Saints & Bishops - A Fact File & Notebooking

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Saints Bishop Chira Bishop Gojdich Bishop Hopko Bishop Takack Saints Peter and Paul Saint Elias Saint Patrick Saint Anne

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BISHOP CHIRA

ALEXANDER

"I bequeath my body to the earth, my spirit to God, but my heart I leave to Rome!"

On May 26, 1883, the worthy successor to our martyred Bishop Theodore G. Romzha, BishopConfessor Alexander Chira, passed away in exile. He died far away from his native land, in Karaganda, Kazakh, S.S.R. He was one of the many victims of the Soviet persecution of the Greek Catholic Church in Sub Carpathian Ruthenia. Bishop Chira served a long prison sentence in the concentration camps of Siberia. He was even forbidden to return home and was forced to live in exile. Since his death, we are able to also consider the cause of his beatification. Thus his name can be added to the list of our other three saintly Bishops, Paul Gojdich, Theodore Romzha and Basil Hopko, who died as the fearless witnesses to Christ. Bishop Alexander Chira was born to a large priestly family on January 17, 1897, in the village of Vulchivc’i, Maramorosh District. He completed his theological studies at the University of Budapest with a master’s degree in Sacred Theology, and was ordained priest in Uzhorod, December 19, 1920. He spent the first two years of his priesthood as an assistant at the Bishop’s residence. Later he was appointed to do pastoral work in his native Maramoroschina, which was at that time threatened by Orthodox propaganda. In 1924 Father Chira succeeded the late Bishop Basil Takach as Spiritual Director at the Eparchial Seminary in Uzhorod. At the same time he became Professor of Church History and Canon Law. As a gifted orator he soon became a favoured preacher at the Uzhorod cathedral, attracting people from distant places. He was nicknamed—the Evangelist. To counteract Orthodox propaganda among the people, he initiated the Missionary Society of St. Josaphat, promoting popular missions and retreats. Among the youth he advanced the Sodality movement. For the

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sick he organized the so-called Apostolate of Suffering. As a voluntary prison chaplain he became instrumental in providing the Uzhorod penitentiary with a chapel and took care of the spiritual needs of the inmates. During the Easter vacation Father Chira regularly visited the mining districts of France and Belgium, bringing spiritual consolation to thousands of Ruthenian workers. In the event of some serious misfortune it was Father Chira who was sent by the Bishop to comfort and to encourage the poor victims. He also took an active part in the ecumenical movement of SS. Cyril and Methodius, which was then initiated in Velehrad, Moravia. For his dedicated work he was soon regarded with the title of Consistorial Counsellor, then again with the dignity of a Papal Chamberlain. In 1934 Msgr. Chira was elevated to the dignity of Canon. At the same time he was appointed Rector of the Seminary and Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology. In the summer of 1939, following the Hungarian occupation of Sub Carpathian Ruthenia, Msgr. Chira was removed from his post of Rector and was placed under house arrest. Eventually he was freed from Hungarian police surveillance and, under the influence of the Holy See, he was permitted to continue his work as Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology at the Seminary. For his gallant stand against the Hungarian pressure, the Holy See rewarded him, in 1943, with the high distinction of Domestic Prelate, a rare honour among the Ruthenian clergy at the time. Immediately after his Episcopal ordination in 1944, Bishop Romzha appointed Msgr. Chira as his Vicar General. The diplomatic ability of Msgr. Chira and his iron clad logic frustrated all Soviet attempts to discredit the young Bishop Romzha in the eyes of the faithful. With a premonition of his approaching end, Bishop Romzha received permission from the Holy See and secretly ordained Msgr. Chira as his Auxiliary Bishop in 1945. It was a heroic act on the part of Msgr. Chira to accept the Episcopal ordination under those adverse conditions. But he did not hesitate and dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the defence of the Mukachevo Eparchy and its faithful against Soviet persecution. When the Soviet secret police began to harass him, his relatives suggested to him to leave the country. But Bishop Chira had only one answer:

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"I am a priest (even his relatives didn’t know that he was ordained a bishop) and my place is here, at home, with my people. Let God’s holy will be done!" After Bishop Romzha’s violent death the Soviets promised Bishop Chira to make him a Bishop if he would bring the Eparchy of Mukachevo under the jurisdiction of the Moscow patriarch. His answer was decisive: "I was born a Greek Catholic, and I also want to die a Greek Catholic!" During the night of February 10, 1949, the Soviets incarcerated Bishop Chira, took him to L’viv Galicia, where they tried him for ‘sabotage and slander against the Soviet Union." When they learned that Chira was secretly ordained a bishop, they tried him again in Kiev for "treason." As a "traitor of the Soviet Union" he was sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment with the loss of his civil rights. After the trial Bishop Chira was deported to the lrkutsk labour camps, near Lake Baikal, in Central Siberia. From there they transported him to the Kuznets mines near Kemerovo, in the Novosibirsk District. Finally they herded him with the other prisoners into a labour camp on the Irtysh River, in the Omsk District, where he continued to work in the coal mines. In 1956, after Stalin’s death Khrushchev granted general amnesty to all "political prisoners," in which category all the Byzantine Catholic priests were included. In September, 1956, Bishop Chira was released from prison and returned to his native village, Vulchivc’i, where he secretly continued his pastoral work. During the Christmas season of 1957, he was apprehended by the Soviet police and sentenced to five years of forced labour with the injunction never to return home. This time he was deported to the mining labour camps near Karaganda, Kazakh, S.S.R., in Central Asia. Upon the completion of his second sentence, since he was not allowed to return home, he settled down in Karaganda, taking spiritual care of numerous Catholic Exiles in that area. One of the German settlers, who was fortunate to return later to West Germany, writes: "Father Alexander lived in the most adverse circumstances, being placed under close surveillance of the local police and forbidden to do pastoral work among the people. Often late at night the security agents summoned him for hearings, each time molesting him for hours. But he did not give up. Under the cover of night he continued to celebrate the Liturgy, hear confessions, baptize children, marry young couples, and take care of the sick and dying. The people came from far away places,

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travelling hundreds of kilometres, just to receive the Holy Sacraments from his hands. In Karaganda for a long time nobody knew who Father Alexander really was. It is customary not to mention the full name of an underground priest. When the news spread that there was a Catholic priest living in Karaganda, many German exiles settled down in this fast growing mining town. Soon the Catholic community of Karaganda was increased by numerous exiles from Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine. Many of them were also from the Carpathian region. It took them more than twenty years to obtain an official registration as a Catholic community under Soviet law, but their efforts were crowned with success. At last in 1977, the Catholic community of Karaganda was officially recognized as a parish and Bishop Chira was permitted to act as its first pastor. He was already 81 years old. And yet he helped to organize other parishes among the Catholic settlers in Central Asia. At the present time there are at least 12 registered Catholic parishes in Kazakh S.S.R. The Karaganda community, encouraged by Bishop Chira, built their own church which he blessed on Christmas day, 1978. On that occasion Pope John Paul II sent them his Apostolic Blessing. When Bishop Chira read the Holy Father’s telegram, all the people in the church cried for joy, and he cried together with them. An old lady writes from Karaganda: ‘On Sundays our church is always filled to capacity. Even those who once did not want to hear anything about religion are being touched by grace and start to come to church." As he reached his 85th birthday, Bishop Chira appointed as his successor Father Albinus Dumb!jauskas, S.J., an exiled Lithuanian priest. On that occasion Bishop Chira wrote: "I do not feel 85 years old, since the enthusiasm of the faithful, which equals that of the first century Christians, makes me forget that the course of my life is swiftly approaching its end." The Holy Father, informed about. the dedicated work of Bishop Chira in Kazakhstan, sent him a congratulatory telegram and assured him of his personal prayers. In the fall of 1982 Bishop Chira’s health began to fail. That winter he caught a cold which eventually developed into pneumonia. The X-rays showed that both of his lungs were covered with bleeding caverns and the doctors were not able to stop his internal bleeding. In his last letter, dated May 3, 1983, our brave Confessor wrote: "I am constantly spitting up blood and the doctors are unable to

