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NEW
STAR

St Nicholas
Ukrainian
Catholic
Eparchial News

2009--LXV No. 1--January, 2009

!
i

$1.75

"Open Wide Your Hearts!"

Stewardship and New Year's Resolutions

Stewardship is a commitment of mind and heart to the Lord; a way of life that needs
, ,
constant renewal and transformation. This time of year has always been one of look . ,
ing forward to a new year, reflecting on the changes we need to make in our lives and
,
resolving to follow through on those changes. Perhaps those who seek to make reso, .
lutions to be better stewards might find inspiration in the following samples:
:
Stewardship of Prayer: Resolve to strengthen your relationship with the Lord.
: .
Notice
how often you pray and what hinders you from praying. Commit to short,
, , .
daily prayer times.
.
Stewardship of Family: Resolve to set aside
:
more time to stay connected with your family.
,
Eat dinner together, schedule regular dates with
,
your spouse, plan family outings, and go to

services together.
.
:
Stewardship of Health: Resolve to get
.
those medical and dental checkups. Adopt
.
healthier eating habits. Add exercise and other

physical activity to your daily routine.
.
Stewardship of Possessions: Resolve to

possess a little more "lightly" this year.

Consider ways you can reduce the amount of
.
all that stuff you own. Distinguish between
.
those items that are necessary and those that are
,
considered luxurious and unnecessary.
, ,
Stewardship of the Parish Family: Resolve
.
to
serve your faith community in some way this
:

year
such as at liturgy, in the parish's outreach
c
or
education
and formation efforts.
,
Stewardship of Money: Resolve to render
,
sacred your annual budget. Reprioritize your
, .
financial goals to ensure that the Lord comes

first in your spending. Take positive steps to

.
improve your financial health.
,
Stewardship of Work: Resolve to be faith
.
ful to your daily, work-related tasks and offer

them up to the Lord. Cultivate your skills.
.
Deepen your knowledge. Be mindful of how
:
you are building the Kingdom of God.
Fr Myron Mykyta opens wide the Royal Doors at
, .
Stewardship of Mind: Resolve to keep your
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Los Angeles.
B .
mind active. Commit to being more informed
.
on the issues of the day. Read your Bible. In this year of presidential elections in the
.
United States, familiarize yourself with the Church's social teachings.
:
Stewardship of Neighbor: Resolve to be a person of hospitality; to make time and
. .
space for others who enter your life. Be more aware of those times when a neighbor,
.
co-worker, fellow parishioner or stranger, needs a moment of kindness, a little atten , .
tion or an affirming gesture on your part.
: ;
Stewardship of the Poor: Resolve to live with more compassion and in solidarity
, . ,
with
those less fortunate. Remember the poor in prayer, and commit to helping relieve
,
in some way the plight of those who are impoverished or marginalized.
, .
:
Please remember our St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy's commitment
, . ,
to all of our faithful and all of our ministries, and donate generously to the
, .
Share 2008 - Ukrainian Catholic Appeal!
,
Adapted from ICSC (International Catholic Stewardship Council) Parish Bulletin for January, 2008.
,
Share 2008 - .

MOVING?
attach old address (at right) and
Send new address to us at:
2245 W Rice St
Chicago IL 60622

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use another sheet if necessary
allow six weeks for change.

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The first report of Share 2008 - Ukrainian Catholic Appeal may be found on
page 18 in this issue of New Star.

Non-Profit Org.
BULK RATE
U.S. Postage

PAID
Permit No. 93
Calumet City, IL 60409

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NEW STAR

January, 2009

11

Christmas Pastoral Letter of the Ukrainian

Catholic Hierarchs of the USA

CHRIST IS BORN!
It is our beautiful tradition that on Christmas Eve, as
the first star appears, we light a candle in our homes
and greet the Newborn Savior, Jesus, with our ancient
carol, "God Eternal".
The evangelist Matthew speaks of a bright star which
guides the wise men from the East to Bethlehem. He
writes that "when they saw the star, they rejoiced with
exceeding joy. And having come into the house, they
saw the little child with Mary his mother, and falling
down they did him homage" (Mt. 2:10). Of the wise
men we sing in the tropars, "those who worshipped the
stars were taught by a star to worship you, the Sun of
Righteousness". And the prophet Malachi speaks of
the healing power of the "Sun of Righteousness" for
those who are faithful to the Lord's name (Mal 4:2).
This special light which we celebrate at Christmas has
a special meaning for all of us.
First, it is the light of understanding. We sing in the
tropars, "Your Nativity, O Christ our God, made the
light of knowledge dawn on the world". Today, God
has revealed Himself in a Newborn Child. He grants us
understanding regarding Him. He is the one who is
here for us. We proclaim this by singing "God Is with

Editorial

Us" during the Great

Complines. God is
with us today. God
became one of us,
became human, so that
we may share in his
divine life. The light
of God's revelation is a
light of joy. How can
we not rejoice with
such joyful news!
The light is also an
example of our Christian life. Almighty
God does not come to
earth in a royal palace,
or in the home of the
powerful or a rich
family. He comes in a
poor stable, laid on
hay in a manger. In
this we come to understand that the power of
God reveals itself in
humility, in poverty, in
suffering.
We are
called to humble service without elevating
ourselves above others. As God is with us
and for us, we too
must be at the service
of one another.
Finally, the light is
the light of witnessing
the Good News. The salvation given by God is not limited to a chosen group of individuals. It is to be shared
with all humanity. Our festive joy cannot be limited to
the privacy of our homes. It must be a visible witness
to the fact that God loves us and hopes to share His
divine will with all.
In the Holy Gospels, the three wise men are described
as bringing gifts: gold, as a sign that the Newborn
Infant is the King of the Universe; frankincense, for the
Child is God Himself; and myrrh, as a sign of suffering,
for in ancient times, the dead were anointed with
myrrh. Here is born the One who will give up his life
for the salvation of all.
What gifts shall we bring? Let us bring the gold of

Some may be puzzled about the timing of the "Christmas Message" of our
bishops in New Star--after all,
Christmas already was.
Due to our printing schedule, which when all goes
according to plan, the paper
reaches you by the 15th of
every month. Our deadline
for copy is one month before
that. As the December issue
was assembled, the Christmas
Message had not yet arrived.
Only after the final proofreading did a "rough draft" of
the English version appear.
The Ukrainian translation
arrived later.
But this is not a tragedy.
Insofar as so much commercial preparation leads up to
Christmas--store music systems and the airwaves are full
of "Christmas Carols" and
seasonal songs, and the world

our love. As the Father showed his love to

us through Jesus, the Son, so today, through
His disciples, he does the same. Secondly,
let us offer the frankincense of our prayer.
We need to serve the Lord not only on major
holidays and on Sundays, but indeed, our
mouths should be filled with praise each
day. Finally, let us carry the myrrh of suffering. All that has true value in life
requires sacrifice. That which has eternal
value requires particular and constant sacrifice. This is the meaning of Bethlehem and
the example given to us by our Divine
Teacher.
We pray today that God may grant all of us,
and all those united with us in our hearts
both near and far, the understanding of the
Light which comes from above at
Christmas. May each of us experience the
joy of true understanding that "God Is with
Us". Jesus has been born for us and for our
salvation.
God grant to you a most blessed celebration of Christmas, filled with much joy and
happiness. May our celebration of the birth
of Jesus be a source of renewal in our
expression of love for God and for all those
whom He gives us to love and serve during
our lifetime.
A Blessed and Holy Christmas to all!
Most Reverend STEFAN (Soroka)
Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Catholic
Church in the U.S.A.
Archbishop of Philadelphia for Ukrainians
Most Reverend ROBERT M. (Moskal)
Bishop of the St. Josaphat Eparchy in Parma
Most Reverend RICHARD (Seminack)
Bishop of the St. Nicholas Eparchy in Chicago
Most Reverend PAUL (Chomnycky, OSBM)
Bishop of the Eparchy of Stamford
Most Reverend JOHN (Bura)
Auxiliary Bishop of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia

indulges in "Christmas parties" in

offices and schools--too much attention
to the holiday is misdirected. The next
day almost everyone seems to forget
that Christ is born. Even Winter songs
are discontinued, ironically just four
days after the Winter Solstice ushered in
the season.
Our Church, with its purposeful
Philip's Fast directs our attention to the
Holy Day. Our calendar calls us to be
prepared for the spiritual reception of
the Messiah. When we sing "God Is
with Us" we can then be jubilant and
joyful and rightfully embrace the celebration with enthusiasm.
It is appropriate for us to begin the
observance of Christ's Nativity just
when everyone else seems to be concluding it! We keep on going, through
Theophany, and continue until the
Encounter of the God-child with
Simeon and the Prophetess Anna forty
days later.
So, you see, the letter is not "late." We
still greet one another with "Christ is

born!" We "Glorify Him!" not only

now--but through living His precepts-always. As the bishops' message
reminds us, Christmas is not a day, but a
lifestyle.

