August 20, 2008
Amy Welborn recently worshiped at an Eastern Rite parish, and shares her reflections on the visit, including thoughts about the Eastern Rite. Please head over there and read the post.
I especially enjoyed her introduction to the post:
I’m going to do that thing again – that thing of encouraging you Latin-Rite Catholics out there to dip your toe into the Eastern Catholic waters.
Not as a tourist, not as an observer at a zoo, but as a Catholic with other Catholics, worshipping God in ancient rites. Yes, it is confusing – even with a book in hand, you are not quite sure where everyone is all the time – but that is part of the fruit, I think. A letting go, a deepening of a sense that something is going on here, something vital and awe-some, even if I cannot fully follow along. For that is what life is. I may want to control it or feel as if I fully, intellectually understand the why’s and what’s of the events in my life and, most importantly, where God is in every iota of it but that’s really too bad, isn’t it?
She makes an excellent point. When we visit the Eastern Rite parishes, we are taking part in worship with fellow Catholics. The Eastern Rite is a full part of our Catholic heritage. We Latin Rite Catholics are heirs of this heritage too, just as Eastern Rite Catholics can claim the wisdom of the Western Rite. I guess this really hit me, because when I have attended Eastern Rite parishes, it sometimes seems so different (and certainly marvelous) that I always need reminded that we are all Catholics! In terms of communion together, when visiting an Eastern Rite liturgy, we are not outsiders observing the worship of insiders, but rather we are all insiders, in the same Church (even if we visitors of the Latin Rite may be slightly confused insiders!)
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Eastern Catholics | Tagged: Eastern Catholicism, Eastern Rite | 
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Posted by David Bennett
July 10, 2008
John Chrysostom Icon
Jonathan and I presented at a meeting of the Society of Saint John Chrysostom, Youngstown-Warren Chapter, a a few days ago. The Society is devoted to greater unity between Catholics and Orthodox. We presented on the topic of internet ecumenism, and the possibilities and drawbacks involved.
The Society of Saint John Chrysostom does a lot of great things, and at the meeting were representatives from both the Catholic (Eastern and Latin Rite) and Orthodox side. Fr. Hopko, an Orthodox priest active online, regularly attends these meetings, but unfortunately was not present at this meeting. I recommend visiting the Society’s site, and seeing if there are ways to get involved in your area.
I have always been committed to East-West unity, which began when I studied the Church Fathers as an evangelical. I think part of my interest in East-West unity is a result of studying Eastern and Western Fathers at the same time. However, it is easy to get complacent, and not regularly consider the importance of unity among the Apostolic Churches. I think that we are witnessing a real opportunity for greater unity all around us. One main reason is that many of our traditional ecumenical partners are moving farther and farther away from historical Christianity. Orthodox and Catholics are going to find that as society and mainline Protestantism moves farther and farther away from the faith and morality of classical Christianity, working together just makes sense. In the near future, in even western countries like Canada, we may find ourselves standing together against governments trying to stop us from even expressing Catholic and Orthodox views on controversial moral issues. We just have to get past some of our old hostilities really. Of course it is more complicated that this, but I think there is hope, and this is something we should always work for and pray for.
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Eastern Catholics, Ecumenism, Orthodoxy | Tagged: Catholic, Ecumenism, Orthodox | 
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Posted by David Bennett
March 28, 2008
Who Laid the Easter Egg?
Basilian Bishop, Kyr Dionysius Lachovicz, OSBM.
Four Basilian Consecrated Without Mandate This Month
In November 2007, the Catholic World News (www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=54919) reported on excommunication of Father Basil Kovpak, the head of the Priestly Society of Saint Josaphat Kuntsevych (SSJK), a group with ties to the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) which has been active among Byzantine Catholics in the Ukraine since the early 1990s. Bishops of the SPPX – themselves excommunicated because they were consecrated without approval from the Holy See – ordained two priests and seven deacons for the SSJK. On 23 March 2008, this past Easter Sunday (according to the Gregorian Calendar), the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church (UGCC) published a communiqué about the latest schism to divide its unstable ranks. Four members of the Basilian Order of St. Josaphat – Eliáš Dohnal, Metoděj Špiřík, Markian Hitiuk and Robert Oberhauser – were consecrated bishops without having been nominated by the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Synod and without a papal approval. Thus, according to CCEO, canon 1459 §1, they have automatically encurred the penalty of excommunication.
