of the day; signals the end of They represent the four directions/corners of the faithful are also simultaneously reassured of the world and is an appropriate direction for the the earth. In the center a seated beardless figure the promise of Our Lord to the righteous to en- depiction of the last judgment. This scene was with both arms upraised is depicted on an island ter the Kingdom of Splendors with those at His painted during the 1990s by Father Egon Send- surrounded by an ocean of water. This figure right! APRIL 2018 Eastern Catholic Life Page 13

EASTERN CATHOLIC DEACON CONGRESS

Word of Life Institute’s Eastern Catholic Bible Conference November 9-10, 2018 Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church – San Diego, CA 2235 Galahad Road, San Diego, CA 92123 Ph: (858) 277- 2511 www.holyangelssandiego.org

For Eastern Catholic: Deacons LIVING ICONS o f Sponsored by: Deacons’ Wives Byzantine Catholic Christ the Light & Life Minor Clerics Eparchy of Passaic Deacon Candidates CHRIST SERVANT A Walk Through the The Discerning the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh Deacon Directors The Diaconate in the Eastern Catholic Churches Eparchy of Parma Gospel of St. John The Fourth Gospel announces the coming of Eparchy of Phoenix Christ as the fulfillment of the Law and the September 20-22, 2018 Prophets for the children of God who believe in Melkite Greek Catholic Him. Come learn about the Eastern Catholic Scranton, PA Eparchy of Newton approach to this text and the implications for Speakers the Church’s faith, worship and spirituality as St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church ECED we walk through each section of the Gospel of Eastern Catholic Father Hezekias Carnazzo St John the Theologian! 310 Mifflin Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 Eparchial Directors of Father Sebastian Carnazzo Religious Education This three-day Congress on the Diaconate in the Eastern Catholic Churches will be an Father Deacon Daniel Dozier Student and Clergy Discounts Available! opportunity for those serving in, preparing for and supporting diaconal ministry in our “I think that John’s Gospel…is the firstfruits of the Gospels...We might dare say that the churches to come together for a time of fellowship and formation across the jurisdictions! Gospels are the firstfruits of all Scripture but that the firstfruits of the Gospels is that Cost: $200 per person ($250 per couple) according to John whose meaning no one can understand who has not leaned on Jesus’ Local Accommodations available. Sponsored by: breast or received Mary from Jesus to be his mother also.” All meals and materials included. – Origen of Alexandria, 184-253, A.D. EASTERN THIS EVENT IS IN HONOR OF THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE RESTORATION OF CATHOLIC THE PERMANENT DIACONATE IN THE UNITED STATES Friday 6:30-9pm and Saturday 10am-4:30pm ($30 per participant) ASSOCIATES A Ministry of the WWW.EASTERNDEACONCONGRESS.COM Eparchy of Passaic REGISTER at ECBIBLEFALL2018.eventbrite.com

School of Prayer Father G. Scott Boghossian Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

