January 4, 2026 A. D.
Saturday, January 3 SUNDAY BEFORE THEOPHANY
4:00 PM UElizabeth Suscavage – Joe & Rose Mazur
Sunday, January 4 SUNDAY BEFORE THEOPHANY
8:30 AM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners
Monday, January 5 THEOPHANY EVE – (w/Myrovania)
4:00 PM UHugh Hughes- Nancy Marshall
Tuesday, January 6 THEOPHANY – (w/Myrovania)
8:30 AM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners
Saturday, January 10 SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY
4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners
Sunday, January 11 SUNDAY AFTER THEOPHANY
8:30 AM UBernard Sulzen & Family- Becker Family
ASK FATHER A QUESTION? Father, is Epiphany and Theophany the same Feast Day? Epiphany and Theophany are two different feasts that are celebrated on the same day. One Holy Day and two events are remembered on that day. The Western Church (Roman Catholic) emphasizes the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles (Magi or Three Kings) and they do recognize the baptism of Jesus Christ on the same day- the Western Church calls it Epiphany from the Greek {to reveal}. The Eastern Church (Ukrainian Church is one of the Eastern Churches) emphasizes the baptism of the “Adult” Jesus Christ in the Jordan River at the beginning of his ministry and the three kings are remembered –the Eastern Church calls this Feast Day Theophany, from the Greek {to show us God}.
Father I have a question for you, how long is the “Christmas Season?”
Like Easter, Christmas is the only other feast that has a 40 day long Preparation Period (Phillip’s Fast) and 40-day Festal Period. Also, like Easter, Christmas is an eight day feast. You might remember that on Easter Sunday and the entire week following, the Royal Doors and Deacon Doors are open because it is seven days of Sunday. In our church, there are Feasts that are 1, 3, or 8 days long. On the Feasts that last more than one day, the final day of the Feast is called the Leave-Taking. The Leave-Taking of Christmas is December 31. If you pay attention to the Liturgies, Daily and Sunday, throughout the course of the year, you will notice that for the Feast Day itself, there are multiple special prayers for the Feast, Old Testament Readings, Antiphons, Tropars, Kondaks, Prayers to the Theotokos (God Bearer, a.k.a. Mother of God), Communion Hymns and Ambvon (Priest’s) Prayers. For the Feasts that last several days, you will notice that some of the special prayers will be included during this period. Possibly, the Antiphons, Tropars, Kondaks, and Prayers to the Mother of God-(It is Truly Right…). For the forty day Festal Period, we don’t include all of those prayers liturgically, but you know it is the forty day Festal Period because of the greeting Christ is Born! Glorify Him! Part of the confusion with Christmas is that we have the Feast of Theophany, Synaxis of the Mother of God, Synaxis of St. John the Baptist, and the Feast of St. Stephen, in the middle of the Christmas Season, this does not negate the Christmas Festal Period that concludes with the Encounter of Our Lord with Simeon on February 2nd.
PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do you, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
BOOK(S) OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER:
ST. EPHREM THE SYRIAN
Hymns on Paradise
ISBN: 978-0881410761
Petitions & Prayers for Our Parishioners: Jewel Johnstone, John Ostrum,Donna Winsock, Sonia Dempsey, Catherine Halloway, Charles Hallaway, Paul Hoover & James Bencho. Keep them in your prayers. If anyone would like to be included in the prayer list drop a note in the basket, email the church or text Michalene Ostrum at 570-704-7079.
The Jesus Prayer
Господи Ісусе Христе, Сину Божий, помилуй мене грішного.
Hospodi Isuse Khryste, Synu Bozhe, pomiluy mene, hrishnoho.
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.”
This prayer is central in The Eastern Catholic and Orthodox hesychasm, a form of
contemplative prayer focused on continual invocation of Jesus’ name.
FESTIVAL OF THE CAROLS: Festival of Ukrainian Christmas Carols to be held at the Cathedral in Philadelphia on January 11, 2026, at 3:00pm.