The bishops Message is set amid a sample of Nativity icons--ranging from a 15th Century Slavic type (left), and Greek (right); and contemporary American
versions (above)--one of which is suitable for coloring yourself! They all contain elements of the Feast, indicating both faith in and doubt over this miraculous birth.

12

NEW STAR

RUSSIAN ORTHODOX SYNOD ELECTS INTERIM

HEAD: MOSCOW - At the meeting of the Holy
Synod
of
the
Russian Orthodox
Church (ROC) on
December 6, 2008
at the patriarchal
residence in Peredielkino, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad was elected
interim head of the
church. The head of
the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate,
Metropolitan VOLODYMYR
(Sabodan), interrupted a
visit to Greece and
came to Moscow to
participate.
According to the

January, 2009

statutes of the ROC, it will be governed by the Holy

Synod headed by the locum tenens of the Patriarch
[interim head] before the election of a new Patriarch.
The locum tenens will fulfill the responsibilities of
the Patriarch of Moscow. The new Patriarch is to be
elected by the national sobor of the ROC, which is to
be held within half a year of the death of the previous
one.
The burial service for Patriarch Alexis II was
served on December 9.

PORA FACTION INITIATES GRANTING "REPRESSED " S TATUS TO U KRAINIAN G REEK

CATHOLIC CHURCH: LVIV - During a session of
the City Council of Lviv on November 20, 2008, a
deputy of the Pora (It's Time) faction read an address
to Ukraine's president presenting Pora's initiative to
grant the status of "repressed church" to the
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC).
Pora also requests that Yushchenko "be the subject
of a legislative initiative to consider this issue in
Ukraine's Parliament, if the need arises."
"Next year, in 2009, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic
Church will mark the 20th anniversary of the renewal of its open ministry to the Ukrainian people after a
long period of persecution by the Soviet regime.
Numerous incidents of repressions against the faithful and ministers of the UGCC, including deportation
to Siberia, the expropriation of property, and the
destruction of churches or use thereof for non-intended purposes present evidence of purposeful activity

aimed at the forced liquidation of the Ukrainian

Greek Catholic Church as such," reads the address.

AIDE CONFIRMS PAPAL TRIP TO MIDEAST

COULD HAPPEN: VATICAN CITY, (Zenit.org).- A
Vatican spokesman has confirmed that the Vatican
and Israel are considering a papal trip to the Holy
Land in 2009.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the
Vatican press office, responded today to a report
from an Israeli newspaper that Benedict XVI could
visit the Holy Land next year.
The spokesman's brief statement was: "I can confirm that contacts exist at a diplomatic level between
the Holy See and Israel to study the possibility of a
trip by the Pope to the Holy Land next year."
Haaretz, the Israeli daily that published the rumor
today, suggested that the Pope's visit could be scheduled for the second week of May.
It would be the third visit of a Pope to the state of
Israel; Pope Paul VI went in 1964 and Pope John
Paul II went in 2000.

VATICAN II 50TH ANNIVERSARY: It was January

25, 1959, that Pope John XXIII, less than three
months into his papacy, announced his intention of
convening a general council of the Church. He, who
was thought to be a "transitional" caretaker of the See
of Peter, proceeded to implement ambitious plans for
the aggionomento that followed.

Making a New Year's Resolution?

When January First rolls around, many of us make
a New Year's resolution--we decide it's time to put the
previous year behind us and make changes in our
behavior. "I'm going to get organized; I'm going to
look for a new job; I'm going to lose 25 pounds; I'm
going to stop drinking; I'm going to go to church
every Sunday; I'm going to exercise every day; I'm
going to" We see the need for improvement in
some aspect of our lives and so we make a promise to
ourselves and others to change in the New Year.
In Eastern Catholic Churches, January 1 is indeed a
special day, but for a different reason: on this day, in
addition to commemorating the Circumcision of
Jesus, we honor St. Basil the Great, Archbishop of
Caesarea in Cappadocia (present day Turkey). We are
all familiar with the Liturgy of St. Basil, which is celebrated on his feast day; the eves of the Nativity of
Our Lord and Theophany; all Sundays of
the Great Fast; Holy
Thursday; and Holy
Saturday. You know
you are at a Liturgy of
St. Basil when you
start asking yourself
this question "Isn't the
Divine Liturgy taking
a bit longer than
usual?"
St. Basil was born in
329. When only a
young man, his father
died and he and his
family (including his
sainted brothers, Gregory of Nyssa and Peter
of Sebaste, and sister,
Macrina) went to live
with their grandmother, Macrina. He was an excellent student and later an
excellent professor, able, serious, industrious, and
well-versed in rhetoric, grammar, philosophy, astronomy, geometry and medicine. We are told that he
became somewhat worldly; after some time, however,
he began to focus on his spiritual life. "Then I read

the Gospel, and saw there that a great means of reaching perfection was the selling of one's goods; the sharing of them with the poor; the giving up of all care for
this life; and the refusal to allow the soul to be turned
by any sympathy towards things of earth." He did just
that.
In the process of living out the Gospel message, he
established a monastery, was ordained a priest and
became a bishop and then Archbishop of Caesarea.
His influence covered the whole stretch from the
Balkans to the Mediterranean and from the Aegean to
the Euphrates. Besides his Episcopal duties, he
staunchly defended the faith and fought against
heretics. His correspondence shows that he paid visits, sent messages, gave interviews, instructed,
reproved, rebuked, threatened, reproached, and undertook the protection of nations, cities, individuals great
and small. There was very
little chance of opposing
him successfully, for he
was a cool, persistent, fearless fighter in defense both
of doctrine and of principles. He had his share of
difficulties and enemies
and suffered from ill health;
he died January 1, 379 and
today is considered one of
the most distinguished
Doctors of the Church.
(New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia)
During
the
Divine
Liturgy, we are invited to
reflect on some of the same
scriptural readings that St.
Basil must have reflected
upon. We listen to the
Epistle, the Gospel and the
homily with the expectation that we can better learn
how to live as Christians and as members of a
Christian community.
The Epistles that are sung in the Divine Liturgy are
letters from the New Testament, written mostly by St.
Paul to the early Christian communities. When we

listen carefully to the Epistles, we realize that not

much has changed in the past 2,000 years! The same
problems that the early Christian communities had are
still problems today! The apostles offered solutions
to these problems, but it seems each new generation
must heed their advice anew. This brings us back to
the subject of New Year's resolutions.
When our family members and we talk about making New Year's resolutions, wouldn't it be great if we
could focus on changing our behaviors to what we
read and hear about in the Epistles? There are many,
many beautiful instructions for us in the Acts of the
Apostles. Or, one of my favorites, found in St Paul's
letter to the Colossians, 3: 5-10, 12-13; 16.
"Put to death, then, the parts of you that are
earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil
desire and the greed that is idolatry. Because of
these the wrath of God is coming. By these you
too once conducted yourselves, when you lived
in that way. But now you must put them all
away: anger, fury, malice, slander and obscene
language out of your mouths. Stop lying to one
another, since you have taken off the old self
with its practices and have put on the new
selfPut on then, as God's chosen ones, holy
and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with
one another and forgiving one another Let the
word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with
gratitude in your hearts to God."
If we all followed these admonitions, what a peaceful place this world of ours would be! Consider paying close attention the Epistles sung during the Divine
Liturgy; discuss the lessons taught in your families
when you return from church. Try to incorporate
these lessons into your New Year's resolutions. And
have a blessed and happy 2009!
Readers, please let me know if you have any topics you would like to see addressed in this column. Or
share your family's experiences as Domestic Church.
Please contact me at ChurChatNewStar@cs.com. In
the "subject" line, add "Domestic Church."