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stop my internal bleeding. In a word, the sunset of my earthly life is at hand. In case this would be my last letter, then you must remember that I am most grateful to my beloved Saviour for all His blessings which He so lavishly showered upon me during the long journey of my life, coming to an end in Karaganda. I am especially grateful to God for the grace of perseverance in faith, making my own the words of that great Irish confessor, Daniel O’Connell: ‘I bequeath my body to the earth, my spirit to God, but my heart I leave to Rome!’ Yes, with the last breath of my life I want to profess my complete fidelity to the Vicar of Christ on earth, Pope John Paul II." Bishop Alexander Chira died in exile as a true Confessor of the faith. He peacefully passed away in his sleep on May 26, 1983, and was buried by the wall of the church he helped to build. Over his grave the grateful parishioners of Karaganda erected a beautiful monument. On our part we will remember him as an outstanding son of our people, a fearless witness of Christ, and we will continue to pray for his glorification. PRAYER FOR BISHOP CHIRA O gracious Lord, in Your infinite wisdom You called our Byzantine Catholic Church to give heroic witness to The unity of Your Church, founded on the rock of St. Peter. Among many valiant witnesses You also called our fearless Confessor, Bishop Alexander Chira, who in the adverse conditions of forced labour and lifelong exile "fought a good fight, finished the race, and kept his faith" (2 Tim. 4:7). We humbly ask You to glorify Your faithful servant, Bishop Alexander, in heaven and through his kind intercession grant us . . . (here make your request). For you are a merciful and gracious God, and we render glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen. WITNESS OF BISHOP CHIRA Summoned by the Soviet secret police, Bishop Chira was told to bring the entire Eparchy of Mukachevo into the fold of the Russian Orthodox Church. He firmly refused. He was promptly condemned for "Sabotage and slander against the Soviet Union" to 25 years of forced labour in Siberia. Later he was condemned to an additional 5 years of hard labour for his underground pastoral work and was forced to live the rest of his life in exile. In spite of his unbearable sufferings and humiliations he remained faithful to Christ and His Church. He died as our modern Confessor of faith.

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BISHOP PAUL P. GOJDICH

"God is love, let us love Him!" (Bishop’s Motto)

Bishop Gojdich did not seek Episcopal dignity. Rather he chose a hidden life in the Basilian order as a monk. But Divine Providence placed him at the helm of the Prjashev Eparchy. As a Good Shepherd he served his people with dedication and love. Fragile in body but strong in spirit, he distinguished himself by the holiness of his life. In his dedicated work he was sustained by his great love of God and his people. The Communists condemned him for his loyalty to the Catholic Church. He died in prison as our valiant Confessor. Bishop Paul P. Gojdich, O.S.B.M. was born to a priestly family on July 17, 1888, in Ruski Pakijany, Sharish District, presently in Eastern Slovakia. After his graduation from the gymnasium in Prjashev, he continued his philosophical and theological studies at the Central Seminary in Budapest, and was ordained a celibate priest on August 27, 1911. In the fall of 1912, after a short period of pastoral work, he was appointed prefect of the Eparchial Boarding School for boys in Prjashev, known as "The Alumneum." At the same time he became an instructor of religion in the city’s secondary schools. The young students found in him an inspiring leader and spiritual guide. Several years later Father Gojdich was appointed to the Bishop’s Chancery Office, where eventually he achieved the rank of Chancellor.

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The promise of a swift career did not attract him. He yearned for a more peaceful and prayerful life, so he decided to become a Basilian monk. In 1922, Father Gojdich entered St. Nicholas Monastery on Chernecha Hora, near Mukachevo. As a Basilian, Father Gojdich became an exemplary monk, zealous missionary, and dedicated guide of youth. Appointed Director of the Apostleship of Prayer, he became instrumental in spreading the practice of frequent confession and Holy Communion throughout the Eparchy of Mukachevo. Taking into consideration his wide activity in those days, one wonders where he found the time and the strength to accomplish so many things. The answer was simple—the Eucharistic Christ. He usually spent long hours, mostly at night, in the chapel before the tabernacle. There he refreshed his spirit, regained his strength, and found new inspiration. After having charged his heart with love of God in prayer, he then channelled this love toward his apostolic work. As in the case of St. Paul, the love of Christ was indeed compelling him (2. Cor. 5:14). Behind the monastic walls he found the fulfilment of his heart’s desires. But this happiness did not last long, for in the fall of 1926 he was summoned back to Prjashev as the Apostolic Administrator. Father Gojdich tried to decline this unexpected appointment, since he had not yet made his solemn profession as a Basilian monk. But it was to no avail. He was instructed to make his monastic profession as soon as possible and then come to Rome for his Episcopal ordination. He was ordained bishop at the Basilica of St. Clement in Rome, on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 1927. After his consecration Pope Pius Xl presented Bishop Gojdich with a gold pectoral cross, saying: "This cross is only a symbol of all those heavy crosses that you will have to carry during your Episcopal ministry. But take courage, my son, the good Lord will help you carry them with dignity and love." Bishop Gojdich proved himself to be indeed a Good Shepherd, wholeheartedly dedicated to his new tasks. His tireless efforts to promote the spiritual life of his faithful and to strengthen their Catholic faith can hardly be described. Much can be said about his works of charity. God only knows how many people were helped or assisted by him. His charity and kindness were proverbial. He still showed his fatherly concern for youth, orphans, religious press, parochial schools, eparchial institutions, religious communities, etc.

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The Communists came into power in Czechoslovakia in the spring of 1948. They immediately launched a vicious attack against the Greek Catholic Church and maliciously denounced Bishop Gojdich as a traitor and an enemy of the people. It was evident that the Communist authorities decided to liquidate the Eparchy of Prjashev just as they liquidated the Eparchy of Mukachevo. Bishop Gojdich, the good shepherd, prepared his faithful for the inevitable. "My dear people, we must be ready to face the most difficult times in the history of our Church. But remember the early Christians. For their faith they were ready to sacrifice everything, even their own lives. They trusted our Divine Saviour, Who said: ‘Blessed are you when they persecute you and insult you on account of my name. Rejoice and be glad for your reward will be great in heaven!’ (Mt. 5:11-12). Therefore, take courage and hold fast to your faith." On April 28, 1950, the Communists forcibly liquidated the Greek Catholic Church in Czechoslovakia and imprisoned Bishop Gojdich for "opposing the people’s will." Several months later he was tried for "treason and espionage," and condemned to life imprisonment. The people, however, were convinced that their Bishop was innocent of alleged crimes. They knew that he was imprisoned and condemned only for his unwavering loyalty to the Catholic Church. It was obvious that the Communists fabricated their accusations against him after his imprisonment to justify their forced liquidation of the Prjashev Eparchy. The bishop’s trial in Bratislava was indeed a "parody of justice," and the faithful rightly considered him A Confessor of the Faith. Bishop Basil Hopko, the fellow-prisoner of Bishop Gojdich, wrote in his Memoirs: "After his trial, Bishop Gojdich was transferred from one prison to another, and was forced to work as an ordinary prisoner. There was no work too humiliating for him. He often volunteered for a job which other prisoners refused to do. In this way he wanted to learn the true meaning of Christian humility. He felt happy that in such an easy way he was able to please the good Lord. "During his prison years Bishop Gojdich did not have any problems with the local authorities. He accepted their cruelty and intentional hardships, including a solitary cell, with complete resignation to the holy will of God. His face was constantly reflecting his inner peace and happiness. He looked as innocent as a child. His presence alone soothed and strengthened us all."