he fourth petition of the Our Father is hunger, we want to stay close to Him, to feed on tually nourishing in the pages of the Holy Bible, “give us this day our daily bread.” When Him daily. This we do by prayer, cultivating as whether read privately or proclaimed in the litur- GodT delivered the Israelites from the bondage much as possible a “familiar conversation” with gical services of the Church. of Egypt, He provided daily bread from heaven Him. Also, we recognize Him in the “breaking to feed them on their journey to the Promised of the bread” (Lk 24:45). The Douay-Rheims The most literal understanding of “our daily Land. Like the Israelites of the Old Testament, Catholic Bible, based on Saint Jerome’s Latin bread” is the temporal necessities of life. In the we need nourishment for our journey to heav- New Testament, translates the fourth petition Our Father, Jesus urges us to ask for anything and en. God gave the Israelites manna from heaven of the Our Father as “give us this day our super- everything we need. When we pray, “give us this to nourish them on their journey to the land of substantial bread” (Mt. 6:11). In this verse the day our daily bread” we are requesting from our promise. Jesus Christ says, “I am the bread of life; Greek word translated “daily” is “epi-ousios.” The Heavenly Father food, shelter, clothing, and any whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and who- Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Taken other necessary material thing. Saint Paul tells ever believes in me shall never thirst” (Jn. 6:35). literally (epi-ousios: “super-essential”), it refers the Christians in Philippi, “My God shall supply Jesus Christ is our daily bread! directly to the Bread of Life, the Body of Christ, all your needs according to His riches in glory” the “medicine of immortality,” without which (Phil. 4:19). If we ask God for what we need, He Pope Benedict XVI tells us, “faith is first and we have no life within us” (CCC #2837). Jesus promises to hear and answer us (Mt. 7:7). foremost a personal, intimate encounter with Je- Christ is our daily bread, especially as He comes sus, it is having an experience of his closeness, his When we ask the Father for our daily bread, we to nourish us with His own body and blood in the request a personal encounter with Jesus, super- friendship, and his love. It is in this way that we Most Holy Eucharist during the Divine Liturgy. learn to know Him ever better, to love Him and natural spiritual nourishment found in the Holy He also remains with us in the tabernacle on the Eucharist and the Word of God, and finally, all to follow Him more and more. May this happen altar, as indicated by the sanctuary lamp burning to each one of us!” Without a personal and inti- the material earthly things of this life. Our Father, in our churches. Here in the Blessed Sacrament, give us this day our daily bread! Amen. mate encounter with Christ, we can’t begin our He fulfills the promises, “I am with you always, journey to heaven. It is in this personal encoun- even to the end of the world” (Mt. 28:20), and “I ter of conversion that we realize that no earthly will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). possession or relationship will satisfy the deep in- ner hunger within us. As Saint Augustine writes, In the Bible, bread can mean food in general, “O God, You have made us for Yourself, and our not only literal bread made with wheat and flour. heart is restless until it rests in You.” Only Je- Scripture refers to the Word of God as food, or sus satisfies our deep inner hunger for purpose, more specifically as meat and milk (1 Cor. 3:2, meaning, and significance. We experience this Heb. 5:12). The Word of God is our daily food. encounter through repentance from sin and sin- Our Lord says, “Man shall not live by bread alone cere personal surrender to Christ. but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Dt. 8:3, Mt. 4:4). The Bible is the Word Once we know from experience that Jesus of God. We need to feed on the Word daily. Ev- Christ is the fulfillment of our most profound ery believer knows that there is something spiri- Page 14 Eastern Catholic Life APRIL 2018

