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Keep the Message of Christmas Alive

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Dear People,

After months of waiting for the birth of their first child, Mary and Joseph searched for a place to stay while traveling. Mary was about to give birth to Jesus. They had no reservations in a town where they were strangers. There were no places to stay. Finally, someone offered them a little stable in a cave outside of Bethlehem. Jesus Christ was born into this world in this most humble way. Angels, shepherds, farm animals, and a late arrival of three kings from the Orient were the only witnesses to his arrival into this world.

The Gospel of Saint Luke is our source of a story filled with images which have become a part of our spiritual lives. We hear the gospel story each Christmas and see the nativity icons and crèches in our churches. The images of Jesus being born in Bethlehem used to be visible everywhere during the Christmas Season. Schools, stores, and public places all had the images of the entire Lukan story of the birth of Christ. The story of the Nativity became visible everywhere to remind us and to help proclaim the message to the world that God is with us.

Through political decisions, the display of religious images has been restricted on civil buildings and properties in most cities in the United States. The restriction has influenced businesses to reduce or eliminate religious Christmas decorations which have the true meaning of Christmas. And the trend has influenced many not to display religious images in front of their homes.

We need to keep the true message of Christmas alive. We can continue to try to challenge the secular trend through political means. This may not be successful today. However, we can decorate the outside of our churches and homes with the images and icons of the complete story of Christmas. In history governments have tried to get rid of Christmas, but Christmas has survived and returned in a stronger way through the spiritual power of the message and the devotion of the people.

Saint Francis of Assisi lived in a time similar to ours. The faith of the people was worn down by war and a lack of faith. Near the end of his life, Saint Francis had an idea of how to bring Christ back into the celebration of Christmas. He proposed the reenactment of the story through a living crèche in the town of Greccio Italy. With the help of the people, Saint Francis gathered the people and animals. During that Christmas season, the people and animals were a living crèche. It is a tradition which has continued in Greccio until the present day. Many miracles of healing and spiritual renewal have been credited to the yearly celebration. The tradition spread around the world.

Each year, the Basilian Sisters of Uniontown Pennsylvania with the help of the people continue the tradition of the living crèche before the celebration of Christmas. The faithful and other people travel great Continue reading →

Blessed Theodore Romzha Theological Seminary Choir

‘Sing Joyfully to the Lord’ Concert Tour of Sacred Music of Carpathian Mountains A concert program by the Seminary Choir of the Blessed Theodore Romzha Theological Academy of Užhorod, Transcarpathia (Ukraine) was presented Sunday Sept. 18 at St. Elias Church … Continue reading →

Seminary hosts ‘Come and See’ Weekend of Discovery

PITTSBURGH — Sixteen exceptional young men from around the country representing Ruthenian and Melkite jurisdictions gathered 14-16 October 2016 as the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS. Cyril and Methodius hosted its annual “Come and See” Weekend of Discovery. Invited to … Continue reading →

Pilgrimage to the city of St. Nicholas

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Dear Clergy, Religious, and Faithful of the Archeparchy,

Every Byzantine Catholic Church in the United States has an icon of our most beloved Saint Nicholas. All of our children have prayed to his icon for his help. This fervor is increased by the connection to the giving and receiving of gifts during the Christmas celebration honoring the birth of Jesus Christ. For children, Saint Nick is remembered because he is a saint who answers their prayers for presents under the Christmas tree.

The icon and stories of the generosity of Saint Nicholas of Myra are given to us as a model to follow in our lives. These vary from giving gold coins to poor young women for their dowry, to the giving of his life to the service of the Church. As one of the bishops who gathered for the Council of Nicaea in 325, he helped define our understanding of church and of our Lord Jesus Christ. We should thank him and the other church fathers each time we recite the Nicene Creed during the Divine Liturgy.

In October of this year, a Byzantine Metropolitan Pilgrimage group journeyed to Bari, Italy to visit the resting place of Saint Nicholas. In my many years of travel to Italy for retreats and the work of the Church, I have always dreamed of praying at the tomb of Saint Nicholas. Bari is not an easy place to visit because it is a day’s ride over the mountains to the Southeastern corner of Italy. We were able to make the trip and to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in the crypt church of the Basilica of Saint Nicholas.

As does every Byzantine Catholic child, I too gazed upon the icon of Nicholas in our home and church. I was impressed by the story of the transfer of his relics to a place called Bari in the year 1087. I always imagined Bari as a small fishing village on the coast of the Adriatic Sea on the East coast of Italy. The Basilica of Saint Nicholas is located in the ancient part of the city which is preserved. There are two altars for the celebration of liturgies: one for Catholic and the other for Orthodox pilgrims. The Saint has blessed the city of Bari with growth. A metropolitan area with a city of over one million people now surrounds the Basilica. Continue reading →

Through pilgrims’ eyes

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Metropolitan Leads Memorable 12-day tour Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla accompanied a group of 15 pilgrims to Italy, where the entourage visited the cities of Bari, Rome, Assisi, Ravenna and Venice October 19 – October 30, 2016. The tour … Continue reading →

97 Years of Fraternal Excellence

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]GCU District 1 Bids Farewell “Thank you District 1 for all of your efforts throughout the years to bring GCU fraternalism to the people of Western Pennsylvania. The mark that the district has left on the GCU — from the events … Continue reading →

From the Office of the Metropolitan

Elections 2016

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Dear Clergy, Religious, and Faithful of the Archeparchy,

We are reminded that it is election season by advertising on television, radio, and roadside signs. The greater number of television ads tell us how close the election is at this point in time. The ads sometimes give the view of the record and the promises of the candidate, but mostly they attack the record and view of the opponent. The negative advertising is effective in lowering the esteem of the opponent. However, it can depress us to the point of not voting at all. Please let your voice be heard by voting this year.

The stakes for this presidential election are high. The next president will be able to select three or four of the United States Supreme Court justices. The majority of the Justices will determine the interpretation of abortion, same sex marriage, and the division of church and state. The decisions can limit the church’s efforts to provide services and may undercut the ability of the church follow the Gospel.

First, we are called to know what the Gospel and the Byzantine Catholic Church teaches. The Internet and other voting guides can help you to understand complicated proposals with consequences which are not clearly stated.

Second, we need to vote for candidates and proposals which protect and promote those values. There are a few which follow all the teachings of the Church. Most candidates support some and oppose other teachings. And some are very opposed to Gospel and Catholic values. We are called to choose candidates and support proposals which are closest to the teachings of the Church.

We cannot change the selection process for candidates for this election, but for next year consider becoming involved with the primary process. Only with the commitment of believers can we receive a better set of choices during the next election. From the history of our Churches in Eastern Europe, we have learned what can happen when the government strays from the teachings of Jesus. Continue reading →