NEW STAR

January, 2009

13

Feast of St. Nicholas in the Cathedral Parish

Hierarchical Liturgy
reflected on a fact
that founders of our
Cathedral
parish
more that 100 years
ago had selected St.
Nicholas as their
patron saint. Indeed,
St. Nicholas sets a
high standard of
how a member of a
Christian community should follow
Bishop Richard is flanked by the clergy at Divine Liturgy.
Christ.
St. Nicholas has a
On Sunday, December 7th, our unique quality--his popularity and acceptCathedral celebrated the fest day of the ance crosses ecclesiastical divisions and
parish. This was the concluding event in secular culture barriers. St. Nicholas is
the year-long observance of the parish one of the best ecumenical figures, since
centenary.
he is venerated in the Eastern
There was only one liturgy in the Church as well as in the Western
Cathedral Church. Everyone was gathered Church. His cult is present among
to worship the Lord and thank St. the German-speaking Christians,
Nicholas for his continued protetcion. and
Italians,
Greeks
and
Bishop Richard in his homily during the Ukrainians, Christians from the

Netherlands, Russia and Belgium. St.

Nicholas is probably one of few saints
who made it into the secular culture. It is
difficult to find a person, who never heard
of Santa Claus. Even the predominantly
Muslim country of Turkey in one of its
museums in Anatolia region has a section
dedicated to St. Nicholas, prouldy indicating that St. Nicholas comes from modernday Turkey. Indeed, St. Nicholas brings
joy to children around the world and more
than 1,600 years after his earthly life continues to help of his flock with love.
There was a banquet in the Cathedral
School auditorium right after the Divine
Liturgy. The school is also named after St.
Nicholas. School children prepared a festive program. The School choir sang
songs glorifying their patron saint.

Everyone present at the banquet received

a small symbolic present from St.
Nicholas--a chocolate coin.
Bishop Richard opened the banquet
with a prayer. After a tasty dinner, the
parish council presented its report about
what has been done in the parish lately.
During the congratulatory speeches at the
banquet, Fr. Oleh Kryvokulsky mentioned
that St. Nicholas is also a patron saint of
mariners. The Church is often seen as a
ship that brings its passengers to salvation.
Thus St. Nicholas guides us all to Christ
and life everlasting, and yet never forgetting about our needs here on Earth.
Festivities ended with a word from Bishop
Innocent and a final prayer.
Nazar Sloboda
Photos by Subdeacon Petro Rudtka

Ukraine's First Lady

Visits Pittsburgh
November 30, 2008, Ukraine's Ohio, Ukrainian National Women's
First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko League of America, Self Reliance
visited St. John the Baptist Federal Credit Union (SamopoUkrainian
Church
in
Pittsburgh, accompanied by
Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of
Ukraine in the United
Stated Oleh Shamshur,
members of the Pittsburgh
Ukrainian community and
Ukraine 3000 Foundation.
Together with the parishioners, Mrs. Kateryna
Mrs. Yushchenko extends her hand to
attended
the
Divine
greet Bishop ROBERT (Moskal)
Liturgy.
After the service, Mrs.
Yush-chenko visited the Ridna mich), Ridna Shkola, Nova Khvylia,
Shkola cultural center on the church Saint Josaphat Union, and the
premises and a small ethnographic Ukrainain Radio Program.
museum, created by members of the
Mrs. Kateryna was bestowed the
Pittsburgh Ukrainian community high award for her contribution in
and the school teachers. Mrs. developing the humanitarian sphere
Kateryna presented to Ridna Shkola in Ukraine.
publications on ethnography, culThe medal was presented by
ture, history, children's books, and members of the Order of Saint
CDs with old and modern Ukrainian Lazarus of Jerusalem in North
music.
America.
Mrs. Kateryna Yushchenko and
The Military and Hospitaller
Ukraine 3,000 Foundation members Order of Saint Lazarus was founded
are staying in Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- in 1098 in a leper hospital in
vania, with a working visit on an Palestine by Crusaders. It originally
invitation from the local Ukrainian admitted knights with leprosy. The
community. Earlier they visited the Order took part in hostilities, in part,
University of Pittsburgh, attending during the Third Crusade. After the
its Medical Center and the Crusaders were expelled from
Ukrainian Room.
Palestine, the Order settled in
That evening, Kateryna Yushch- France, continuing its hospitaller
enko was awarded the medal of the activities. In 1517, a part of the
Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem Order joined the St. Mauritius
at the Bishop's Ball (St. Josaphat Order, forming the Order of Sts.
Eparchy). The award ceremony took Mauritius and Lazarus; however, the
place November 30, 2008, in the Order of Saint Lazarus continued to
presence of the numerous represen- exist. The modern Order of Saint
tatives of Ukrainian organizations, Lazarus is represented in 24 counreligious communities, and church- tries, continuing its charitable actives, in part, the Ukrainian Catholic ities.
Eparchy of Saint Josaphat in Parma,

Part of the parishioners at the banquet.

Bishop Richards Homily:

More than 100 years ago, our first
parishioners chose as their special patron a
saint whose holiness had been recognized
for over a thousand years, St. Nicholas;
almost fifty years ago, he was likewise
chosen as patron of the newly-formed St.
Nicholas Eparchy. Today, we come together in St. Nicholas Cathedral to celebrate
our special patron on his feast day. St.
Nicholas certainly holds a special place in
our hearts and in our lives!
The late Pope John Paul II canonized
many saints. He did so because he thought
that the Church needed saints to provide
models of holiness for people to follow.
So, as we celebrate the feast day of St.
Nicholas, it is not enough to honor our
patron; rather, we need also to embrace
him as a model for our own lives, and to
see what lessons we can learn from the fact
that our ancestors in the faith chose St.
Nicholas as our special patron.
To do this, let us examine the coat of
arms of the St. Nicholas Eparchy. You have
certainly seen it many times, perhaps without even recognizing it. It's at the top of
every issue of our eparchial newspaper,
The New Star. It's also up there on the
wall, just over my right shoulder.
On that coat of arms, we see two countries represented. On top, we see the
Ukrainian national symbol, the trident,
reminding us of our country of origin, the
land whose faith is our heritage--the faith
of St. Andrew, of St. Volodymyr, of SS.
Anthony and Theodosius, of St. Josaphat.
On the bottom, however, we see the setting
sun, connected to this country which has
welcomed us, the United States of
America: this eparchy begins in Detroit in
the East and follows the setting sun westward across the North American continent

to the Pacific and even to Hawaii. In this

eparchy, two nations come together.
Americans and Ukrainians are joined like
body and soul; both are necessary for our
life as an eparchy. St. Nicholas takes us all
under his "omophor"--no matter where we
were born. We need to embrace the richness which God provides for us thanks to
the gift of our double identity.
Between the Ukrainian trident, and the
American setting sun, there is a symbol
which refers more specifically to St.
Nicholas himself: three gold coins.
Certainly you know the origin of this symbol: legend tells us that St. Nicholas threw
gold coins into the window of three poor
sisters so that they could have a decent life.
Thus began St. Nicholas' reputation for
generosity. In this, he is a model for us all.
His example was certainly followed by the
founders of this parish--poor immigrants
who could afford to give only nickels and
dimes, but who overlooked their own
poverty to build this beautiful church with
their offerings.
We do not share the poverty of our
founders; do we share their generosity? As
sons and daughters of St. Nicholas, we
need to reclaim the example of our generous patron and our selfless founders and
make it our own. There are so many needs,
so many needy people--both here in the
United States and in Ukraine. We have
been richly blessed; we can afford to give
of our abundance so that others may share
in our blessings.
As our cathedral is a landmark known
throughout Chicago--and indeed across the
world--for its beauty, may we become a
community known for its generosity. May
we be the gift of St. Nicholas to a world so
desperate for Christ's love!

