The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford visited the Shroud of Turin Replica at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia, PA, on March 23, 2010. Those in attendence included Bishop Paul Chomnycky, OSBM, Bishop Basil Losten, and religious clergy. Below are two short videos and some photos from the visit.
If you would like to share a comment with us, please click the "Comment" link at the bottom of this post.
Video 1 = Bishop Paul expresses his thanks on behalf of the Stamford Eparchy.
Video 2 = Rev. Archpriest Daniel Troyan speaks about the Shroud of Turin.
How fondly I recall how adults shared greetings with others after church on Palm Sunday by gently striking one another on the shoulders with blessed pussy willows. It was a joyful mutual greeting in anticipation of the Easter celebration to come in one week’s time. St. Paul tells Christians in today’s Epistle to always rejoice in the Lord. Joy in the Lord is a sign of the kindness and gentleness which should shine out from each one of us and from the Church upon the world around us. We are encouraged by St. Paul not to be anxious about anything. We are urged to offer everything in prayer to God, with hearts and minds filled with thanksgiving. We are assured that the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will be ours if we entrust ourselves and all whom we hold dear to the loving hands of God. That kind of peace is beyond what mankind can produce or contrive. God gives it to you and to me. Rejoice in it! Surrender your anxieties and worries as you enter Holy Week. Dismiss your priorities. Place Jesus at the center of your life. Prepare to meet the Resurrected Christ!
Роздуми Митрополита Стефана на Квітну Неділю
З якою теплотою пригадується мені, як дорослі вітають одне одного в Квітну неділю по виході з церкви делікатно вдаряючи по плечу благословенними вербовими гілками. Це радісне взаємне привітання в передчутті Великоднього святкування. У сьогоднішньому апостольському читанні апостол Павло радить християнам завжди радіти в Господі. Радість в Господі є свідченням доброти і лагідності, якими повинен світитися кожен з нас і вся наша Церква в світі. Святий Павло заохочує нас не турбуватися нічим. Нас проситься довіритися Богові в молитві, з серцем і думками наповненими подякою. Нас запевняється, що мир Господній, який перевершує будь-яке наше розуміння, буде з нами, якщо ми довіримо себе і всіх своїх дорогих і близьких люблячим рукам Божим. Такий мир перевершує все, що людство може створити чи винайти. Бог дає його вам і мені. Радійте в ньому! Звільніться від тривог і переживань на порозі Святого тижня. Відмовтеся від своїх пріоритетів. Помістіть Ісуса в центр вашого життя. Приготуйтеся зустріти Воскреслого Христа!
The Clergy Conference for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia was held on March 18, 2010 at the Cathedral Hall in Philadelphia. Representatives from USI Affinity Insurance (Raymond Keough and Tina Campbell) were among those at the Conference.
(Click on picture to enlarge)
Opening Prayer
Metropolitan Stefan speaking at the Conference.
Raymond Keough from USI Affinity Insurance speaking at the Conference.
Tina Campbell from USI Affinity Insurance helped with the presentation.
Members of the Finance Department, Raymond Keough, and Metropolitan Stefan at the Conference.
Metropolitan Stefan’s Meditation for Fifth Sunday of Great Fast
We hear in the Gospels of the curious exchange with the apostles James and John as to their ambitions. Imagine the reaction of Jesus. He is trying to prepare them for his coming passion. They are preoccupied with striving for places of honor. You and I are often like those disciples. “Have you seen Him?” is the invitation of the Shroud of Turin exhibition at our Cathedral. A tremendous opportunity for you to spend some quality time with our Lord awaits you and me as we make a special effort to venerate the shroud. Jesus waits while we struggle to meet our daily needs and our passions in life. Like the disciples, we are so slow to respond to His invitation. Jesus was calling them, and is calling us in the same way, to a change of mind, a new vision. It has been spiritually enriching to witness the emotional and blissful peacefulness of many of the pilgrims who have come to date. Faithful place themselves, their needs for healing, and holy items on the shroud asking for Jesus’ intervention. My prayer is that you will not allow anything to prohibit your personal pilgrimage to our Cathedral to venerate the Shroud. For more information, see www.ukrcathedral.com or phone Rev. Archpriest Daniel Troyan at 215-922-2917.
Роздуми Митрополита Стефана на п’яту неділю Великого посту
У євангельському читанні ми чуємо про дивну розмову між апостолами Яковом та Іваном про їхні амбіції. Уявіть собі Ісусову реакцію. Він намагається приготувати їх до своїх страстей. Вони ж переймаються посіданням почесних місць. Ми часто подібні на цих учнів. «Чи ти бачиш Його?» - це запрошення на експозицію Туринської плащаниці, яка виставлена в Катедрі. Надзвичайна нагода для вас провести певний час з нашим Господом. Ісус чекає на нас поки ми зробимо зусилля над собою і прийдемо вшанувати плащаницю. Ісус чекає поки ми задовольняємо наші щоденні потреби та пристрасті. Як і Його учні, ми так само повільно відгукуємося на запрошення. Ісус закликав їх, як Він закликає й нас, до зміни мислення, до нового бачення. Це є справжнім духовним збагаченням спостерігати емоційне та блаженне умиротворення, яке переживають паломники, що приходять до плащаниці. Вірні довіряють себе, свої прохання про оздоровлення та праведність плащаниці, просячи в Ісуса про заступництво. Я молюся про те, щоб ніщо не завадило вашому особистому паломництву до Катедри для вшанування Плащаниці. За додатковою інформацією просимо звертатися до нашого сайту: www.ukrcathedral.com , або дзвонити всечеснішому протопресвітеру Данилові Трояну за № тел.: 215-922-2917.
