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 →

	January 2023
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1 Circumcision of Our Lord Basil the Great - Archbishop Circumcision of Our Lord Basil the Great - Archbishop January 1, 2023 Solemn Holy Day Col 2:8-12; Heb 7:26-8:2 Lk 2:20-21 & 40-52; Lk 6:17-23 See more details •	2 Sylvester Pope Sylvester Pope January 2, 2023 Our Holy Father, Sylvester, Pope of Rome, under his Pontificate was held the first Ecumenical Council at Nicea A.D. 325, the decrees of which were approved by him. He died A.D. 325 during the reign of Constantine the Great, Emperor. See more details •	3 Malachy Prophet Malachy Prophet January 3, 2023 Heb 4:1-13 Lk 21:12-18 St. Malachy, Prophet. 400 B.C - St. Gordius, Martyr, who suffered death A.D 320, during the reign of Licinius, Emperor. See more details •	4 Synaxis of the 70 Apostles Synaxis of the 70 Apostles January 4, 2023 Heb 5:11 - 6:8 Lk 21:5-7.10-11.20-24 whose names St. Dorotheus recorded. - Our venerable father, Theoktistus, Hegumen-Abbot in Cucume of Sykeleia. See more details •	5 Sunday Before Theophany Circumcission of our Lord Basil the Great - Archbishop Sunday Before Theophany Circumcission of our Lord Basil the Great - Archbishop January 5, 2023 Feast and Circumcision of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The name of Jesus given to the child on this occasion means "Saviour". The Feast Of Saint Basil The Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, most famous of the Byzantine Church, and one of the four great Doctors: called also "Patriarch of the Eastern Monks," He died A.D 379 (Confer January 30). See more details •	6 Theophany of Our Lord Theophany of Our Lord January 6, 2023 Titus 2:11-14 & 3:4-7 Mt 3:13-17 See more details •	7 Synaxis of St. John Synaxis of St. John January 7, 2023 The glorious Prophet, Precursor and Baptist, who baptized Our Lord Jesus Christ in the River Jordan. See more details •
8 George, Dominica & Emilian Venerables George, Dominica & Emilian Venerables January 8, 2023 Heb 10:1-18; Mark 8:30-34 See more details •	9 Polyeuct Martyr Polyeuct Martyr January 9, 2023 St. Polyeuct, Martyr, suffered death A.D. 255, during the reign of Decius or Valerianus. - Eustratius, Venerable, endured death in the reign of Leo Iconomachus, Emperor. See more details •	10 Gregory of Nyssa Bishop Gregory of Nyssa Bishop January 10, 2023 Our Holy Father, Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, consecrated in A.D. 372, brother of Saint Basil the Great. Died A.D. 395. - Dometian, Venerable, Bishop of Melite, died A.D. 570, in the reign of Justinius the Younger. - Our venerable father, Marcian, Presbyter and Treasurer of the great Church of Holy Wisdom; died A.D. 489. See more details •	11 Saturday after Theophany Theodosius-Venerable Saturday after Theophany Theodosius-Venerable January 11, 2023 See more details •	12 Sunday after Theophany Sunday after Theophany January 12, 2023 Eph 4:7-13 Mt 4:12-17 See more details •	13 Hermolaus and Stratonicus - Martyrs Hermolaus and Stratonicus - Martyrs January 13, 2023 SS. Hermolaus and Stratonicus, Martyrs; Deacon of Singudunum (Belgrade) and his servant were tortured and drowned in the river Danube A.D. 315 under Licinius, Emperor. See more details •	14 Venerable Fathers of Sinai and Raitho Venerable Fathers of Sinai and Raitho January 14, 2023 Our Venerable Fathers of Sinai and Raitho, suffered martyrdom from the Saracens A.D. 296, during the reign of Dicoletian, Emperor. See more details •
15 Paul & John Venerables Paul & John Venerables January 15, 2023 Venerable Paul the simple, A Solitary of wonderful patience and meekness, he passed away about A.D. 339 in the reign of Constantine II, Emperor. Our venerable father, John, a disciple of St. Gregory Decapolites, died in the reign of Theophilus the Iconoclast A.D. 829-842. Venerable Cosmas, Bishop of Chalcedonia who died A.D. 816 during the reign of Leo the Armenian, Emperor. Our holy father, John, Archbishop of Antioch who went to his rest A.D. 436. See more details •	16 Venerations of the Chains of Peter Venerations of the Chains of Peter January 16, 2023 Veneration of the venerable Chains of St. Peter, the all Praiseworthy Apostle. The chains with which St. Peter was bound in the prison were preserved at the stational Church on the Esquiline in Rome and in the Middle ages attracted numerous Pilgrims. See more details •	17 Anthony the Great Venerable Anthony the Great Venerable January 17, 2023 Our venerable and divinely inspired father, Anthony the Great, was Egyptian by birth, who went into the desert during the reign of Constantine the Great in