14

January, 2009

NEW STAR

Bartholomew I:
Alexis II Felt His
End Approaching,
and Worked for
Peace in Church
FANAR - The Orthodox patriarch of Moscow, Alexis
II, "felt his end approaching" and decided to "work to
reestablish peace within the Church": this is the testimony that Bartholomew I, ecumenical patriarch of
Constantinople, has given to AsiaNews, commenting
on the death of the head of the Russian Orthodox
Church. orthodoxy.org.ua posted this story on

Alexis II
December 9.
During the first vespers for the feast of St. Nicholas
in Ipsomatia, behind the walls of the Yedikule,
Bartholomew officiated over prayers for the deceased
Patriarch. His voice trembling with emotion, he said:
"the mother Church of Constantinople shares in the
sorrow of our Russian brothers, over the death of our
brother Alexis, patriarch of Moscow."
Bartholomew I recalled that "sometimes there was
tension between us, and we did not have the same
opinion on various questions concerning the
Orthodox Church." Constantinople and Moscow have
gone through difficult moments over the question of
the independence of the Estonian Orthodox Church,
which Moscow wanted to control; on relations with
Catholics; on the Orthodox Churches of the diaspora;
on the attitude toward the Ukrainian Churches. On
this last point, Bartholomew added: "when I went [to
Ukraine] to participate in the celebration of 1,020
years of the Christianization of the Rus people, after
the celebration of the liturgy and after the official
lunch, we had a long and productive meeting, in
which [Alexis] told me that he felt his end approaching, and that we had to work to reestablish peace within the Church. He told me that he might not be able to
come to the pan-Orthodox meeting last October. In
spite of his dour predictions, and disobeying the
orders of his own doctors, Patriarch Alexis came to
the meeting because he had a strong desire to add his
signature to the important final document of the panOrthodox meeting, which constitutes the reply of the
entire Orthodox Church to the challenges of the contemporary world. With this signature, he left an
indelible mark of his testimony."
"Dear brother," Bartholomew added, "may your
memory be eternal, and we pray that the Holy Spirit
may help the Russian Church to provide a worthy
successor to you."
The
Ecumenical
Patriarch has also convened a synod to
decide on sending representatives to participate in the funeral
liturgy for the Patriarch of Moscow.

Greek Catholic Bishop IVAN

(Semedi) of Mukachevo Dies
On December 6, 2008, in the 88th year of earthly
life, 31st year of episcopal ministry, and 62nd year of
priestly ministry, Bishop IVAN (Semedi), Bishop-emeritus of the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Eparchy, died.
The official web page of the Mukachevo Eparchy
reports about it: www.mgce.uz.ua.
Funeral services were
December 9, 2008, in
Uzhhorod in the Cathedral
of the Holy Cross. After this
the body of the deceased
Bishop Ivan was transported to the burial place in the
village of Mala Kopania,
Vynohradovo
District,
Transcarpathia Region.
Bishop Ivan was born on
June 26, 1921, in the village of
Mala Kopania, Vinohradovo
District, Transcarpathia Region.
In 1942 he finished secondary education in the city
of Khust, Transcarpathia.
The same year he entered
the Uzhhorod Theological
Academy. In autumn 1944
he became a volunteer of
the Czechoslovakia Liberation Army. He was honorably discharged to continue
studies at the Theological

Academy, which he completed in 1947.

On July 6, 1947, he received priestly ordination (the
ordaining bishop was Bishop THEODORE (Romzha).
Then, he was appointed prefect and teacher of the
Uzhhorod Theological Academy, simultaneously executing the functions of notary of the eparchial management.
From February 16, 1949, after
the
liquidation
of
the
Mukachevo Greek Catholic
Eparchy, up to 1987, he worked
in state enterprises and then went
on pension.
On August 24, 1978, in the village of Onokivtsi, near Uzhhorod, he received episcopal
ordination (the ordaining bishop
was Bishop ALEXANDER (Chira).
In January 1979, after the
death of Apostolic Administrator
Mykola (Murani), he became the
ruling bishop of the Mukachevo
Eparchy.
On January 21, 1991, he
received confirmation of the plenary powers of eparchial bishop
from His Holiness John Paul II.
On January 25, 2003, after the
Holy Father accepted his resignation, Bishop Ivan became
bishop-emeritus.
May his memory be eternal!

In this photo, Bishop Ivan is shown receiving the relics of Blessed THEODORE (Romzha) into the Cathedral.

Questions have been asked about the new cross used recently
in New Star. In reality, it is an ancient symbol, predating
Christianity.
In it some see a rudimentary swastika, also an ancient cross
form that reaches into antiquity.
Modern use has found this particular form on a number of books
in the Religion section of bookstores--even copies of the
Scriptures.

Retired Van Nuys Bishop Dies

Bishop GEORGE (Kuzma), bishop-emeritus
of the Eparchy of Van Nuys, reposed in the
Lord on Sunday, December 7, 2008 at Mount
Macrina Manor in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
His priestly service included parishes in the
Pittsburgh, Detroit and Cleveland areas before
his move to the West Coast, where he had
always desired to serve. He served as pastor of
Annunciation Parish in Anaheim, California
from 1972 until his elevation to the episcopacy
in 1987. On February 4, 1987, he was ordained
to the episcopacy in Passaic, New Jersey,
where he served as auxiliary bishop to Bishop
MICHAEL J. (Dudick).
On January 15, 1991, Bishop George
returned to the West Coast as the second bishop of the Eparchy of Van Nuys. Upon reaching
his seventy-fifth birthday, he submitted his resignation to the Holy Father, in accordance with
canon law. His Holiness, Pope John Paul II
accepted Bishop George's resignation on
December 5, 2000. He resided at Mount
Macrina Manor in Uniontown until the time of
his death
Interment was at Mount Macrina Cemetery
in Uniontown.

May his memory be eternal!

NEW STAR

January, 2009

Why?/Why:

By Fr Denny Molitvy

Several friends and I have discussed some points

of religion. Part of the talk centered on when the
Divine Liturgy begins. Some said it is at "Blessed
is the kingdom"' Others think it is when the
priest is at the side altar preparing the bread and
wine. Who is right? When are we on time? Late?
A dinner rides on your answer.
I'm glad you trust me enough to settle a point. The
question raises a detail that is seldom considered. In all
actuality the Divine Liturgy is eternal. It is ever ongoing in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is timeless. No
matter when you enter, you appear in the midst of it.
Whenever we participate in the Liturgy, we do so
only in a part of a continuum. Our particular limitations
of time and place seem to cloud our perspective.
Our realm of time hinders understanding infinity.
Some would suggest that neither of the two moments
you mention are the definitive "beginning" of the service. They might well argue that the celebration begins
with the prayers before the iconostas the priest and deacon pray before entering the Holy Place; continues
through the vesting and the proskomedia (preparation
of the gifts of bread and wine); the incensing; all before
the public exclamation: "Blessed is the Kingdom".
That would not be entirely correct, either.
As far as our liturgical day goes, for example, the
Sunday Liturgy begins with Vespers on Saturday
evening. In this service most of the prayers refer to the
particular focus of the weekly duty to "keep holy the
Lord's Day." Here it is we see the connection to a "day
of rest" that comes at the end of work. In Genesis, in
the transition between chapters 1 and 2: "God looked at

One
If you ask any Dominican friar "What
are the four transcendentals?", he will
probably scratch his head and think back
to his metaphysics class; with any luck,
you will get this answer: the one, the
good, the true, and the beautiful.
Strangely, my mind has been wandering
back to my days as a student brother, and
I have been meditating on those four
qualities.
What comes to mind immediately is
the first of these: "one". Perhaps this is
because, during the month of January,
we have the annual "Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity". Christian unity seems
such a distant and elusive dream! We
seem to be going in the exact opposite
direction. Examples abound. About a
month or so ago, the world was treated
to a scandalous spectacle: "turf wars" led
monks of two different Churches to beat
one another up in one of the holiest
Christian shrines-the Church of the Holy
Sepulcher. When discussing this situation with an Iraqi friar, I learned of

everything He had made, and He found it very good.

