Archeparchy of Pittsburgh > Byzantine Catholic Faith

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: THE CONCEPTION OF ST. ANNE, ‘WHEN SHE CONCEIVED THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD’ according to THE RUTHENIAN TRADITION

The Holy Scripture is silent about the birth and infancy of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The early Christians believed that her birth was miraculous in the similar manner as the birth of St. John the Baptist. Continue reading →

THE ICONOSTASIS: A CHARACTERISTIC FEATURE OF THE BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH

The most characteristic feature of a Byzantine Rite church is the iconostasis (Gr. eikon-image; stasis-stand, support), attracting attention by its artistic composition and design. It is a colorful picture screen that separates the sanctuary from the nave, surround ing the sanctuary with a certain feeling of mystery and protection. Usually, it is an elaborate work of art in which the skills of architecture, woodcarving or metal-work and painting generously concur. Its present form reflects the particular features of Ruthenian art which should be meticulously preserved, since they belong to our spiritual heritage. Continue reading →

THE HOLY MYSTERY OF PENANCE (CONFESSION) according to THE BYZANTINE RITE TRADITION

Lord and Savior Jesus Christ commissioned His Church to preach “the repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations” (Lk. 24:47) in His name. Since He does not “wish that anyone should be lost, but that all be brought to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9), our Lord endowed the Church with the power to forgive sins by instituting the Holy Mystery of Penance, simply known as – Confession. The Holy Mystery of Penance is the mystery instituted by Jesus Christ to forgive, in His name, the repentant sinner all his or her sins committed after baptism. Continue reading →

THE HOLY MYSTERY OF MATRIMONY according to Byzantine Rite practice

The Holy Mystery (Sacrament) of Matrimony is one of the seven channels of divine grace, instituted by Christ, to sanctify and to support Christian family life. A Christian marriage is a vocation, that is a special invitation of God to two baptized persons to marital union, in order to devote themselves to the service of a new life in Christ. Continue reading →

THE HOLY LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS ACCORDING TO BYZANTINE RITE TRADITION

In the Byzantine Rite, besides the Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and of St. Basil the Great, we have a third liturgical formulary, known as the Holy Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. As the very name suggests, the Eucharistic Gifts given in the communion at this service are pre-sanctified, consecrated beforehand. Strictly speaking, this office is not considered a ” complete Liturgy,” but is only a service of a solemn Holy Communion. Continue reading →

THE HOLY and GREAT THURSDAY: according to THE BYZANTINE TRADITION

In the Byzantine Rite the week preceding Easter, during which we spiritually relive the mysteries of our redemption, is called Passion Week. It is also referred to as the Great Week, on account of the “great and indescribable benefits that have befallen us during this week (St. John Chrysostom). Continue reading →

THE HOLY EUCHARIST: THE MYSTERY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST

The Mystery of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ Through baptism we are regenerated to the divine life of grace and become the children of God. Through chrismation we mystically participate in the descent of the Holy Spirit, who seals (confirms) us in the divine life of God’s children and enriches us with His abundant gifts. However, it is through the Holy Eucharist that we become intimately united to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who becomes our spiritual nourishment, leading us into life everlasting. Continue reading →

THE GREAT LENT A TRADITIONAL CUSTOM OF THE BYZANTINE RITE

We have various days and seasons of Fast in the Byzantine Rite but, in this pamphlet, we will limit our presentation to the pre-Paschal Fast known as the Great Fast. It is called the Great Fast not only on account of its duration (seven weeks) but mainly on account of its importance for the spiritual renewal of the faithful. In the Old Slavonic, the Great Fast is called ” Svjata Chetyredesjatnicja,” meaning the Holy Forty Days while in English, it is called Lent from the Anglo-Saxon Lencten, meaning spring. The Great Fast can be described as a forty-day period of prayer, penance, and spiritual exercises in preparation for the proper celebration of Easter. Continue reading →

THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD according to THE BYZANTINE RITE TRADITION

The Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord in the Byzantine Rite is one of the Twelve Great Feasts and is a holy day of obligation for all ByzantineCatholics.

On that day we commemorate the completion of Christ’s work of our salvation, the glorious entry of our Lord in His human nature into heaven, as well as His pledge of our own glorification with Him. Continue reading →

THE FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD (BYZANTINE TRADITION)

TROPARION For the first three centuries the liturgical worship of our Lord Jesus Christ concentrated around the feast of His glorious resurrection, the Holy Pasch, exalted by the Fathers as “the Feast of Feasts” (St. Gregory of Nazianzus). During the fourth century another fundamental mystery from the life of our Savior, namely His nativity, was introduced into the cycle of liturgical celebrations by the Church. With it the celebration of our Lord’s incarnation, the feast of the Annunciation, made its way into the liturgical year. Continue reading →

