Christmas “Main Course” Served in Church

“Sviata Vecherya.” Just the mention of the traditional, 12-course, meatless Christmas Eve meal enjoyed by Ukrainian Catholics and Orthodox worldwide, evokes warm memories of familial gatherings. For many, this culturally rich Holy Supper is the central highlight of Christmas (Rizdvo). In reality, though, it is only the beginning.

The true “main course” of the celebration of the birth of Jesus is liturgical and takes place in church. There, after the Holy Supper we join our Christian family for the Christmas Vigil: Povecherie (evening service), Matins and Divine Liturgy.

How many of us get to church on Christmas Eve to welcome the Christ Child as a community and hear at Vigil the musical dialogue between priest and choir announcing the joyous news that “God is With Us” (z namy Boh!)? After the Holy Supper, are you too tired from cooking, too full from feasting or too tipsy to attend services?

The beautiful cultural practices of Ukrainian Christmas traditions are important to observe. Yet, it is critical that we do not divorce cultural practices from the liturgical. If we focus mainly on the Holy Supper, then we are on the slippery slope of taking Christ out of Christmas.

Sanctifying your Holy Supper with prayer and Sacred Tradition can help prevent the creeping secularization of Christmas. Start the meal by praying and singing the Nativity Tropar and Boh Predvichnyj. Include the departed in your family by setting an extra plate at the table and place food on it in their remembrance. Sing Christmas carols between courses or ask children to read the Nativity Story to emphasize that this meal is not a regular party, but the prologue to the main event.

Iryna Galadza is Director of the Toronto Eparchy Catechetical Resource Centre, a teacher, mother, grandmother, and wife of Mitred Archpriest Roman Galadza, pastor of St. Elias Church, in Brampton, Ontario.

Related Links

Videos:
“God is With Us” (z namy Boh) during Povercherie
Litany and Tropar during Povcherie

“As we stand beside the manger of Christ, let us ask for the gift of gratitude to God, since everything that we have, our life, our environment, our salvation, is God’s gift to us.” – Patriarch Lubomyr Husar

What we can learn from St. Nicholas

The dilemma facing some parents at Christmas – whether to reveal that Santa is fictional – becomes moot if we focus on St. Nicholas. Not only was St. Nicholas real, he left us a priceless gift: a shining example of generosity, courage, compassion and faith.

According to a famous legend, St. Nicholas anonymously tossed sacks (or stockings) of gold coins into the home of a destitute father who was about to sell off his daughters because he had no dowry for them.

His charity was selfless and thoughtful. St. Nicholas knew what the girls needed and provided it. Children can be taught that similarly St. Nicholas will bring them what they most require. In this way, the materialistic wish-list that promotes covetousness becomes unnecessary.

Another of St. Nicholas’ positive traits, courage, was displayed when he saved three prisoners wrongly condemned to death by grabbing the sword with which the executioner was to kill them.

The many legends of his miraculous interventions also demonstrate his compassion. Sailors who were caught in a storm in the Mediterranean and called on his intercession were saved and, upon reaching land, saw a vision of St. Nicholas.

Though the mythical Santa does also show generosity, he is a figure that promotes commercialism and consumption. In contrast, St. Nicholas spreads the message brought to us through Christ’s Nativity, that of goodwill and love towards all.

Prepare for Christmas by fasting, not feasting

It is common knowledge that we observe Lent before Easter; but did you know that there is also a Nativity Fast before Christmas called Pylypivka or Philip’s Fast? It always begins the day after the Feast of St. Philip (Nov. 15/28) and lasts through Christmas Eve.

The Latin Rite Catholic Church observes a 28-day period of joyous anticipation of Christmas called Advent. Pylypivka lasts longer – 40 days – and has a more serious tone to it. Yet, both have the same goals: to prepare spiritually for Christ’s Nativity, the “Incarnation,” when God is born in the flesh.

We get ready for His Nativity during Pylypivka through the complementary actions of increased prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Fasting is an act of will and a form of self-denial which, when combined with prayer, increases our spiritual awareness. Our Church prescribes a strict fast (no meat or dairy products) on the first and last days of the Fast. Ideally, we should abstain from meat on all Wednesdays and Fridays.

