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Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphaël I Sako Visits Ukrainian Catholic Sites: Eparchial Chancery Office, St. George’s Cathedral, and the

Shrine of the Venerable Nun Martyrs Olympia and Laurentia

- Kyla Predy, Eparchial Photographer/Reporter

(Left to Right): Fr. Niaz Toma (Chancellor of the Eparchy of Saint Thomas for Chaldeans in Detroit), Bishop Bawai Soro (Eparchy of Mar Addai for Chaldeans in Canada), Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta (St. Peter’s Eparchy for Chaldeans in San Diego) and His Grace, and Patriarch Louis Raphaël I Sako, entering the Chancery Office. SASKATOON, SK, December 1, 2017 – Just a little after five thirty in the evening His Grace, Patriarch Louis Raphaël I Sako, entered the Eparchial Communications Office with the other Chaldean Bishops (Bawai Soro and Emmanuel Shaleta) and priest (Niaz Toma). Bishop Bawai Soro was installed as a Bishop two days before the visit, occasioning the special visit from the Patriarch. Bishop Bryan Bayda, C.Ss.R. ready to greet them, led them into the Ukrainian Catholic Religious Education Centre (UCREC) Bookstore of the Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate to exchange greetings and gifts. Bishop Bryan and the Chaldean Bishops discussed how the Ukrainian and Chaldean Catholic communities in Saskatoon work together, and how the Chaldeans here have their own Knights of Columbus Council. Fr. Janko and Bishop Bayda presented each Chaldean cleric with a copy of Christ Our Pascha – the Catechism of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. His Beatitude, Louis Raphael Sako handed a dark blue velvet case to Bishop Bayda.

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Patriarch Louis Raphaël I Sako presents Bishop Bayda with an emblem bearing his Ecclesiastic

Coat of Arms and symbols of his Patriarchal See of Babylon (Iraq) Bishop Bayda opened the case to reveal an elaborate gold scroll, rich with significant imagery. The crest features the three wise men, which tradition holds came from Babylon, where Louis Sako is seated as Patriarch. After this first exchange of gifts, Bishop Bayda led the Chaldean clergy around the Chancery Office. Bishop Bayda opened the door to the chapel, telling the Chaldeans that on long working days “I open my office door and the chapel door, and with the direct line of sight to the Tabernacle, I remember whose church this is.” Smiles acknowledged that common experience between the bishops. Before leaving the Chancery Office, Bishop Bayda and the Chaldeans held a discussion of the difficulties faced by their Eparchies. The issue of language was brought up by the Chaldeans, with the inquiry of what the Ukrainian Catholics were doing about language. Bishop Bayda replied that less and less Ukrainian was being used as younger generations were no longer learning to be as fluent in the language, although Ukrainian is still present in many of the Divine Liturgies across the Eparchy. While the Ukrainian Eparchy uses two languages, one Chaldean bishop stated, “We have three that we must handle. Arabic, Chaldean (Neo-Aramaic) and Aramaic, not to mention English.”

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The Sisters of St. Joseph hold candles and sing Mnohaya Lita for the Patriarch

At the end of the visit to the Chancery Office, everyone headed outside to the greeting of the Sisters of St. Joseph ringing the bell to the Shrine of the Nun Martyrs Olympia and Laurentia. The Sisters held candles and sang “Mnohaya Lita” for the Patriarch.

The Sisters of St. Joseph took the Chaldean hierarchy on a tour of the Shrine, explaining the significance of the 2 Nun Martyrs Olympia and Laurentia. A booklet about the Shrine, as well as a Christmas ornament with greetings in Ukrainian on the back, were presented to each of the Chaldean hierarchy from the Sisters. They were impressed upon seeing the diverse collection of nativity scenes displayed by the Sisters, particularly in how the scenes displayed the culture of the country from which the nativity sets originated.

The Sisters show the Chaldean Clergy their nativity sets

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On the way to St. George’s Cathedral, after leaving the Shrine, Bishop Bayda showed Patriarch Sako the Panagia (Greek for “all holy”), of Our Lady of Guadalupe which he wears around his neck. Bishop Bayda expressed to the Patriarch the significance of Our Lady of Guadalupe for him. One of the questions Eastern churches must especially consider is “How do you evangelize with culture?” “Our Lady of Guadalupe”, explained the Bishop, is a “perfect example of enculturation.”

The tour concluded at St. Georges Cathedral, where the Chaldeans sang a special hymn to St. George. Bishop Bayda then accompanied the Chaldeans to Sacred Heart Chaldean Catholic Church, to celebrate Mass, which was followed by a reception at the Holy Family Cathedral.

(Left to Right): Bishop Bawai Soro, Bishop Bryan Bayda, CSsR, Patriarch Louis Raphaël I Sako, Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta, Auxiliary Bishop Basilio Yalda

(Left to Right): Fr. Niaz Toma, Bishop Bryan Bayda, CSsR, Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta