www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Icon of our Lady of Kazan to return to Russia

I simply don't know. BTW, how could you compare
Okhtyrka Icon with Kholm Icon?!

What a blasphemy!!!

Sincerely,
subdeacon Peter
from Lublin, former Greek-Catholic Eparchy of
Kholm, now Orthodox Eparchy of Lublin & Kholm (Chelm)

Dear Subdeacon Peter,

Yes, both icons are beautiful indeed. I understand the Icon of Kholm also has an Akathist written in its honour.

You wouldn't know where a copy of this Akathist could be found, would you?

Alex

But OURS is CERTAINLY faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar
better, holier, older and so on!!!

I would.

I'll send you a copy with pleasure. May I use
the address I'll find on the envelope of St. James Liturgy in Ukrainian?

Sincerely,
subdeacon Peter

Dear Subdeacon Peter,

You have to forgive my friend, Brian.

After all, he is an American . . .

Enough said?

Alex

Yes, just enough.

However, Brian was partially right as some churches were destroyed (mainly in 1920s, certainly not in 1938) as "monuments of Russian
domination". I mean, for instance, two cathedrals
(in Warsaw and Lublin), Sts. Cyril and Methodios
Church in Kholm and some others.
Many Orthodox churches in ethnic Polish territories were built for Russian soldiers and administrative personnel. After 1915 (beginning of
Austro-German occupation of so-called Polish
Kingdom, created by Vienna Congress a century
earlier) they seemed unnecessary, because in many localities Orthodox simply didn't live or their number rapidly fell down. So many such churches
were turned in military and civil churches of RC Church, destroyed or transferred for secular use.
Some of them were previously Latin, so they returned to the RC Church (first Orthodox Cathedral in Warsaw, for example, was originally a Piarist Fathers church).
In my own city of Lublin remained two churches:
Holy Transfiguration (since 1989 Cathedral) and a
small church in the main cemetery. Military Orthodox church became RC military church, old Greek Orthodox Church of the Nativity of Theotokos became...RC church of St. Josaphat (I wonder what did St. Josaphat think in Heaven about his name being used to erase such a "schismatic title" as "Nativity of Theotokos" ).

So the story is more complex that an average
American could understand.

Sincerely,
subdeacon Peter

Dear Subdeacon Peter,

Yes, please and I shall remunerate you for the Akathist to the Kholm icon - whatever you say!!

I've read about this Akathist, but have never seen a copy. Everything else but. I am so very happy . . .

Brian is O.K. though!

He is very zealous and dedicated.

And I sometimes find that I cannot hold the fact that he is going to become an Orthodox convert against him.

He may be an American, but once he is Orthodox, I'm sure that experience will widen his perspectives .

Hopefully, my American friends will still be speaking to me tomorrow . . .

Alex

Alex,

I may be an "American" but I am certainly internationalist in my views and hopefully not too parochial.

But then, you are my Devil's Advocate

Dear Brian,

You're O.K., Big Guy! Just jokin'!

Your perspectives are truly international and truly egalitarian with that immaculate dose of true Irish diplomacy!

Alex

The Liturgy of St. James in Ukrainian would
be the best "renumeration". I understand you've
already sent it, but snail mail takes time...especially between two continents.
Well, I want to send you the original booklet, not
the photocopy, so it'll take a while for me to
purchase it. You now, it's not easy for a Greek-Catholic clergyman (even "minor" one) to visit a
"Disuniate" church... Just kidding! In fact local Orthodox
Archbishop seems to like me.

I am too. Liturgy of St. James in Ukrainian, translated by a Basilian...

Of course it will. Anyway, I write about "an
average American", not about Brian, who definitely
cannot be called so. An average American is not
Orthodox. Neither he knows who Pilsudski was.
I am afraid an average American doesn't know in which part of Asia Poland and Ukraine are located.
And Brian knows even proper spelling of Pilsudski's last name (maybe even with Polish diacritical mark on "l")? So he's definitely
OVERaverage.

Sincerely,
subdeacon Peter

Dear Subdeacon Peter,

A photocopy is fine!

By the way, I notice in our Basilian Catalogue that you have written a book about the Martyrs of Pratulyn.

That is you, correct?

Alex

But the original booklet is better, isn't?

I'll try to purchase it - the Orthodox may still
have it. BTW, I am going to visit Kholm this
Saturday, so maybe I'll buy it in local Orthodox
church of St. John the Theologian.

Correct, correct. Haven't you read it yet?

Sincerely,
subdeacon Peter

Dear Subdeacon Peter,

Actually, believe it or not, the Martyrs of Pratulin aren't popular here.

I don't know why.

But I'll be visiting our Basilian bookstore (if they will let me in ) to purchase a copy this weekend.

Alex

Forgive me for my ignorance but I've never heard of the martyrs of Pratulyn. Is there a site that I could visit that would have some information either in Ukrainian or English maybe even in Portuguese.
Lauro

Dear Lauro,

This is a group of 13 Ukrainian Catholics who tried to prevent their Greek Catholic parish in Pratulyn in Pidlasia from being overrun by Tsarist troops.

They were shot for their efforts and were beatified by the Pope.

There is a Greek Catholic site in Polish that has their icon and even their Akathist. Would you like that one?

Alex

Dear Alex,
Sure, although I hope I could figure out the text in Polish. Isn't there a Ukie version?
Lauro