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Documents posted in July | May
June 28, 2001
The
aftermath of the Pope's Ukrainian tour: Moscow's moral defeat
What became increasingly obvious toward the end of the papal visit to
Ukraine was that the main issues that occupied western journalists had
less to do with Catholic concerns than they did with Orthodox ones.
The Moscow Patriarch seemed to be portrayed as the "odd man
out," sulking in a corner of his jurisdiction somewhere. Patriarch
Alexey was not happy. The Ukrainian Orthodox Churches intelligently made
public their intention to seek full communion with each other.
Patriarch Filaret made an excellent presentation of his goals of a
united Ukrainian Church before the Pope and the world.
Patriarch Alexey was not happy
. . . >>>more
June 27, 2001
A Visitor's Question on the True Words of Christ
>>>see answer
June 25, 2001
PAPAL VISIT TO UKRAINE: BUILDING (AND MENDING) SOME BRIDGES
The
papal visit to Ukraine has certainly put the spotlight on the country, its
people and a number of church-related issues.
President Kuchma has taken the occasion to underline Ukraine's
future "vocation" as an integral part of Europe.
Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv warmly welcomed the Pope and said that
the occasion showed that Catholics and Orthodox may live together side by
side.
The Ukrainian Catholics are beside themselves with joy.
Even Ukraine's Jewish and Muslim-Tatar communities are happy with
Ukraine's Chief Rabbi being a member of the Ukrainian organizing committee
for the Pope.
Only one group is unhappy - the Russians.>>>more
June 22, 2001
The
Comeback King of Bulgaria: An Orthodox approach to government
administration
King Simeon was only six years old when his father died and he was
declared the new Sovereign of Bulgaria.
He was only nine when the then Bulgarian government told him he had
two days to leave his country.
In April of this year, King Simeon amused many international
circles when he founded his own political party.
Two months later, following the national Bulgarian elections, his
party is in power, leaving very few of his opponents and detractors
smiling.
How did he manage to pull off such a crowning achievement?>>>more
June 20, 2001
Kozak Martyrs, Siberian Saints and Chinese Missionaries: Ukrainians do get around!
The
Third Sunday after Pentecost continues with the theme of Saints as Icons
of the Holy Spirit.
The celebration of the New Martyrs of the Turkish Yoke is
prominent, preceded by that of All Saints of Siberia and the Chinese New
Martyrs of the Boxer Rebellion.
Ukrainians are to be found in each of these Choirs.
Who says we're an ethnic ghetto?>>>more
An Answer to a Visitor`s Question
Orthodox Teaching on Heaven and Hell
June 19, 2001
Pastoral Letters (Third Sunday after Pentecost)
 HTML
| PDF
format
At the Right Time
In today’s Epistle we read Saint Paul’s
good news: "While we were yet helpless, at the right time Christ died
for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6).>>>more
June 18, 2001
The
Fast of the Apostles: On being sent into the world
Is the Orthodox Church serious - another fast so soon after the Great
Fast? Why do the Apostles require us to deprive ourselves of food?
What is the significance of this period of preparation?
What are we preparing for?>>>more
Download July Church
calendar
For installation into Outlook.
June 15, 2001
Winnipeg
to get two Ukrainian patron saints:
A vindication of the Pioneers
The
city of Winnipeg holds a place in Ukrainian Canadian history that is
analogous to that of Kyiv in Ukraine itself.
Today, it is the Church capital for both Ukrainian Catholic and
Orthodox Churches. It was the scene of many events, good and bad,
involving Ukrainians since their coming here in the late nineteenth
century.
It comes as no surprise that the city flag of Winnipeg resembles
the familiar blue and yellow Ukrainian flag, with the same explanation in
terms of blue skies and yellow wheat-fields.
And now Winnipeg is about to get two Ukrainian patron saints, one
Catholic and the other Orthodox.
How times have changed . . .>>>more
June 14, 2001
Canada's
first Ukrainian saint: When
loyalties collide
Recently,
a national Canadian newspaper carried a feature article about the life and
times of Bishop Nikita Budka who will be beatified a martyr by the Pope
during his visit to Ukraine. As
such Canadian Catholics will enroll Budka as their first Ukrainian
Canadian saint.
Bishop Budka was certainly a controversial figure who, by his
actions, angered Canadian war veterans, the Manitoba and Canadian
governments, members of his own flock and even the Vatican itself.