Ask a Priest a QuestionFather Vasyl Chepelskyy Can Rosaries Be Washed? And How Do We Dispose of Them When They are Worn Out? I do not know if this question will qualify for what Here are a few examples: A chalice which becomes irreparable statues, broken rosaries, etc.). you have listed but it is a question I have been asked “unserviceable” is not to be sold, but must be used several times. Can rosaries be washed? Especially be- for some other sacred purpose, or melted. Vest- 4. By pouring out in a clean place where no ing the rosaries are used on a daily basis this question ments, altar cloths, and linens must be destroyed. one has walked, man or animal, e. g., the pouring has come up. How to properly dispose of the blessed In all, the underlying idea is that what has been out of water or oil against the wall of the church, objects, which are broken/ damaged and no longer in dedicated to God should be returned to God, in a etc. (polluted or excess holy water must be poured use? Any information you can send me will be appre- sense, the same way a person’s dead body is com- into the ground, etc.). ciated. mitted to the earth. Never should one just “throw The above-mentioned writings, as well as com- out” what has been dedicated for sacred use. (cf. s Catholics, we are accustomed to having mon sense, help us in finding out the answer about https://www.catholicherald.com/Faith/Dispos- cleaning the religious articles. The rosary can be religious objects blessed, which signifies al_of_religious_items/). theA permanent sanctification and dedication of an cleaned as necessary, similarly to the way we clean object for some sacred purpose. Once a religious Our Byzantine Euchologion states the following liturgical objects and other things which are being object is blessed and dedicated for divine worship in this regard: Used liturgical objects that have used in our churches (the vestments for priests are or veneration, whether used in churches or for pri- been blessed and sanctified, e.g., priestly vest- being cleaned, the chalices are being cleaned, the vate devotional use, it must be treated with rever- ments, liturgical books, the wood of an old church, icons are dusted, etc.). Based on the material the ence and must not be used in either an improper etc., which are no longer fit for liturgical use, or rosary is made of and how much cleaning it needs or profane way, it must be treated with proper care which the faithful wish to change or replace with one would determine what would be the best way and its disposal should be handled with respect. It more expensive objects, must be reverently dis- to clean it. is especially important for us today as we live in a posed of either by fire or by water, or by burial, or We are always supposed to cherish blessed reli- society where things have become so disposable. by pouring. gious objects – at home or church, venerate them So, what to do then with the religious items when with piety, take a good care of them (which means they break, are irreparable, or need to be replaced? 1. Fire – at a decently clean place (burn old palm brunches and pussy willows, old liturgical cleaning too), and when necessary, dispose of During the 1800s, both the Sacred Congrega- books, etc.) and the ashes then returned to the them properly. tion for the Rites and the Holy Office (now known ground in an appropriate location. If you have ever wondered what Catholics really be- respectively as the Sacred Congregation for the 2. Water – thrown into clean water. lieve or just questioned “why is that” about a certain Sacraments and Divine Worship, and the Sacred topic, you now have the opportunity to find out. We Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) is- 3. Burial – deep into the ground, wrapped look forward to your many questions....so ask away! sued various determinations concerning this issue. up in something secure (damaged or broken and

Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate 64th HOLY DORMITION PILGRIMAGE August 11-12, 2018 His Beatitude Sviatoslav presiding MARY, OUR MODEL OF PRAYER “Do Whatever He Tells You…” The Sisters Servants joyfully announce that along with His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, His Eminence Most Reverend William C. Skurla, Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh and Most Reverend Kurt Burnette, Bishop of the Eparchy of Passaic, will also preside at this year’s pilgrimage. Archbishop William will be the main celebrant and homilist at the 5:00 pm Pontifical Divine Liturgy on Saturday, August 11th, and Bishop Kurt will be the celebrant and homilist for the 8:00 pm. Moleben to the Mother of God on Saturday night.

PARISH BANNERS - We ask that parishes bring their banners and have a representative carry them in the procession to the Pontifical Divine Liturgies on Saturday and Sunday.

PRESENTATION: V. Rev. John Custer, Rector of the Cathedral of St Michael the Archangel, Passaic NJ and Syncellus for New Jersey will speak on the topic “Mary, Mother of the Word of God” on Saturday, August 11th.

HOTEL RESERVATIONS - Sr. Michele has acquired the following great rate, and you must book through her for this rate: [email protected], 845-753-2555 HOTEL: Fairfield Inn & Suites ADDRESS: 225 Ramapo Valley Rd. Mahwah, NJ 07430 PRICE: $115.00 per night (all inclusive room with breakfast) King / Queen / 2 Doubles room size

The Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic subscribes to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People adopted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Eparchy, within all its parishes, institutions and programs, is committed to assuring a safe environment in ministry for its children and young people that conforms to Charter requirements. For further information regarding the Eparchial Safe Environment Program please contact: Father David J. Baratelli, Ed.S., M.Div. • Safe Environment Program Coordinator • 973.890.7777 Dr. Maureen Daddona, Ph.D. • Victim’s Assistance Coordinator • 516.623.6456 APRIL 2018 Eastern Catholic Life Page 15