Evening came, and morning followed--the sixth day.
Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were
completed. Since on the seventh day God was finished
with the work He had been doing, He rested on the seventh day from all the work He had undertaken.".
Next comes a morning service of praise: Matins.
Here, especially on Sunday, the theme of Resurrection
is professed, with a recurring cycle of Gospel lessons
that emphasizes this fact of our faith.
Too few really appreciate the fullness of our liturgical life, limiting their experience to the Sunday
Eucharistic Liturgy. While the Divine Liturgy contains
the elements of sacrifice and praise, including instruction in the faith through readings and a homily, as well
as the opportunity to receive the Holy Eucharist, it is
best appreciated when combined with either (or both)
of the introductory services. They are the prelude to the
climactic part of our liturgical life.
To your query, it would be good to be in place when
(if) your priest prays the prayers before the iconostas.
Stand for them (as is the custom in some places). As he
(and the deacon) enter into the Holy Place to vest, and
then continue the proskomedia, you may sit in quiet
contemplation awaiting the cue to stand for the
incensetion of the church and the Church. (By the way,
neither the vesting table nor prosokmeia table are
"altars" since no sacrifice takes place on them).
You'll be "on time" if you're present for this--just as
much as you'd be "on time" if you enter just before the
opening doxology: "Blessed is the Kingdom"
As for your dinner--ask your server for separate
checks.

another example: "Christians in Iraq are

having a hard enough time just surviving, but that doesn't keep our depleted
Churches from squabbling. Do you think
that helps us?" So much for the 1970's
folk-guitar classic "They'll know we are
Christians by our love"!
We Ukrainians do not need to look so
far afield to find examples of disunity. I
would bet my stipend that every
Ukrainian community served by this
newspaper has experienced a shake-up-if not indeed a break-up. It's not like
we're unaware of the harm we are doing
to ourselves, either; after all, we sing the
following wise words in a favorite
hymn: "In unity is the strength of a people; God grant us unity." Perhaps we
don't realize what we're singing, or perhaps we sing those words while pointing
an accusing finger at "them"--and we all
know who "they" are. In the end, our
unity goes out the window, evicted by
our selfishness and stubbornness, and
we end up disconnected and alone.
Perhaps this is what is meant by the
1970's group Three Dog Night when
they say that "One is the loneliest number"

15

Sometimes I find it difficult to understand the

Epistle readings--either because of the way it is
sung, or because the incensing is being done during
that time. Besides trying to read along in my own
book, is there another solution?
The readings should be available for you to hear.
Lectors are to chant clearly, audibly, and at a pace that
allows you to not struggle to understand them.
Enunciation and pronunciation are important, and not
to be haphazardly handled. When the proper phrasing
and voice inflections are employed, the readings are
intelligible and beneficial. Readers are to practice
ahead of time, if necessary, to be able to provide this
important ministry to those present. Mere reading is a
less-desired option, as the spoken voice does not carry
as well as a chanted one.
As well, the clergy--priest and deacon--are to be
attentive to the lesson. The rubrics of the Church clearly instruct that incensing (and the distraction that
results from movement and the clanking chains or ringing bells) is to be done only after the reading of God's
Word is completed. The time it takes to incense the
church and the Church should be adequately covered
while everyone sings "Alleluia!" and its related verses.

Why?/Why: by Fr Denny Molitvy

Questions may be sent to
Fr. Denny Molitvy
2245 W Rice St
Chicago, IL 60622-4858
You may also send e-mail to:
WhyWhyNewStar@cs.com.
Identify yourself by name and parish
(which will not be publshed).
Individual replies are not possible.

Of course, "one" is lonely if it means

being alone; however that is not what
Christ intends for us. Listen to how the
evangelist John recalls Christ's words at
the Last Supper:
I pray not only for them, but also
for those who will believe in Me
through their word, so that they
may all be one as You, Father, are
in Me and I in You, that they also
may be in Us, that the world may
believe that You sent Me. And I
have given them the glory that You
gave Me, so that they may be one
as We are one, I in them and You in
Me, that they may be brought to
perfection as one, that the world
may know that You sent Me, and
that You loved them even as You
loved Me. (John 17: 20-23)
St. Paul reinforces this in his first letter to Corinthians:
As a body is one though it has
many parts, and all the parts of the
body, though many, are one body,
so also Christ. For in one Spirit we
were all baptized into one Body,
whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or
free persons, and we were all given

to drink of the one Spirit. Now the

body is not a single part, but many.
God placed the parts, each one
of them, in the body as He intended. If they were all one part, where
would the body be? But as it is,
there are many parts but one body.
Now you are Christ's Body, and
individually parts of it. (1 Cor. 12:
12-14, 18-20, 27)
If only we, who together make up the
Body of Christ on Earth, would learn a
lesson from our earthly bodies and begin
to work together for the well-being of all
concerned--our own as well as that of
those around us!
We as Church are intended to be a living icon of the Trinity, of the One God
Who is nonetheless Three. The Three
Persons are One God because They are
united in love; we can only be One
Church if we let ourselves be united in
the same way. Believe it or not, we will
all be the stronger for it: like the individual wires making up a strong cable, we
can bear the weight if we cling together.
Fr. Jim Karepin, op

Discussion of Interreligious Dilaogue

NEW YORK, - On November 13, in New York, the
63rd General Assembly of the United Nations gathered
delegations from 60 countries to discuss the subject of
"Interreligious Dialogue as an Important Dimension of
the Culture of Peace."
As the result of two days of interreligious dialogue,
the participants of the meeting passed a resolution,
which once more confirmed the obligation to propagate
on the international level respect for all human rights
and fundamental freedoms according to the Statute of

the UN and the Universal Declaration on Human

Rights.
Ukraine's representative in the UN, Yurii Serheiev
stressed that he represents a country, which under
Stalin's regime went through the manmade famine,
which took millions of lives. He quoted a dialogue
between Stalin and Churchill, where the latter asked
Stalin what was worse, the horrors of the war or the
policy of collectivization.
Stalin answered that the policy of collectivization
and the death of tens of millions of people were terrible

but necessary to build a better future.

"Ten million people died because of that man made
famine without a war or revolution. In order to ensure
that such devaluation of human life does not occur
again, it is necessary to tell the truth about the crimes
committed against people.
"Positive results should be guaranteed for each member-state of the UN, which makes everything for the
dialogue of the culture of peace," said Ukraine's representative in the UN.

16 NEW STAR

January, 2009

Apostles' Unity Seen

as Link for Two Churches

Benedict XVI Lauds

Ecumenical Progress

Patriarch Points to Brotherhood of Peter and Andrew

Greets Bartholomew I for Feast of St. Andrew

ISTANBUL, Turkey, (Zenit.org ).- The social, political and economic crisis
has an answer, Christian leaders say: the common path toward full union
between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.
This was the main point of the homilies of Orthodox Patriarch
Bartholomew I and Cardinal Walter Kasper, the president of
the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity,
during a joint celebration of the feast of St. Andrew
on Sunday, L'Osservatore Romano reported.
The Patriarch of Constantinople recalled the
meeting in Jerusalem between Pope Paul VI
and then Patriarch Athenagoras I, which
began the journey of dialogue between the
two Churches.
He went on to refer to the brotherhood
-- not only spiritual, but also physical, of
the Apostles Peter and Andrew. This
fact, he said, should be recalled by both
Catholics and Orthodox so that both
sides respect unity: "Because one cannot
think of Peter and Andrew as separated."
"This bond between two apostles, which
has a beginning of a biological nature,
becomes also a spiritual legacy in the name of
Our Lord and ends by constituting the link that
unites the two Churches," the Patriarch said.
He also affirmed: "It is necessary to cut the thorns
that have wounded relations between the two Churches
for a millennium, and take as a precious guide toward unity the
spirit of the common tradition of the seven councils of the first millennium."
For his part, Cardinal Kasper declared that unity "is not an option, it is a
duty to Our Lord."
The cardinal said after the visit that, though the path of dialogue between
Orthodox and Catholics will not be short, it is coming along well, "because
with the Orthodox, we have much in common."