LITURGY INTENTIONS: If you are offering a Divine Liturgy for a specific day for your beloved or other intentions for 2026, please make sure you turn it into the rectory in order to make sure that you get the exact time that you would like.
MYASOPUSNA 2026 at Transfiguration of our Lord Church is February 8th, 2026. Please SAVE the date.
The Altar Candles for the month of January are given by Michaelene Ostrum IMO her brother, Michael B Sirak.
The Sanctuary Light for this week is requested by Mariya Palashchuk IMO Evhen Slobodian.
NEW ALTAR SERVER: God Bless Jude Michael Schappert, our new Altar Server.
CHURCH ENVELOPES: Church envelopes are in the vestibule to be picked up. PLEASE do not use any until after January 1, 2026. There were a few envelopes used for the coming new year, they will be added to next week’s report.
BLESSING OF WATER & HOMES: On Monday, January 5 in the afternoon, we will have the Vesperal Liturgy with the Blessing of Water in celebration of Theophany. Please remember to bring your containers in order to bring water home. Please note this is a Holy Day of Obligation. If you would like your house blessed, please put a note in the basket or contact the rectory.
VISITING THE SICK: Do you know a homebound Parishioner who can’t make it to church and would like a visit? Please contact Father Walter at the rectory at 570-735-2262.
PRAYERS BEFORE SLEEP
O Lord our God, forgive all the sins I have committed this day in word, deed or thought, for thou art good and lovest mankind. Grant me peaceful and untroubled sleep, and send thy guardian angel to protect and keep me from every evil; for thou art the guardian of our souls and bodies, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father and the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
A Prayer to the Mother of God
For Someone who has Forsaken the Path of Salvation
By Saint Gabriel of Novgorod
All-Merciful Lady, Virgin Mistress and Theotokos, Heavenly Queen: by thy birth giving thou didst save mankind from the eternal torment of the devil, for Christ our Savior was born from thee. In thy mercy look down even now upon N., Who is deprived of God’s mercy and grace, and intercede before they Son, Christ our God, by thy maternal boldness and thy prayers, that from on high He might send down His grace upon him[her], for he[she]is perishing. O most Blessed Lady, thou hope of the hopeless and salvation of the despairing, may the enemy never rejoice over his[her] soul! Amen.
For those who have died Unbaptized, and without Repentance or by Suicide
By Saint Leonid of Optina
O Lord, seek the soul of thy servant N.: if it be possible, have mercy. Thy judgements are unfathomable. Do not count this prayer of mine as a sin, but rather may thy holy will be done.
On New’s Day
O Lord, God of all creation both visible and invisible, thou Maker and Creator who hast established the times and seasons: do thou thyself bless the new year which beginneth today, (for January 1st): which we reckon according to thine Incarnation for the sake of our salvation. Allow us to pass this year and many years afterward in peace and harmony with our neighbors. Strengthen and propagate the Holy Catholic Church, which thou has established and sanctified through the saving sacrifice of thy Holy Body and most precious Blood. Exalt our earthly homeland, keep it and glorify it. Grant us long life, health, abundance of the fruits of the earth and seasonal weather. As our true and chief Sheperd, save and guard us, thy sinful servants, together with all our relatives and friends, and all right-believing Christians, and confirm us on the path of salvation, so that by following it, we may lead a good and long life in this world and afterwards attain to thy heavenly kingdom and there partake of eternal blessing together with all thy saints. Amen.
Slava Isusu Christu! Slava Na Viki!
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!
Prayer For Peace in Ukraine
Heavenly Father, Your Son taught us “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.” We fervently pray in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that you inspire men to become peacemakers. May mankind seek reconciliation and peace in this world, as is Your Will. May tranquility be restored to all nations, and especially Ukraine. God, Our Father, we beseech You to comfort the suffering, heal the wounded, and accept the souls of the dearly departed into Your heavenly kingdom. May the Most Holy Mother of God extend Her Mantle of Protection over Ukraine, and the whole world. May each of us always live our lives as instruments of Your peace, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 