The Byzantine Liturgy By Archpriest David Petras, SEOD The Imitation of Christ Saint Paul wrote: “Faith, hope, love remain, thanks. Instead, they became vain in their rea- deceptive ideas of God is a transition from dark- these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 soning, and their senseless minds were darkened. ness into light.” (Homily on the Song of Songs 11) Corinthians 13:13). Today, let’s take a look at While claiming to be wise, they became fools and faith, since my recent articles have been about exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the Because of this, faith is actually “seeing” more God, and the ways we know God. Saint Paul also likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or than we can see. Yet there is still more to faith. wrote that we can know God through reason, of four-legged animals or of snakes” (Romans In our modern mentality, we usually intellectual- “For what can be known about God is evident 1:21-23). ize faith. Faith is about the stuff we know. But to them (those who suppress the truth by their is that enough for faith? Saint James gives us a wickedness), because God made it evident to Human beings may be smart, but they are not warning, “You believe that God is one. You do them. Ever since the creation of the world, His always wise, and we are often as much misled by well. Even the demons believe that and tremble” invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity our reasonings as enlightened by them. The hu- (James 2:19). If, by faith, we come to a more per- have been able to be understood and perceived man mind, as created by God, is good, but it does fect knowledge of God, that same faith must lead in what He has made” (Romans 1:19-20). In the not, in fact, always lead to healthy ideas about to a transformation of the way we live, it must same passage from Scripture, however, Saint Paul God. We need also divine grace, given in the vir- empower who we are and how we act. The per- also comes to the conclusion that our reason may tue of faith, which supplies what is lacking in our son of faith becomes a more righteous and loving be quite faulty and may lead us to a false idea of reasoning powers. Our Father Gregory of Nyssa, person than one who has no faith. If this does God, for human beings, “though they knew God wrote, “having become more perfect, Moses saw not seem to be true, than perhaps we have not let they did not accord him glory as God or give him God in darkness (read Exodus 20:21). By this faith direct our path. example we learn that our withdrawal from false,

Seasonal Reflections Father Ronald Hatton The Mystery of Our Salvation to His disciples although the doors in the Upper ing is so controversial as the resurrection of Jesus Room were locked, His sudden appearance and Christ from the dead. How many people do not disappearance to the disciples on the road to Em- believe based on this one part of the Christian maus, and yet the mystery of His appearance be- Faith? And yet it is central to the Faith. The Holy ing a physical one. So much for our minds to take Apostle Paul says, “But if there is no resurrection in and to process. We are called to belief, but in of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; if this day and age, what we are called to believe is, Christ has not been raised, then our preaching in worldly terms, beyond belief. And so this sea- is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even son is also a time to reaffirm our faith and belief in found to be misrepresenting God, because we the One Whom we follow. We must remember testified of God that He raised Christ, Whom that even during His three-year ministry, lesser He did not raise if it is true that the dead are not struggles confronted His disciples: how can this raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ Man give us His flesh to eat (cf. John 6, especially has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, verses 52 and 66)? They all ran away on the night your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. He was arrested, and Peter denied he knew Him, Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ You annulled the sentence of the tree of disobedience, even after professing, even boasting that, even if have perished. If for this life only we have hoped O Savior, by being nailed willingly to the Tree of the everyone else fainted away, he would never be- in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied” (I Cross. And by descending into Hades, O Mighty One, tray Him. Cor. 15: 13-19). There are those who believe as God You destroyed the bonds of death. Wherefore, He never really died on the cross; others hold to we worship Your resurrection from the dead, while And so, I have chosen these two hymns for us crying out to You: O Almighty Lord, glory be to You. the story that His disciples stole His body, in the –Vespers for Bright Tuesday to ponder. I cannot go too deeply into the mys- same manner as is related in Matthew 28: 11-15. teries here but maybe I can offer food for serious O Lord, when the grave had been sealed by the lawless But we who believe are offered this mystery as it is thought. First is the cross. My favorite “theologi- presented in the second hymn above: in the same ones, You came forth from the tomb in the same man- cal” Christmas song is “I Wonder as I Wander.” ner as You were born of the Theotokos. Your incorpo- manner as Christ was born of the Virgin Mother real angels did not know how You were incarnate; the “How Jesus the Savior did come for to die/For without violating her virginity, so too was His ris- soldiers who guarded You did not perceive when You poor on’ry people like you and like I….” The first ing from the dead. “[B]ut the wonders are made arose: for both these things are sealed fast against the hymn above answers that for us in that, as one manifest to those who worship the mystery of faith.” inquisitive, but the wonders are made manifest to those tree, in the Garden of Eden, led to sin and death who worship the mystery of faith. Grant to us who through the first Adam, so the second tree led But we do hold to this faith. Again, going back praise it exceeding joy and great mercy. –Matins for Bright Thursday to the end of sin and death through the second to I Corinthians: “But in fact Christ has been Adam. As our Anaphora of Saint Basil the Great raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who e come once again to the season of great so beautifully puts it, “For since, through a man, have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, Wmysteries: The Mystery of the Cross sin entered the world, and through sin, death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the and the Mystery of the Resurrection. All those so it pleased Your only-begotten Son…to con- dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ who call themselves Christian contemplate these demn sin in His flesh, so that those who are dead shall all be made alive” (vv. 20-22). Paul, and all mysteries to one degree or another, struggling in Adam might be brought to life in Him, Your the apostles, had to constantly re-teach the early with why Christ had to suffer betrayal, arrest, Christ.” Why? “For God so loved the world that Christians this fact, and we must be reminded of desertion, public mockery, and condemnation He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever be- this teaching every Easter, every Sunday. to death, and a horrible death on the cross. They lieves in Him should not perish but have eternal also struggle with how (and even if) the Resurrec- life.” (John 3:16). This is the season of the Great Mystery of tion occurred and all the attendant mysteries that Christ. This is the season of faith. This is the sea- happened after the Resurrection: the appearance We also contemplate His resurrection. Noth- son of belief. Page 16 Eastern Catholic Life APRIL 2018

