www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Photo Gallery Our Lady of Fatima Russian Byzantine Catholic Chapel

Here are five photos I took years ago during a visit to Our Lady of Fatima Russian Byzantine Catholic chapel in San Francisco, CA.

Note: The chapel has been remodeled since these pictures were taken.

Слава Ісусу Христу!
Слава навіки!

Hello to all.

I have one question. Who declared that St Therese to be Patroness of Russia?

Z Bohom

Kolya

Kolya,

She was declared patroness of Russia by Pope Pius XI in 1927. She is also the patroness of the Russicum in Rome. Her icon is also included on the iconostasis of the Russicum chapel.

God bless,

griego catolico

One usually finds an icon of Saint Therese in Russian Catholic churches. When the relics were brought to Rome a few years ago, they were received quite solemnly and with great festivity at the Church of Saint Anthony the Abbot (between the Russicum and the Pontifical Oriental Institute); a great many faithful came to venerate the holy relics.

I have been told that at the time of the canonization, the Carmelites had raised substantial funds, which they in turn donated to the renovation of the buildings which then became the Russicum, and that this was among the inspirations which led to her being entrusted with the patronage of Russia (at the time Russia needed all the spiritual help that could be mustered).

All ye Saints of God, intercede for us!

Fr. Serge

St Therèse is also the Patroness of the Missions

Father, bless.

Here is an article I have about the visit of the relics of Saint Therese to the Russicum.

THE RELICS OF THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS AT THE RUSSICUM PONTIFICAL COLLEGE IN ROME


The relics of St Therese of the Child Jesus were received and honoured with particular fervour and solemn liturgies in the Russicum Pontifical College in Rome from 16th to 17th December 2000. It is the first time the relics of Therese visited this College of which she has been patron since 1929. In that year, in gratitude for the financial help Mother Agnes sent to the Pope for the building of this college, Pius XI wanted to entrust to the "Star of his Pontificate" this Eastern college which the Pontiff hoped would train priests for future missionary work in Soviet lands. The Jesuits were put in charge of the college and Church in which the liturgy would be celebrated in the Byzantine Slavic rite.
Various events give particular splendour to this visit of Therese of the Child Jesus to "her Russicum". On the morning of 16th December, in preparation for the arrival of the reliquary, a round table discussion was held with various contributions: St Therese of Lisieux and the Russicum (Fr Richard Cemus, SI, Rector); St Therese, Pius XI and the Russicum (Mons. L. Lamza), The relevance to present times of St Teresa of Lisieux, doctor of the Church (Fr J. Castellano); The Russicum's ecumenism (Fr V. Poggi, SI); A Carmelites life witness (Sr. M. Tuita of the Donum Dei missionary family). Worthy of mention among those assisting at the round table was: H. E. Mons. Walter Kasper, Secretary of the Pontifical Institute for the unity of Christians.

The welcoming of the relics was carried out according to the Byzantine Slavic rite, at which presided the Rector of the Church of St Anthony, Fr C. Robinet. During the whole afternoon there was a succession of prayers by various groups: The Aletti Centre, the Ukrainian Sisters Handmaids of the Immaculate Conceptions of Mary, the seminarians from the college of St Josaphat and the Roumanian College. Vespers was celebrated with Matins and the veneration lasted until midnight.

The following day, Sunday 17th, were celebrated Lauds in the Latin rite, Terce in the Byzantine rite for cathedrals and the solemn Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine rite at which presided the Archimandrite, Fr R. Taft, Vicerector of the Eastern Pontifical Institute. This was followed by the Moleben or prayer in honour of St Therese, with the proper texts from the office of the Saint in the Slavic Byzantine rite. The veneration of the relics continued until 6 in the evening when there was a solemn farewell prayer in the presence of Cardinal A. Silvestrini and Bishop Miroslav Marusyn.

It was particularly attractive to see the saint's relics in a typically Eastern environment, surrounded by icons, the sweet chant of the Slavic liturgy and the incense filling the Church.

In this way Therese left her mark in this place of hope for ecumenism, as a universal sister, loved and venerated even by the Orthodox.

Getting back to Our Lady of Fatima's...

As I mentioned in my initial post, the chapel has undergone remodeling. The chapel is brighter in color. The carpeting has been removed and fewer icons are now present on the walls. Clear windows have replaced the stained glass on the street side of the chapel.

You can see how the chapel looks like now by viewing photos of the diaconate ordination that took place in 2005: http://www.byzantinecatholic.org/Community/KyrilOrd05.html

I love that icon of Our Lady of Fatima! I have a prayer card of it. The colors are great!

Ray