On the sixth of August we celebrate the solemn feast of the Holy Transfiguration in commemoration of the glorious change in appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ on a “high mountain” (Mt. 17:1), which, since the fourth century, Christian tradition identifies with Mt. Tabor. The Fathers refer to Christ’s transfiguration as to His “second epiphany” or the second manifestation of His divinity. For this reason the Fathers during the Christological disputes adduced the transfiguration of Christ as a certain proof of His divinity. The establishment of the feast then followed. Continue reading →

On October 6, 1974, the bishops of the Byzantine Ruthenian Metropolitan Province of Munhall dedicated a beautiful Byzantine Rite chapel in honor of the Mother of God in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in our nation’s capital. It shall be a lasting memorial, emblematic of the love which the Ruthenian people have for her. On this solemn occasion, witnessed by thousands, Metropolitan Archbishop Stephen J. Kocisko, D.O. read the jointly issued Proclamation dedicating the entire Metropolitan Province to the Mother of God under the title of her Protection-Pokrov, continuing the centuries long tradition of their forefathers in Europe who, from time immemorial, called upon the Mother of God ‘s intercess ion before the throne of her Divine Son. Continue reading →

“Even the bodies of those, who live with God, are not without an honor”- (Apostolic Constitutions VI , 30).

Inspired by the description of the burial of our Lord in the Gospels, Christians from the very beginning buried their dead with proper care and ceremonies. They believed that the body of every Christian was indeed “a temple of God” and, as such, it also was holy (I Cor. 3:16-17). In expectation of the “resurrection of the dead,” Christians believe that their bodies will once again be united with their souls and live forever. Continue reading →

Our ancestors in the Carpathian region were poor, but they possessed a great spiritual treasure in their great devotion to the Most Holy Mother of God, whom they sincerely loved and venerated as the Mother of the Ruthenian land (“Mati rus’koho kraju”l. And the Blessed Mother showed her motherly concern for our poor people by her miraculous icons, the most famous of which is the Weeping Icon of Mariapovch (in Hungarian: Maria-P6cs). Continue reading →

PENTECOST and OUR BAPTISM BY THE HOLY SPIRIT “We celebrate the feast of Pentecost and of the descent of the Spirit, the fulfillment of promise and the achievement of hope. 0 how great and how exalted is the mystery!” (Pentecost Vespers, STICHERA, Tone 1) With these words we begin our liturgical celebration of Pentecost, solemnly concluding the yearly remembrance of our salvation. These words are taken from the famous homily of St. Gregory the Theologian, “On the Holy Spirit” which he delivered in Constantinople on the day of Pentecost, 381 A.D. (Oration 41,5) Continue reading →

“God is love, let us love Him!”
(from Bishop Gojdich’s Episcopal Insignia)

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 Presov 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 atheists condemned him for his loyalty to the Catholic Church. He died in prison as a valiant confessor of the Catholic Faith. Continue reading →