Seminarian Reflections Seminarian Timothy Farris Faith Outside the Home e are approaching the end ous parishes. The last event was a college’s Newman Center and began nia, Drexel, and the University of the of the Great Fast and ap- Vespers service at Holy Spirit in Oak- attending Mass on campus every Sun- Sciences are within two miles of Holy proachingW the Resurrection of our land (East Pittsburgh). Both of these day at 6 PM. College has a stigma as Ghost in South Philly. The College Lord Jesus Christ. I’d like to dedi- include a much higher internet pres- being the place where students lose of New Jersey is five miles from Saint cate an article to an event that exists ence. This is not so much because our their faith but it is a place where kids Mary Parish in Trenton, NJ. NC State outside of our liturgical calendar that parishes are further apart, but this is explore their new-found freedom, is five miles from our parish in Cary, also happens around this time every how this demographic communi- this includes finding themselves back NC. year: the college selection process. cates. I was walking with a colleague in the Catholic Church. In the opening address of the March looking for a place to eat and came A local Byzantine Church under- for Life in January, Cardinal Wuerl to a local restaurant. It looked nice The Roman Catholic college min- standably isn’t the only reason for bragged to Cardinal Dolan, the cel- but out of our price range. Without istry system of Newman Centers has selecting a particular school. How- ebrating bishop, that he had found all stepping in and asking for a menu, I 21 communities in PA. Many more ever, having a Byzantine Church that the young people (gesturing to the pulled up the website on my phone, schools have Catholic outreach- is accessible to your child while they pews of the National Basilica Shrine). saw the menu, saw the prices, read es with varying success, but West are first experiencing time outside the The March for Life is a bastion of the five of the fifty reviews the restaurant Chester’s Newman Center saw 250 home will help to continue develop- next generation of Catholics. In many had, even looked a few pictures of the students every Sunday. In truth, ac- ing their faith. Now, no matter what, of the churches that I have attended I bar and the atmosphere. Then we cording to the Newman Connection, before waving goodbye, college stu- could notice an absence of these same stepped through the door. Millenni- they were gathering over 20% of the dents can be equipped with the tools young Catholics. In my neighbor- als have found a different way of navi- Catholic population of the University, to explore their faith. God With Us hood, I would guess that our greatest gating the world around them and a which is higher than the average Sun- Publications’ “Light for Life” series export is high school graduates. In large portion of this is digital. Father day attendance of parishes across the was a nice summer read for me in my class of 567 in 2008, over 180 se- Michael O’Loughlin from our parish country. It has also helped develop Baltimore that is accessible to college lected to spend their next four years at in Denver, CO, is part of a podcast and foster five seminarian vocations students. Eastern Christian Publica- Penn State and its branch campuses. called “Catholic Stuff You Should including myself in just six years as tions print out a monthly reflections I was one of 20 that moved to West Know.” While these podcasts may well as countless faithful marriages. magazine. Also, the Byzantine Semi- Chester University. When a vacant not mean anything to some, to mil- Many of my friends found their Cath- nary Press has revamped