Saturday, August 3 Transfiguration of Our Lord
Blessing of Fruit – Myrovonia – Blessing of Holy OIl
4:00 PM Frank Dempsey – Kim Demuzzio
Sunday, August 4 ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Transfiguration of Our Lord
Blessing of Fruit – Myrovonia – Blessing of Holy Oil
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
Saturday, August 10
4:00 PM Barbara Cembrock – Mr. & Mrs. Bruno Makowaki
Sunday, August 11 TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD
The feast of the Transfiguration is one of the twelve principal feasts of our Church, having a one-day pre-feast and a seven-day post-feast. This feast falls during that time when the fruits of the earth reach maturity. From the earliest times in the Eastern Church, on this day fruit is blessed in thanksgiving to God for the first0fruits of the earth. This custom was adopted by the Christian Church from the Old Testament which prescribed that fruit be brought to the Temple of the Lord. In the Book of Exodus we read: “You shall carry the first-fruits of the corn of your ground to the house of the Lord your God.”
The custom of blessing the first fruits in church was prescribed in the Canons of the Holy Apostles at the end of the third century. The Apostolic Constitutions of the fourth century have a prayer for the blessing of first fruits. The local Synod of Carthage in the forth sixth rule gave prescriptions concerning the first fruits that are brought to church. The Sixth Ecumenical Council spoke of the blessing of the firs fruits of grapes and wheat. In the Typicons century and in the Typicon of Evergetes Monastery of the tenth century no mention was made of the blessing of the vine, that is, grapes.
In Greece, in the month of August grapes and wheat, which are the more important fruits, reach their maturity, for this reason, the custom of blessing the grapesand ears of wheat in church on the feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord prevailed there. In Rus-Ukraine, grapes of the vine were replaced by apples and other fruits.
SANCTUARYLIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn this week August 3 – 10 by Helen Harnen in memory of her mother Anastasia Demchak.
ALTAR CANDLES: The Altar Candles is request to burn for the month of August by Ilaria Roman in memory of her parents Stanley & Helen Roman and sister Elaine Roman Makowski.
WOMEN’S SOCIETY: The Parish Women’s Society will be sponsoring a Rummage Sale in the fall. Now is the time to start packing things that are no longer useful to you and donate them to the sale. Bring items to the church or call one of the Society members to arrange for pick up.
BUS TRIP to “TRYZUB” 22nd ANNUAL UKRAINIAN FOLK FESTIVAL : The North Anthracite Council of the League of Ukrainian Catholics is sponsoring a bus trip to the 22nd Annual Ukrainian Folk Festival at the Ukrainian American Sport Center – “Tryzub” – in Horsham, PA on Sunday, August 25, 2013. Seven seats are still available for the trip to this Festival. For reservations contact Janina Everett in Berwick; Andrew Jamula in the Wilkes-Barre area; Paul Ewasko in the Scranton area
CHICKEN DINNER: Saint Vladimir’s Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, 70 Zerby Ave., Edwardsville, Pa., will sponsor a TAKE-OUT ONLY CHICKEN DINNER on Thursday, August 8, 2013. Pickup from 4 pm. – 7 p.m., at the hall entrance in the rear of the church building. One price only: $9 per dinner. Take-out only. Advance orders only: call ANNE . Last day to pre-order is August 4.
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 