	September 2021
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
			1 St. Simeon Venerable St. Simeon Venerable September 1, 2021 The Beginning of the "Indication," i.e., of the Church and his mother, Martha. Simeon, a Monk, adopted a characteristic mode of penance by prayer and fasting on the top of a lofty stone column where he spent thirty-seven years until his death A.D. 459. -- Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God in Missina. -- SS. Aithelas, 40 Women of Macedonia and Ammon, Martyrs. Ammon, Deacon, was put to death under Emperor Licinius A.D. 313 at Heraclea in Thrace, together with 40 young women whom he converted to Christianity. -- SS. Callistus, Evodius, and Hermogenes, Martyrs, were brothers by birth. -- venerable Josua, son of Nun who was succesor of Moses in the Century B.C. See more details •	2 St. Mammas St. Mammas September 2, 2021 Description: St. Mammas, Martyr, a Roman of noble birth, mute for five years from birth, uttered his first word "Mama" whence he got his name. He suffered martyrdom at Caesarea in Cappadocia under Aurelian Emperor, A.D. 274. See more details •	3 St. Anthimus St. Anthimus September 3, 2021 St. Anthimus, Priest-Martyr, Bishop of Nicomedia where he was martyred A.D. 303 under the Emperor Diocletian. See more details •	4 Babylas - Bishop Martyr Babylas - Bishop Martyr September 4, 2021 St. Babylas, Priest-Martyr, Archbishop of Greater Antioch for thirteen years. He died in chains awaiting execution during the Decian persecution A.D. 250. With him are commemorated Three Youths, his pupils, privileged with him to lay down their lives for Christ See more details •
5 SS Zachary & Elizabeth SS Zachary & Elizabeth September 5, 2021 St. Zachary, Prophet, father of Venerable John, the Precursor and Baptist. See more details Saturday Before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Sozon-Martyr Saturday Before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Sozon-Martyr September 5, 2021 St. Sozon, Martyr, a Christian in Silicia, who broke up a silver idol and gave the proceeds to the poor. He was burned to death at the stake about A.D. 304. See more details • •	6 12th Sunday After Pentecost 12th Sunday After Pentecost September 6, 2021 1 Cor 15:1-11 Mt 19:16-26 See more details Commemoration of the Miracle of Archangel Michael Commemoration of the Miracle of Archangel Michael September 6, 2021 Commemoration of the miracle by St. Michael the Archangel at Colossa in Chonia See more details • •	7 St. Sozon St. Sozon September 7, 2021 St. Sozon, Martyr, a Christian in Silicia, who broke up a silver idol and gave the proceeds to the poor. He was burned to death at the stake about A.D. 304. See more details •	8 Birth of the Theotokos Birth of the Theotokos September 8, 2021 She was of royal lineage, of the House of David. Except the feast of the Dormition, this is one of the most ancient and famous Feasts of Our Lady. See more details •	9 Synaxis of SS. Joachim & Anna Synaxis of SS. Joachim & Anna September 9, 2021 Tradition holds that these Saints were the parents of the Theotokos although nothing is known of them, except that they lived in Galilee, and later in Jerusalem, where their traditional tomb was rediscovered in A.D. 1889. See more details •	10 Menodora and others Martyrs Menodora and others Martyrs September 10, 2021 2 Cor 12:20-13:2 Mk 4:24-34 See more details •	11 St. Theodora St. Theodora September 11, 2021 Our venerable mother, Theodora, of Alexandria, Penitent. She was an Egyptian woman who lived a long life of austere penance because of a sin committed in her youth. She is said to have donned male attire, entered a monastery, where she endured much from Satan and passed to her reward A.D. 472 in the reign of the Emperor Zenon. See more details •
12 St. Autonomous St. Autonomous September 12, 2021 St. Autonomous, Priest-Martyr, is alleged by the Greeks to have been an Italian Bishop, who fled into Bithynia, in Asia Minor, to escape the fury of the Diocletian persecution. He made many converts and died for the Faith about A.D. 300. See more details •	13 Dedication of the Church of the Resurrection Dedication of the Church of the Resurrection September 13, 2021 Commemorating the Dedication of the Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. St. Cornelius, Priest-Martyr, was the Centurion of the Italic cohort, baptised at Casesarea in Palestine by the Apostle St. Peter about A.D. 41 (Acts 10.) Tradition makes him first Bishop of Caesarea. See more details Sunday Before the Exaltation of the Cross Birth of the Theotokos Sunday Before the Exaltation of the Cross Birth of the Theotokos September 13, 2021 Gal 6:11-18; Phil 2:5-11; Jn 3:13-17; Lk 10:38-42 & 11:27-28 She was of royal lineage, of the House of David. Except the feast of the Dormition, this is one of the most ancient and famous Feasts of Our Lady. See more details • •	14 Exaltation of the Holy Cross Exaltation of the Holy Cross September 14, 2021 Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross. Discovery of the Holy Cross on which Our Lord suffered together with the nails, is credited to Empress Helen, mother of Constantine the Great. The finding was made