Metropolitan Stefan’s Meditation for the Fourth Sunday of Great Fast
Jesus instructs his disciples that he is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days later after his death he will rise. The disciples did not understand what he was saying, and they were afraid to question him. Jesus desired that his disciples understand God’s plan in Him. There is so much each of us does not yet understand in our faith. Do we take advantage of opportunities to enhance our knowledge and experience of faith? Do we seek to understand God’s plan for us? The exhibition of the Shroud of Turin in our Cathedral is an exceptional invitation to grow in understanding of the meaning of the Lord’s suffering for you and for me. Have you made plans to venerate and to pray before the Shroud? Plan a private visit or a parish group visit. A multi-media presentation on the Shroud planned for the evenings of Friday, April 9th and Saturday, April 10th from 7 to 9 pm is something you don’t want to miss! Have you seen Him? Come to pray and to rejoice in your renewal of faith in Jesus Christ! For more information, see http://www.ukrcathedral.com/ or phone Fr. Dan at 215-922-2917.
Роздуми Митрополита Стефана на четверту неділю Великого посту
Ісус навчав своїх учнів, що Він буде виданий людям, які уб’ють Його, але на третій день по тому Він воскресне. Учні не розуміли про що Він говорить, але боялися запитатися. Ісус прагнув, щоб Його учні розуміли Божий план у Ньому. Є так багато, чого кожен з нас ще не розуміє у нашій вірі. Чи ми користаємо з нагоди зміцнити наші знання й переживання віри? Чи ми шукаємо зрозуміння Божого плану щодо нас? Виставка Туринської Плащаниці в нашій Катедрі є прекрасним запрошенням до зростання в зрозумінні значення страждань нашого Господа, які Він перетерпів задля нас. Чи ви готові поклонитися і молитися перед Плащаницею? Заплануйте одноосібний візит, чи групові парафіяльні відвідини. Мульти-медійна презентація Плащаниці, яка запланована на п’ятницю, 9 квітня, та суботу, 10 квітня, від 7-ої до 9-ої вечора - це те, чого ви не можете пропустити! Чи ви бачите Його? Прийдіть, щоб помолитися й відсвяткувати відновлення вашої віри в Ісуса Христа! За додатковою інформацією просимо звертатися до нашого сайту: http://www.ukrcathedral.com/ , або телефонічно просити отця Данила: (215)922-2917.
The Akathist of the Mother of God will be held on Akathistos Saturday, March 20, 2010, 3:00 p.m. at The Byzantine Chapel (crypt level), Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
This is the second video post. It contains highlights from the Shroud of Turin Exhibition Vespers Service on February 21, 2010. This is a 4 part Video.
Video Post 1 - Shroud of Turin Exhibition at Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on February 21, 2010 at 5PM. Write us a comment by clicking the "Comment" link at the bottom of this post.
Blog Note: The text from the Vespers Service is provided at the end of this post, for those wanting to follow along with VIDEO #4 (when the Shroud was unveiled).
Video #1 = Procession with Icons
Video 2 = Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka's Homily
Video 3 = Faithful during the Vespers Service
Video 4 = Unveiling of the Shroud of Turin Replica (text below)
Follow along in the Vespers Service in Video #4 with the text below
Celebrant: Hear us, O God, our Savior, the hope of all throughout the land and those far at sea. Be gracious to us in our sinfulness, merciful Master, and have mercy on us. Choir: Lord, have mercy (3). Celebrant: For You are a merciful and loving God, and we give glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Choir: Amen. Celebrant: On this Sunday, let us renew our faith in Jesus Christ and His Church. All: I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father. Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father. With the Father and the Son He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. All: We accept and affirm the teachings of our holy fathers gathered throughout the centuries in the ecumenical councils of the Church. Amen. Celebrant: This is the faith of the apostles. This is the faith of the fathers. This is the faith of the orthodox (true believers). This is the faith in which the world is made firm. Therefore, with paternal and fraternal love we praise all preachers of piety, who struggled honorably and gloriously for the faith, and say: to the defenders of orthodoxy - devout rulers, most holy patriarchs, bishops, teachers, martyrs and confessors: May your memory be eternal. Choir: Eternal Memory! (Vichnaya Pamyat!) Celebrant: Let us entreat God that we may be strengthened by their struggles, even unto death, - and instructed by their teachings, that we imitate their godly life to the end. May we be counted worthy of a favorable response to all our petitions through the mercy and grace of Christ our God, First Hierarch (our High Priest), through the prayers of our glorious Lady, the Mother of God and ever virgin Mary, the honorable and incorporeal powers and all the saints. Choir: Amen.
CANTICLE OF SIMEON Now You dismiss Your servant, O Lord,* according to Your word, in peace; Because my eyes* have seen Your salvation Which You prepared* before the face of all peoples. A light to the revelation of the Gentiles,* and the glory of Your people, Israel. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen. Trinity most holy, have mercy on us. Cleanse us of our sins, O Lord; pardon our transgressions, O Master; look upon our weaknesses and heal them, O Holy One; for the sake of Your name. Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Amen. Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Celebrant: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever and ever. Choir: Amen.
On February 21, 2010 a Vespers Service was held at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 5PM. During the Service, the Authentic Vatican Replica of the Shroud of Turin was unveiled. Video from the Service are in the next Blog Post.
Did you attend the Vespers Service? Share a comment with us by clicking the "Comment" link at the bottom of this post.