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Bishop Gojdich was constantly moved from one prison to another. The prison authorities did not want the people to know where their Bishop was locked up. However, the people always learned of his whereabouts and used to come in procession to pray for their saintly bishop. Of course, they were not permitted inside the prison and had to remain outside the walls. They usually gathered in front of the barred window of the Bishop’s cell and there they prayed and sang religious songs. These were the people whom Bishop Gojdich, according to the communist allegations, "hated and betrayed." During Bishop Gojdich’s rehabilitation in 1958, it was proven beyond any doubt that all the accusations against him at the trial were nothing more than lies made up by his prosecutors in order to keep him in prison and isolated from his faithful. A certain Ferdo Ondrushka, who attended Bishop Gojdich in the prison hospital before his death, writes: "Bishop Gojdich cherished an immense love for his clergy and people. He often spoke of Greek Catholic customs and ceremonies, and with great enthusiasm used to explain why his people must remain united with the Apostolic See. He told us how, during his long interrogations, they used to torture him and how they tried, with all kinds of promises to sway him to accept Orthodoxy. They even promised to make him a patriarch . And he concludes: "There is no doubt in my mind that Bishop Gojdich was a martyr for his Faith!" In prison Bishop Gojdich never complained about his own pains, so everyone believed that he was in good health. Then suddenly he became seriously ill. They rushed him to the prison hospital, but the doctors were unable to find anything wrong with him, even though his pains persisted. He was in and out of the hospital several times. Finally the doctors became suspicious. They sent him to a famous clinic in Brno, Moravia. There they diagnosed that he had cancer which was terminal. Upon his return to Leopoldov prison he was immediately placed in the hospital, where he remained until his saintly death. A few weeks before his death a high official from the Ministry of the Interior came to see Bishop Gojdich and promised him amnesty. It somewhat disturbed the Bishop, but later he declared: "I do not think it worthwhile to exchange my martyr’s crown for two or three years of freedom. However, I leave the decision to God. Let Him do as He pleases!" Of course, the

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Communist authorities never kept their word and Bishop Gojdich remained in the prison. As his condition became more grave, his sufferings and pain increased. Finally, he ended the course of his saintly life on his 72nd birthday, July 17, 1960, in the prison of Leopoldov, Slovakia. For ten long years he carried the chains of Christ, giving a living testimony to his heroic faith and loyalty to the Apostolic See. He truly died as our valiant Confessor. During his first Way of the Cross at the Colosseum on Good Friday, 1979, Pope John Paul II said: "Just as Christ has a special place in our hearts because of His Passion, so do the martyrs and confessors of our own times. It is our duty and obligation to talk about the sufferings of these modern confessors of Christ and to bear witness to them before the conscience of the entire world." Yes, our valiant Confessor, Bishop Paul P. Gojdich, O.S.B.M., has a special place in our hearts because of his great sufferings and love. It is our sacred duty and obligation to talk about his saintly life and to pray for his quick beatification. May it please the good Lord to grant us this favour, and grant it to us soon! LEGACY OF BISHOP GOJDICH "I am certain that at the end truth will triumph over lies, and love will overcome hatred. I do not hate my enemies. I would like to bring them closer to Christ, of course not by force or deceit but by love and truth." "Our present afflictions will neither break us nor separate us from the true Church and love of Christ. On the contrary. Persecution and sufferings will only strengthen our faith and bring us closer to Christ and His Church." PRAYER FOR BEATIFICATION O Heavenly King, Comforter and Spirit of truth, You poured divine love into our hearts in order that we may love one another as we love ourselves. With that same love, You inspired Your faithful servant, that Man of Charity, Bishop Paul P. Gojdich, O.S.B.M. to practice Christian charity to a heroic degree, making him a model of charity. To prove his heroic love of his people he chose to become a prisoner of Christ and offered his life for them. Encouraged by that love, 0 gracious Lord, we humbly implore You to glorify Your loving servant, Bishop Paul, and through his kind intercession grant that…(here make your request). For You, O gracious Lord, are the treasury of blessings and deserving of all my love, now and ever, and forever. Amen.

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BISHOP

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BASIL

HOPKO

"Prisoner for the Lord" By his steadfast loyalty to the Holy See, his great love of the people, and his dedicated pastoral work Bishop Basil Hopko, the Auxiliary of Prjashev (1947-1976), proved beyond any doubt that he was indeed worthy of his Episcopal dignity. As bishop he suffered persecution, imprisonment and great humiliation for his Catholic faith. However during the rehabilitation of the Greek Catholic Church in Czechoslovakia "his own did not accept him" (Jn. 1:11) as their Shepherd and cunningly removed him from the administration of the Prjashev Eparchy. In his distressing agony he humbly resigned to the holy will of God. Since he bravely suffered as a "prisoner for the Lord" (Eph. 4:1), he deserves to be honoured as our Confessor of the Faith. Bishop Basil Hopko, S.T.D. was born on April 21, 1904, in the village of Hrabske, on the border of the hilly district of Sharish, presently in Eastern Sbvakia. His parents, Basil and Anna nee Petrenko, were poor peasants, without any land of their own. He was hardly one year old when his father was struck by lightning and died. When he reached his fourth birthday his mother left him with the Petrenko family, while she departed to the United States in search of bread. Bishop Hopko received his primary and secondary education in the Hungarian schools, and was graduated with honours from the Evangelical Gymnasium in Prjashev, 1923. Supported by his mother in America, he continued his education at the Eparchial Seminary in Prjashev. Mrs. Hopko intended to bring her son to the United States, hoping that Bishop Basil Takach (1924-1948) would ordain him as a priest for the Pittsburgh Exarchate. However her dreams were never realized.

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As the young Hopko was getting ready for his journey abroad he became sick and had to undergo several operations. In his Memoirs Bishop Hopko writes: "Having spent all my travelling money on doctors and hospitals, I gave up the hope of seeing my mother again. At that time I did not realize that it was God’s holy will to keep me in my native land." He ascribed his unexpected recovery to a "miracle" that resulted from his Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He promised Jesus that if he would be cured, he would receive Holy Orders in celibacy. He was ordained priest by Bishop Paul P. Gojdich, O.S.B.M. on February 3, 1929. After his ordination Father Hopko was appointed to organize a new parish in Prague, the capital of Czechoslovakia. At that time there were many Greek Catholics among the government officials, soldiers, students and workers that were living there. Father Hopko started his missionary work with great zeal and dedication. In a short time he acquired the beautiful church of St. Clement, which since has become a spiritual centre of the numerous Ruthenian faithful living in Bohemia. There he was also joined by his mother who, after 22 years of hard work abroad returned to her native land and to her priest-son and became his housekeeper. In his pastoral work Father Hopko displayed great love for the poor people, especially for the unemployed workers and students. Those were the years of economic depression and the Communists were eager to get our people into their organizations by any means. But the watchful eye of Father Hopko frustrated their intentions. He was justly rewarded with the title of Monsignor in 1936. In addition to his full schedule Father Hopko somehow managed to continue his theological formation at the famous Charles University. He completed his last semester at Komensky University in Bratislava, where he earned his doctor’s degree in Sacred Theology in 1940. At that time he was already teaching at the Eparchial Seminary in Prjashev. It must be mentioned that Monsignor Hopko also became a victim of the malicious Slovak campaign against Bishop Paul P. Gojdich, OSBM during the Tiso regime (1939-1944). Eventually Monsignor Hopko was forced out of the Seminary and denied his salary. After World War II, when the Slovak pressure somewhat subsided, Monsignor Hopko was entrusted by Bishop Gojdich with the Ruthenian religious press, which had been completely banned under the Tiso regime. In 1946, Monsignor Hopko started the publication "Blahovistnik," provided our people with yearly almanacs, "Kalendar Blahovistnika," and supervised the publication of spiritual