in Jerusalem A.D. 326. In the Church of Jerusalem, erected by St. Helen over the Sepulchre of Our Lord, the Patriarch St. Macarius, elevated the Cross and all the people beholding it cried out, "Lord have mercy!" See more details •	15 St. Nicetas Venerable-Confessor St. Nicetas Venerable-Confessor September 15, 2021 St. Nicetas, the Great-Martyr, was a Goth and a victim of the fury of King Athanaric, ruler of the nations settled about the Danube. He was a disciple of the celebrated Ulphilas (Theophilus). He was burned to death about A.D. 78. See more details •	16 St. Euphemia St. Euphemia September 16, 2021 St. Euphemia, Martyr, the most commendable, her knowledge was like that of the holy Fathers, suffered death A.D. 288. The death of Blessed Olga, Grand Duchess of Kiev. In baptism (about A.D. 955) she chose the name "Helen." See more details •	17 Sophia & Others Martyrs Sophia & Others Martyrs September 17, 2021 These three Virgins suffered death for Christ while still children, under the Emperor Hadrian. Three days later, their mother, praying at their tomb, passed away. See more details •	18 St. Eumenius St. Eumenius September 18, 2021 Our venerable father, Eumenius, Wonderworker, Bishop of Gortyna on the Island of Crete, was conspicuous for his charity. He died in exile in the latter half of the 3rd century. See more details •
19 Saturday after the Exaltation of the Cross Codratus Apostle Saturday after the Exaltation of the Cross Codratus Apostle September 19, 2021 1 Cor 1:26-29; Jn 8:21-30 SS, Codratus and Companions; Cyprian, Anectus and Crisent, died A.D. 257 after years in prison under Valerian, Emperor. See more details Trophimus and Others Martyrs Trophimus and Others Martyrs September 19, 2021 SS. Trophimus, Sabbatius, Dorymedont, Martyrs. They were tortured and beheaded as Christians, most probably at about Antioch A.D 277. See more details • •	20 Sunday After the Exaltation of the Cross Sunday After the Exaltation of the Cross September 20, 2021 Gal 2:16-20 Mk 8:34-9:1 See more details •	21 Codratus Apostle Codratus Apostle September 21, 2021 SS, Codratus and Companions; Cyprian, Anectus and Crisent, died A.D. 257 after years in prison under Valerian, Emperor. See more details •	22 Phocas Bishop Martyr Phocas Bishop Martyr September 22, 2021 St. Phocas, Priest-Martyr, Bishop of Sinope on the Black Sea. He was put to death under the Emperor Trajan A.D. 102 (Confer July 22). See more details •	23 Commemoration of the Conception of St. John the Baptist Commemoration of the Conception of St. John the Baptist September 23, 2021 Conception of St. John the Baptist, the glorious Prophet and Precursor of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. See more details •	24 Thecia Proto - Martyr Thecia Proto - Martyr September 24, 2021 St. Thecia, First Virgin-Martyr. One of the most celebrated of the Saints of the Early Church. St. Epiphanius and others relate that she was converted at Iconium in Lycaonia by St. Paul (Acts 14) A.D. 51. She died before the close of the 1st century. See more details •	25 Euphrosyna Venerable Euphrosyna Venerable September 25, 2021 Our venerable mother, Euphrosyna, was an Egyptian maiden of pious Christian parents at Alexandria. To avoid marriage and preserve her virginity, she assumed male attire and entered a monastery of Monks to frustrate a search for her. She retired into a cell and for 38 years was looked upon as a holy man. Even her own father sought spiritual advice from her and appreciated her counsels. He assisted at her last moments. Only then did she disclose her identity. After her death about A.D. 470 her father took possession of her cell where he passed the rest of his days in penance and prayer. See more details •
26 The Passing of St. John Apostle - Evangelist The Passing of St. John Apostle - Evangelist September 26, 2021 The passing of St. John the Theologian, Apostle, and Evangelist. (Confer May 8th.) See more details •	27 16th Sunday After Pentecost 16th Sunday After Pentecost September 27, 2021 2 Cor 6:1-10 Lk 6:31-36 See more details St. Callistratus & Others Martyrs St. Callistratus & Others Martyrs September 27, 2021 St. Callistratus, Soldier-Martyr and a fifty African soldiers were put to death at Constantinople under the Emperor Diocletian A.D. 295 for the Christian Faith. It is related that they were sewn up in sacks and cast into the sea. See more details • •	28 Chariton Venerable - Confessor Chariton Venerable - Confessor September 28, 2021 Our Venerable Father Chariton - Confessor Martyr, appears to have been burned to death A.D 362. See more details •	29 Cyriacus Venerable Cyriacus Venerable September 29, 2021 Our Venerable Father Cyriacus, Hermit, a Greek by birth embraced monastic life in Palestine. He lived for 198 years, and died A.D 550. See more details •	30 St. Gregory Illuminator St. Gregory Illuminator September 30, 2021 St. Gregory, Bishop-Martyr, the Illuminator of Greater Armenia. He is considered an Apostle of his country. It seems certain that he was consecrated first Patriarch of the Armenians, that he converted Tiridates, King of the country and suffered much from the heathens. He died about A.D. 332. See more details •