After Pope Francis and Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI embrace during the beginning of the Holy Mass for the Canonization of Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II in St. Peter's Square on April 27, 2014, you can see Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka standing among the Cardinals and Bishops in the center of the photo. Look between the two Popes heads around the 32 second mark in the attached CNS video.

Post by Catholic News Service.

Another video from Easter 2014 at the Cathedral in Philadelphia.

A video from Easter 2014 at the Cathedral.

http://youtu.be/xvlH5D8ZVZU

Photos from Pope John Paul II visit to Ukraine

Saint John Paul II visit to Ukraine (photos)

27-04-2014
Source RISU


http://risu.org.ua/en/index/all_news/catholics/vatikan/56213/

Archives of "The Way" from Pope John Paul II visit to the Cathedral

Attached is a pdf containing a few articles from "The Way" from 1979 from Pope John Paul II visit to the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia, PA on October 4, 1979.

http://www.ukrarcheparchy.us/way/POPE1979THEWAY.pdf

Video clips of Pope John Paul II visit to Philadelphia

1.  A link from phillymag.   http://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/04/25/video-pope-john-paul-ii-arrives-in-philadelphia-1979/


2.  A link courtesy of Broadcast Pioneers website and WPVI.  (Note we found it best to view this video via Internet Explorer.)    http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/newsletter/6-13/sperka.wax

Metropolitan Stefan will be attending the Canonization Ceremony in Rome

Here are a few links/articles about Metropolitan Stefan attending the Canonization Ceremony in Rome.

1.  An article on philly.com

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20140425_Popes_to_saints__Philly_folks_will_be_there.html#g1jO7Duzjibs7gJD.99

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2.  Read an article we posted on our Archeparchy of Philadelphia website.

Ukrainian Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka of Philadelphia will attend Canonization Ceremonies of St. John XXIII and St. John Paul II in Rome

PHILADELPHIA, PA.--On Sunday, April 27, Metropolitan Archbishop Stefan Soroka, of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia will be at the Vatican as two former Popes will be formally canonized Saints of the Church by His Holiness, Pope Francis. After a consistory with cardinals on September 30^th last year, Pope Francis decided to canonize his two predecessors to the See of Peter, John Paul II (1978-2005) and John XXIII (1958-1963).

Both of these new saints, not only had a significant influence on the Catholic Church during their pontificates, but they were friends of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and their actions had a lasting impact on the largest Eastern Catholic Church in union with Rome.

“Not only is this an historic event, but these two new saints have a special place in the hearts of Ukrainian Catholic faithful throughout the world,” Archbishop Soroka stated. 

As a seminarian, Metropolitan Soroka was present in the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Philadelphia on October 4, 1979 when  Pope John Paul II made his visit to Philadelphia.   He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Winnipeg in 1996 and Archbishop of Philadelphia in 2000 by Pope John Paul II after election by the Synod of Bishops.  He attended his papal visit to Ukraine in June 2001 and his funeral April 8, 2005 in St. Peter’s Square.

In 1963, Pope John XXIII, with the assistance of President John K. Kennedy, secured the release of Patriarch Josef Slipyj after eighteen years of Soviet imprisonment.  On February 10, 1963, the head of the underground Ukrainian Catholic Church at that time, met his liberator, Pope John XXIII at the Apostolic Place at the Vatican.

The first Slavic Pope, Pope John Paul II, early in his pontificate made a visit to the United States.  When he visited the city of Philadelphia on October 3 and 4, 1979, he made a visit to the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Franklin Street, the mother church of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States.

His cooperation with President Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain, is credited with the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union and the liberation of the so-called captive nations, including Ukraine at the close of the twentieth century.

In the twilight years of his papacy, in frail health, ,Pope John Paul II made a historic visit to Ukraine, June 23-27, 2001, and celebrated liturgies in both Kyiv and Lviv, which were attended by millions, in spite of inclement weather.

When he first arrived on Ukrainian soil, his first words were “I come as your friend.”

These holy men, who as successors of Peter were Servants of Servants of God, will now be known as Saint John XXIII and Saint John Paul II, and will take their place in the constellation of declared saints of the Church.   

                                  

http://www.ukrarcheparchy.us/way/ArchbishopSorokatoAttendcanoizationinRome.pdf

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3.  An article on KYW website
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/04/24/philadelphia-archbishop-soroka-has-fond-memories-of-pope-john-paul-ii/

Metropolitan Soroka's Homily on Easter 2014

Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka's Homily on Easter April 20, 2014 at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia, PA.

http://youtu.be/96GxwEuu2iU

Ukrainian Paska Baking in Stamford

Here is a link to a video of Ukrainian Paska Baking in Stamford.
http://www.marthastewart.com/993486/classic-ukrainian-paska-easter-bread

English version of Message to Youth on Palm Sunday

The English version of His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk's message to Youth for Palm Sunday is posted on the UGCC website.

http://news.ugcc.org.ua/en/articles/epistle_of_his_beatitude_sviatoslav_to_youth_69975.html