FEBRUARY 8, 2026
Saturday, February 7 SUNDAY OF MEATFARE
4:00 PM UHelene Sirak – Donald & Donna Winsock
Sunday, February 8 SUNDAY OF MEATFARE
8:30 AM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners
Saturday, February 14 SUNDAY OF CHEESEFARE
4:00 PM God’s Blessings & Good Health for All Parishioners
Sunday, February 15 SUNDAY OF CHEESEFARE
8:30 AM UJames Dalton- Udiski Family
Transfiguration of Our Lord Church
Father, I was looking at the unique prayers for the Holy Days as you suggested and keep seeing the words “Menaion” and “Pentecostarion”, what is the difference between these and what are they? The Menaion is the Annual Fixed Feastal Cycle of the Church AND the books with all the special prayers for each day. There are actually 12 volumes in the complete set of books (one book for each month) but you may find only one in use at your parish which is called; the Feastal Menaion, which includes all the special prayers for the Major Holy Days, this way a parish, a person, doesn’t need to have 12 books. The Pentecostarion, or Flowery Triodion, is the time of the Church Year from the Feast of Christ’s Resurrection through to the Feast of All Saints, (the Sunday after Pentecost) and the book with all the special prayers for the days in that period. Okay; thank you Father, now then that reminds of the Triodion, what is the Triodion? The Triodion, or Lenten Triodion, covers the time from the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee through to Holy Week, Holy Saturday inclusive, and the book with all the prayers you need for this time.
Prayer to the Holy Archangel Michael
O Holy Archangel Michael, luminous and awesome captain of the heavenly King! Before the fearsome Judgment, set me free, that I may repent of my sins; deliver my soul from the snares of the pursuers and lead it to God, Who created it, Who sitteth upon the cherubim, and do thou earnestly pray in its behalf, that by thy mediation He may send it to a place of rest. O dread captain of the hosts of heaven, intercessor for all at the throne of Christ the Master, steadfast protector of all men and wise warrior, mighty general of the heavenly King, have mercy on me, a sinner, who am in need of thine assistance; protect me from all enemies, visible and invisible, and, still more, fortify me against the fear of death and the vexation of the devils; and make me worthy to stand unashamed before our Creator at the hour of His dread and righteous Judgment. O most holy and great Michael, supreme commander, disdain me not, a sinner, who entreat thee for thy help and aid in this world and in that which is to come, but vouchsafe me there to glorify with thee the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Archangel Gabriel
O Holy Gabriel, great archangel, who standest before the throne of God, art illumined with splendor by divine light and enlightened by the knowledge of unapproachable mysteries of His eternal wisdom! With full earnestness I beseech thee: Guide me to repentance, away from evil deeds, and to the confirmation in my faith; strengthen and preserve my soul against deluding temptations, and entreat our Creator for the remission of my sins. O great and holy Archangel Gabriel, disdain me not, a sinner, who beg thee for help and aid in this age and that which is to come; but ever show thyself to be a helper for me, that I may unceasingly glorify the dominion of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and thine intercession, unto the age of ages. Amen.
FEBRUARY BOOK OF THE MONTH
St. John of Damascus; On the Divine Images
By St. John of Damascus/Translated by David Anderson
ISBN: 0-913836-62-1
ASK FATHER A QUESTION? Father, why should I fast for Lent? Why not eat? What purpose does that serve? Can’t I just pray? I am a good person, why is fasting needed? The reason we fast during Lent and indeed and not just fast, but to pray more and to give alms to the poor, is because we are not good unless we do these things. If I love the God who created me and I desire to be with Him eternally, then I need to grow spiritually in strength and in virtue. I need to do more than merely avoid sin, but also need to do good works in the world. The appetite of food is the most basic human appetite. If I cannot control my appetite for food and drink, then I will have even greater difficulty being in control of my other human appetites. I will be easy prey to fall into the seven deadly sins: Gluttony, Sloth, Avarice (Anger), Lust, Greed, Despair, & Pride. The Seven Virtues are: Temperence, Prudence, Fortitude, Courage, Faith, Hope, & Charity. If you desire to be spiritually strong; fast, pray and give alms.