the year A.D. 312. Living to the age of 105 , he died A.D. 356. He was a friend of St. Paul the Hermit, and was one of the founders of the Cenobitical life. See more details •	18 Athanasius & Cyril Archbishops Athanasius & Cyril Archbishops January 18, 2023 Our holy fathers, Athanasius & Cyril, Archbishops of Alexandria. St. Athanasius is one of the four great doctors of the Byzantine Church: called the "Father of Orthodoxy." He opposed the Arians with Admirable zeal and endured exile for 46 years. He died in A.D 373. (Confer May 2). - St. Cyril opposed the Nestorians and taught that the divine and human natures in Christ are united in oneness of person, and that the Theotokos ought truly to be called the Mother of God. He presided over the 3rd Ecumenical Council at Ephisus A.D. 431. He died in A.D. 444. (Confer June 9). See more details •	19 32nd Sunday after Pentecost 32nd Sunday after Pentecost January 19, 2023 1 Tim 1:15-17 Lk 18:35-43 See more details •	20 Euthymius the Great Venerable Euthymius the Great Venerable January 20, 2023 Our Venerable and divinely inspired father, Euthymius the Great, Hegumen - Abbot, lived at the time of the reign of Arcadius and Honorius, Emperors: died in the year A.D 473. See more details •	21 Maximus the Confessor Venerable Maximus the Confessor Venerable January 21, 2023 Our Venerable father, Maximus, Confessor; died from totures A.D 662, in the reign of Constans II. His tongue torn out and right hand cut off, he died in prison. See more details •
22 St. Timothy & St. Anastasius St. Timothy & St. Anastasius January 22, 2023 Apostle, was the most famous disciple of St. Paul, during the reign of Emperor Nero, and the first Bishop Of Ephesus in Asia Minor. Venerable-martyr of Persia, suffered martyrdom A.D. 619, at the hands of Chosroas, during the reign of Heracleus, Emperor. See more details •	23 Clement of Ancyra Martyr Clement of Ancyra Martyr January 23, 2023 St. Clement, Priest-Martyr, Bishop of Ancyra, lived in exile for 28 years under several persecutors and died by the sword A.D 296. - St. Agathangel, Martyr, suffered death also in the reign of Maximian and Diocletian Emperors. See more details •	24 St. Xenia St. Xenia January 24, 2023 Our venerable mother, Xenia, was of a noble and famous Roman family. Her former name was Eusebia, and her parents planning her marriage, she escaped from her bridegroom and with two handmaids she fled to Alexandria for refuge. See more details •	25 Gregory the Theologian Bishop Gregory the Theologian Bishop January 25, 2023 Our holy father, Gregory the Theologian of Cappadocia in Asia Minor, Archbishop of Constantinople is one of the greatest writers and poets and one of the four great doctors of the Byzantine Church. He died in A.D. 389, in the reign of Theodosius the Great: he presided in Constantinople in the Church of Holy Wisdom for 12 years. He died at the age of 80. (Confer Januar 30). See more details •	26 33rd Sunday After Pentecost Sunday of Zacchaeus 33rd Sunday After Pentecost Sunday of Zacchaeus January 26, 2023 See more details •	27 Translation of the Relics of St. John Chrysostom Translation of the Relics of St. John Chrysostom January 27, 2023 This took place in A.D. 435, (Confer January 30 and November 13.) See more details •	28 Ephrem the Syrian Venerable Ephrem the Syrian Venerable January 28, 2023 Our Venerable Father, Ephrem, "Prophet of Syrians and an instrument of Holy Spirit," a great poet, orator, exegete and defensor of Orthodoxy. See more details •
29 Translation of the Relics of St. Ignatius Translation of the Relics of St. Ignatius January 29, 2023 The "God-Bearer", Priest-Martyr, Bishop of Antioch. He was devoured by lions at Rome. His disciples carried his relics to Antioch into his church in the year A.D. 109, in the reign of Trajan, the persecutor. (Confer December 20). See more details •	30 Three Holy Hierarchs Three Holy Hierarchs January 30, 2023 Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs, i.e., The Three Great Fathers of the church; namely St. Basil the Great,(See 1st of Jan) St. Gregory, the Theologian (See 25th of Jan) and St. John, the Chrysostom, (see 13th of Nov.) - Sy Hippolytus, Priest-Martyr. Bishop of Porto. He was put to death by drowning, under Alexander Severus, Emperor. See more details •	31 Cyrus and John Unmercenaries Cyrus and John Unmercenaries January 31, 2023 SS. Cyrus and John, Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries, i.e., Physicians without remuneration: (Confer June 28.) suffered death with Athanasia and her three daughters: Theodotia, Theopista and Eudokia, in the year A.D. 292 in the reign of Diocletian. See more details •