Category: Eastern Church

The Massabki Brothers

Today, the Pope canonized the Massabki Brothers, martyrs. They are called martyrs of faith and unity.

The Massabki Brothers are Maronites: Blessed Emanuele Ruiz and 7 Companions, of the Order of Friars Minor, and Francesco, Abdel Mooti, and Raffaele Massabki, Lay Faithful, killed in hatred of the Faith in Damascus, Syria between July 9 and 10, 1860. The brothers and companions refused to renounce their Christian faith and convert to Islam. The 11 were brutally killed, some beheaded with sabers and axes, others stabbed or clubbed to death.

July 10 is the liturgical memorial for the Massabki Brothers on the Maronite calendar and that of the Custody of the Holy Land.

Saint Massabki Brothers and Companions, pray for us.

Melkite Liturgy served with the Relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis

Earlier this evening I traveled to St Anthony of the Desert Maronite Church (Fall River, MA) where we served the Melkite Divine Liturgy served by Bishop François Beyrouti, Bishop of Diocese of Newton for the Melkite Catholic Church in the United States and the local Melkite clergy. The Liturgy highlighted the presence of a relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis –soon to be canonized– who had the mission for Eucharistic revival. The organizers also curated 150 panels of the Eucharistic miracles around the world.

New bishop of the US Melkites

Today, the Melkite Patriarch enthroned Bishop François (Beyrouti), 51, as the new eparchial bishop for the Eparchy of Newton at the Annunciation Cathedral in West Roxbury, MA. His motto is Becoming Disciples, Making Disciples.

Bishop François was ordained bishop last Wednesday, October 12, at the co-cathedral of St Ann in Los Angeles by Patriarch Joseph, Bishop Nicholas and Archbishop Borys Gudziak.

After 11 years of service as bishop of the Eparchy of Newton, Bishop Nicholas retires. He’s served the eparchy with great interest, prayer, pastoral insight and a pastor’s heart.

Prayers for Bishop Francois and the eparchy!

St Andrei Rublev, monk and iconographer

Today Byzantine Church recalls the memory of the monk and iconographer St. Andrei Rublev, monk and iconographer. His birth and death dates are not known precisely, but he is known to have lived in the 14th century. His iconography is well-appreciated world—wide; much of his sacred art resides in Russia. Rublev is buried at the Andronikov Monastery.

The troparion for St. Andrei reads:

Shining with the rays of divine light, O venerable Andrew, You knew Christ the wisdom and power of God. By means of the image of the Holy Trinity You preached to all the world the Holy Trinity in unity. And we, with amazement and joy, cry out to you: As you have boldness before the Most Holy Trinity. Pray that the Uncreated Light may illumine our souls!

New bishop for the Malabar Eparchy in the USA

Second Eparch for the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of St. Thomas in Chicago

Pope Francis has appointed Mar Joy Alappat, 66, as the second Bishop of the St. Thomas Eparchy of Chicago, succeeding Mar Jacob Angadiath (who reached retirement age of 75 according to canon law).

You can read today’s announcement of the Holy See here: https://press.vatican.va/…/2022/07/03/0514/01049.html

As the first Syro Malabar Eparchy to be established outside of India in 2001, the St. Thomas Eparchy serves more than 49 thousand Syro Malabar Catholics in the United States, which includes 80+ parishes and missions. There are two Malabar parishes in Connecticut.

Gratitude for the good work of Mar Jacob Angadiath for his service. And may God bless Bishop-designate Mar Joy!

Some twenty years ago I worked with Father Joy at Georgetown University Hospital. I rejoice in this appointment!

Sunday of the Holy cross

Today in the Byzantine Catholic Church it is the Sunday of the Holy Cross. It is a day on which we recall that wood heals wood, the wood of the cross heals the wood that tree in paradise we were told not to eat from. Today we venerate the Holy Cross and it signals mid-Lent. As members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem we are keenly aware that the cross is intimately connected with the Lord’s victory over death, and thus our salvation.

St John Chrysostom teaches us:

“Therefore, no one should be ashamed of the venerable symbols of our salvation: of the cross, which is the summit of our goods, for which we live and are what we are. Instead, let’s carry the cross of Christ like a trophy everywhere! All things, among us, reach their fulfillment by means of the cross. When we have to be reborn, the cross becomes present; when we feed on the mystical food; when we are consecrated ministers of the altar; when other mysteries are fulfilled, this symbol of victory is always present there.”

Homily on Matthew 54, 551B-552A.

St Theodosius of the common life (cenobite)

Today we liturgically recall our venerable father, Theodosius, called a leader of the common life.

At the end of the 5th century, Theodosius founded a cenobium near Bethlehem. In his day many had come from as far away as Georgia and Armenia to enter monastic life in Palestine. He accommodated his multi-ethnic community by having the Liturgy of the Word served in separate chapels in Syriac, Armenian and Georgian, after which all the monks came together for the Eucharistic Liturgy in Greek in the main church. His monastery was large enough to staff a hospice for the elderly, and for the poor and sick as well as one for the mentally ill.

His organizational skills were recognized in Jerusalem, where the Patriarch made him cenobiarch, the leader of all the monasteries of the common life under his protection. Theodosius along with Sabbas upheld the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon in the midst of the strife this council engendered, even in the monastic settlements.

He died in 529 at the age of 105. His monastery was sacked twice in the 9th century, and was completely destroyed in the 15th. (NS)

Forward in Orthodox-Catholic Relations

Here is a very interesting and important conversation among the Orthodox and Eastern Catholics. I’d also include in my descriptors is beautiful. This particular presentation is the first of the Huffington Ecumenical Institute online lecture series addressing issues, obstacles, and ways forward in Orthodox-Catholic relations.

The host is Sr. Vassa Larin of “Coffee with Sr. Vassa.”

The lecture’s participants:

Fr. Cyril Hovorun (Loyola Marymount University)
Fr. Mark Morozowich (Catholic University of America)

 

Hesychia: necessary for monk and lay person

Throughout the history of Eastern monasticism, there has always been an understanding of silence and solitude that has been called “hesychia”. Hesychia refers to a state of inner stillness and stability that is increasingly able to discern the presence of God in the length and breadth of the everyday. It involves an attitude of listening that focuses the heart, regardless of what one happens to be doing. But the truth is, such silence does not come cheap. It requires practice, a type of spiritual practice that leads one through many levels of growth. This has its analogy in athletic practice, where to reach excellence demands self-sacrifice, personal commitment, making mistakes, and hours and hours of work. (thanks to NS)