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booklets, "Knihi Blahovistnika." He himself authored four of these pamphlets. Foreseeing political turn-over in Czechoslovakia, Bishop Gojdich petitioned the Holy See and received an Auxiliary Bishop in the person of Monsignor Basil Hopko, S.T.D. The Episcopal ordination took place at the cathedral in Prjashev, May 11, 1947. Thus Bishop Hopko became the right hand of Bishop Gojdich, who had already started to prepare his faithful for the imminent seizure of power by the Communists that came in February 1948. The Communists immediately began their anti-religious propaganda and maliciously attacked the Greek Catholic Church. The worst had to be expected. Finally, on April 28, 1950, the Communist authorities brutally liquidated the Eparchy of Priashev and imprisoned Bishop Hopko. For the time being they kept him isolated, hoping to persuade him to join the Orthodox Church. But he did not give in. Subsequently, they decided to put him on trial, accusing him of alleged "subversive activity." They took Bishop Hopko to the central investigatory prison in Ruzin, near Prague, in order to "condition him" for a trial. First they locked him up in a dark solitary cell where he completely lost count of time. Then they made him walk without any rest for 122 consecutive days. During that period of time his diet consisted of a piece of stale bread and a glass of water. At the end his legs became swollen like logs. Describing this ordeal, Bishop Hopko remarks: "In my mind I already began to envision my own funeral. But I kept praying for strength to persevere and to remain faithful to the Catholic Church." They brought him to trial in the spring of 1952. On account of his allegedly "subversive activity" and contacts with a "foreign power," meaning the Apostolic See, they condemned him to fifteen years in prison. Thus his "pilgrimage" from one prison to another began. Twentyone times in all. He was not spared even the worst penitentiaries. Reminiscing on his prison days, Bishop Hopko says: "I had to endure many difficult moments, which I would not wish even on my worst enemies. Nevertheless, I consider my prison days as a higher education in humility. In prison I learned a great many things, as how to be of service to others in their need. Prison in itself is not such a terrible place after all. What is frightening is the company one is forced to keep, being locked up in the same cell with all kinds of criminals, spies, insane, and some other strange characters." Long years of prison life and harsh treatment by the prison guards finally undermined Bishop Hopko’s health. He suffered acute mental depression,

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but the prison authorities refused him any medical assistance. Bishop himself admitted: "At that time everything looked very gloomy to me. I was unable to sleep, I lost my appetite, and suffered severe irregularity. I became only a shadow of a human being, hardly able to walk. I lost even the desire to live. Only my faith and prayers kept my mind sound. But finally the good Lord saved me from my indescribable distress." In the fall of 1963 Bishop Hopko suffered another severe attack of depression. This time the warden was more humane and sent him to a special clinic in Prague. On the advice of his doctor Bishop Hopko petitioned to be released from prison on account of his ill health. Strangely enough, he was released in the summer of 1946. But he was not allowed to return home. He was confined to a home for the aged in Osek, Bohemia, where he stayed under constant police surveillance. After a long period of prison even the home for the aged seemed like a little paradise, as he himself admitted: "I never had it so good, except when I was living with my mother. The most important thing is that here I have sufficient time for prayer and I am able to lead a truly spiritual life." In Osek there were about 160 elderly Sisters that were concentrated by the communist authorities. They were from various Czech, Slovak and Hungarian convents. Bishop Hopko was happy to be able to extend spiritual assistance to them since he spoke all three languages fluently. All the Sisters knew his kindness and charity, and they nicknamed him "Our Golden Man." In the spring of 1968, the communist policy under the leadership of Secretary Alexander Dubchek was liberalized. At that time the government even agreed to restore the Greek Catholic Church, which was violently suppressed in 1950. Bishop Hopko, as soon as he was released from his confinement in Osek, initiated the drive for the restoration of the Prjashev Eparchy. On June 13, 1968, the eparchy became officially recognized. It was expected that Bishop Hopko would become the administrator of the restored eparchy. As the necessary steps for Bishop Hopko’s rehabilitation were being made, Slovak activists among the clergy struck again. They decided to replace Bishop Hopko with "a Slovak Bishop" and initiated a malicious campaign against their own bishop. The opposition prevailed and Bishop Hopko was removed from the administration of the Prjashev Eparchy. In his Report Bishop Hopko warned the Holy See: "I have sufficient reason to believe that the Slovak members of the Acting Committee are attempting to remove me from the administration of the eparchy and to

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curtail my authority. I bow my head to God’s will, since I want to remain loyal to the Holy See. But I am afraid that the people, when they find out what had happened, will be disturbed and cause some harm to the Church." It happened exactly as our brave Confessor predicted. About 35 parishes failed to return, and the Eparchy of Prjashev remains without a bishop to the present day. As the end of Bishop Hopko’s life was approaching, he kept repeating: "I want to go home!" When the attending Sisters pointed out to him that he was home, in his own residence, he just mumbled: "Eh, you do not understand!" Bishop Hopko considered his death a homecoming. And the Heavenly Father finally called His faithful servant home on Friday, June 23, 1976. Bishop Hopko for his long-sufferings, humiliating imprisonment and heroic faith deserves our admiration and deep respect. He is our own Confessor. Therefore, we should remember him and pray for his beatification. POSTHUMOUS RECOGNITION "Bishop Hopko was a part of our people and of our Greek Catholic Church. By his long sufferings and heroic faith he vividly personified our Venerable Eparchy. In the school of prayer and vexation he learned deep humility. To us he was an exalted example of true Christian life, a concerned father, and a trusted friend. Because of his childlike innocence he preserved his peace of mind till the end of his trying life." PRAYER FOR BEATIFICATION O Christ, our Lord and Saviour, in Your boundless love for the human race You assured us that "whatever we will ask You, You will do it for us" (Jn. 14:14). Encouraged by your living promise, we humbly ask You to glorify Your faithful servant, Bishop Basil Hopko, who by his trials and tribulations gave living testimony to his complete trust in You, hoping to receive from You "a great reward in Heaven" (Mt. 5:12). Inspired by his Trust in You, we humbly implore you to hear our prayer, and through the intercession of that Man of Hope, Bishop Basil, grant us…(here make your request). For you, O Christ our God, are Help to the helpless and Hope to the hopeless, and we render glory to You with Your Eternal Father and All-holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.

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A TRIBUTE TO BASIL TAKACH

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BISHOP

ON THE OCCASION OF THE FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH

"The life of Bishop Takach is an open book, in which every page is written by him with love and dedication."