Prayer and fasting naturally leads to almsgiving – expressing love for others in practical form, like visiting the lonely and offering acts of kindness to those in need. The money saved by eating less can be used to help the poor.

Though less strict than Great Lent, Pylypivka can be a greater challenge to observe given the many “Christmas parties” at that time of the year. Daily prayer can help strengthen our resolve to resist the temptation to join secular holiday celebrations and wait until Christmas to begin feasting and merry-making.

Involve your children in all aspects of Pylypivka. For more information on how to do this, read through and print up a copy of the “Pylypivka Action Plan,” which includes scripture readings, reflections and activities for each week of the fast.

Marian feast is reminder that God dwells in each of us

The Presentation of the Theotokos into the Temple, one of 12 major liturgical feasts in our Church, is celebrated on Nov. 21 (Julian) or Dec. 4 (Gregorian). Theotokos, a Greek word, means “God bearer” (as Bohorodytsya does in Ukrainian).

Holy Tradition teaches us that Mary’s elderly parents, Joachim and Anne, were childless for many years when they received a message from heaven that they would have a baby. In gratitude, Mary’s parents brought her as a young girl to the Temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her to God. She remained there until puberty in preparation for her role as the Mother of God.

When Mary enters the temple, she herself becomes the Living Temple of God. This occasion marks the beginning of the New Testament, in which God’s promise outlined in the prophesies of old that foretold that “the human person is the sole proper dwelling place of the Divine Presence,” are fulfilled (Ezekiel 37:27; John 14: 15-23). The texts of the liturgical services for this day emphasize Mary’s role as Theotokos (God bearer) and the role of each human being as a dwelling of the Lord.

We observe this feast by participating in Vespers (evening service) and Divine Liturgy. To involve children, parents can ask them to make a reasonable promise to God and explain that He keeps his promises to us and is pleased when we keep ours to Him.

How will you give thanks?

“Why do I need to go to church? I don’t get anything out of it.” We often hear such comments then become tongue-tied when trying to respond. Yet, the answer is so simple: “To give thanks to the Lord.”

The Eucharist (from the Greek word meaning to give thanks), is the most important act of our liturgical life. We gather together as a Christian family to give thanks and praise to the One we love and from whom we have received our life. For much the same reason we attend the birthdays, anniversaries and significant events in the lives of those we love. We attend to give, not to get! We attend out of love, not obligation. In this way, we deepen our relationship and connection with the one being honoured and with those gathered to do the same.

In the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (Sluzba Bozha, commonly celebrated on Sundays) at the Anaphora (just before the bread and wine are consecrated as the Body and Blood of Christ), the priest recites this prayer (usually silently): It is right and just to sing of You, to bless You, to praise You, to thank You...You brought us from nothingness into being, and after we fell, you raised us up again. You did not cease doing everything, until you led us to heaven and granted us your future kingdom. For this, we give you Thanks ...”. Read it in its entirety on pg. 431 in The Divine Liturgy: An Anthology of Worship (available at Sheptytsky Institute).

We come to Divine Liturgy to give thanks, yet we leave with the greatest gift of all: the most pure Body and Blood of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. This is the gift we celebrate at every Divine Liturgy. Indeed, we have much to be thankful for!

The Saturday (Oct. 23/Nov. 6) before the feast of St. Demetrius, the Church celebrates the first Soul Saturday of the liturgical year. Another five such Saturdays of general commemoration of the dead follow: one a week (Feb. 26) before Great Lent begins, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Saturdays of Lent (Mar. 19, 26 and Apr. 2) and the final one on the Saturday (June 11) before Pentecost. Why the emphasis on prayer for the departed?


Iryna Galadza is Director of the Toronto Eparchy Catechetical Resource Centre, a teacher, mother, grandmother, and wife of Mitred Archpriest Roman Galadza, pastor of St. Elias Church, in Brampton, Ontario.


