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Church News Jump to new posts
Re: Ecumenical Fiest of St.Henry of Finland in Rome Fr. Deacon Thomas 01/20/25 06:39 PM
Saint Henrik, Bishop and Martyr
By Jim Kurtt


Saint Henrik (Henry, Heikki) of Uppsala is the patron saint of Finland, according to the Roman Calender of the Catholic Church. He was an Englishman, living in Rome in 1151 when he was asked to accompany the papal legate, Nicholas Cardinal Breakspear (later Pope Adrian IV) to Scandinavia. The following year Henrik was consecrated bishop of Uppsala, Sweden by Cardinal Breakspear.

Henrik accompanied King Erik of Sweden in the latter’s invasion of the Finnish territory in 1155 to punish the Finnish pirates, and he remained in Finland when King Erik returned to Sweden. Henrik set out to convert the Finns to the Christian faith. His missionary work concentrated around the Ahvenanmaa Islands and thearea of present-day Turku.

According to tradition, while on a missionary journey in 1156, Bishop Henrik stopped at the home of Lalli, an affluent farmer and convert. Lalli was not at home and Lalli’s wife, Kerttu, did not want to offer the bishop anything to eat. The bishop insisted that custom dictated that she supply him with his needs. Upon
leaving Bishop Henrik paid the mistress of house for the provisions he had received.

When Lalli returned home Kerttu related the story of the bishop’s visit, but intentionally did not mention that he paid for his food. In anger Lalli started out after the bishop and caught up to him on the
frozen surface of Köyliö Lake, where Lalli murdered the bishop.

The grisly tale continues with Lalli removing the bishop’s miter and placing it upon his own head. When Lalli returned home and attempted to remove the miter his scalp came with it.

An equally gruesome tale states that Lalli attempted to steal the bishop’s ring from Henrik’s thumb, but Lalli could not remove it. Finally, in desperation, Lalli cut off the bishop’s thumb in order to secure the ring. The ring fell into the snow and could not be found. Traditions and folktales developed around Saint Henrik’s murder. It was believed that the missing bishop’s ring can be seen through the crystal clear waters of Köyliö Lake, and although it can be seen shimmering in the waters it can never be reached. Other folktales state that a blind fisherman caught the ring and placed it on his eyes, causing him to immediately regain his sight.

Bishop Henrik’s body was buried at Nousiainen. In the 1290’s his remains were removed to the site of the new diocesan center in Turku. It was during the end of the thirteenth century that Henrik was elevated to the position of national saint. His death date of January 19th was the highest feast-day in the calendar of saints of the Diocese of Turku, which covered the whole of Finland at that time. Great masses were said on Saint Henrik’s day and Henrik’s cult and legends highly influenced both ecclesiastical art and literature in Finland.

And what of Lalli? Tradition states that Lalli died within the year of killing Bishop Henrik. During this time he led a cursed life. Mice attacked Lalli as if they were going to eat him alive. Fleeing his home, Lalli took up residence in a root cellar, but the rodents were able to find him there as well. Finally Lalli escaped to a place called Kiukanen, in the village of Harola. He built a small cabin there on a place still called Lallinmaa (Lalli’s land).Even here the mice tormented hapless Lalli. In the end Lalli was driven up a large tree by the mice. The mice began to gnaw at the tree until it came crashing down, sending Lalli and the mice into the lake, where they all drown. To this day this lake is called Hiirijärvi (Mouse Lake). In medieval times and long afterwards, Lalli represented paganism and St. Henrik, the victory of Christianity. In art, the figure of Lalli is most often shown lying under the foot of St. Henrik, subdued and scalpless. In the more recent past, some people have attempted to portray Lalli as a symbol of Finnish independence and unwillingness to submit to authority.

[url=ttp://pasty.com/winter2004/sthenrik.html][/url]

It is very worthy of note that this Feast occurs within Western Christendom's "Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity" (January 18 - 25)
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Town Hall Jump to new posts
Re: Introduction EMagnus 01/20/25 03:09 AM
Originally Posted by theophan
What does the priest at the parish say in answer to your concerns?

The priest is the one who told me that he's not sure whether he can Chrismate the children. He has not pushed for me to make a canonical change, but he was also honest in saying that he does not know how to handle this situation. This is the first time he's dealt with a young family coming over from the Latin Church since he has been the pastor. I am respecting what he tells me.

