Royal Doors

Jun

10

2015

Miracles

Both Lungs, Featured Articles

by Brent Kostyniuk Do you believe in miracles? Well of course you do. Miracles are at the heart of our Christian religion, foremost of which is the miracle of Jesus Christ rising from the dead on Easter morning. But what I mean is do you really, really believe in your heart that miracles occur every day? Do you really believe your prayers will be answered and that Jesus, often through the intercession of a saint, will grant a true miracle which cannot be explained on the basis of human understanding? Blessed Martyr Vasyl Velychkovsky endured 24 years imprisonment in the…

May

28

2015

By Fr. Roman Planchak

Everywhere Present, Filling All Things

Faith, Featured Articles, LiturgyFeasts, Pentecost

Fifty Days after Passover Jews observe the Feast of Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks, which originated as the conclusion of the Spring harvest season in Israel. Between Passover and Shavuot barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, dates and lastly wheat would be harvested. According to the Biblical command (Deuteronomy 8:8) growers would bind the first fruits of each together and bring it as an offering to the temple. At the time of Christ it was one of the three “pilgrimage festivals” when Jews would come in great numbers to observe the temple rites for the feast. Greek-speaking Jews called this festival…

May

28

2015

By Fr. Roman Planchak

Devoutly Glorifying the Mystery

Faith, Featured Articles

“Holy Father, Keep Through Your Name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are” (John 17:11). As His earthly life was approaching its end the Lord Jesus offered this prayer for His disciples. The questions it raises have preoccupied the Church for centuries: how are the Father and the Son “one” and how can the followers of Christ be one “as We are”? The Unity of God The distinguishing mark of God’s people throughout the Old Testament is expressed in the Shema, the invocation which might well be called the Jewish creed: “Hear, O…

May

15

2015

By Fr. Roman Planchak

Ascended and Enthroned

Faith, Featured Articles, LiturgyFeasts

He has spoken blasphemy! … What do you think?” the high priest asked the assembled Sanhedrin. And they answered, “He is deserving of death.” Thus the Lord Jesus was condemned (cf. Matthew 26:59-67). But in what had He supposedly blasphemed? The Gospel records it this way, “The high priest answered and said to [Jesus], ‘I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right…

May

08

2015

By Fr. Roman Planchak

Let Him Who Thirsts Come

Faith, Liturgybaptism, Pascha, water

Water is central to Life everywhere, but especially in places like the Middle East where it is in short supply. We do not know when people began supplementing the rainwater they collected by digging water from shallow pools. When metal tools came into use, wells 100 feet deep and more could be dug. Access to underground water became an important key to survival for peoples in otherwise arid lands. Villages were built around wells, which became important focal points of the local community. The well was the natural gathering place in ancient villages. It was also the place to meet…

May

08

2015

By Fr. Roman Planchak

The Prophet Isaiah: “More an Evangelist than a Prophet”

FaithOld Testament

Of all the Old Testament Prophets quoted in the New Testament, the most frequently cited is Isaiah, who is remembered on our Church’s calendar on May 9. Isaiah’s prophecies are referenced 66 times in the New Testament; only the Psalms are more frequently quoted. Isaiah lived in the eighth century bc, a time of great political upheaval in the Holy Land. The Assyrian Empire was poised to engulf the northern kingdom, Israel, (which it would succeed in doing) and threatened the southern kingdom, Judah, as well. While the rulers’ response was to seek military alliances with neighboring pagan kingdoms, Isaiah’s…

May

03

2015

By Fr. Michael Winn

The Advantage of Having No Pews

Apr

30

2015

By Fr. Michael Winn

Mission Days 2015

Christian Life, Faith, Featured Articles, NewsPentecost

Publication of the UGCC Council for Evangelization Through our active participation in the spiritual efforts of these ten Mission Days, once again we are called upon to discover and understand anew that our parish communities and families (domestic churches) are missionary in nature. Such understanding flows from the gift of our Baptism, by virtue of which, and through the power of its mystery, we have committed ourselves to believe, live, serve, and share the experience of our faith in Christ; and not simply with our family members, but with everyone we meet in life. From the feast of the Ascension…

Apr

29

2015

By Fr. Michael Winn

Particular Law Now Available in Ukrainian and English

Featured Articles, News, UGCCcanon law, canons, particular law

The new Particular Law (Canons) have been reviewed in a process which lasted over 10 years. They oblige all Ukrainian Catholics. Also, all Eparchial statutes must be reviewed to make sure that they are compliant to the new laws. They were recently promulgated by our Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk. UKRAINIAN PDF | ENGLISH PDF

Apr

25

2015

By Fr. Roman Planchak

Herald of Heavenly Mysteries

Faith

Since the second century Christians have been accustomed to identify the second of our four Gospels by the name of its author, Mark the Evangelist. The Gospel itself, however, never identifies its author by name or gives us any clue to the author’s identity. What, then, is the source of this identification with Mark and what do we know about him? It is the early second-century bishop of Hieropolis in Asia Minor, Papias, who identified the Gospel writers in his work, Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord. St Irenaeus of Lyons (+ c.202) tell us that Papias had ties…