The Holy Spirit reminds us to remember our spiritual Shepherds who preached the word of God to us and kept watch over us and, reflecting on their lives, "to imitate their faith." (Heb. 13-7) The Most Reverend Basil Takach, our first Bishop in the United States, was truly a Shepherd whose unshakable faith and dedicated love deserve our admiration and imitation. It is most proper, then, on the occasion of the Fortieth Anniversary of his death, to remember him and to pay a well-deserved tribute to him. Bishop Takach was born into a priestly family on October 27, 1879 in Vuchkovo, a scenic village of the Marmarosh District. Orphaned in his tender years, he was reared and educated under the loving care of his maternal uncle, Canon Nicholas Dolinay. Upon the completion of his studies in the Eparchial Seminary in Uzhorod, he chose to serve our Lord as an unmarried priest. He was ordained to the holy priesthood by Bishop Julius Firczak on December 14, 1902. After several years of pastoral work in the villages of Lazy and Malyj Rakovets in the Ugocha District, during which time he proved himself as a loving and dedicated shepherd, Father Takach was transferred, in 1911, to an administrative position in Uzhorod. He was appointed comptroller of the Eparchial funds and Executive Director of the Printing Society, "Unio" where most of our liturgical and school books were printed. The following year, Father Takach was initiated into educational work by being appointed the Director of the Eparchial Boarding School, ‘Zlumneum,"

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and Instructor of Religion at the Eparchial Teachers College for Girls. At the end of World War I, in 1918, he was appointed Spiritual Director of the Eparchial Seminary in Uzhorod where he captivated the hearts of the young seminarians with his kindness, honesty and dedication. The years between 1918 and 1924 were the years of adjustment for the Carpatho-Ruthenian people to a new political situation after joining the newly-formed Republic of Czechoslovakia as an autonomous province. Father Takach, together with a group of dedicated priests, took an active part in this political readjustment of his people, supporting their national interests and protecting the rights of the Church. He was always ready to promote the interests of his Ruthenian people whom he loved so dearly. In the midst of his intense activity, Divine Providence summoned Father Takach to a new and more responsible office. He was called to be the first Carpatho-Ruthenian Bishop in America and was consecrated a Bishop on Pentecost Sunday, June 15, 1924, in the St. Athanasius Greek Church in Rome. Upon his arrival in the United States, Bishop Takach was received with great joy and jubilation by his people. They finally, after such a long struggle, received a Bishop "of their own blood." He made his temporary residence at the St. John’s rectory in Uniontown until March, 1926, when he transferred his Epicopal Residence to Homestead, PA. From the very beginning of his administration, Bishop Takach was aware of the immense problems he was to face in his new assignment. But he had complete trust in God and His providence and an abounding faith in our people. Inspired by his great love for his people, he began to lead them and promised to elevate them to the "spiritual, cultural, and national level of other progressive ethnic groups" in the United States. However, he insisted that "to make any noticeable progress and to assure for our Church a brighter future, we must foster mutual love, understanding and unity among ourselves." Bishop Takach was determined to make good his promise and put his sentiments into action. Once canonical discipline was established in the Diocese, great spiritual progress followed. Statistics indicate that during his dedicated administration, the number of faithful doubled, many new parishes were founded and an entire new generation of dedicated priests were ordained. Under his guidance and encouragement, many parochial and evening schools were established, new church organizations organized, and a diocesan press was begun. Bishop Takach also was the

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prime mover in starting the annual Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Mount Saint Macrina in Uniontown, now in its fifty-fourth year. As a Good Shepherd, Bishop Takach wanted to see the faithful of his diocese as devout Christians, loyal members of the Catholic Church, and honest American citizens who would be in every respect an asset to their newly adopted homeland. While Bishop Takach was laying strong spiritual and canonical foundations under his Episcopal Administration, a tragic religious upheaval, generally referred to as the celibacy fight, erupted with passionate fury and wielding unjust accusations against him. In 1929, under pressure from the American hierarchy, the Holy See imposed a strict law of celibacy on the Byzantine Rite Clergy in America. Bishop Takach vehemently protested and used all possible means to have this unwarranted decree revoked, but to no avail. Finally, under the order of the Holy See, cf. Letter of the Oriental Congregation, dated March 12, 1931, No. 572/30, in 1931 Bishop Takach announced that he will ordain only unmarried candidates to the priesthood. Some priests and laymen, who already resented the Bishop’s authority, grasped the opportunity and started an open campaign against him and holding him personally responsible for the introduction of celibacy. Later, a more objective opinion concerning celibacy was given by a leading layman, who understood the problem with greater clarity than even some of the clergy. He writes: "The first message of our beloved Bishop Takach was Peace be to you. This greeting warmed up the hearts of our people, fostering a spirit of brotherly love among us that renewed our religious life and our dedication to our Byzantine Catholic Church. However, because of the envy of the evil one, a discord was sown among the people, falsely accusing the Bishop of all kind of charges, For a topic of their wicked campaign against their own Shepherd they chose the issue of the celibacy of the clergy The Bishop was unjustly accused of having introduced this new discipline, which, in fact, was imposed on our Byzantine Rite Clergy by the Holy See." How accurate this observation was can be seen from the Letter of the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Churches, addressed to Bishop Takach on July 23, 1934. It reads: "It is certainly not without profound pain that the Holy See received the information that among the Catholics of the Ruthenian Rite in the United

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States and, in particular, among the faithful and clergy of the Sub Carpathian Ruthenian Diocese, strong agitations and deplorable rebellion are taking place, motivated by the pretext that his Sacred Congregation is threatening the rights and privileges of the Ruthenian Church." "This regulation arose not new but anew, from the peculiar conditions of the Ruthenian population in the United States. As the situation has matured, it seemed well that the decree, Cum Data Ferity of March 1, 1929, should explicitly state again that which in fact had never been recalled. And more so, since the regulation in question doesn’t concern only the Ruthenian clergy, but it equally applies to the clergy of all Rites." "The Holy Father, the Guardian of ecclesiastical discipline, desires the exact observance of these regulations of the Sacred Congregation on the part of the Ruthenian Church in America as the most worthy proof of its Catholic Faith." In view of this unquestionable disposition of the Holy See, how can some writers, even today, condemn Bishop Takach for his "wavering" stand, holding him responsible for accepting celibacy for his clergy. What about the discipline of celibacy imposed by the Holy See on the clergy of other Eastern Rites in the United States? Should Bishop Takach be held responsible for them also? During the vicious and stormy campaign against his person and his Episcopal Authority, Bishop Takach manifested great patience and humility. There were rumours of his removal from his Episcopal See, but the Lord vindicated His faithful servant. Under the leadership of Bishop Takach, the religious life of the Byzantine Catholic Exarchate of Pittsburgh once again regained its momentum and attained unprecedented growth. It flourished as never before. Bishop Takach, suffering from terminal cancer during the last two years of his life, was given a coadjutor in the person of Bishop Daniel Ivancho who was consecrated on November 5, 1946. Bishop Takach passed to his eternal rest on May 13, 1948 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery on Mount Saint Macrina in Uniontown, PA. At his funeral, Bishop Ivancho, his successor, eulogized the moral and physical sufferings of Bishop Takach in a most moving manner, saying: "God-loving Bishop Basil, during your episcopacy you suffered greatly because of our ingratitude. In spite of your numerous, most painful afflictions, you did not lose your composure, trying to fulfil your pastoral duties and obligations. You patiently carried the sins of your people on