Strangely, the UGCC communiqué has an air of uncertainty about it. It does not explicitly state they are excommunicated; rather, if all that is stated about these four Basilians is true, they await excommunication. What is not certain is who was their consecrator. A possible candidate seems to be Mychajlo Osidach, who claims to have been Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted by asimplesinner
March 25, 2008
Greek Catholic Martyr & Righteous Among The Nations
from www.vatican.va: “The Servant of God Fr Emilian Kovch was born on 20 August 1884, near Kosiv. In 1911, after graduating from the College of Sts Sergius and Bacchus in Rome, he was ordained to the priesthood. In the spring of 1943, he was arrested by the Gestapo for aiding Jews. On 25 March 1944 he was burned to death in the ovens of the Majdanek Nazi death camp. On 9 September 1999 he was honoured with the title “Righteous Ukrainian” by the Jewish Council of Ukraine.”
2 Comments | Eastern Catholics, Liturgical Year, Martyrs, Persecution, Saints and Sainthood | Tagged: Beatified by John Paul II, Church History, Church Year, Emilian Kovc, Emilian Kovch, Greek Catholic, March 25: Blessed Omeljan Kovc, Martyr, Righteous Among The Nations, Righteous Person, Saints and Sainthood | Permalink
Posted by asimplesinner
March 12, 2008
That was mighty nice of ‘em! Maybe if I write to the authorities in Ukraine, they will sell me my dog and my car and my TV… At a fair price I am sure!
(http://www.risu.org.ua/eng/news/article;21058) Trans-Carpathian Region— Head of the Trans-Carpathian Greek Catholic Diocese, Bishop Milan (Shashik) celebrated on 14 February 2008 a thanksgiving hierarchical liturgy in the Church of Assumption o
f the town of Tiachiv, which was returned to Greek Catholics after many years of court proceedings, reports Orthodoxy in Ukraine internet edition in reference to a story by the Mukachevo.net agency.In order to regain their church built by their forefathers, the Greek Catholics agreed to pay 500 000 UAH (100,000 USD) to the Orthodox. The money was gathered from throughout areas under jurisdiction of the Tiachiv Deanery. Many of the faithful even took out loans to be able to raise large amounts in a short time. Bishop Milan thanked the faithful for their love for the Church and the beneficence they showed.
H/T: Byzantine, TX
3 Comments | Blogs, Eastern Catholics, News, Persecution | Tagged: Byzantine Catholic, Greek Catholic, Persecution, Ukrainian Catholic | Permalink
Posted by asimplesinner
February 19, 2008
From the pages of the ByzCath Forum, Father Serge Keleher, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Priest offers: 
Why should Kosovo remain part of Serbia? Well, perhaps to demonstrate the much-proclaimed alleged policy of the self-styled World Leaders that territorial change cannot be accomplished by terrorism? To demonstrate that “ethnic cleansing” is unacceptable even when Mohammedans do it? Or perhaps to take historical realities into account?
It is true that Serbia was responsible for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which was the spark that set off the terrible First World War and led to the horrors of the twentieth century. But there is plenty of blame to go around both for the outcome of WWI and for what followed.
It is also true that the relatively recent bombings of Serbia were by any definition a war crime. I remember when we were being assured that the “smart bombs” had absolute pin-point accuracy, which they proceded to demonstrate by bombing the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, of all things.
Does anyone seriously believe that the “independence” of Kosovo is going to have long-term peaceful results? Hitler famously asked “who remembers the Armenians?”. To this one might add “who realizes that the almost exclusively Mohammedan population of present-day Turkey is the direct result of ethno-religious cleansing? Has everyone forgotten Smyrna?”.