Originally Posted by theophan
Is your issue that your children cannot receive the Eucharist at the Ruthenian parish because they are not confirmed/chrismated?

I'm not sure. I have not asked if the children can receive the Eucharist.

Originally Posted by theophan
What do you mean by "canonical rights"?

I mean that one has a right to receive the sacraments/mysteries from the church if one is properly disposed. If I were canonically a Ruthenian, or indeed a member of any of the Eastern Churches that use the Byzantine Rite, there wouldn't be any reason to withhold the Chrismation. They've already been baptized, and they are being raised in a Christian home.

The situation might work itself out, and I have every reason to believe that it will. I don't think anyone is operating with bad faith. But it makes me think, will I face similar issues if any future children that need to be Baptized/Chrismated? If my children want want to be married?
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Prayer Jump to new posts
Re: Multiple intentions - health of family tscripa 01/16/25 10:15 PM
cartheer,

I will pray for you and your family.

Tim
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Vespers, Matins & the Divine Liturgy Jump to new posts
Re: Armenian Sunday Lectionary Michael_Thoma 01/16/25 07:53 PM
The last Armenian Catholic Church I attended, the books were the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox books with a small edit page inserted including the Holy Father Pope [Insert Name], Catholicos-Patriarch [Insert Name] and (Arch)Bishop [Insert Name] on the necessary pages
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Vespers, Matins & the Divine Liturgy Jump to new posts
Re: Status of Revised Divine Liturgy in 2024 theophan 01/16/25 04:10 PM
Christ is in our midst!!

miroslav_jc,

Welcome to the forum. We hope your time with us is spiritually beneficial.

You may find on the forum a working translation of the Divine Liturgies of both St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great. They are a work of love by members of the Ruthenian Catholic Church and this forum. Many have worked on these translations which you may find in the liturgy section in a locked thread. Go to Mysteries, go to the first topic, and in that you will find the locked thread.

The problem and objections that many Ruthenian Catholics have with the "teal terror" is that it is a very real break with the tradition of the Ruthenian Catholic Church. The translation in the "teal terror" was made using a Greek text of these liturgies of a later time than the tradition of the Ruthenian Catholic Church. The Ruthenian texts were compiled and published by Rome in the early 1940s but were ignored in the preparation of the texts used now in the Ruthenian Catholic Church.

This is the understanding that I have been given by members of the forum who are also members of the Ruthenian Catholic Church.

Bob
Moderator
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Faith & Theology Jump to new posts
Re: Why is grace a free gift that no one can earn? BlindEyes 01/12/25 02:46 PM
Originally Posted by theophan
Christ is in our midst!!

I think you need to understand that God is not some sort of Divine Vending Machine. By that I mean He is not bound to our prayers of petition, whether to answer or not. Father Seraphim Rose in his book "Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future" touches on the phenomenon you cite. He reminds us that the Enemy can fake miracles, signs, and wonders--and he does in order to lead astray believers not grounded in the Fatih.

The examples of those "before" us are the Desert Fathers, the saints whose lives are written for us, and our spiritual fathers. The idea of asking without reference to these sources and to the Church is one that poses danger to all of us. God will give you direction in your life through the Church. Put this in the hands of your spiritual father.

Remember that Christiantiy--following Christ--is not a "do it yourself" project.


I do believe the dark side can manipulate through signs, wonders or magic. I don't want to say I've seen it but there is a chance I have. I just don't want to accuse God for being evil. It's like I could be desiring something evil then temptation dealing with that particular something surrounds me sometimes. Sometimes all it takes is a thought and something seems to read my mind. Like I was talking to people about the lottery and covetousness. I get on the bus and in front of me, written on the back of a seat, it says money. Things like this happen often. One day I was talking to God about Odysseus being taught to us in school but not Jesus. I go looking on social media and found a channel I liked dealing with Jesus and some music I think. Not sure what I did but I think I clicked on something or looked up the song and it lead me to Odysseus. How could something of Jesus lead me to Odysseus? It was images of Christ which could be idolatry so that's possible. Not sure what the reason for this was but I tried to resist temptation. So, if a sign, wonder or miracle is good and without sin I believe it to be from God. For every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights.