VATICAN CITY, (Zenit.org ).- Benedict XVI says the relationship between
Catholics and Orthodox is going deeper and he expressed his trust that the day
will come when both Churches will share the celebration of the Eucharist.
The Pope affirmed this in a message that he sent to the Ecumenical Patriarch
of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, on the feast of St. Andrew.
"[W]e reflect with joy and thanksgiving that the relations
between us are entering progressively deeper levels as we
renew our commitment to the path of prayer and dialogue,"
the Holy Father said. "We trust that our common journey
will hasten the arrival of that blessed day when we will
praise God together in a shared celebration of the
Eucharist. The inner life of our Churches and the
challenges of our modern world urgently demand
this witness of unity among Christ's disciples."
The Pontiff sent his message with a Vatican delegation that visited Bartholomew I for the festivities of the feast day.
The president and secretary of the Pontifical
Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal
Walter Kasper and Bishop Brian Farrell, respectively, were accompanied by Dominican Father
Vladimiro Caroli, of the council, and Archbishop
Antonio Lucibello, the apostolic nuncio in Ankara, in
the delegation.
Meanwhile in the Vatican, Benedict XVI mentioned the
Patriarch after he prayed the midday Angelus with crowds in
St. Peter's Square.
He explained how Andrew and Peter, as brothers, were both followers
of John the Baptist and then became disciples of Jesus and the Lord's baptism in
the Jordan, "recognizing him as the Messiah."
"St. Andrew is the patron of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and so the
Church of Rome feels linked to the Church of Constantinople by a special fraternal bond," Benedict XVI said. "[...] With all my heart, I offer my greeting and my
best wishes to him and to the faithful of the patriarchate, invoking the abundance
of heavenly blessings upon all."

Papal Delegation Attends Funeral of Alexis II

Council for Promoting Christian
Unity; Cardinal Roger Etchegaray,
retired president of the Pontifical
Council for Justice and Peace and
Pontifical Council Cor Unum;
Archbishop Antonio Mennini, the
Holy See's representative to the
Russian Federation; Jesuit Father
Milan Zust, an official of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity; and Monsignor Ante
Jozif, secrtary of the nunciature in
Moscow.
The patriarch's funeral was at the
Cathedral of the Epiphany in Moscow.
file photo
The Holy Russian Orthodox Synod
named
Metropolitan Kirill of
Patriarch Bartholomew I led the hierarchs ar the funeral.
Smolensk and Kaliningrad, president
VATICAN CITY (Zenit.org ).- Benedict XVI sent a
of the Department for External Ecclesiastical
delegation to participate in the funeral of Russian
Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow, as the interOrthodox Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and All
im leader of the Orthodox Church.
Russia.
The body of Alexis II lay in state in the Cathedral of
The members of the high-level delegation were
Christ the Savior to permit the Orthodox faithful an
Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical
opportunity to pay their respects.
With this issue, New Star begins its 45th year. Over the years it has been a weekly newspaper; a newspaper
that appeared twice a month; and once every three weeks; and now, monthly. Our goal at all times was (and
is) to provide information on the Church: Catholic, Eastern, Ukrainian and of local and eparchial importance. We do this with help from all over--how about help from you? You may use mail or e-mail addresses found in every issue to submit material.
Thank you!

Patriarch Lubomyr
Prays for Deceased
Patriarch Alexis II
Concerning the death of Patriarch Alexis II,
Patriarch Lubomyr, addressed words of sincere
sympathy for
the clergy, religious, and laity
of the Russian
Orthodox
Church
to
Archbishop
KIRILL (Gundyaev), Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad of the
ROC, Head of
the Department
of
External
Church Relations of the
Moscow Patriarchate, .
"Together with you in prayers we entrust his
soul to the Merciful Lord," His Beatitude assured.

January, 2009

Minnesota Parishes
Commemorate
"Holodomor"
Joining in the world-wide almost simultaneous observance of the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor were
the parishes of St Constantine, Minneapolis, and St
Stephen, in St Paul, Minnesota.
A Divine Liturgy was scheduled in Minneapolis, and
sung in both English and Ukrainian by the St
Constantine Church Choir under the direction of Juri

Ivan. Concelebrating were Fr Canon Michael Stelmach,

pastor, and Fr Roman Voronchak. After the Divine
Liturgy a Panakhyda was celebrated with the entire
church assembly taking part singing the responses.
The church was decorated to reflect this unique commemoration. A red cloth hung from the iconostas over
the Royal Doors, down each side to the floor. And red
cloth draped around the candelabra behind the altar.
Added were huge arrangements of yellow and blue carnations in front of the iconostas.
The tetrapod was also covered with a red cloth.
Dozens of votive candles were placed on this cloth,
commemorating the lives that were taken.
In his sermon, Fr Stelmach underlined the fact that
every Ukrainian has been affected by the Holodomor
because all Ukrainian families lost members. Some lost
great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts or even children. He mentioned that
most likely we may never know all the names of those
who died, but even so, the memory of them should
never be forgotten. They were/are the "Holy Innocents".

New Home,
New Vestments
Holy Wisdom parish of Sacramento has a new home
as well as a new set of vestments. The family of
William and Joanna Mazurek, now of eternal memory,
gathered at Holy Wisdom on November 18 to celebrate the Divine Liturgy and present the parish with a
set of new vestments. As is the custom, the new golden priestly vestments were blessed and then worn for
the first time during the Divine Liturgy.
The vestments were given to the parish in memory
of Joanna Mazurek, who went to her eternal reward
one year ago. Mrs. Mazurek was well-known for her
pysanky and embroidery skills. In 1990, she embroi-

NEW STAR

17

Site Blessed for

Holodomor Memorial in Washington
Tuesday, December 2 was a
cold windy day in Washington
DC, but the bright sunshine
and clear blue skies welcomed
a crowd of Ukrainian-Americans and dignitaries from the
Federal
government
and
Ukraine for the blessing of the
site of the National Holodomor
Memorial, located at a prime
location--the intersection of
North Capitol Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue, and F Street,
just a few blocks away from
the Capitol Building and
Union Station, a high-visibility
location granted by the
National Park Service.
The blessing service was opened by Mr.
Oleksandr Oleksandrovych, of the Ukrainian
Embassy in Washington, and then the Ukrainian and
American national anthems were sung. The Prime
Hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the
USA, Metropolitan CONSTANTINE gave opening
remarks on the fitting nature of this monument, to
serve the purpose of reminding the world of the millions of unmarked graves of the victims of the
Holodomor--the Famine Genocide of 1932-33,
orchestrated by the regime of Joseph Stalin to
destroy the spirit and identity of the Ukrainian
nation.
Together with Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan
Archbishop STEFAN (Soroka) of Philadelphia, and
Bishop PAUL (Chomytsky) of Stamford, Bishop
JOHN (Bura), Very Rev. Fathers Hryhorii Podhurets,
Michael Kochis and Volodymyr Steliac and local
Ukrainian Catholic clergy, Metropolitan Constantine
conducted the blessing service, which was then followed by a Litiya for the repose of the souls of the
ten million victims of this crime against the
Ukrainian people. Responses were sung by and
ensemble of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus.
Following the Services, Dr. Oleh Shamshur,
Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States spoke
to thank all those involved in the project, and to
announce that a design competition will be held in
Ukraine, with the winning design concept to be
selected in the summer of 2009.

Ukraine's First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko then

spoke, relating not only the experiences of the family of President Viktor Yushchenko and of her own
family during the famine, but also of the work being
done now in Ukraine to document the testimony of
Famine survivors. She highlighted the evolution of
awareness of the Famine in Ukraine, beginning with
the initial official denials, through a recognition
based on incidental weather-related causes, to a final
recognition of the intentional and planned targeting
of the Ukrainian people.
Senator Sander Levin, (D-Michigan), a long-time
supporter of Ukrainian causes in Congress, spoke
next, expressing his great satisfaction at seeing the
achievement of this monument, as well as the need
for all nations of the world to remain vigilant against
the use of food as a weapon of political control.
Michael Savkiv, Chairman of the National
Committee to Commemorate the 75th Anniversary
of the Famine, offered remarks quoting from Dante's
Inferno on the agony of death by starvation.
Representatives of the Department of State and of
the National Park Service also offered fitting
remarks, and this portion of the program concluded
with the words of a local survivor of the Holodomor,
who ended his personal reflections with "God bless
America!" and "Glory to Ukraine!"
The ceremony concluded with remarks and a
benediction from Metropolitan STEFAN (Soroka) of
the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