their online lot went up for development in the lennials it is the local Catholic news, olic spouses at the Newman Center. presence and sells many books, prayer ropes, and beautiful icons. Icons have borough of my little town, a plan for an encyclopedia of truths that our The Byzantine Church also has col- mixed use property with single suites Church holds, a calendar of local a powerful ability to remind us to ori- lege ministries on the campuses of ent our lives to God in the midst of was shot down. This made me realize events, and a community to which Franciscan University in Steubenville, none of my graduate friends could af- they can identify. our worldly chaos. While we are pre- OH, and Penn State Main Campus, paring our children for college, a few ford to live in the same town as their where a priest serves liturgy on cam- parish homes. Many high schools Expressing my faith became more spiritual gifts may not give that flare difficult as my friends stopped attend- pus. While I only know of these two, of excitement but will leave behind boast of a 97% college placement rate I can speak to the number of parishes and if this is true we may only be see- ing church after middle school and burning embers that may take when by the time I finished high school I we have near universities that can you least expect. We cannot force ing our youth when they return for cater to your young graduate. Holy family feasts. stopped going to church the moment someone to have faith but we can pro- I left my parents’ house. One day in Spirit Parish in Pittsburgh, where we vide every opportunity and make the The Eparchy of Passaic just my sophomore year, a friend invited prayed Vespers, is within three miles faith as accessible as possible so that launched Theosis in Action, a huge me to a bible study. “I thought, I’m of six local colleges including the Uni- when they are ready to reach out to step in reaching out in setting up a Catholic, I can do that.” The bible versity of Pittsburgh and Duquesne. Christ, we have already placed Christ platform for young adults to express study was hosted in a young lady’s West Virginia University is within at their fingertips. To Him be all and grow in their faith. Pittsburgh has dorm room, with four people sitting three miles of Saint Mary Parish in glory. also had an emerging group of young on a bed and seven more on the floor. Morgantown, WV, and has a universi- adults setting up events through vari- A few weeks later I was invited to the ty bus route stop within blocks of the church. The University of Pennsylva- Upcoming Eparchial and Parish Events April July Eastern Catholic Life 1 PASCHA * THE GREAT DAY * 5-8 Byzantine Youth Rally Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA Circulation Department THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD, 445 Lackawanna Avenue GOD, AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST Woodland Park, NJ 07424 Christos voskrese! Voistinnu voskrese! August There is no fasting this week! 4-8 Altar Server Camp 2 Bright Monday Carpathian Village, Canadensis, PA Next Issue: Solemn Holyday* Chancery closed 11-12 Annual Holy Dormition Pilgrimage May, 2018 3 Bright Tuesday Sloatsburg, NY Simple Holyday* Chancery closed Copy Deadline: 8 Thomas Sunday September April 20 1-2 Annual Pilgrimage in Honor of Our 15 Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearers The current issue of the ECL Lady of Perpetual Help was printed at Evergreen 22 Sunday of the Paralytic Man Uniontown, PA Printing, Bellmawr, NJ, and was distributed from the 23 Holy Great Martyr George U.S. Post Office via second Simple Holyday class mailing in Bellmawr, NJ. 25 Mid-Pentecost 29 Sunday of the Samaritan Woman