As for God, I was looking in my backyard and I saw a squirrel. I asked God to protect the squirrel from backyard cats and birds. Like in this area where I live. Eventually I go outside to take out the trash. While walking to the dumpster I see a bird on a post. It swoops down right past me and flies into the backyard after the squirrel. The squirrel runs up a tree and gets away. This was literally minutes after praying. I personally believe God is teaching me and molding me like clay. The someone I told mentioned birds needing to eat. So I prayed for that. Then shortly after, maybe a couple days, with the prayer still fresh on my heart, I believe God showed me a bird with something in its mouth flying down the street. God does things like that for me from time to time. He even instills within me fear. One of my prayers led to a dog biting me in the face. Yet the other places me in jail and another prayer left me bleeding in strange places. I believe God is training me as He shows me mercy. He is my teacher.
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Faith & Theology Jump to new posts
Re: How does one receive the Holy Spirit? What must they do? theophan 01/11/25 07:45 PM
Christ is in our midst!!

I lifted some thoughts about the Holy Spirit how He relates to Christ, and how He relates to us. If you want to know how you have received the Holy Spirit, take a look and compare this to your life.

Christ prayed when He merged from His baptism in the Jordan, making it clear that this was a special moment in his life. The Holy Spirit came down on him like a dove at Theophany. This is similar to how the Spirit empowered the disciples at Pentecost for their mission. Jesus’ baptism prepared him to spread the good news, heal broken hearts, and set people free. He was gentle, kind, and always ready to help those in need. Our baptism prepares us to share in the work of Jesus. We are called to care for one another, to help those in need, to show mercy and love, and to guide others toward God’s goodness. We have a mission to share God’s love with others. Just as Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are also given the strength to do good in our lives. We can bring hope to those who are sad, help those who are struggling, and show kindness to everyone we meet. Through our actions, we can show the love of God in the world.
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Church News Jump to new posts
Re: Eastern Jesuit Deceased Roman 01/10/25 03:50 PM
To my mind, Basilians are Eastern rite Jesuits.

Obviously, that isn't quite right (no pun intended), but what are the more significant differences?
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Town Hall Jump to new posts
Re: Columbus, OH St. John Chrysostom EMagnus 01/10/25 03:00 PM
Originally Posted by chooch factor
Thanks for your prayers. We need them. The move is schedule for 22 days from now and we’re still looking for a place to land when we get there. Also, I’m going back and forth between excitement and terror about the whole thing. I’m blowing up a decent career with decent pay to take a step back and start over with a new company for a lifestyle upgrade for me and my family and it’s nerve-racking, to say the least. Anybody else have any advice generally about doing this sort of thing?

I did something sort of similar, but I was younger (late twenties), had one child at the time, and was moving near family. But we did have to rebuild most of our social network and learn to live on less money.

I'm not sure I have any advice aside from what you already know: start meeting people ASAP. If you don't have community at your parish (yet!), you can probably find some group of people nearby who at least share the same values. For example, my wife was able to find a mom's group at a local Roman Catholic parish full of some very wonderful families.
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Town Hall Jump to new posts
Re: Poems for God's glory EMagnus 01/10/25 06:14 AM
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Town Hall Jump to new posts
Re: Latin Catholic Interested in Byzantine Catholicism EMagnus 01/10/25 01:50 AM
Originally Posted by theophan
On another note, Father Gabriel Bunge has been received into the Russian Orthodox Church, tonsured into the Great Schema, and is now known as Schema-Archimandrite Gabriel Bunge.

Ah, very interesting. I knew he had disappeared from Catholic circles. I just found a letter that wrote about five years ago criticizing the state of Catholicism, published on New Liturgical Movement: https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2019/09/an-orthodox-monk-on-modern-catholic.html
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The Christian East & West Jump to new posts
Re: Conficting info on which Sui Juris I belong to EMagnus 01/10/25 01:37 AM
Originally Posted by Three Cents
However, if your father was Greek or Byzantine Rite Catholic and you received the Sacraments of Initiation in the Roman Rite your Rite did not automatically change with the Saramental circumstances. I was told by Alexis Floridi, SJ of Blessed Memory that I belonged to the Byzantine Rite of my father at Our Lady of Kazan Russian Greek Catholic Church in South Boston, MA.

This applies only if you were received prior to age 14. If you received Sacraments of Initiation after age 14, you belong to whichever Sui Juris church received you.

Originally Posted by CKW2024
I was baptized Protestant.

