Saturday, August 13
4:00 PM Mary Bilak – John & Patricia Bonsavage
Sunday, August 14 NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
Monday, August 15 THE DORMITION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
4:00 PM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
BLESSING OF FLOWERS –
ANOINTING OF HOLY OIL – MYROVANIA
Saturday, August 20
4:00 PM Mary Sawka – Sophie Lucia
Sunday, August 21 TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
The Feast of the Dormition of the
Most Holy Mother Of God
August 15th
The day of the death of the Most Holy Mother of God is called the Dormition (or falling asleep) in our Church, for her body did not know corruption after death, but together with her soul was taken up into heaven, hence, another name for the feast is “the Assumption”. We have historical data to indicate how long the Mother of God remained on earth after the ascension of Christ into heaven, nor when, where, or how she died, for the Gospels say nothing of this.
Three days before the death of Mary, the Archangel Gabriel appeared and announced to her from her Son, Jesus Christ, the time of her departure into eternity. On the day of her death, in a miraculous manner the Apostles gathered in Jerusalem although they had been scattered in various countries of the then known world. St. Thomas was the only Apostle absent. The Mother of God expressed her wish to be buried in Gethsemane near her parents and her spouse, Joseph. Christ, in person, came accompanied by Angels and Saints to escort His Most Holy Mother to heaven. The Apostles, while singing holy hymns, carried the body of Mary to the grave where they remained keeping vigil for three days. On the third day, St. Thomas came from afar and desired very much to view for the last time the Most Pure Mother of God. When the grave was opened, her body was not there, only the funeral clothes in which the body had been wrapped. The Apostles then realized that Mary had been taken up body and soul into heaven.
Some ancient Trpicons prescribe the blessing of fruit of the vine (grapes), not on the feast of the Transfiguration, but on the feast of the Dormition. In the Greek Nicolo-Casulan Typicon of the twelfth-thirteenth century, we read: “Let it be known that, on the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, the 15th of August, grapes are blessed and eaten in church after the Divine Liturgy according to an ancient tradition.” The Typicon of Sinai of the year 1214 contains the same prescription. Similarly, the Typicons of the Lavra of St. Athanasius on Athos prescribes the blessing of grapes on the 15th of August.
We have the custom of blessing flowers on the feast of the Dormition. The Typicon of Father I. Dolnytskyj says: “Wherever the custom prevails of blessing flowers, let it be done after the Prayer behind the Ambo or after the Dismissal Prayer of the Divine Liturgy.
SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week August 13-20 by Rita Rentko in memory of her husband Steve Rentko
FLOWERS: Our thanks to Arlene Jones for her bouquet of flowers for the Holy Day Monday, August 15th for a Special Occasion..
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS~ We extent our Birthday Greetings to Mary Oshirak who will celebrate her Birthday on Monday, August 15. ~ MNOHYA I BLAHAYA LITA!
HOLY DAY: Please note the Dormition of the Mother of God is celebrated on this coming Monday, August 15th. Divine Liturgy will be 4:00 PM. This is a Holy Day of Obligation. Bring your flowers to be blessed. The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at Transfiguration of Our Lord, Nanticoke, PA at 6:00 PM. Please try to attend to worship and offers prayers to the Mother of God.
LUC MEETING: North Anthracite Council – League of Ukrainian Catholics will meet on Sunday, August 28, 2011, at Ezzyk’s Farm in Berwick. Outdoor Moleben Prayer Service “under the trees” at 2:00pm, business session at 2:30pm followed by traditional annual summer picnic. This is a family-oriented event in the beautiful mountains of Berwick. Come enjoy an afternoon of spiritual and social well-being including a generous buffet and Ezzyk’s famous sweet corn. All members and their families are invited. New members warmly welcomed. For additional information and directions, contact: Dorothy Jamula, President at 822-5354; your pastor; or any LUC member of the parish.
Just a reminder: FLEA MARKET AND RUMMAGE SALE: The date of the sale will be October 14/15th. If any change we will notify all. If you wish to contribute any items such as household, dishes, pots, pans, linens, bedding, blankets and many more articles useful to be sold and in good condition for the Rummage Sale, please bring to the church or contact one of the members of the Women’s Society.
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 