Christmas

2024 Christmas Pastoral Letter of His Beatitude Sviatoslav

2024 Christmas Pastoral Letter of His Beatitude Sviatoslav

Вих. ВА 24/345 ENG Most Reverend Archbishops and Metropolitans,God-loving Bishops, Very Reverend Clergy, Venerable Monastics,Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters,in Ukraine and throughout the world …And she gave birth to her firstborn sonand wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger,because there was no place for them in the inn (Lk 2:7). Christ is born! Glorify Him! Beloved in Christ! The Nativity of Christ envelops us with the invincible power of light and the warmth of God's love! Today, the Son of God is born in a human body, taking on all the experiences of human life: facing…
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Christmas 2023 Pastoral Letter of the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops of Canada

Christmas 2023 Pastoral Letter of the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops of Canada

To the Very Reverend Clergy, Monastics and Religious Sisters and Brothers, Seminarians and Laity of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada Christ is Born!  Let us Glorify Him! “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earthpeace among those whom he favours!” (Luke 2:14) Dear Sisters and Brothers, As we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, we do so with a sense of wonder in our hearts. The story of the birth of Jesus serves as a constant reminder of God’s love for us. To express God’s boundless love for us, God appears among us in…
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2018 Nativity Greeting from Patriarch Sviatoslav

2018 Nativity Greeting from Patriarch Sviatoslav

Most Reverend Archbishops and Metropolitans,God-loving Bishops, Very Reverend Clergy, Venerable Monastics,Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters,in Ukraine and throughout the world For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his nameshall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:5) Christ is born! Glorify Him! Beloved in Christ! Today heaven and earth is filled with the light of joy and peace. Angels and men, all creation welcomes Christ the Saviour born in human flesh. All of us together with the shepherds and wise men…
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2018 Nativity Greeting from UGCC Bishops of Canada

2018 Nativity Greeting from UGCC Bishops of Canada

Christ is Born! Glorify Him! Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours! (Luke 2:14) Dear Sisters and Brothers, As we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, we do so with a sense of wonder in our hearts. The story of the birth of Jesus serves as a constant reminder of God’s love for us. To express God’s boundless love for us, God appears among us in the person of his own son, Jesus Christ. God with us. Emmanuel. And in this were rejoice! This year, we celebrate Christmas…
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Unto Us a Son is Given | February 17, 2017

Unto Us a Son is Given | February 17, 2017

Feb. 17, Friday: Bethlehem – Ein Karem This morning we drive to Bethlehem to visit the place of birth of our Lord, The Basilica of the Nativity. We will visit the Grotto of Nativity and the Church of St. Catherine where the Midnight Mass is celebrated and the Caves of St. Joseph and St. Jerome underneath the church. Visit Shepherd's Fields, where the Angels appeared to the shepherds who were watching over their flocks during the night. Lunch at Tent Restaurant in Bethlehem. This afternoon drive to nearby village of Ein – Karem to visit the birth place of St.…
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2016 Christmas Pastoral Letter of His Beatitude Sviatoslav

2016 Christmas Pastoral Letter of His Beatitude Sviatoslav

CHRISTMAS PASTORAL LETTER OF HIS BEATITUDE SVIATOSLAV Most Reverend Archbishops and Metropolitans, God-loving Bishops, Very Reverend Clergy, Venerable Monastics, Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters, in Ukraine and throughout the world And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) Christ is born! Glorify Him! Today our hearts are filled with lightsome Christmas joy. The eternal God becomes man, so that man might be united and reconciled with Him forever. The Son of God becomes the son of the…
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Christmas Pastoral Letter of the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops of Canada

PASTORAL LETTER FROM THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF CANADA ON THE OCCASION OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD 2016/2017 To the Reverend Clergy, Monastics, Seminarians and Laity of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada: Christ is born! Let Us Glorify Him! The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2) At the Complines service on the Eve of the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord, Jesus Christ, we sing out “Z Namy Boh! God is with us!” This beautiful hymn evokes in us…
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Matthew 21:33-42 We’re Servants, not Owners

Matthew 21:33-42 We’re Servants, not Owners

Christ is Born! It happens time and time again throughout history, as well as in literature. From Hamlet to Narnia to Gondor one constant theme is the story of a steward, who by lies and treachery, tries to steal the throne for himself. The lure of power can often overcome those who have been entrusted with the kingdom in order to serve others. In our reading today, brothers and sisters, the Lord uses the parable of a vineyard to illustrate this point. The servants have been tasked with taking care of the vineyard while their master is travelling. They forget…
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Origin of the Twelve Days of Christmas

Origin of the Twelve Days of Christmas

by Fr Hal Stockert You’re all familiar with the Christmas song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” I think. To most it’s a delightful nonsense rhyme set to music. But it had a quite serious purpose when it was written. It is a good deal more than just a repetitious melody with pretty phrases and a list of strange gifts. Catholics in England during the period 1558 to 1829, when Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England, were prohibited from any practice of their faith by law—private or public. It was a crime to be a Catholic. “The Twelve Days of Christmas”…
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Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions

by Brent Kostyniuk O, Most merciful Lord and You, Son of Righteousness We greet you with holy Christmas Last year You gave us a harvest, You gave us goodness, You gave us health, You gave us wealth Then help us this year so that it will be better. Given Ukrainians’ love for ritual and symbolism, it is no surprise their Christmas celebrations are rich in traditions. Some traditions are purely religious ones, having evolved over the ten centuries since the people of Ukraine accepted Byzantine Christianity in 988. Others are much older. Born in ancient pagan times, they have been…
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