Related Links:

• Liturgical Participation: What does it mean?
• The Liturgy of the Eucharist

"From the Eucharist comes strength to live the Christian life and zeal to share that life with others."-- Pope John Paul II

Prayer offers positive way to deal with death

The Saturday (Oct. 23/Nov. 6) before the feast of St. Demetrius, the Church celebrates the first Soul Saturday of the liturgical year. Another five such Saturdays of general commemoration of the dead follow: one a week (Feb. 26) before Great Lent begins, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Saturdays of Lent (Mar. 19, 26 and Apr. 2) and the final one on the Saturday (June 11) before Pentecost. Why the emphasis on prayer for the departed?

We pray for dead for a number of reasons. Prayer enables us to continue a loving relationship with our dearly departed and reminds us of the hope that someday we’ll be reunited. It helps us come to terms with our own mortality and, can positively affect the way we live. Since we are all sinners, we ask God to be merciful in judging the departed souls of our loved ones and to grant them peaceful repose.

For children, praying for the soul of dido or baba provides a positive way of dealing with death. It teaches them that although death brings sadness, it is not to be feared and loved ones aren’t forgotten.

To fully participate in the tradition of praying for the dead, ensure your family has an updated family memorial book with names going back as many generations as possible, so that they can be remembered in your prayers at home and at memorial services in church, especially on Soul Saturdays.

Deeply meaningful traditions connected with prayers for the dead abound. Read about them in the articles in the following links, and make them a part of your life.

Related Links:

• Funeral practices
• Soul Saturday Service: Great Lent, at St. Elias (video)
• Prayer for the Dead: Eastern Christianity
• Soul Saturday and 40 Days

More than one new beginning this month

September marks the beginning of the school year, our Church’s liturgical year and a return to regular schedules after the summer. This is also a good time to re-evaluate our spiritual goals.

Make frequent and regular participation in church services a goal. Mark feast days on your calendar) (see liturgical calendar on the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada website). If one falls on a workday, aim to attend an evening service. If this is not feasible, celebrate in your home, the “domestic church.”

We can live our faith through daily prayers. Create an icon corner in your home where religious images, Holy Books, photos of departed family members and lit candles lift thoughts towards worship. On a feast day, pray the tropar that pertains to that feast and reflect on its deep theological meaning (see tropars in The Divine Liturgy: An Anthology of Worship available online at the Sheptytsky Institute).

As a wife and mother of six children, a grandmother to four, and school teacher, I’ve learned that even in large families, iti’s possible to maintain a regular liturgical life. Active participation in feast-day rituals enriches our faith and helps root children in theirs.

This month also heralds the first edition of
Soul Food. This bulletin aims to support you in the challenges of living a faith-based life in modern times. Each issue will explore a spiritual theme at a community, family and individual level. Free copies will be available at parishes and by email subscription.

What do you think about Soul Food? Your comments and questions are most welcome as we’d like to make it relevant to your daily life and spiritual needs. Feel free to contact me by email or phone 905-459-8888. --Iryna Galadza

Iryna Galadza is Director of the Toronto Eparchy Catechetical Resource Centre, a teacher, mother, grandmother, and wife of Mitred Archpriest Roman Galadza, pastor of St. Elias Church, in Brampton, Ontario.



First feast day in Church calendar celebrates Mary

The Birth of the Mother of God, celebrated on Sept. 8 (Gregorian ) or Sept. 21 (Julian) is the first major feast day of our Church’s liturgical year.

The great significance of the liturgical year’s first feast becomes apparent when we meditate on the fact that Mary’s birth is the beginning of salvation. She is going to carry God in her womb. It is her cooperation with God that enables Him to become man and that makes us more like God and brings us closer to Him.

In a hymn, on the feast day, we sing: “Your Nativity, O Mother of God has made joy known to all the world, for from you dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God. He abolished the curse and by making death of no effect, He bestowed on us eternal life.”

Like all feast days, this one is celebrated with three services: Vespers (Vechirnia), Matins (Utrennia), and Divine Liturgy (Sluzhba Bozha). Consider attending a service and reading the feast day’s tropar (hymn) at home (see source for tropars above).

At home, in the “domestic church,” place an icon of the Mother of God in your prayer corner. Children can be told the story of Mary, colour icons to distribute to women named after her, or choose to remember her at dinner with a birthday cake.

For more information on this feast day, click here.