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your shoulders. You suffered for all of us. Only now do we realize what a great treasure we lost in your loving person. As we stand in silent respect at the forty-year old grave of Bishop Basil Takach, we can hear his fatherly admonition: "Love your Church and your beautiful Byzantine Rite. Respect your ancestors and treasure the heritage they left behind. Be proud of your national roots and love your Ruthenian people. Love one another, since we are all brothers and sisters in the Lord. This is also my commandment that you love one another just as I loved you!" Bishop Takach loved his people and he loved his Church. His commandment of love should become a sacred trust for all of us. FROM BISHOP TAKACH’S FIRST PASTORAL LETTER (September 30, 1924) "God demands from us love, love that is sincere, grateful and supernatural. With such love you should love your church superiors, as St. Paul admonishes: ‘Obey your superiors and be subject to them, for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account for your souls.’ (Heb. 13:17) Love your holy faith and do not permit the merchants of souls to lead you astray from the church of your ancestors. Love your beautiful Byzantine Rite, your spiritual and national traditions, and your mother tongue, and never be ashamed of your religious and cultural heritage." FROM BISHOP TAKACH’S LETTER ON CELIBACY (October 25, 1934) "The Holy Father has spoken definitely and decisively, and now only one thing remains for us —to promptly obey, as becomes faithful children of Holy Mother the Church. My dear Fathers, together with the Vicar of Christ, l also place my full confidence in you. I am certain that the agitation which unfortunately has caused much harm to our diocese, will now subside."

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Commemoration of the Holy, Glorious and Illustrious Princes of the Apostles

PETER and PAUL Brief History Paul

Tropar and Kontakion

The Cult of Peter and

Brief History Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome under Emperor Nero in the year 67. Peter was crucified head down, at his own request, and Paul, in his quality of Roman citizen, was beheaded. The Church unites them in a common celebration and gives them identical honour. Peter, a brother of Andrew the First-Called, was from Bethsaida. They were the sons of Jonas, of the tribe of Simeon. They lived by the work of their hands. At the time when John the Baptist was in prison, Jesus came to the Lake of Genesareth, and, finding Peter and Andrew mending their nets, lie called them and they followed Him without hesitation. Peter preached the Gospel in Judea, founded the Church of Antioch and finally came to Rome. Paul, a Pharisee, belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. He was born in Tarrus of Asia Minor. At first, he persecuted the Church with great zeal and violence, imprisoning and killing the Christians. But Christ appeared to him on the way to Damascus and changed his heart, lie was baptized in Damascus by Ananias. He was to become one of the greatest exponents of Christ's teachings, which he explained in his letters or epistles. Troparion Tone 4 Leaders of the Apostles and teachers of the world,/ pray to the Master of

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all to grant peace to the world/ and great mercy to our souls. Kontakion Tone 2 Thou hast taken the firm and divinely inspired Preachers, O Lord,/ the leading Apostles, for the enjoyment of Thy blessings and for repose./ For Thou hast accepted their labours and death/ as above every burnt offering,/ O Thou Who alone knowest the secrets of our hearts. The Cult of SS. Peter and Paul Because of the great significance of these Apostles for holy Church, their cult began from the very moment of their death. Their tombs in Rome were well known and all Christians revered them. St. Jerome (120) wrote: "When I was still a young man studying In Rome, I would go with my companions to the tombs of the Apostles and Martyrs." In the fourth century, their cult became universal in both the Eastern and the Western Churches. In Constantinople, Constantine the Great (337) built a magnificent church in honour of the Twelve Apostles; he himself was later buried there. The oldest church calendars already had the feast of these Apostles. Originally, not all the Churches observed their memory at the same time. The Calendar of Furius Philocalus, from the middle of the fourth century, has the commemoration of Peter and Paul on the 29th of June. The Syriac Calendar of the year 411, on the day of the 28th of December notes: "Peter and Paul, the Major Apostles." The Georgian Menology also places their feast on the 28th of December. The Calendar of Polemlus Silvius (455), Bishop of the city of Sitten in northern Italy, gives February 22, as the day of the death of Peter and Paul. The Antiochian menology of the fourth century places the feast of St. Peter on June 28 and that of St. Paul on June 29. The Nestorlans celebrate the memory of both Apostles on the second Friday after the feast of the Theophany. We learn from a sermon of St. Sophronius of Jerusalem on Saints Peter and Paul that the fourth day after the Nativity of Christ in Jerusalem was dedicated to the two Apostles. Their feast in Rome in the fifth century, according to the testimony of Pope Leo I (461), even had an eighth day post-feast. Such distinguished Fathers of the Church as St. John Chrysostom, St. Augustine, St. Ambrose and others left us many beautiful sermons in honour of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul. St. John Chrysostom composed the largest number of sermons given in their honour.

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Saint Elias

Brief History Tropar and Kontakion The Blessing of Cars and Other Vehicles

Brief History St. Elias, also known as Elijah, is commemorated in the Byzantine Church on July 20th. It is a feast that dates back to the fourth century, but has special significance for people of the Byzantine Slavonic and Hungarian heritage because the renowned Icon of Maria Povch first shed tears on the Feast of St. Elias in the year 1715. Elias is a prophet of the Old Testament who lived in the ninth century before the Corning of Jesus Christ. The Troparion of his feast calls him "a pillar of prophets, and the second Forerunner of the coming of Christ." Because, as Scripture tells us, he was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot, the Jewish people felt that he did not die as mortals do, and that some day he would return to earth to "restore the tribes of Israel." (Eccles. 48: 10) Indeed, some people considered that Jesus Christ was actually the returned Elias. Icons depicting Elias usually show him in a chariot drawn by fiery horses heading heavenward and his cloak or mantle falling earthward into the outstretched arms of Elisha his companion and disciple, signifying the transfer of his power and authority of a prophet.

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His many miracles can easily be rendered in symbols: rain ending a seven year drought; fire from heaven consuming his water drenched altar with its offering of a bull while the altar of the pagan priests, dry and ready, could not be ignited by incessant prayers to the pagan god Baal. There was also the widow of Sarephath whose two containers of oil and meal he kept repeatedly full through prayer, and then raised her son from a sudden death. On one occasion Elias, in order to cross the River Jordan, struck the waters with his cloak; the waters parted and he and Elisha were able to cross to the other side. At another time, while in hiding from persecutors, he hid by the Brook of Cherith and there, was miraculously fed by ravens. To learn more details about these miraculous events we suggest you read Kings I, and Kings II of the Old Testament. Elias was one of the greatest and most remarkable prophets of the Old Testament. Of his origin, not much is known, except that he was a Thesbite. He appeared on the historical scene during the reign of Achab (9 cent. B.C.). He delivered to that impious king the message of Yahweh: Israel would be punished by a long drought and Achab’s house would fall. He then lived to see the tragic end of Achab. Next we hear of Elias in connection with Ochozias, Achab’s son and successor, to whom he predicted that the injuries received in a fall would be fatal. The end of the earthly life of Elias came mysteriously. As he was conversing with Eliseus on the hills of Moah, "a fiery chariot, and fiery horses parted them both asunder, and Elias went up by a whirlwind into heaven" ( Kings. 2:11) Jews, Christians and Moslems pay high honour to Elias; Carmelite monks cherish the belief that their order was in some sense founded by him. Together with Moses, he appeared at Christ’s transfiguration. The veneration of Elias dates back to apostolic times. In the fourth century, the feast was already generally known. St. John Chrysostom, St. Ambrose and St. Augustine have testified to his greatness, a fact which alone would prove the antiquity of this feast.

Troparion Tone 4 Incarnate Angel and summit of the Prophets,/ second forerunner of the coming of Christ,/ glorious Elijah sent down grace from on high to the Prophet Elisha./ He heals diseases and cleanses the leprous./ He pours healings on all who honour him.