I'm assuming this was a valid baptism, but, if it wasn't, you could be received into which Sui Juris church you wanted through baptism. Otherwise, you are likely a member of the Latin Church.

The Diocese of Arlington has a very good summary of these rules: https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/ca...-of-canonical-affairs/canonical-affairs/
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Church News Jump to new posts
The Primate of Albanian Orthodox Church in critical condition Adamcsc 01/09/25 05:33 PM
The Primate of Albanian Orthodox Church in critical condition [risu.ua]
From RISU; "Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed deep concern about the health of Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania, who is currently in critical condition in an Athens hospital.

The Primate of the Albanian Church was urgently transported from Tirana to Athens by a Greek Air Force military plane after a sharp deterioration in his health. According to doctors, the Archbishop, who has been treated for a viral infection since December 30, developed gastralgia. This was reported by Orthodoxtimes."
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Vespers, Matins & the Divine Liturgy Jump to new posts
Re: Scan of Ordo Celebrationis bwfackler 01/07/25 11:09 PM
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Prayer Jump to new posts
Re: Prayers for 2025! Fr. Deacon Thomas 01/06/25 11:32 PM
That the whole year may be holy, peaceful, and sinless let us ask the Lord.
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Faith & Theology Jump to new posts
Re: The Messiah's Attitude Toward His Mother. Drummerboy 01/04/25 04:57 PM
Mary was one of the sources of information for St. Luke's Gospel. I'm not sure it's fair to say the Scripture is entirely silent on the warmth between the two, especially in light of Tradition.
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Food - Recipes Jump to new posts
Re: Koliva Question./Boston Baked Beans theophan 01/03/25 12:34 AM
Christ is in our midst!!

I'm sorry for your loss. Why not? No one here will tell and I don't think the Koliva police will catch you.
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Old-Ritualists Forum Jump to new posts
Re: Catholic Uniate Old Believer website??? Orthodox Catholic 12/28/24 01:44 AM
Dear Steve,

Happy St Steven's Day! Ven. Andrey received Old Believers under his protection and promoted the study of their Rite. He was related to Tsar St Nicholas Romanov by blood and helped rescue a good number of Russian arisocrates fleeing the Bolsheviks. Leonid Fyodorov was appointed by him to serve Russian Catholics - for which Leonid spent 14 years in the Solovetsky penal colony.

Alex the old Believer
5 1,775 Read More
The Christian East & West Jump to new posts
Re: Prayer Ropes. Orthodox Catholic 12/28/24 01:39 AM
Actually, I have purchased prayer ropes from Phillip the Beadsman - they are exquisite and he will also make custom orders!

Alex
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The Christian East & West Jump to new posts
Re: Orthodox Saints in byzantine catholic churches Orthodox Catholic 12/28/24 01:36 AM
With respect to the veneration of Orthodox saints in EC Churches . . . there is fully liturgical veneration of many saints glorified by the Orthodox Churches within EC churches.

St Photios the Great, Defender of Orthodoxy is formally honoured within the Ruthenian Catholic Church. St Gregory Palamas is honoured liturgically as well and it is quite standard to hear him commemorated on the Second Sunday of Lent - Patriarch Josef Cardinal Slypij in particular promoted his liturgical veneration. Rome itself acknowledged St Gregory's sanctity in 1973 although I've lost my reference for that.- it was first brought to my attention by Fr Archimandrite Sergius Keleher ("Incognitus" here - memory eternal!).

There are icons of all manner of Orthodox saints in St Michael's UGC parish in Welland, Ontario. Also an icon of St Job of Pochayiv in another UGCC pariwh in Alberta. I've also seen the icon of the Pillars of Orthodoxy in a UGCC monastery on the tetrapod . . .

The Syro-Malabar EC church commemorates the feast of the Greek Doctors or Fathers on the same date as the Assyrian Church of the East does. These are none other than . . .Diodore of Tarsus, Theodore the Interpreter Bishop of Mopsuestia and a patriarch of Constantinople by the name of . . . Nestorius.

They also honour other Assyrian saints like Mar Babai the Great and others too.

Don't come after me - contact them.

Rome itself has sporadically received a number of post-Schism Orthodox saints including St Sergius of Radonezh and St Seraphim of Sarov.In 1904 when the Russian Catholic Orthodox church came into being under the Venerable Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky, Rome recognized ALL of the post-schism Orthodox saints in the Russian Orthodox calendar for liturgical veneration by this EC Church.

