www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Consercration of His Grace, John

Friends,

I just came back from all the Liturgical and reception (no banquet, suprisingly) fesitivities, and I have a lot to report on!

The Cathedral was probably 3/4 full which was nice to see, so you're looking at roughly 1,500 people and clergy in attendence. The Liturgy was nearly 4 and 1/2 hours long.

Patriarch Lubomyr was the principal Consecrator, along with Met. Stefan and Bishop Michael Chomiak, CSSR.

There were many many many Hierarchs in attendence, notibably, Patriarch Lubomyr, Metropolitan Basil, all of the UGCC Bishops of the US (minus Bishop Innocent), Bishop David Motiuk, close to 15 RC bishops including two Cardinals, 2 Orthodox Bishops, and I think a couple Melkite Bishops.

And yes, the Gold-Crossed, purple skufia, and bearded Mitered Archpriest Roman Galadza of St. Elias fame, was there as well.

The whole Divine Liturgy was congregational singing which was amazing to hear in a Cathedral with such good acoustics. And it was a even and nice balance of both Ukr. and English.

The reception following the Divine Liturgy was nice, and Fr. Galadza had more people greeting him its seems than most of the other Hierarchs. Seminarians and priests were constantly comming up to recieve advice and blessings, and of course were showed pictures of St. Elias and given packets of liturgical music.

The newly-consecrated Bishop John was warmly recieved and everyone is saying he is a truly holy man, a good pastor, and solid liturgically. His homily was elequoent and I think everyone expects many great things to come from him in his new role as Auxiliary Bishop.

I'm sorry I didn't get to take as many pictures as I would have liked ( I only took pictures up until the Gospel), however, I did try and get shots of moments of significance during the Liturgy. I also took two short movie clips of the DL, mainly Bishops John's first Hierarchal Blessing and the chanting of Is Polla Eti Despota.

Although my report of the day isn't nearly as detailed nor journalisitc, just know it was truly a special and blessed day for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia.

Here are some of the pictures; sorry is some are blurry:

http://photobucket.com/albums/b21/Poltavchan/Husar%20visit/?start=0

Is Polla Eti Despota!

I just realized I hardly got any good close-ups of the newly consecrated Bishop John. Sorry about that. You can see him from a distance being vested and in one shot, reciting the Creed (sans Filioque).

-uc

Dear UC,

I know the problems of trying to take action shots from a distance. You wish that people would not move so fast.

All in all it looked to be a wonderful and spirit filled event in the life of the Church. Many years to the newly-consecrated Bishop John!

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Many years to the newly consecrated servant of God, Bishop John!

I noticed Bishop William of Van Nuys in picture # 16 just to the left of the Cardinals.

"Oy Vey", more collapsible mitres and "sewn" omophorions!!!

Ungcsertezs

Dear UkrainianCatholic,

Thank you for sharing the lovely photos. It seemed like a very special day.

The Cathedral is stunningly beautiful. I especially like the iconostasis and the coloring of the iconography.

May God grant your new Bishop, John, many years of health and happiness!

In Christ,
Alice

Wonderful photos - thank you so much.

Yes I too noted the uniate omphorions and like all uniatisms so very silly especailly as the whole byzantine world wears them differently. Now the Pope is wearing his Pallium in the older way which is the same way the whole Byzantine world sans Ukrainians and Ruthenias. Having said that I have noted that some of those bishops are wearing their omophorion the Orthodox way. Probably a legacy when they dressed in full RC bishops Choir dress to prove how Catholic they were.

Many years to the new Bishop John.

ICXC
NIKA

Pavel,

In essence I have no problem with your post above, except for one thing. That is the term "Uniate" which a number of our forum posters have a problem using or being referenced as. I know that when the Orthodox use this term they are immediately corrected and told that it considered a derogatory reference.

Please if you can refrain from using this term, and this would go for other posters as well.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+
Moderator

dear Fr. Anthony:

Thank you for you sensitivity and kindness in your clarification re the term "uniate". Your ecumenical ministry in the Forum is very much appreciated.

In this particular case, of which you may not be aware, the use is rather, ...shall we say, an "in house" or "entre nous" type usage.

In my experience, the term "uniate" is now very often used by Eastern Catholics to mean "Latinized". They certainly mean no disrespect to the Eastern Catholic Churches in union with Rome. Indeed they are very zealous for both their union with Rome as well as their Orthodox heritage and faith.

Hence, as I read his post, Pavel Ivanovich is merely lamenting vestments that are not in keeping with vestments normally worn by Byzantine Orthodox hierarchs, but vestments perhaps specifically designed to separate themselves from the rest of their rite, viz. the Orthodox - esp. as now even the Pope himself has returned to a more Orthodox style of vestment.

Hoping to clarify...
and grateful for your defense of our Churches and your ministry here,

Herb

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Dear Ukrainian Catholic,

Thank You for posting the photos from yesterday's Consecration of Bishop John Bura. I was in attendance as well and must admit that it was indeed a memorable day and as His Beatitude Patriarch Lubomyr stated; "an important day for our Ukrainian Catholic Church."

Axios!!!! Bishop John!

Regarding the comments on liturgical dress, style, etc. Although they are not my cup of tea, the "easy snap omophors" and the "zip lock miters" probably were invented to make it easy for travel.

I'm glad you can at least make out people in the pictures. I feel bad a lot aren't really that great.

Anyways...

I went outside some point after Communion and I saw one of the bishops walking out to go towards the chancery, and I am assuming he had a flight to catch, but I saw him take of his miter and was pulling at it and I was thinking, "what the heck??"

But before I knew it, it was all nicely and neatly folded. For me, it's kind of an amazing feat of engineering. :p

I paticularily didn't like the vestments our bishops were wearing, but I was really expecting them to wear anything else out of their norm.

Now, I have a question about when Orthodox bishops are consecrated. From what I've heard, they always then ordain a man to the priesthood and someone to the diaconate. How come we don't d that in the UGCC/Eastern Catholic Churches? Is it due to a shortage of seminarians, or is it a Russian traiditon that is being avoided?

-uc

Dear UC & Pavel,

I placed the concern up, so that posters do not get the idea that this is acceptable terminology for the forum. As you know, some get the wrong idea, and if we mean the dreaded "L" word (Latinization) , then we should use it.

As I stated before, the rest of my post I have no problem with and sympathize with the concerns.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+
Moderator

I added two more pictures. One of the dome and one of the memorial to Pope John Paul II commemorating his visit to the cathedral in 1979 . I am waiting for my cousins to send me their pictures so I can hopefully add more in the future.

-uc