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Kontakion Tone 2 O great Prophet Elijah,/ seer of God's mighty works,/ who didst halt the torrential rain by thy word,/ pray for us to the Lover of Mankind.

Blessing of Cars or any kind of Vehicle It is customary in the Byzantine Rite and other Eastern Catholic Churches to bless cars and other modes of transportation on the Feast of St. Elias. In commemoration of God’s taking him up to Heaven in a Fiery Chariot, and also to commemorate the conversion of the Ethiopian, who was reading scripture while in his chariot. Priest: Let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. O Lord our God, Who make the clouds your conveyance and walk on the wings of the wind. Who sent to your servant Elias a chariot of fire, Who have guided man to invent this Car (Truck. etc.) which is as fast as the wind, we render thanks to You; for You have provided your servants with this Car to serve in their different needs. Therefore, 0 Master, pour now upon it your heavenly blessings; assign to it a guardian angel to preserve it against all evil. And as You have granted faith and grace by your deacon, Philip, to the man from Ethiopia who was sitting in his chariot and reading holy Scripture. show the way of salvation to your servants, so that, helped by your grace and always intent on doing good works, they may, after all the trials of their pilgrimage and life on earth, attain to everlasting joys, through the intercession of our Lady, the most holy and ever-Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, through the power of the honourable and lifegiving Cross; through the prayers of the holy Angels and of all the Saints: For You are the Provider and the Sanctifier of all things, and we give glory to You, and to your only-begotten Son, and to your all-holy, gracious, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and forever. People: Amen. This Car (Truck etc.) is blessed by the sprinkling of this holy water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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St. Patrick's Day March 17

St. Patrick's Breastplate Liturgical stichera Apolytikion and the Kontakion

St. Patrick's Breastplate - a hymn written by the Saint -

I bind unto myself today The strong name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same, The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever, By power of faith, Christ's Incarnation; His baptism in the Jordan River; His death on cross for my salvation; His bursting from the spicèd tomb; His riding up the heavenly way;

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His coming at the day of doom; I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power Of the great love of the Cherubim; The sweet 'Well done' in judgment hour; The service of the Seraphim, Confessors' faith, Apostles' word, The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls, All good deeds done unto the Lord, And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today The virtues of the starlit heaven, The glorious sun's life-giving ray, The whiteness of the moon at even, The flashing of the lightning free, The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks, The stable earth, the deep salt sea, Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today The power of God to hold and lead,

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His eye to watch, His might to stay, His ear to hearken to my need. The wisdom of my God to teach, His hand to guide, his shield to ward, The word of God to give me speech, His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin, The vice that gives temptation force, The natural lusts that war within, The hostile men that mar my course; Or few or many, far or nigh, In every place and in all hours Against their fierce hostility, I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles, Against false words of heresy, Against the knowledge that defiles, Against the heart's idolatry, Against the wizard's evil craft, Against the death-wound and the burning The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,

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Protect me, Christ, till thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name, The strong name of the Trinity; By invocation of the same. The Three in One, and One in Three, Of whom all nature hath creation, Eternal Father, Spirit, Word: Praise to the Lord of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord.

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Liturgical stichera (hymns) from the Vespers of St. Patrick "Rejoice, ye hills and groves of the Irish land! Leap up, ye lakes and rivers. For lo, through the grace of God blessing and strengthening have come upon you from on high, for your enlightener and spiritual father comes unto you: Patrick, glorious among hierarchs, zealot of the Orthodox Faith, chosen by God for the apostolate. Using the nature of your own island, he teaches you the mystery of the Trinity by means of the simplest Shamrock." "To the newly-enlightened Christians, the holy Patrick, Equal-to-the Apostles, cries out: Attend, my spiritual children: I have begotten you, as says the Gospel! I have betrothed you as a bride to Christ God. Stand fast, therefore, in the Faith, and confess it fearlessly, binding the Faith of the Holy Trinity upon yourselves as a Breastplate. Be not afraid of the opposition of oppressors, that God may manifest Himself unto you as a great Helper and Protector!" "Great is your faith, O holy hierarch Patrick: for lo! Having left your homeland and lands enlightened by Christ, you journeyed to a land thirsty for the message of the Spirit. Bearing the Gospel of Christ unto the people, you lit the holy fire of Pascha upon the mount of Slane, and taught by it those who worshiped the fire to adore the True Light. You did not depart therefrom until you had converted the whole land to the Orthodox Faith. Wherefore, we praise you O Father of the Irish Church." "Loving the heavenly homeland and desiring to attain thereunto, O father Patrick, you forsook your native land on earth; and in a foreign land you did beget a new people in the Spirit, showing yourself to be a true father to them, and crying aloud unto the Lord: 'Here am I, and the children whom Thou hast given me,' as you gaze upon the Divine Truth which will never depart from the land you ransomed from Death."

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The Apolytikion and the Kontakion for St. Patrick

While thou didst live on earth, O blessed father Pádraig, thou didst bind to thyself the strong name of the Holy Trinity, and faith in the undivided Trinity Who created the universe. Now that thou standest before the throne of the Holy Trinity, entreat Christ our God to save our souls! (Apolytikion, Second Tone) May Christ be in the heart of everyone who thinks of thee, Christ in the mouth of those who speak to thee, Christ in every eye that sees thee, Christ in every ear that hears thy words, O blessed Pádraig, our father. (Kontakion, Grave Tone)

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"Hymn on St. Patrick, Teacher of the Irish" - by St. Secundinus Hear ye all, lovers of God, the | holy merits Of the man blessed in Christ, Pa - | trick the bishop, How for his good ways he is likened to the an - | gels, And because of his perfect life is deemed equal to | the Apostles. Christ's holy precepts he keeps | in all things, His works shine | bright among men, And they follow his holy and wondrous exam - | ple, And thus magnify God the Father | in the heavens. Constant in the fear of God and steadfast | in his faith, Upon whom the Church is built | as on Peter; And his Apostleship has he received from | God -The gates of Hell will not pre - | vail against him. The Lord has chosen him to teach the barbar - | ian tribes, To fish with the nets | of his teaching, And to draw from the world unto grace the believ - | ers, Men who would follow the Lord to His | heavenly seat. He sells the choice talents of | Christ's Gospel And collects them among the Irish hea - | thens with usury; As a reward for the great labour of his voy - | age, He will come into possession of joy with Christ in the hea - | venly kingdom.

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God's faithful minister and His distinguished am - | bassador, He gives the good an Apostolic ex - | ample and model, Preaching as he does to God's people in words as well as in | deeds, So that him whom he converts not with words he inspires | with good conduct. Glory has he with Christ, honour | in the world, He who is venerated by all as an | angel of God. God has sent him, as He sent Paul, an Apostle to the gen - | tiles, To offer men guidance to the | kingdom of God. Humble is he of mind and body because of his | fear of God; The Lord abides upon him because | of his good deeds; In his righteous flesh he bears the stigmata of | Christ; In His Cross alone, his sole comfort, | he glor - ies. Untiringly he feeds the faithful from the heaven - | ly banquet, Lest those who are with Christ | faint on the way; Like bread he gives to them the words of the Gos - | pel, Which are multiplied like manna | in his hands. He preserves his body chaste for love | of the Lord; This body he has prepared as a temple for the | Holy Spirit, And he keeps it such by purity in all his act - | ions; He offers it as a living sacrifice, acceptable | to the Lord. Enflaming light of the world, great one | of the Gospel, Lifted up on a candlestick, shining un - | to all the age -

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The fortified city of the King, founded upon a moun - | tain, Wherein there is great abundance | of the Lord. Greatest indeed will be called in the kingdom | of heaven The man who fulfils with good deeds the holy | words he teaches, Who by his good example is a leader and model to the faith -| ful, Who in purity of heart has con - | fidence in God. Boldly he proclaims the Name of the Lord to | the heathens, And gives them eternal grace in the bath | of salvation. He prays to God daily for their | sins, For them he offers sacrifices, worthy in | the eyes of God. For the sake of God's law he despises all | worldly glory; Compared to His table he considers all | else as trifling; He is not moved by the violence of this | world, But, suffering for Christ, he rejoices in | adversity. A good and faithful shepherd of the flock won for | the Gospel, God has chosen him to watch o - | ver God's people And to feed with divine teaching His | folk, For whom, following Christ's example, he | gives forth his soul. Who for his merits the Saviour has raised him to the dignity of a | pontifex, In heavenly things he instructs the army | of the clergy, Providing them with heavenly rations, besides vest - | ments The rations of divine | and sacred texts.

