Bishop Milan of Mukachiv-Uzhhorod Serves in Dublin

Dublin - His Grace Kyr Milan is in Dublin taking a summer course, and was able to serve Pontifical Divine Liturgy for the Dublin Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Congregation of Blessed Hieromartyr Nicholas (Charnetsky) on Sunday, 17 August 2008. There was not much lead-in time, which led to some concern as to whether we could adequately "rise to the occasion".

Informed by the congregation's web-site (ugcc.ie), the faithful assembled half an hour earlier than usual, thus at 15:30. Bishop Milan had come to the sacristy at 15:00 and spent half an hour or so offering the prayers before the Pontifical Liturgy as they are given in the Archieraticon. After setting the Holy Table, the Preparation Table, the Iconostasis, and the pontifical cathedra (in the midst of the nave), the Subdeacons robed the Bishop in the Mandyas and led him from the sacristy to the entrance doors of Saint Kevin's Oratory, where we have Divine Liturgy each Sunday and where Father Archimandrite Serge and the faithful were awaiting the Bishop's entry. At the doors, the faithful welcomed Bishop Milan with bread and salt, and with flowers; Father Serge welcomed His Grace with the precious Cross. As the faithful chanted Blessed be the Name of the Lord … the procession moved to the Royal Doors, where the Bishop offered the prescribed prayers, venerated the Holy Icons, turned, and blessed the assembly with the Precious Cross and the simple Staff, while the assembly acclaimed him, singing Ton Despotin kai Arkhiera imon … Eis polla eti, Despota!

Taking his place on the cathedra in the nave, Bishop Milan blessed the Subdeacons to remove the Mandyas, riasa, and panagia; the Subdeacons robed the Bishop in the pontifical vestments while Father Serge chanted the vesting prayers in Church-Slavonic (using the "Lipovan" chant found in Bukovyna). After assuming the Mitre, Bishop Milan received the Dikirion and Trikirion and blessed to the four directions as the faithful sang the "Many Years" and again Ton Despotin kai Arkhiera imon … Eis polla eti, Despota!

Bishop Milan and Father Serge offered the prayers before the Enarxis; Kyr Milan then blessed Father Serge to enter the Altar, open the Royal Doors, and begin the Enarxis. The Pontifical Liturgy followed in strict accordance with the Archieraticon, and without abbreviations. The Three Antiphons sung were those of the Transfiguration (anticipated from Tuesday); at the Introït the Bishop blessed to the four directions, entered the Altar, and offered the opening incensation. At the Trisagion the Bishop both chanted Agios o Theos in Greek and blessed the assembly with the Trikirion.

Bishop Milan chanted the Gospel in Ukrainian; Father Serge did the same in Irish. The Divine Liturgy was done in Ukrainian, Church-Slavonic, and Irish. At the Great Entrance and the diptychs during the Anaphora, Bishop Milan commemorated Pope Benedict, Patriarch Lubomyr, and Bishop Hlib. Father Serge commemorated Bishop Milan.

Many of the faithful (from infants to adults) of course received Holy Communion. Before the Dismissal Bishop Milan blessed the fruits, as is customary for the Feast of the Transfiguration. Father Serge intoned the Many Years for Bishop Milan and all his flock, for those taking part in the service, for all the Ukrainian people in their homeland and in the Diaspora, and "for all Orthodox Christians"; Bishop Milan blessed the assembly and then intoned the Many Years for Father Serge, for the Dublin Greek-Catholics, and for all the Irish people.

Bishop Milan addressed the assembly in Ukrainian, thanking them for their warm hospitality and inviting them to visit Transcarpathian Ukraine when they may have an opportunity, and assuring them of his ongoing prayers. He then offered each person the Precious Cross to venerate.

Thanks are particularly due to Conor O'Toole, the parish chanter, to Mr. and Mrs. Brian Ramsey, to the Subdeacons: Pól Ua Bradaigh, Mykhaylo Fedenyshyn (whose first son was born the same weekend!), Declan Sheehy, and Padraig Purcell (who is in the midst of moving house), and to all who helped with the service.

We hope to be privileged to welcome His Grace Bishop Milan to Dublin again.

Archimandrite Serge

Posted by Admin

This sounds to have been a truly wonderful occasion.

Congratulations to all

How wonderful. Vladyka MILAN visited our parish for vespers a few years back.

Eis polla eti despota!

Taking his place on the cathedra in the nave, Bishop Milan blessed the Subdeacons to remove the Mandyas, riasa, and panagia; the Subdeacons robed the Bishop in the pontifical vestments while Father Serge chanted the vesting prayers in Church-Slavonic (using the "Lipovan" chant found in Bukovyna). After assuming the Mitre, Bishop Milan received the Dikirion and Trikirion and blessed to the four directions as the faithful sang the "Many Years" and again Ton Despotin kai Arkhiera imon … Eis polla eti, Despota!

What, no singing of "You Have Entered, O Noble Archpriest"?

Ung

The thought did cross my mind - very briefly. There were two slight problems with it:

1) Nobody in the congregation would have either known it or understood it, and

2) I would have preferred the original: Ecce, Sacerdos Magnus!


Had there been sufficient time, I would have practiced the chanters to do Ot Vostok Solntse do Zapad. Must prepare that for next time.

O. Serhe,

The choir from St. Nicholas Church (Homestead, PA ACROD) sang a stirring rendition of "You have Entered, O Noble Archpriest" for Met. Nicholas at Camp Nazareth last Sunday. I never knew of it's origin till a few years ago. The ACROD uses it often, but it is almost never sung in the Ruthenian Metropolia anymore. A beautiful choir piece nonetheless.

Ung

Sure it's a beautiful choir piece - in Latin (I think I still know it by heart "Ideo, iureiurando, fecit illum Dominus, crescere, crescere in plebem suam!"

Meanwhile there are some magnificent pieces of our own, including a Bortniansky setting I would die for (figuratively, that is).

You are talking about "Vozhel Jesi, Archiereju"? I had the choir sing that at my ordination. I've only heard this sung in churches of Rusyn origin.

Dn. Robert

It can be found (for unison) in the Prostopinije. But, alas, the inspiration comes straight from Ecce Sacerdos Magnus.

This is by no means the only hymn in the Carpatho-Russian repertoire of Latin origin.

Fr. Serge