Sunday of the Forefathers 14 December, 2014

Welcome to our Visitors: We are

honored to have you come to

worship with us. You may find

the worship of the Ancient

Church rather different. If you

are unfamiliar with the worship

of the Byzantine Church, simply

listen to the Liturgy and allow the

rest of the congregation to carry

you in worship. We understand

Communion to be an act of the

unity of our Faith; however,

while we work towards it, this

unity regrettably does not now

exist. Therefore, only baptized

Catholics in the State of Grace are permitted to participate in Holy

Communion.

EPISTLE READER / CANTOR REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

12/14/2014 REHEARSAL 9:00 - 9:45 am

12/14/2014 Marc Brown Colossians 3:4-11

12/21/2014 REHEARSAL 9:00 - 9:45 am

12/21/2014 Kester Bailey Hebrews 11:9-10,32-40

12/28/2014 REHEARSAL 9:00 - 9:45 am

Mike Petyo Galatians 1:11-19

Tithes $2,913.00

Youth 5.22

Candles 194.77

Gift Shop 155.00

T-Mobile 2,300.00

Eparchy reimbursement 35.00

Jelly 54.00

Religious Retirement 900.00

Mortgage Reduction 455.00

Principal Reduction 335.00

Total $ 7,346.99

Please remember in your prayers: David (brother of Marilyn Cooper),

Mons. Vida and Mons. Moran, Richard Sesma, Deanna Keefe, Jean

Mayo (Rita’s Mother), Rita and Robert Pipta, Ron Lowery & Family,

Libby Distefano, Alex Vida, Susan Dovin, Evdokiya Obushko, Robert

M. Weil and Kay Weil, Janet Lambert, Dolores Demko, and Ron &

Carol and Gilbert & Sally Pasmant, Ethan McArthur. That the Lord have

mercy and save His people undergoing persecution in Pakistan, Iraq,

Iran, Syria, Egypt and other lands.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE IN OUR MILI-

TARY: Dennis Lloyd, Scott Nale, Michael Perko,

Matt Reynolds, Robert Skopeck Jr.

OUR ALTAR SERVERS

Erik Cline, Anthony Gath, Greg Gath, Marcus Cabrera, Jonny

Weil & Andrew Sarsam

Tithes, Gifts & Finances: 7 December, 2014

DIVINE LITURGY AND PARISH CALENDAR

Sun. 14th SUNDAY OF THE FOREFATHERS

10 am Living & Deceased Parishioners

Mon. 15th 6 pm Blessings to & Carol Pasmant (Ron Pasmant)

Tues. 16th No Liturgy

Wed. 17th 6 pm Blessed Repose to + August Maggio

(Jean Berardi)

Thurs. 18th No Liturgy

Fri. 19th 6 pm Blessed Repose + Ruby Villarin

(Angelica Villarin)

Sat. 20th 6 pm Vespers

Sun. 21st 24th SUNDAY OF THE FATHERS

10 am Living & Deceased Parishioners

THE HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR

DECEMBER: Christmas, hope for humanity. That

the birth of the Redeemer may bring peace and hope

to all people of good will.

Parents. That parents may be true evangelizers,

passing on to their children the precious gift of faith.

Weeklong Candle Intentions

ETERNAL LIGHT: Special Intentions of Fr. James

CHRIST: Chuck & Marilou Krofchik (Kay Terry)

CHRIST:

THEOTOKOS: Special Intention (Helen Bruce)

THEOTOKOS:

CHRIST ENTHRONED:

Candle Intentions can be requested by filling out an envelope found in

the Narthex. Donation is $4.00

Reminder: Gifts must be postmarked or received

on or before Wednesday, Dec. 31st, 2014, in order

to qualify for a charitable deduction on your

2014 tax return.

As you review your 2014 tax

planning, please consider a

year-end gift to support the

Byzantine Catholic Church.

Your charitable gift may be given to our parish of

Annunciation, the Holy Protection of Mary Byzan-

tine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix (Eparchy of Phoe-

nix) for use to support seminarians or mission devel-

opment, or the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Sts

Cyril and Methodius. Feel free to call me or Fr.Wes

Izer (602-861-9778), or David H. Dix, Seminary De-

velopment Consultant, at (412) 321-8383 x28 for

more information.

Sunday of the Forefathers 14 December, 2014

THE VOCATION TRAVELING

ICON is at the home of Ingrid Spisak

through Dec. 28th. Please join your

prayers with hers that the Lord will

bless His Holy Church with more

priests, monks and religious.

CHRISTMAS EVE: Spiritual Preparation at Home The eve of Christmas brings the Forty Day Christmas

fast to a close. A strict fast is prescribed for this entire day. The

whole family feels that on that day a very important heavenly

guest will arrive in the evening, and therefore, a deeply festal and

spiritual mood pervades the home. Our ancestors highly re-

spected and zealously observed the fast of this day until the ap-

pearance of the evening star. Kievan Metropolitan, Maxim

(1283-1305), in his rules on fasting says, that even if it be Satur-

day or Sunday on which the Eve of the Nativity falls, on that day

a strict fast must be kept. It was only after the Vespers service

was one allowed to strengthen oneself with bread and wine. He

orders that the same kind of fast be observed also on the Eve of

the Theophany.

From earliest times, besides fasting, our ancestors pre-

pared themselves for the feast of the Nativity of our Lord with

Holy Confession and Holy Communion. This very beautiful and

holy tradition comes from the first centuries of Christianity in

Ukraine and Kievian Rus; it began with the Kievan Metropolitan

George (1072). This holy practice was prescribed by Metropoli-

tan Peter Mohyla, in his Euchologion, and also by the Synods of

Zamost and Lviv.