dered a beautiful set of deacon's

vestments for Fr. Theodore
Wroblicky. These same vestments were worn by Fr. Deacon
Alexander Wroblicky when he
was ordained deacon at the
Cathedral of St. Nicholas this past
August, on the feast of the
Tranfiguration of Our Lord.
To conclude this memorable
day, family, friends and parishioners gathered for a potluck
luncheon. Thanks were extended
to the family and friends of Mr.
and Mrs. Michael Johnson, of
Chico, California, for their genl-r: Johnson Family: Jenne and Rob with son Cole;
erosity and continued support of
Fr Theodore Wroblicky; Connie, Mike and Holly.
Holy Wisdom Parish.
A few weeks prior to this event, and at the invitation and chalice case. They also made financial contribuof the Passionist Fathers, Holy Wisdom Parish moved tions to purchase a new incense boat, and tablecloths
its location from Mercy San Juan Hospital's Chapel in and matching rushnyky for the altar, proskomedia
Carmichael to "La Casa" at Christ the King Passionist table, tetrapod and icons.
The Divine Liturgy is celebrated at "La Casa" every
Retreat Center, 6520 Van Maren Lane, Citrus Heights.
Sunday
at 10:00 a.m. For more information about
To celebrate the move, parishioners spray-painted
Holy
Wisdom
parish, call (916) 486-0632.
metal folding frames for icons, made signs to direct
people to the "La Casa" and built an icon stand, altar

18

NEW STAR

January, 2009

Share 2008
Ukrainian Catholic Appeal Report /
Goal

Parish
Friends of St. Nicholas Eparchy
Assumption of the BVM Parish - Omaha, NE
Dormition of the Mother of God Parish - Phoenix, AZ
Holy Apostles Mission - Berryton, KS
Holy Ascension Mission - Plymouth, MI
Holy Wisdom Mission - Citrus Heights, CA
Immaculate Conception Parish - Hamtramck, MI
Immaculate Conception Parish - Palatine, IL
Immaculate Conception Parish - San Francisco, CA
Nativity of the BVM Parish - Los Angeles, CA
Nativity of the BVM Parish - Palos Park, IL
Nativity of the Mother of God Parish - Springfield, OR
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish - La Mesa, CA
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish - Dearborn Heights, MI
Protection of the Mother of God Parish - Houston, TX
St. Andrew Mission - Sacramento, CA
St. Constantine Parish - Minneapolis, MN
St. Demetrius Parish - Belfield, ND
St. George Parish - Lincoln, NE
St. John the Baptist Parish - Belfield, ND
St. John the Baptist Parish - Detroit, MI
St. Josaphat Parish - Munster, IN
St. Josaphat Parish - Warren, MI
St. Joseph Parish - St. Joseph, MO
St. Joseph Parish - Chicago, IL
St. Mary's Assumption Parish - St. Louis, MO
St. Michael Mission - Minot, ND
St. Michael Parish - Mishawaka, IN
St. Michael Parish - Tucson, AZ
St. Michael Parish - Chicago, IL
St. Michael Parish - Milwaukee, WI
St. Michael Parish - Grand Rapids, MI
St. Michael the Archangel Parish - Dearborn, MI
St. Nicholas Cathedral - Chicago, IL
St. Paul Mission - Flagstaff, AZ
St. Peter Eastern Catholic Mission - Ukiah, CA
St. Sophia Mission - Honolulu, HI
St. Sophia Parish - The Colony, TX
St. Stephen Mission - St. Paul, MN
St. Vladimir Parish - Flint, MI
St. Volodymyr Mission - Santa Clara, CA
Sts. Peter & Paul Parish - Wilton, ND
Sts. Volodymyr & Olha Parish - Chicago, IL
Transfiguration Parish - Denver, CO
Zarvanycia Mission - Seattle, WA
Totals

As of
12-9-08
$8,650.00
$950.00
$100.00
$100.00
$0.00
$10.00
$2,800.00
$860.00
$0.00
$2,425.00
$570.00
$700.00
$0.00
$800.00
$110.00
$100.00
$860.00
$1,610.00
$120.00
$2,125.00
$650.00
$135.00
$750.00
$0.00
$1,270.00
$25.00
$200.00
$50.00
$45.00
$150.00
$275.00
$300.00
$0.00
$11,845.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$25.00
$0.00
$50.00
$100.00
$550.00
$2,180.00
$1,210.00
$600.00
$43,300.00

$3,240.00
$12,000.00
$1,000.00
$1,000.00
$1,620.00
$13,860.00
$6,840.00
$2,400.00
$10,650.00
$7,860.00
$3,600.00
$7,680.00
$8,400.00
$9,960.00
$1,000.00
$13,980.00
$3,000.00
$1,000.00
$2,220.00
$7,980.00
$5,640.00
$44,040.00
$1,200.00
$19,920.00
$2,340.00
$1,140.00
$3,900.00
$1,500.00
$1,000.00
$6,300.00
$6,000.00
$1,260.00
$55,080.00
$1,000.00
$1,000.00
$1,000.00
$3,720.00
$1,000.00
$1,800.00
$1,000.00
$1,500.00
$60,300.00
$7,800.00
$3,300.00
$352,030.00

Thank you for your continued support of your Church through your
generous participation in Share 2008 - Ukrainian Catholic Appeal.

Chancery Office Hours:

Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m. (Central Time Zone)
The Office is closed on Major Holy Days and National Civil holidays

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Kids Skipping Liturgy?

Blame Ignorance,
Not Rebellion
Vatican Youth Director
Considers Faith in the Young
VATICAN CITY, (Zenit.org ).- Young people today are not
against the Church; they simply don't know much about it,
says the new director of the youth section of the Pontifical
Council for the Laity.

Will these children learn enough to counteract "the family's

inability to transmit the faith" mentioned in this article?
With his new role, French Father Eric Jacquinet will be one of
the key figures in the organization of the next World Youth
Day in Madrid, Spain. He spoke with L'Osservatore Romano
about the causes for young people's estrangement from the
Church, principally noting "the family's inability to transmit
the faith."
The priest, a member of the Emmanuel community, spoke
about his work with estranged young people in the
Archdiocese of Lyon. "In the Venissieux parish," he said,
"65% of young people are children of separated parents, and
Christians are in a minority amid the immigrants. We had to
evangelize door-to-door."
Among today's youth "more than a need of spirituality,
there is a strong emotional desire, which generates a certain
confusion with the spiritual experience. Worse still, this is not
enough to foster adult persons in the faith," Father Jacquinet
noted.
The priest spoke about his experiences at World Youth
Days, which he started to follow since they began in Rome,
Italy, in 1985 and in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, in 1989.
"In Santiago I was responsible for a bus with 24 French
young people and as many others of the former
Czechoslovakia," he explained. "Thus I came to know the
Church in the catacombs: They had permission to travel only
as tourists, and among them was a clandestine priest. Only
two people in the group knew his true identity."
Father Jacquinet participated in this year's youth day in
Sydney, to learn about the work that awaits him. He observed,
"I was able to see how this intensely secularized Australian
metropolis was transformed by the presence of the young people on the streets. Local priests themselves, some of whom
were very skeptical, were convinced, because the Spirit did
something grandiose, and Cardinal Pell met the challenge."
Regarding the challenges that he will face in organizing the
next World Youth Day, the priest mentioned two important
issues. On one hand, he pointed out "the need to accompany
the experience of the days with the growth of a mature faith."
On the other hand, it is important to foster "the reception of
pilgrims by the dioceses of the host country." To this end,
work has already begun with Cardinal Antonio Mara Rouco,
archbishop of Madrid, and with other Spanish dioceses.
"I want to work with everyone, above all with the delegations of youth ministry of the five continents," Father
Jacquinet affirmed.
Looking beyond the youth days, the new laity council official explained that it is necessary to promote youth ministry
throughout the world. "Places of reflection are needed," he
said, "for an ever more fragile generation. [...] The problem
lies in the root, in that vacuum that young people need to fill
and, [in order] to fill it, we must give concrete answers."

