Royal Doors

Nov

25

2015

St. Philip’s Fast

Christian Life, Featured Articlesnativity fast, pilipiwka

The American Shopping Season is at hand. Some people will spend it jostling for bargains; others will pass the time lamenting the commercialization of Christmas. The Eastern Churches, on the other hand, encourage their faithful to prepare for this feast by fasting. Each of these Churches has a pre-Nativity Fast, but each Church observes it to a different degree. Like the feast of Christ’s Nativity itself, this fast originated in the West. In ad 380 he Council of Saragossa in Spain mandated daily church attendance beginning on December 17. Pope St Leo the Great (400-461) described four Fasts, one in…

Nov

25

2015

By Fr. Roman Planchak

The Nativity Fast in the Home

Christian Life, Featured Articlesnativity fast, pilipiwka

The Shopping Season is at hand. Some people will spend it jostling for bargains; others will pass the time lamenting the commercialization of Christmas. The Eastern Churches, on the other hand, encourage their faithful to prepare for this feast by increasing their involvement with the things of God. Please download this wonderful guide to help you prepare for the glorious coming of our Lord! PDF - Christmas-Fast-in-the-Home Source: Eparchy of Newton

Nov

09

2015

By Respected Author

Nativity Fast Traditions for Byzantine Catholics

Christian Life, Liturgy, Prayernativity fast, pilipiwka

Source: Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix The Byzantine Catholic Church invites all to participate more fully in the central mysteries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through her calendar of feasts and fasts. The feast of the Nativity of Our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ (Christmas, December 25) is one of the great feasts of the Church year, celebrating the coming or advent of the Messiah (which in Hebrew means “He who is anointed by the Spirit” or in Greek, Christos), Jesus Christ. Christ was born into the world through the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary to…

Nov

03

2015

By Fr. Michael Winn

Patriarch Revives Peace Initiative Via WYD

Nov

02

2015

By Brent Kostyniuk

Welcome to the Family

Both Lungs, Featured Articles

by Brent Kostyniuk An event which was both inspiring and joyous recently took place at St. Basil church in Edmonton. On Sunday September 13, 2015 Brother Agapey Lutsyk, OSBM made his Profession of Vows in the Order of St. Basil the Great of St. Josaphat. Solemn Profession is the rite at which a brother makes a lifelong commitment to the Order. It takes place in the context of a Divine Liturgy and is generally presided over by the Provincial Superior, in this case Father Gabriel Haber, OSBM. Arriving at the altar, Brother Agapey made three great prostrations to the floor,…

Nov

02

2015

By Brent Kostyniuk

A Summer Surprise

Both Lungs, Featured Articles

by Brent Kostyniuk I think what I love most about summer vacations is the way they manage to surprise, even when it seems a situation could not possibly hold any surprises. Yet, that is exactly what happened again this summer. Before I tell you about the serendipitous event, let me remind you what Both Lungs is all about. The expression was coined by St. John Paul II who said the Church must breathe through Both Lungs. In fact, he said it numerous times, and in slightly different contexts. One instance where he used the phrase was in the encyclical Ut…

Nov

02

2015

By Brent Kostyniuk

A Ukrainian on Vulcan

Both Lungs, Featured Articles

by Brent Kostyniuk This past February, Star Trek fans the world over were saddened by the death of Leonard Nimoy, most famously remembered for creating the role of the Vulcan Mr. Spock on the original television series and later playing it in a number of movies. While not a full-fledged trekkie, I admired Nimoy’s acting skills and, in particular, the emotionless, logical perspective of the alien he portrayed. I must confess that at one point in my life, I found that outlook quite attractive. On learning of Mr. Nimoy’s death, it occurred to me that I really didn’t know a…

Nov

02

2015

By Fr. Michael Winn

Skete of the Precious and Life-Creating Cross

Faith, Featured Articles

“Who shall climb the Mountain of the Lord, who shall stand in His Holy Place…” by Hieromonk Theodosy In 2008, with trust in the Most High God Who calls us all to climb His Holy Mountain, and with the blessing and guidance of His Grace Bishop David, we set out on an adventure to practically discern the building up of a monastic community in the Studite tradition within the Eparchy of Edmonton. By the surprising providence of the Lord, right at the outset, this little monastic endeavor found itself whisked-up to the northern reaches of the eparchy – the Peace…

Oct

13

2015

By Fr. Michael Bombak

I just can’t do it…but He can! Responding to our Lord like Levi.

Christian Life

2 Corinthians 1:8-11, Luke 5:27-32 I saw that movie again last night. You know which one I’m talking about. You’ve seen it or its many sequels, or maybe you’ve read the book. I’m not sure how many times I’ve seen it but it’s staggering whatever it is. You know, it’s that story where some initial incident sparks the need for a hero to rise up and save the day. Throughout the course of the story various setbacks spring up which makes the main character doubt him or herself. Although the self-esteem of this character is thrown into question and threatened…

Sep

22

2015

By Fr. Michael Winn

Resolutions of the Sixth Session of the Patriarchal Sobor (2015)