On the 14th of April I was given the great honor and set aside by his Eminence Archbishop Antony to serve the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as a SubDeacon.

Truly, it was one of the best days of my life.

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AXIOS! AXIOS! AXIOS!

Alexandr

AXIOS! Christ is Risen! AXIOS!

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Indeed He is Risen!



Thank you all!

AXIOS, Subdeacon Borislav! Congratulations!

Christ is Risen!

In ICXC,

Gordo

Congratulations dear brother in Christ, Borislav!

May God bless you!

In the Risen Christ,
Alice

Axios! Prayers for your vocation. Christ is risen!

Boris, congratulations and God's blessing upon you!

Joe

Mnohaya Lita!

Congratulations.
Question: Are my eyes deceiving me, or did I see pics of both Fr. Nestor Kowal (Pastor of UOC parish in Scranton, Pa.), and Fr. David Clooney (UGCC priest) in the above pics? I know them both quite well. Where was the Liturgy celebrated?

Christ Is Risen!
Dn. Robert

Fr Deacon, the Liturgy was celebrated In South Bound Brook NJ in St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Parish during the annual St. Thomas Pilgrimage to South Bound Brook.


I am not sure about the Fathers you speak of, but 1 thing I can tell you is that we do not celebrate the Liturgy with any denomination which isn't Canonical Orthodox, which pretty much rules out the UGCC priest.... I think....

The priest on the far right in this pic (wearing the podriasnik-not a celebrant), I am quite sure, is UGCC priest David Clooney. He is pastor in Northampton, Pa.
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This would be similar to our approach. We have had clergy from various Eastern Orthodox jurisdictions who have visited, and appeared in pictures such as this. But, since we do not share full communion, they are not allowed to concelebrate. If Fr. David had been allowed to concelebrate by Abp. Antony (very unlikely), and chose to do so (very unlikely), he would most certainly be in trouble with Metropolitan Stefan. But, there is no problem with him showing up and appearing in this picture, as he did. This is the best that we all can do until the day arrives when full communion between all the Patriarchates (including Rome) is restored.

The priest in the pic below, who is helping Archbishop Antony in vesting you, definitely looks like Fr. Nestor Kowal. He is pastor of St. Michael's UOC parish in Scranton. My parish is in Jessup, a 15 minute ride away. We know each other quite well. Last year, he gave a Lenten, week-long retreat to a group of members of five different Eastern Catholic parishes in Scranton, having been invited to do so by the pastors of those parishes. This year, he participated in that week-long retreat, as a guest, the retreat master having been a Melkite Greek Catholic priest. You were definitely in good company.

Christos Voskrese!
Dn. Robert
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Right you are!

He did not take part in the Liturgy!

And him being a UGCC priest explains it!

Thank you for clearing this up.

And the Father who was helping the Archbishop vest me was very knowledgeable!

It was a pleasure watching Him serve.

Axios!

Alex

He is a very good man. He recently retired as chaplain to the Scranton Police Dept. He is also an official translator (Ukrainain, Russian, and probably other languages)for the Pa. State Police! He says he recently had been called down to read "Miranda rights" to some Russian Mafia-types who had been arrested in the Pocono area! He originates from Ukraine. If you ever get a chance to talk to him, ask him about how he was saved from execution during the Nazi occupancy of Ukraine, as a child. He's part of that generation that suffered both under Hitler AND the Bolsheviks.

Dn. Robert

Dear Friends,

How does one refer to an Ipodiakon? Is it "Reverend Father Ipodiakon?"

Alex

Hardly.

I think it is a simple Ipodiakon Borislav

Which I am absolutely 100% fine with. I CAN NOT imagine anybody calling me Reverend Father.....
It would probably make me really uncomfortable

I can't wait to speak with him!

Many jewish members of my family were killed by the Nazis in the Ukraine.

My family is very mixed. We have Ukrainians, Russians, Jews and even Tatars and Azerbaijanis in the family.

Good thing is everybody is tolerant, understanding and respectful of each other.

I have been trying to do gentle missionary work in the family, but it is not always easy to do this.

I can't wait to speak with him!

Many jewish members of my family were killed by the Nazis in the Ukraine.

My family is very mixed. We have Ukrainians, Russians, Jews and even Tatars and Azerbaijanis in the family.

Good thing is everybody is tolerant, understanding and respectful of each other.

I have been trying to do gentle missionary work in the family, but it is not always easy to do this.
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They were horrible times. I know a retired UGCC Bishop who, according to a friend of mine, was approached during the middle of a conversation, by a Hasidic man, who came up to him and said "I just want to say thank you", and then walked away. It turns out that this Bishop had saved the lives of the Hasidic man's family during the Nazi occupation of Ukraine. He had just not told anybody about it. As to the family "mix", the best you can do is to be a good Subdeacon. Your example will have a good effect on both those who are Christian and those who are not. Many times, your actions will speak louder than your words.

Dn. Robert

My wife is Polish and was raised Roman Catholic.

I am happy to say that she is now Orthodox to

Dear Borislav,

I loved the picture. Congratulations, and you are surely AXIOS, (and good looking too).

God Bless,

Zenovia

AXIOS!

Subdeacon Borislav,

Add some more hair (mine is going quickly but I'm not as far along as you) and make the nose broader and I'd swear I was looking in a mirror!

No offense intended in the hair remark as I'll be smooth in a few years as well.

None taken

I hear baldness is a sign of wisdom!

heheh

just kidding.