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O ye incorporeal angels who stand before the throne of God, luminous with the brilliance thereof and everlastingly shining with radiance. As secondary luminaries, entreat Christ, that He grant unto our souls peace and great mercy. O immortal messengers of the truly incorruptible Life, ye most blessed ones who received life from the first Life, ye have become holy beholders of the eternal Wisdom, full of light, and reflecting lamps shown forth as is meet. O ye archangels and angels, principalities, thrones, dominions, six-winged seraphim, and divine, many-eyed cherubim, instruments of wisdom, virtues and powers most divine. Pray ye to Christ, that He grant our souls peace and great mercy. Archives:
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HOLY RESURRECTION BYZANTINE CATHOLIC MISSION
Slava Isusu Chrisu! Slava Na Viky!
Divine Liturgy begins at 4 p.m. Every Sunday
Every Third Sunday of the Month is Food Sunday
Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
Divine Liturgy Intention:
Our Offerings
Tropar and Kondak to the Blessed Martyr Theodore Romzha, Bishop of Mukachevo
Tropar Tone 4: My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen! Upon a cart as upon his throne, Theodore has
been carried beyond the sanctuary veil. Let fall, O father, your mantel of prayer, and beseech Christ to save our souls.
Kondak Tone 8: Though the godless poured poison into your veins, your heart still beats with love for Christ, O Bishop
Theodore, martyred father, who now raises your prayer before the throne of God.
Tuesday Is Election Day! Be Sure to Vote! And Pray!
Bishop Theodore G. Romzha — Nov. 1
I love you, O Lord, my strength: You are my stronghold and my refuge!
— Ps. 18: 2-3
These were the words which Bishop Theodore G. Romzha, the apostolic Administrator of the Mukachevo
Eparchy (1944-1947), chose as his motto, the guiding principle of his episcopal ministry. He was only 33 years old, and
yet he had to face the invasion by the Soviets, followed by the persecution of the Greek Catholic Church in Subcarpathian
Ruthenia. However, he did not lose heart. He defended his spiritual flock with great courage and love. He even laid down his
own life for his sheep. Therefore, he justly deserves our esteem. In him, we gained a powerful protector in heaven.
The Soviets were unable to intimidate Bishop Romzha. Therefore, they decided to liquidate him. First they staged a highway
accident. The horse drawn carriage in which the Bishop was returning home from the rededication of the church in Lavki, near
Mukachevo, was rammed by a military truck. Bishop Romzha was badly injured, but he survived the attempted murder. A passerby
took him to the hospital in Mukachevo. In a few days, he began to regain his strength. Then suddenly, early on the morning of
November 1, 1947, he was found dead.
The night before Bishop Romzha’s death, the director of the hospital and a strange nurse, who promptly disappeared the
next day, were seen entering the Bishop’s room about midnight. They poisoned him! The Soviet authorities announced that
Bishop Romzha died from injuries suffered in his highway accident, but the people knew better.
By his dedicated life, Bishop Romzha highly glorified God on earth, and by his heroic death, he gave living testimony to his
Catholic faith, achieving the crown of martyrs. In him we, and our own Byzantine Rite, gained a powerful protector in heaven.
Let us then resolve to pray for his speedy beautification!
—Byzantine Leaflet Series, o. 39, Byzantine Seminary Press, May 1987
Pastoral Ponderings: The Catholic Vote
Just when you think you’ve heard about all you can withstand in the arena of politics, pastoral ponderings now has a few
things to bring to your attention.
About every four years the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops puts out a document titled Faithful Citizenship: A
Catholic Call to Political Responsibility. As we approach election day, there are several ideas from this document that
need to be reviewed. Faithful Citizenship emphasizes that Catholics really have no political home; we agree and
disagree with both parties on a variety of important issues. We know that few candidates or parties agree with us on all the
issues, so clearly siding with one party or one candidate would cause people to question our integrity. We want to stick to
our agenda, not be tied to someone else’s agenda, especially when politicians have been known to change their positions
on key issues. Our agenda should emphasize principles of Catholic social teaching and Gospel values. Each of us is challenged
to apply those principles to sometimes very complex issues.
As the election draws near, ask yourself questions such as these: Who values life — all life, from the unborn to the
prisoner on death row? Who has a better plan for a fairer economy (both local and national)? Which candidate or party or
platform seems to have the best ideas about reducing crime, building real security, protecting life, promoting justice? Who
can help build not only a safer world but a better world? Which candidate best understands the potential and the limits of the
basic social elements in our society — families, community organizations, the marketplace and government? Does he or she
have a vision for how they work together to overcome poverty, pursue the common good, care for creation and overcome
injustice? The questions can go on almost indefinitely.
— Father O’Connell
Last updated: 13-Nov-2004 |
