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Lviv, Nov. 21, 2007 (CWNews.com) - The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has announced the excommunication of a Ruthenian-rite priest in Ukraine, the KAI news service reports.

Father Basil Kovpak is the head of the Priestly Society of Saint Josephat Kuntsevych (SSJK), a group with ties to the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) which has been active among Byzantine Catholics in the Ukraine since the early 1990s. Bishops of the SPPX-- themselves excommunicated because they were consecrated without approval from the Holy See-- have ordained priests for the SSJK.

This is the second time that the excommunication of Father Kovpak has been announced. In 2003, the Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, excommunicated the defiant priest. However the Roman Rota later declared the excommunication null and void for lack of canonical form.

Last November, SSPX Bishop Richard Williamson illicitly ordained two SSJK priests and seven deacons. Father Kovpak has been excommunicated for his attendance at those ordinations.

The SSJK has a seminary and 30 seminarians in Lviv, Ukraine and has employed the assistance of SSPX clergy in the formation of its seminarians. The SSJK rejects the de-Latinization of the Divine Liturgy and promotes missionary activity among the Orthodox. Like the SSPX, the SSJK maintains that it is loyal to the Pope.

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04 December 2022

Joachim and Anna Rejoice

Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed, * for God has heard Joachim and Anna * and He promises manifestly that they, against all hope, would give birth to the Maiden of God * from whom the Uncircumscribed One Himself would be born, becoming man, * and he commanded the Angels to cry out to her: * “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!” (Troparion - Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Today the whole world celebrates * the conception of Anne which was brought about by God, * for she gave birth to the one who, beyond understanding, * gave birth to the Word. (Kontakion - Tone 4)

Saint Nicholas of Myra

The truth of your deeds has revealed you to your flock, * as a rule of faith, an image of meekness, and a teacher of abstinence. * Therefore, you attained the heights through humility, * and riches through poverty. * O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, * pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved. (Troparion, Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

In Myra, You were shown to be a servant of the sacred things, O Holy Nicholas, * for, fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, you, O Venerable, laid down your life for your people, * and saved the innocent from death. * Therefore, you were sanctified as a great initiate of the grace of God. (Kontakion, Tone 3)