Saturday, February 17 – 4:00 PM
✞Ronald Kachinko – Michael & Dolores
Sunday, February 18 – 8:30 AM – First Sunday of the Great Fast
4:00 PM – STATIONS OF THE CROSS at SS Peter & Paul, Wilkes-Barre, PA
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Wednesday, February 21– 4;00 PM
Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Saturday, February 24 – 4:00 PM
✞Edmund Bircsak – Irene Bircsak
Sunday, February 25 – 8:30 AM – SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners
4:00 PM Stations of the Cross, SS Peter & Paul, Plymouth, PA
The first Sunday of the Great Fast is called the Sunday of Orthodoxy. What do we mean by “orthodoxy”? The word “orthodoxy” stems from the Greek word “orthodoxia” (orthos=right; doksa=thought) which signifies the true faith and the true worship of God. We are not speaking here of orthodoxy as we understand it today as being a separated from Rome, but orthodoxy as applied to the whole Church of Christ until the schism between the Western and Eastern Church which occurred in the eleventh century under the patriarchs Leo IX and Cerularius (1054). The orthodoxy that we celebrate this Sunday is universal-catholic orthodoxy, professed by the entire Church of Christ of the first millenium in the battle against the heresy of Iconoclasm (Gr – eikon=image; klastes=a breaker; – an image breaking heresy). The Sunday of Orthodoxy is a festival for the whole Church, both Eastern and Western. It is the festive celebration of the decisive victory over Iconoclasm and other heresies and is the origin or birthday of the Iconostas (wall of icons).
The purpose of this feast is to pay solemn public homage (veneration – lit. bow before) to the holy icon of Jesus Christ; but not only Christ but also the Blessed Birthgiver (Theotokos) of God, and all the Saints.
The Church of Christ deeply respects and honors the holy icons as it also does holy relics. She places them in church for public veneration and recommends that we venerate them privately in our homes, and wear small icons around our necks in the form of little crosses or medals.
SUNDAY LITURGIES DURING LENT:
WHY DO THEY SEEM LONGER?
Our Byzantine Church prescribes that the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is to be celebrated on all of the Sundays of The Great Fast, instead of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, which is celebrated throughout the rest of the year. St. Basil’s Anaphora prayers are older and are longer prayers than St. John Chrysostom’s Anaphora prayers (which were derived from of St. Basil the Great’s), and is celebrated ten times during the church year: the five Sundays of The Great Fast (Palm Sunday is not part of the Fast), Holy Thursday, Holy Saturday, Christmas Eve, Epiphany Eve, and on the actual Feast of St. Basil which we celebrate on January 1.
SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary light is requested to burn this week February 17 – 24 by Michael Kane in memory of Joseph Kane
The Altar Candles that burn for all the services during the month you request is available. The donation is $40 and the candles will burn during all the services of the month desired for your intentions.
DEANERY STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Our Parish will be the host for next Sunday, February 25th at 4:00 PM for the Deanery Stations of the Cross. A Fellowship will follow in the church hall. We are asking all parishioners to please try to attend this beautiful service. Desserts, food, etc. are in need for the fellowship. If you can help in this matter, please sign in on the paper in the vestibule. Your generosity is always very appreciated.
Schedule for the Deanery Station of the Cross
Sunday, Feb. 18 4:00 PM – SS Peter & Paul, Wilkes-Barre, PA
Sunday, Feb. 24 4:00 PM – SS Peter & Paul, Plymouth, PA
Sunday, March 4 4:00 PM – St. Nicholas, Glen Lyon, PA
Sunday, March 11 4:00 PM – Transfiguration of Our Lord, Nanticoke, PA
Sunday, March 17 4:00 PM – St. Vladimir, Edwardsville, PA
Please remember all those who are in Nursing Facilities, at home or in the hospital.
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 