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He is the King's herald, inviting the faithful | to the wedding. He is richly clad in a | wedding garment, He drinks heavenly wine from heavenly | cups And gives God's people the spiritual | cup to drink. He finds a holy treasure in the Sa - | cred Volume And perceives the Saviour’s divinity | in His flesh. It is a treasure he purchases with holy and perfect | works. ISRAEL his soul is called -- | "see - ing God." A faithful witness of the Lord in the Ca - | tholic Law, His speech is spiced with divine | revelations, That human flesh may not decay, eaten by | worms, But be salted with heavenly savour | for sacrifice. A true and renowned tiller of the | Gospel field, His seeds | are Christ's Gospels. These he sows from his God-inspired mouth into the ears of the | wise, And cultivates their hearts and minds with the | Holy Spirit. Christ chose him to be His vi - | car on earth. He frees captives from a two-fold | ser - vitude: The great numbers whom he liberates from bondage to | men, These countless ones he frees from the yoke | of the devil. Hymns, and the Apocalypse, and the Psalms of | God he sings, And explains them for the edification | of God's people.

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He believes the law in the Trinity of the holy | Name, And he teaches one Substance | in Three Persons. Girt with the Lord's girdle | day and night, He prays unceasingly | to God the Lord. He will receive the reward for his immense la - | bor With the Apostles will he reign, holy, over | Is - rael. May Bishop Patrick pray for | all of us, That the sins which we have committed be blotted out | immediately, May we ever sing Patrick's prais - | es, That we may ever | live with him. Amen.

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Glorious Saint Anne Mother of the Theotokos Anne, the wife of Joachim and the mother of Mary, is the grandmother according to the flesh of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Her name means "grace" or "the gracious one" or "the loving one."

Brief History on the Dormition of St. Anne Tropar and Kontakion Prayers to St. Anne

Brief History of the Dormition of St. Anne Saint Anne, or Ann, is not mentioned in the Bible. It was only in legendary books of the early Christian centuries that the names of Mary’s parents were given as Joachim and Anne. Since the Fathers of the Church rejected the use of such legendary sources, the faithful in Europe had no feast in honour of our Lord’s grandparents. In the Middle East, however, the veneration of Saint Anne can be traced hack to the fourth century. The Crusaders brought the name and legend of Saint Anne to Europe, and the famous Dominican Jacobus de Voragine (1298) printed the story in his Golden Legend. From that time on the popular veneration of the saint spread into all parts of the Christian world. It was encouraged by the religious orders of the Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinians, and Carmelites. In southern France a Feast of Saint Anne was celebrated as early as the fourteenth century. Pope Urban VI in 1378 extended it to England at the king’s request. Not until 1584, however, did the feast

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become universal, when Pope Gregory XIII prescribed it for the whole Church. As grandmother of Christ and mother of Mary, Saint Anne soon became the patron of married women, and for childless couples a special aid in obtaining children. According to legend she was married three times, first to Joachim, after his death to Cleophas, and finally to Salomas. This detail of the ancient story inspired young women to turn to her for help in finding a husband. After all, since she had had three husbands herself, should she not be able and willing to provide at least one bridegroom for those who trustingly appealed to her? In the languages of all European nations young women implored her: I beg you, holy mother Anne, Send me a good and loving man. Her patronage of fertility was extended also to the soil. Thus she became a patron of rain. It is a popular saying in Italy that "rain is Saint Anne’s gift"; in Germany, July rain was called "Saint Anne’s dowry." Finally, the gentle grandmother of the Lord is everywhere invoked as one of the great helpers for various needs of body and soul. Many churches have been erected to her, most of them becoming famous centres of pilgrimages. One of the best-known shrines in this part of the world is St. Anne de Beaupre in Quebec, Canada. From the eighteenth century on, Anne, which means ‘grace," was used more and more as a favourite name for girls. At the beginning of the nineteenth century it was the most popular girls’ name in central Europe, surpassing even that of Mary. This preference was based on a famous saying of past centuries, "All Annes are beautiful." Naturally, parents wanted to assure this benefit for their baby daughters by calling them Anne or by adding Anne to a first name. Thus we have the many traditional names containing Anne or Ann (Mary Ann, Marianne, Marian, Ann Marie, Joanne, Elizabeth Ann, Lillian, Martha Ann, Louise Ann, Patricia Ann)." A hundred years ago there still remained the custom in many parts of Europe of celebrating Saint Anne’s Day as a festival "of all Anna," meaning all beautiful girls. Dressed in their finery the bevy would parade through the streets with their escorts, bands would serenade them in parks and squares, balls would be held (both Johann Strausses composed "Anne Polkas" for this festival). Saint Anne’s Eve was the day of receptions for debutantes at court and in private homes. Public amusements,

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including fireworks, entertained the crowds. The warm summer night was alive with laughter, beauty, music, and lights. And all of it was still connected in the hearts and minds of the participants with a tribute to Saint Anne, whose feast day shed its radiance upon this enchanting celebration.

Troparion Tone 4 Anne, Divinely Wise, you carried in your womb the Mother of God, the Immaculate One who gave life to Life; wherefore you now have been carried up joyfully to the inheritance of heaven, to the abode of those who rejoice in glory. O Ever-blessed One, you seek the forgiveness of sins for those who honour you with fervour. Kontakion Tone 2 Let us celebrate the memory of the Grandparents of Christ and fervently ask for their help, so that salvation may be assured for all those who cry out: "O God who glorified them according to your will, remain always with us!"

Prayers to St. Anne Liturgical Prayer O God, who didst deign to confer on Saint Anne the grace to be the mother of her who was to give birth to Thy only-begotten Son: mercifully grant us, who celebrate her feast, that we may be helped by her Intercession.

Prayer to St. Anne Receive me, good mother. Cover me with the mantle of your love. Look kindly on me. By your powerful intercession, may I obtain from God grace and mercy. Obtain for me remission for sin and release from the punishment my offences have deserved. Pray that I may receive grace to lead a devout life on earth and that I may obtain the everlasting reward of heaven.

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DAILY PRAYER TO SAINT ANNE O glorious Saint Ann, you are filled with compassion for those who invoke you and with love for those who suffer! Heavily burdened with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at your feet and humbly beg of you to take the present intention which I recommend to you in your special care. Please recommend it to your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and place it before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Continue to intercede for me until my request is granted. But, above all, obtain for me the grace one-day to see my God face to face, and with you and Mary and all the saints to praise and bless Him for all eternity. Amen. O Jesus, Holy Mary, St. Ann, help me now and at the hour of my death. Good St. Ann, intercede for me.

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