A strongly worded opinion to be sure! It is also one worth considering.
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Posted by asimplesinner
February 14, 2008
Today on the modern Roman Calendar we celebrate the feast of Ss. Cyril & Methodius, Apostles to the Slavs. If you love your Greek Catholic brothers and sisters, offer C&M a special prayer of thanks. If you find yourself exasperated by the Patriarch of Moscow at times, gently ask them to do something about it!
But given that Hallmark & American Greetings have not gotten with the program in bringing their celebrations of saintly feasts up to speed with the modern calendar, I found this suggestion for do-it-yourself C&M cards:
A ComBox Hero over at Shrine of the Holy Whapping put it well:
Geez, don’t you know? Today is a traditional day for romance. Below are a couple of blurbs that can be put in cards for the occasion:
For her:
“Your eyes are so pretty and your voice so melodious,
I love you my darling, will you be my Methodius?”
For him:
“You are so strong, so handsome, so virile;
I love you my darling, will you be my Cyril?”
Happy Feast Day!
I predict that by C&M Day 2009, those verses will be in mass production on cards to send to one’s sweetie.
And when have my predictions ever been wrong?
Ss. Cyril & Methodius, pray for us!
15 Comments | Eastern Catholics, Humor, Liturgical Year | Permalink
Posted by asimplesinner
February 4, 2008
For Eastern Catholics (and those in the Orthodox Church of Finland!) who use the same reckoning for Easter as the Roman church, Lent (or the Great Fast) begins today. Every few years, Eastern and Western reckoning for the date of Easter coincides (like last year). Most years it does not. Easter will next occur on March 23 in the year 2160 for the western churches… Frankly, I hope to not be around to see it!
Some have asked why the Eastern Great Fast doesn’t start on Wednesday. It is a simple matter of reckoning what days count for Lent. In the Latin Church Lent starts Ash Wednesday and ends Holy Saturday. Not counting Sundays that gives 40 days.
For the Eastern Churches Lent starts the Monday before the Latin Ash Wednesday and ends Holy Thursday. Not counting Sundays that gives 40 days.
By and large, we don’t do ashes. Although the Maronite Catholics do celebrate “Ash Monday.”
A venerable bishop who came to our parish to give a mission made an excellent observation worth passing on. 40 days represents a tithe of the year – rounding up, it is a little more than 10% of 365 (or 366!) days for the year. In a special way, we are offering a tithe of our year during this season.
For you Roman types, don’t eat too many pączki tomorrow!
2 Comments | Easter, Eastern Catholics, Education, Liturgical Year | Permalink
Posted by asimplesinner
January 20, 2008
Today in the Byzantine Catholic Churches (that aren’t using the Julian calendar!) is the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. I treat this rather like a feast day – I very much am that prodigal son.
Most sermons I hear focus on the “leading man” – the Prodigal Son… And that is certainly not a bad thing. But realize that at times we will be called to be the welcoming father, at other times we should be prepared to be the admonished jealous son.
If you are away from home, go home!
If you are home, know how blessed you are!
If you see someone coming home, run out to greet them and be generous!
3 Comments | Eastern Catholics, Holidays, Scripture | Permalink
Posted by asimplesinner
December 28, 2007
Also known as Gregor Khomysyn; Hryhorij Khomyshyn; Hryhorij Khomysyn;
Hryhory Khomyshyn; Hryhory Khomysyn
Blessed Bishop Gregory (Hryhorii) was born March 25, 1865 in in November of 1893, he studied theology in Vienna, Austria. He was appointed rector of the Greek Catholic seminary in Lviv in 1902 he was consecrated bishop for the Eparchy of Stanislav in May of 1904, serving that see faithfully through WW1 and the Russian revolution.
He was arrested for his faith in 1939 by the NKVD and again in April 1945. He was deported to Kyiv where he died a martyr in prison on January 17, 1947, a few months short of his 80th birthday.
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Posted by asimplesinner
December 8, 2007
This is the Byzantine icon for the Feast of the Conception of the Saint Anne. Popular as a gift for newlyweds, it commemorates the Virgin Mother’s conception. Note the furniture in the background.