NEW STAR

January, 2009

St Constantine
Parish,
Minneapolis
had a successful Turkey Raffle.
Information on this
More than two full
page is from bulletins
pages of the bulletin
and other items sent to
were needed to list all
the Chancery.
the thank yous to all
Parish bulletins--or
who helped in a variety
articles--may be sent to:
of capacities.
New Star--Bulletin Board
Parishioners in
2245 W Rice St
St Michaels,
Chicago, IL 60622
Minot and SS
Peter and Paul, Wilton
or e-mail: NewStarNews@aol.com
North Dakota, get an
inside-look at some of
the eparchial rules and
regulations excerpted in
The newsletter of St Nicholas Cathedral School,
the parish bulletins.
Chicago, offered congratulations to Sixth
Grader Julie Copeland, who was accepted as a Junior
Inaugural Scholar. She is to participate in the Presidential
Inaugural Youth Conference January 17-21 in Washington, and
attend the inauguration of President Barak Obama.
On November 8, 2008, Holy Wisdom Parish participated in the
20th annual Christmas Around the World Festival in
Sacramento, California. This festival, held at the Greek
Orthodox Hellenic Center, is comprised of ten Orthodox,
Catholic and other Eastern Churches offering American,
Armenian, Egyptian, Ethiopian, Greek, Middle Eastern, Russian, Slovak and
Ukrainian foods and crafts. This year, St. Philip Byzantine Catholic Parish
shared a booth with Holy Wisdom Parish. Fun and profits were shared by
all!

Members of St
Joseph Church,
Chicago had an
opportunity to
attend several seminar
sessions on How to Be
an Effective Parent in the
21st Century.

19

Published monthly with the permission and authority of

His Grace, Bishop RICHARD (Seminack),
by St Nicholas Publications,
official publisher of the:
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Address manuscripts to:
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Mail subscription payments, address correction requests to:
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Permission is granted to reprint original material,
acknowledging New Star
(a courtesy copy is appreciated).
Editorial board and contributors:
Fr John Lucas, Managing Editor
Fr Oleh Kryvokulsky, JCL
Fr James Karepin, OP
Fr Denny Molitvy
Mr George Matwyshyn
Olenka Pryma
Nazar Sloboda
Pani Barbara Wroblicky
Phyllis Muryn Zapraniuk
Vira Zhuravska

20

NEW STAR

January, 2009

Iconography
Before widespread literacy, icons were often called the books for the uneducated. They tell the sto-

, ries of the Christ's time which most can read in his diary known as The Bible. They speak of a deep
. , theology. This history of iconography dates back to the Apostle Luke who wrote several icons in his
. . life time including several of the Theotokos. The word "iconography" has its origin in two Greek
, , words: "icon"--image and "graphing"--to write. Icons describe to us things beyond logic and reason
.
and are explained only by faith. They are not simple, painted images, instead,
: .
each one is a text, which is why we use the verb "to write" when describing them.
, , ,
Icons, such as those of Christ, Mary and the saints, are venerated to show, our love
.
and our respect. Through icons, Christians request God's blessings and the aid of
, - ,
the saints to carry their prayers to the heavens. Icons are windows to heaven, a
. , ,
place for the soul to experience God. They are meant to bring one closer to God
,
through spiritual example just as the services of the Church do. Sometimes our
reading of words has blinded us to the writing in an icon.
.
Byzantine icons are written by "iconographers" who are constantly praying

while they create their work. Every part of the icon has meaning. There are strict
. ,
guidelines according to the traditions of icons of Christ, Mary and the saints. Gold
.
symbolizes the eternal uncreated light of God and His heavenly kingdom. Purple
, .
was the Byzantine symbol of royalty. It is used in icons to represent Christ's

Kingdom. Blue represents humanity. Red signifies the heavens, divinity and the
, .
kingdom of God not on this earth. Byzantine icons of the Theotokos show her

with red outer garments and blue ones on the inside. This signifies her original
, .
human nature (blue) and her heavenly nature (red). Icons of Christ show Him
. ,
with blue outer clothing and red inner clothing, signifying His Heavenly origins
, .
as and earthly existence as being secondary. White shows heavenly purity and

Icon of St Luke as Iconographer
divinity. Icons of the resurrection depict Christ in white robes pulling Adam and
. .
Eve from the depths. White is also used for swaddling clothes of babies; the
. shrouds of the dead; and the robes of angels. Green is the color of the living earth and used to portray
. , . youth, hope and where life begins. This contrasts to brown which shows our fallen nature on earth and
that we will all eventually become dust. Black portrays evil and death. Demons and satanic beings are
. () in black. The mood of the subjects is always solemn, and do not show our natural world; they depict
(). the future world of glory.
, - . , .
While the above description of colors used in icons is the general concept used in Byzantine iconog . raphy there are variations in different parts of the world where some pigments were not available.
, . Below are some general guidelines for creating an icon.
, .
The iconographer begins with this prayer: "O Divine Lord of all that exists, You have illumined the
, . , Apostle and Evangelist Luke with Your Most Holy Spirit, thereby enabling him to represent the most
, , , Holy Mother; the one who held You in her arms and said: 'The Grace of Him Who has been born of
. . . me is spread throughout the world. Enlighten and direct our souls, our hearts and our spirits. Guide
, , - the hands of your unworthy servants, so that we may worthily and perfectly portray Your icon, that of
Your Holy Mother and of all the saints, for the glory and adornment of Your Holy Church. Forgive our
.
sins and the sins of those who will venerate these icons, and who, standing devoutly before them, give
, homage to those they represent. Protect them from all evil and instruct them with good counsel. This
we ask through the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Apostle Luke, and all the saints, now and
. .
: , ever and unto ages of ages. Amen." Then he arranges these items of God's creation to begin his work:
, HUMAN
An iconographer is a painter of icons who, following sacred rules and using elements from all of cre . , ,
ation,
paints an image symbolic of the spiritual world.
: . ,
First the iconographer prepares a panel with layers of gesso. After an outline of the sacred image is
, . , ,
drawn on the panel, gold leaf is applied. Very liquid egg tempera is then floated onto the outlined area,
, ,
and highlights added in thicker paint. This process is repeated several times.
. ,
Once finished, hot oil is poured over the icon. As it penetrates, the oil bonds the many layers of paint,
, , giving the colors a richness and permanence which are unique to this medium.
. , . VEGETABLE
, ,
WOOD--From such trees as birch or linden is used for the panel on which the icon is painted. A flat,
, . recessed area is often carved into the face of this wooden panel to symbolize the separation of our earth .
ly world from the heavenly or supernatural one.
: , ,
OIL--From boiled linseed, oil is applied after the painting is done. There are two reasons for doing
, .
this. First, the oil protects the surface of the finished icon and, second, it makes the colors brighter, more
. transparent and permanent.
, .
VINEGAR--modifies the fat in the egg yolk and helps to preserve it.
. ANIMAL
.
EGG--The yolk is prepared with a little vinegar and water. This "medium" is mixed with dry colors
, . to make egg tempera. Aged egg white is often used on a red clay base before adding gold leaf.
GELATIN--is dissolved in water, then heated and applied to the raw wood panel as a sealer.
, ,
GLUE--Rabbit skin or fish glue is used to bind powdered stone into a base called gesso. Glue is also
.
: used with red clay as a base for gold.
BRUSHES--Are made of sable or other animal fur are needed to apply areas of egg tempera paint
. , ,
, and especially for delicate details.
MINERAL
, .
GOLD--represents divine energy. It is usually used in the halo and as fine rays on clothing
- .
STONE--marble or chalk is crushed into powder, mixed with water and glue, then heated. This mix , ,
ture
is called gesso. It is applied in many layers onto the wood panel as a base for the painted holy image.
.
COLORS--are powdered pigments. These are added to the egg solution to form egg tempera paint.
.
BURNISH CLAY--used as a base for gold leaf.
: - .
BURNISHING AGATE STONE--polishes the gold leaf.
, .
Icons are not pieces of art meant to be shown in galleries or museums. They are there to help us find
.
our way to deliverance, just as the services of the Church are meant to teach the right direction to sal , vation. They are windows to heaven to help us focus on our salvation and provide us with a visual ref .
erence of what awaits us. Icons are created for prayer and liturgical use in the church and for personal
. prayers at home or in travel.
, .
Project for your family: Create an icon on a sturdy piece of cardboard. Without all the materials,
, you may use crayons or markers as a medium. Then create an icon corner in your home to gather for
, .
family prayers.
Phyllis Muryn Zaparaniuk