Now, forgiveness stands at the very center of Christian faith and of Christian life because Christianity itself is, above all, the religion of forgiveness. God forgives us, and His forgiveness is in Christ, His Son, Whom He sends to us, so that by sharing in His humanity we may share in His love and be truly reconciled with God. Indeed, Christianity has no other content but love. And it is primarily the renewal of that love, a return to it, a growth in it, that we seek in Great Lent, in fasting and prayer, in the entire spirit and the entire effort of that season. Thus, truly forgiveness is both the beginning of, and the proper condition for the Lenten season. One may ask, however: Why should I perform this rite when I have no “enemies”? Why should I ask forgiveness from people who have done nothing to me, and whom I hardly know? To ask these questions, is to misunderstand the Orthodox teaching concerning forgiveness. It is true, that open enmity, personal hatred, real animosity may be absent from our life, though if we experience them, it may be easier for us to repent, for these feelings openly contradict Divine commandments. But, the Church reveals to us that there are much subtler ways of offending Divine Love. These are indifference, selfishness, lack of interest in other people, of any real concern for them — in short, that wall which we usually erect around ourselves, thinking that by being “polite” and “friendly” we fulfill God’s commandments. The rite of forgiveness is so important precisely because it makes us realize – be it only for one minute – that our entire relationship to other men is wrong, makes us experience that encounter of one child of God with another, of one person created by God with another, makes us feel that mutual “recognition” which is so terribly lacking in our cold and dehumanized world. – Father Alexander Schmemann
THE FIVE SATURDAYS OF THE DECEASED (SOROKUSTY)
The Five Saturdays of the Deceased (Sorokousty) The Church Typikon designates the five Sorokousty/ Saturdays of the Deceased for 2026 as February 7th; February 28th, March 7th and 14th, and May 23rd. It is a tradition of our Holy Church to commemorate the memories of our beloved deceased at Matins of the Deceased (Parastas) on these five Saturdays of the year. Sorokousty Services will be celebrated at 8:00am.
The Sanctuary Light is given by Michalene Sirak IMO Fred Uhas.
LENT: Remember, the first day of Lent is a fast from Meat and Dairy Products. Lent begins with Forgiveness Vespers, Sunday, February 15th at 3:00PM at Transfiguration of Our Lord Church. Confessions will be from at 2:15PM until 2:45PM.The first full day of Lent will begin on Monday, February 16 and is a day of abstinence from Meat and Dairy Products for everyone who is able to do so. All Fridays are always a day of fast. Traditionally, Wednesdays are a day of fast during the Great Fast. Anything you can do extra is also indicated. Remember there are no weekday Liturgy during the Great Fast.
Petitions & Prayers for Our Parishioners: 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.
FIRST SATURDAY LITURGY: Twelve Liturgies were given for the first Saturday of each month, the next liturgy is March 7 for any Families experiencing troubles in their lives and seeking God’s help from both Transfiguration of Our Lord & Saints Peter & Paul Churches. If you have such a petition for a family please feel free to share it with Fr. Walter to be included in the Saturday’s liturgy intention. The first Saturday Liturgies are celebrated at Tranfiguration of Our Lord Church at 8:00 AM. No additional donations are required to submit a petition. You can call Father to add a petition to the list at 570-406-5882.
MYASOPUSNA: The Myasopusna Celebration is scheduled for this Sunday, February 8th, 2026. This year will feature the St. Mary’s Ukrainian Dancers. Ukrainian Beer and wine will be available. Doors open at noon. Cocktail 1/2 hour is noon-12:30. Serving starts at 12:30PM and stops at 2:00PM. Program will start approximately 1:30PM. No Tickets Will Be Sold at the Door. Take-outs are available.
PSANKY CLASSES: St. Cyril & Methodius are holding Psanky classes. These classes are artistically taught by TAMMY BUDNOVITCH on February 22 & March 1st. Pick either 12:00 or 3:00 for classes. All supplies are provided. Fee: $25. All proceeds support SS. Cyril & Methodius, Ukrainian Catholic Church. For reservations: Call Tammy 570-766-1919.
A Spiritual Psalter or Reflections on God
from the writings of Saint Ephraim the Syrian
140
There is no hiding — God sees all. Hurry to cleanse yourself while there is still time.
I sin and hide so that no man will see me; but the Lord sees me when I do evil. If a man sees me I am ashamed; but I feel no shame before God. Have compassion and mercy on us, O Judge and Master of judges! If a man be converted, whether sooner or later, Thou wilt accept him. What shall I do with my sins? I do not know. My mind cannot imagine what I might use to wash and cleanse myself. If I took it into my head to wash with water, then the seas and the rivers would not be sufficient to cleanse me. Yet if I wash myself with the blood and water that flowed from the rib of the Son of God, then will I be cleansed, and compassion will be showered upon me. Tremble, O sinner, at the coming judgment; with tears and sorrow run to repent. While prayer is still accepted, pray here, that you might be accepted there. Pray, while death has not yet come and carried away your soul, for then all prayer and supplication will be in vain, then even tears will be of no avail.
Prayer to the Twelve Holy Apostles of the Lord
O holy, glorious and all-laudable apostles, ye chosen disciples and confessors of the great High Priest, our Lord Jesus Christ, and initiates of His mysteries: Peter and Andrew, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas Matthew, James and Jude, Simon and Matthias! Entreat Christ God, that He vouchsafe that we may pass from our vain sojourn in this world to stand at His right hand in His kingdom, that He may transform us from children of disobedience to children of obedience, and that, having put off the old man, we may clothe ourselves in the new man, fashioned after God in righteousness and the sanctity of truth: that, walking in rightness of faith, we may approach the heavenly Father in the inheritance of everlasting dignity, may contemplate heavenly things, and may most clearly behold the Holy Trinity in glory, unto endless ages. Amen.
SS Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church 