Was he really all that bad or was he a convenient scapegoat?>>>more
June 13, 2001
St
John of Suchava:
Pilgrimage as enduring theme of the Christian life
It was Geoffrey Chaucer who immortalized the image of the pilgrim in
his "Canterbury Tales."
His pilgrims were making their way to the Primatial See of the
Church of England to the Tomb of St. Thomas, the Archbishop martyred in
his own Cathedral by the knights of King Henry II. But what does it mean
to be a pilgrim in today's world?
Aren't we always on some sort of pilgrimage?
But what is the object to which we are travelling?>>>more
June 12, 2001
Ukrainian
Saints: Heavenly
people and uplifting culture
The Feast
of Pentecost continues to be extended with the celebration of the Icons of
the Holy Spirit, the Saints.
But why do we celebrate the feast of the saints of this or that
particular Church or nation?
Is there competition in this regard in Heaven?
Is this a spiritual version of the Olympic Games?>>>more
A visitor's question
When was Jesus aware that He was God?
Please give scriptural references.>>>see
answer
June 11, 2001
Pastoral Letters
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| PDF
format
Key People
Today (June 17) we are celebrating the
memory of the astonishing and holy people which the Holy Spirit produced
on the lands of the country that for hundreds of years has borne the name
Ukraine.>>>more
June 9, 2001
A visitor's question on divorce
What is the chuch's stand on divorce? Can
divorced people re-marry?>>>see
answer
June 4, 2001
More commentary on question concerning St. Joseph
The New Testament Apocrypha speak of
Joseph as an elderly man, a widower with adult children, who was
quite reluctant to be included among those from among whom a
protector for Mary would be chosen. Although the Apocrypha were not
included in the canon of Scripture their importance is great and much in
evidence in the liturgical texts of some of the great Feasts.>>>more
The Breath of the Spirit from the North: Celts in Kyiv
Saint
Olha the Great was visited by numerous religious groups who contended with
one another for the heart and mind of her Realm of Kyivan Rus'-Ukraine.
Among those who came to preach before her was what must have
appeared to her Court as a rag-tag group of modestly attired missionaries
paddling their little boats called "birinns" in the river
Dniepro-Slavutych.
These were Celtic Christians who entered Kyivan Rus' through the
northern waters near Novhorod, as did the Varangians and others.
How are the Celts related to Kyivan Christianity and what was their
impact on its subsequent development?>>>more
Pastoral Letters
HTML | PDF
format
The Harvest Road!
This first Sunday after Pentecost (June 10)
which is called "All Saints’" gives us a chance to reflect on
this road. Saints are people who are deeply touched by the Jesus’ love.
They reflect this love by their lives, giving themselves completely to
Him. Yet this love is shown by a life intimately linked with the people of
this earth. The Saints love God by loving the inhabitants of this planet -
often to the point of dying for them.>>>more
June 1, 2001
Of
Black Madonnas and Eunuchs: Ethiopia extends its hands to God
One
of the earliest accounts of a conversion in the Acts of the Apostles
(which some have called the "Gospel of the Holy Spirit") is
that of the Ethiopian Eunuch of Queen Candace by St Philip.
After riding with him and explaining to him the Scripture he was
reading, the Eunuch turned to St Philip and asked what was preventing
him from being baptized in the water they were beside?
Afterwards, the Spirit took St Philip away for other tasks.
The Ethiopian tradition has had an impact throughout Europe,
including Ukraine and the Kyivan Church.
Here is how . . .>>>more
Two questions from a visitor
Saint Lazarus
In
the Roman Catholic Church, the beggar by the name of Lazarus
in the Gospel Of St.Luke, Chapter 16, is considered to be a
fictional character in a parable. I've heard that this same
Lazarus the beggar,is revered as a saint in the Coptic
Orthodox Church and even has a feastday.
Is he considered a saint in the Greek & Ukrainian
Orthodox Churches ?
If so,when is his feastday?>>>see
answer
Saint Joseph
St. Joseph, the Blessed Virgin Mary's spouse. Why is he
portrayed a a handsome young man in the Catholic Church, and
an old man in the Orthodox Church. A nun who taught us in
high school said that an apocryphal gospel attributed to
St.James, (one of the apostles) said that he was an elderly
man. Is this true?>>>see
answer
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