And in the diary of Bl Basil Velichkovsky CSsR, he wrote that whenever an Orthodox parish came into communion with Rome, he made it a policy to leave their locally-venerated saints in their calendars - meaning even very locally honoured worthies that had not yet even made it into the more regional Orthodox calendars.

Let's also remember that there continue to be a great plethora of local Roman Catholics saints and beati whose cultus Rome has not yet formally acknowledged but those veneration as such is even encourgaged by Rome. Pope Francis recently approved the local veneration of a Blessed Jean who was honoured locally in Italy for a few hundred years before.

Members of the Anglican Ordinariate too continue to privately honour their own Anglican saints especially King Charles the Martyr who has statues and even churches named for him throughout the Anglican communion.

Alex
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Church News Jump to new posts
Re: UGCC Bishop Stepan Khmiliar passed away FloridaPole 12/27/24 05:43 PM
Blessed Eternal Memory!
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Town Hall Jump to new posts
"What God Is Not" jumps shark, hires porn star LionHippo44 12/27/24 12:58 PM
Byzantine podcast "What God Is Not," headed by Fr. Michael O'Loughlin and "Mother" Natalia, has brought on porn star Bree Solstad to help lead the podcast team and teach Byzantine theology and spirituality. Solstad is one of the latest "celebrity" converts to the faith, with a twist - even after her "miraculous" conversion to the faith, she maintained an Amazon wish list linked to her former Only Fans account, asking the online Johns to whom she previously performed sins of lust for supplies to make overpriced rosaries she sells on Etsy. As ridiculous as this is, there may be a bright side - she most likely has a better grasp of theology than "Mother" Natalia, who endlessly rambles on with the most vacuous and useless spiritual "insights" imaginable.
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Town Hall Jump to new posts
Theophany and ordinary time fasts Lech Lecha 12/26/24 10:30 AM
Hi everybody. I am a Latin Rite Catholic who feels a draw to the east and want to spend 2025 living like a Byzantine. I attend an Eastern parish, and I’m involved there. However, I realize there are so much I do not understand. I know Theophany is coming up soon and there is a fast, but I’m not quite sure what that means in eastern context. Also, our priest mentioned something about fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, but again I am not sure what that means. I would appreciate any insight that you can provide. Please forgive me if this is the wrong place for it and let me know if there is a better forum or in chain on this already.
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Faith & Theology Jump to new posts
Re: Why do Christians eat pork even though it’s forbidden in the Old AlethosAnesti 12/24/24 10:55 PM
Acts 10:9-16
The next day as the three travelers were approaching the town, Peter went out on the balcony to pray. It was about noon. Peter got hungry and started thinking about lunch. While lunch was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the skies open up. Something that looked like a huge blanket lowered by ropes at its four corners settled on the ground. Every kind of animal and reptile and bird you could think of was on it. Then a voice came: “Go to it, Peter—kill and eat.” Peter said, “Oh, no, Lord. I’ve never so much as tasted food that was not kosher.” The voice came a second time: “If God says it’s okay, it’s okay.” This happened three times, and then the blanket was pulled back up into the skies.

By that logic, the old testament imposes 613 commandments, sabbath rules, sacrifices etc. Christ gives one rule, to love your neighbor like yourself, which is, in and of itself, to love God (who is, ontologically, Love, and who resides within the "hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick and imprisoned", as per Matthew 25:37-40) and his one commandment of Love, removing the previous self-serving rules of slavish individualistic self glorification, putting mankind at the center of one's actions.
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Faith & Theology Jump to new posts
Are Melkites in communion with the Greek Orthodox church? AlethosAnesti 12/24/24 10:45 PM
I was talking to a Melkite priest today and I was told that, even though the Melkites have cut mutual sacramental ties with the Antiochian Orthodox, on the other hand Constantinople feels "compelled" towards the Melkites due to the historical events that lead to their schism, deeming the Melkite church as a sister church to the Greek Orthodox church, rather than a "traitor" church like with the UGCC, with whom they kept no ties, hence that it's pretty much up to the priest whether to allow it or not, but that technically the Melkites are still in communion with the Greek Orthodox and can receive Holy Communion at a Greek Orthodox parish. Is this true?
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