www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall UGC Patriarch in Small Omophorion

Dear Andrij,

I was not making fun of Bishop Basil's style of dress.

I have never seen a Ukrainian Catholic Bishop wear a Kamelavkion(Ukrainian Catholic Bishop's cylindrical hat covered by a monastic veil) in anything but white or black before.

My comments simply reflected the color choices.

Steven

So you wear a kolpak and call it good...

Metropolitan Stefan (Soroka) has been wearing his white klobuk more in public I've noticed, at least from the Ukrainian Catholic papers the last few months.

Purple is a hierarchial color. Protodeacons and archpriests can wear purple skuffiyas/kamilavkas as well.

But Andrij's right - that's Bishop Basil. You can spot him in a crowd with that klobuk. Say what you want about his fashion taste, but he's ordaining married men in his eparchy. Everyone knows when he is at the sobor.

Eis polla eti, Despota.

Hey! Maybe he likes songs like "Smoke on the Water" and "High-Way Star".He might be a "Deep Purple" fan. I'm sorry maybe I shouldn't have written that.But I think our bishops look really nice in Kobluks and the important thing is that some of our bishops are starting to use them more frequently.
Lauro

Dear Deacon/Cantor Randolph,

the Kamelavkion's worn by both Metropolitan Stefan and Bishop Basil are a big improvement over the Gold and Silver Mitres worn by past Philadelphia Metropolitans.

The late Metropolitan Constatine would wear his Mitre everywhere. He may have been a little imperious .

You are definetely right in saying that both Metropolitan Stefan and Bishop Basil are returning our Church to it's proper heritage and traditions. The foundations both these men are laying are going to be very strong for future generations.

Wishing both Metropolitan Stefa and Bishop Basil a Happy Thanksgiving....

And to you and your family Deacon/Cantor...

And to Ukrainian Greek Catholics everywhere...

Happy Thanksgiving,
Steven

Dear Steven,

Eastern Catholic Thanksgiving is actually the Feast of the Transfiguration!

God bless you and yours at American Thanksgiving!

Alex

Dear Alex,

Thank you for that Big Guy!

I know it is the Feast of The Holy Transfiguration .

But this is a time were all Eastern Catholics can refelect on the majesty of our Lord, partake in some family get togethers and bonding, and just thank our Lord for the gifts he has bestowed on us.

Steven

Dear Steven,

Yes, it's true that I knew you knew!

We of "Canuckistan" once celebrated Thanksgiving together with you.

But then it was moved to October.

At least we have more time to get over the Thanksgiving turkey before Christmas!

As you know, "Thanksgiving Day" was only established as a regular, harvest-festival recently.

It was formerly the prerogative of the King (when you guys were Royal Colonies ) to establish Thanksgiving Days - often at his whim and fancy.

A Thanksgiving Day was proclaimed when Lord Admiral Nelson won his victory over Napoleon, as an example.

If I'm not mistaken, I think you Americans really honour Thanksgiving Day in a way no one else does.

Perhaps, as far as secular holidays goes, it is of even more significance than or equal to that of Christmas?

Alex

Dear Alex,

The first Amarican Thanksgiving took place when the Plymouth Pilgrims and their Wampanoag neighbors sat down for a three day feast in the autumn of 1621.

The American Thansgiving feast is a descendant of earlier English harvest feasts. I am sure that the Pilgrims drew on these earlier manor and village feasts when they prepared their menu for 50 colinists and 90 Native guests.

The first menu would have included wildfowl and venison, vegetables, breads, and beer. This is just the culinary aspect.

There is also a spiritual aspect . The Pilgrims were Puritan Separatists who no longer accepted the Church of England as a true Church, and separated themselves from it to form their own true Church based solely on Bibical precedent. The Puritan Pilgrims rejected Saint's Days, Easter, and Christmas because they had no scriptural justification. But they did like Psalms and celebrated the Lords Supper which had Scriptural basis.

So to answer your question todays American Thanksgiving with it's divirse spiritual legacy and prayers of thanksgiving is the beginning of a season that takes us to Christmas when Christ was born.

Steven

Well, folks, so much for feasting - Pylipivka (St. Philip's Fast) began on November 28th on the Julian Calendar. Happy fasting !

You know, there are propers for Thanksgiving (or any Divine Liturgy offered in thanksgiving) in the Ukrainian Catholic Liturgikon. There are some parishes that have Divine Liturgy or a Moleben of Thanksgiving on that day.

I'm still waiting for the day I see my bearded (but trimmed) Basilian bishop don a Kobluk, commemorate our Patriarch, and omit the filioque. One of these days . . .

Andrij

Dear Diak,

I know it is fasting period. Beginning tommorow only 36 days .

What I wrote above is a treatise about how most Americans spend Thanksgiving.

This Thanksgiving I used my Lenten Recipe manuel and prepared a nice bean salad.

Wishing all a happy and spiritually rewarding fast.

Steven