Wikipedia offers:
Some Catholic theologians have also found Scriptural evidence for the Immaculate Conception in the angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary at the Annunciation, (Luke 1:28). The English translation, “Hail, Full of Grace,” or “Hail, Favored One,” is based on the Greek of Luke 1:28, “Χαίρε, Κεχαριτωμένη”, Chaire kecharitomene, a phrase which can most literally be translated: “Rejoice, you who have been graced”. The latter word, kecharitomene, is the Passive voice, Present Perfect participle of the verb “to grace” in the feminine gender, vocative case; therefore the Greek syntax indicates that the action of the verb has been fully completed in the past, with results continuing into the future. Put another way, it means that the subject (Mary) was graced fully and completely at some time in the past, and continued in that fully graced state. The angel’s
salutation does not refer to the Incarnation of Christ in Mary’s womb, as he proceeds to say: “thou shalt conceive in thy
womb…” (Luke 1:31).
Dr. Alexander Roman writes well about this in the following article.
But for thos inclined to spend a few minutes, I commend to you the exceptional work of fellow Greek Catholic Joseph Daniel Barton A Byzantine Defense of the Immaculate Conception
Worth listening to, you Latins (hehe): On the Miraculous Medal
Leave a Comment » | Eastern Catholics, Liturgical Year, Mary, Blessed Virgin, Orthodoxy | Tagged: Θεοτόκος | Permalink
Posted by asimplesinner
November 23, 2007
At the Thanksgiving gathering, my wife, my children, my parents and I gathered with some friends, Mr. and Mrs. G., and their children, at another friend’s house. These friends are Catholic, and aware that I’ve returned to Byzantine-Ruthenian Praxis. (I took a four year hiatus to see if I could go back to being Roman. I can’t.)
Mrs. G., the matron of the other family, asked, “So, looking forward to turkey and ham tomorrow?”
“I can’t,” I replied. “Fasting.”
“But it isn’t advent or lent!” she replied.
“Phillips fast. Byzantine Advent. Started last week.”
She goggles. She’s a recent convert, having been through RCIA, and baptized, chrismated, and communed last Easter. The Roman parish we both were attending last year dunked her quite well. She was even taught about the Eastern Catholics in her RCIA program, in a vague and “you’ll never meet one” kind of way. She’s a former Lutheran, and possessed of one gift I really wish I had: easy simple faith.
Her husband, who met me during my previous decade-plus stretch as a parishioner at St. Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Parish, is slightly better informed. He knows where three Byzantine parishes are… two in Florida, and St. Nick’s… but he’s never set foot in one. He’s a cradle Roman Catholic, has outlived his first wife, and is from Florida. His response was milder, “Wow, you start early.”
For me, the Byzantine path has made my faith far easier, tho’ not simple. I still find I need to delve, to seek exactly where and how God wants me to go. For now, it seems, He wants me to be unabashedly Catholic, and definitely Eastern, and to teach Roman Catholics about that other lung Pope John Paul II spoke of. I am able to sing the praises of God in a manner that makes sense to all my senses. And while I’ve not experienced Roman “Liturgical Abuse” and neither has Mrs. G., for me, I can still go through the Motions as a Roman, but find myself feeling a lack. I’m jealous of Mrs. G.’s simple ease with the Roman Church, and thankful for the most successful failure in the Metropolia of Pittsburgh.
6 Comments | Catholic, General, Eastern Catholics, Holidays | Permalink
Posted by David Bennett
November 22, 2007
“O Mother of God, our Patroness, continue to protect our small family, our congregation with your Holy Omophorion and under Your holy protection we shall not perish, even if all hell is against us. Amen”
A few days late… Bl. Josaphata was the foundress of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate. Unlike the majority of Byzantine Catholics from Ukraine, hers was not the death of a martyr. She passed on On April 7, 1919 at the age of 49, from tuberculosis of the bone.
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Posted by asimplesinner