An old Slavonic Prologue for the 24th of December con-

tains the following spiritual exhortation to the faithful in refer-

ence to greeting the feast of the Nativity of Christ:' ' Take note

brethren, that there is a fast on the day before this feast of the

Nativity of Christ. Therefore, on this day, at the Sixth Hour (12

o'clock noon), we gather together for prayer, with love and purity,

overcoming anger, purifying carnal desires, and renouncing all

evil deeds so that we may be made worthy with pure lips and an

undefiled heart to partake of the Body of the Lord, that same

Body which the Lord took upon Himself and willingly became

poor.”

The Holy Supper offers invaluable spiritual riches for

the soul when we take the time to learn and practice this holy

tradition.

Join us after Di

vine Liturgy to

day for our

Christmas Bake

goods. You will

find delicious

Nut, Poppy Seed

and Apricot

Rolls, Pierogi,

cookies, and cakes! Save yourself time, shop here!

"THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS" is an English

Christmas carol. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England

were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that

era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has

two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning

known only to members of the Church. Each element in the carol has a

code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

The "True Love" one hears in the song is not a smitten boy or

girlfriend but Jesus Christ, because truly Love was born on Christmas

Day. The partridge in the pear tree also represents Him because that

bird is willing to sacrifice its life if necessary to protect its young by

feigning injury to draw away predators.

According to Ann Ball in her book, HANDBOOK OF

CATHOLIC SACRAMENTALS: The two turtle doves were the

Old and New Testaments. The three French hens stood for faith,

hope, and love. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Mat-

thew, Mark, Luke, and John. The five golden rings represented the

first five books of the Old Testament, which describe man's fall into

sin and the great love of God in sending a Savior. The six geese a-

laying stood for the six days of creation. Seven swans a-swimming

represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit-----Prophesy, Serv-

ing, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy. The

eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes. Nine ladies danc-

ing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit----

-Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience

[Forbearance], Goodness [Kindness], Mild-

ness, Fidelity, Modesty, Continency

[Chastity]. The ten lords a-leaping were

the Ten Commandments. The eleven pip-

ers piping stood for the eleven faithful

Apostles. The twelve drummers drum-

ming symbolized the twelve points of belief

in The Apostles' Creed.

PHILLIPIAN FAST HOLY DAY SCHEDULE :

Dec. 21st 5 pm Christmas Choral Concert by St. Cecilia

Dec. 24th 10 am Royal Hours

7 pm Great Compline with Matins

Dec. 25th 10 am Divine Liturgy

Dec. 26th 7 pm Divine Liturgy Bob Pipta

Dec. 27th 9 am Divine Litugy Steve Kopko

27th 6 pm Vespers Bob Pipta

Sunday of the Forefathers 14 December, 2014

December 6, 2014

Feast of St Nicholas

The Most Reverend Gerald N. Dino, Eparchial Bishop of the

Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix,

has made the following appointments:

Effective Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Reverend James Lane is released as the Pastor of St. George

Byzantine Catholic Church and as Director of the Eparchial

Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Olympia, WA so that he

can join the bi-ritual community of the Contemplatives of St.

Joseph in South San Francisco, CA.

Reverend Vasyl Mutka is appointed Administrator of St.

George Byzantine Catholic Church in Olympia, WA and the Di-

rector of the Eparchial Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help,

which is located on the property of St. George Parish.

Effective Friday, January 9, 2015

Very Reverend Joseph Hutsko is released as the Pastor of St.

Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church in Fontana, CA and

is assigned to the Pastoral Center with residence in the Cathedral

Apartment Complex, in Phoenix, AZ.

Reverend Matthew Alejo is released as Temporary Administra-

tor of Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church in San Diego, CA

and appointed Administrator of St. Nicholas of Myra Byzantine

Catholic Church in Fontana, CA.

Reverend Brian Escobedo is released as the Administrator of

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Byzantine Catholic Church in Albu-

querque, NM and appointed Pastor of Holy Angels Byzantine

Catholic Church in San Diego, CA.

Reverand Artur Bubnevych is appointed Pastor of Our Lady of

Perpetual Help Byzantine Catholic Church in Albuquerque, NM.

Please remember our priests and parishes in these

transitions. May God grant Our Bishop and His peo-

ple of the Eparchy of Phoenix peace, health and

happiness!

ADVERTISEMENT:

BYZANTINE CATHOLIC

METROPOLITAN ARCHEPARCHY OF PITTSBURGH CHANCERY

66 Riverview Avenue * Pittsburgh PA 15214

(412)231-4000

November 19,2014

Dear Clergy, Religious, and Faithful of Pittsburgh,

Since the 1880 migration of Eastern Catholics to the United States

there have been both married and celibate validly ordained: priests

serving the pastoral needs, of our people. The restrictions on the trans-

fer of clergy from Europe to the United States and the ordination of

married men to the priesthood have caused many serious problems

until the present moment.

Our 1999 Metropolitan particular law granted permission for mar-

ried priests serving within the United States on a case by case basis.

Some permissions were granted. However, this restriction on married

clergy was an unnecessary burden and contrary to our original 1646

Union of Uzhhorod.

Our prayers and efforts to return the ancient tradition of allowing

Byzantine Catholic men to choose to between celibate or married

priesthood have finally succeeded.

The return to the ancient tradition of married and celibate priests

has allowed the people to receive the sacraments, to hear the gospel,

and to carry out the mission of the church.

We pray that men married and single will listen to the call from

God to be priests in the Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church. All are

called to encourage both single .and married men to consider the

priesthood. Together we can restore what was lost and rebuild for the

future.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend William C Skurla, D.D.

Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh