www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Feast of Theodore Romzha

Could someone clarify his feast day for me? One year ago tomorrow, my youngest son was born. We named him Damian Theodore, as he was born on the feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian, and on the feast of Blessed Theodore Romzha... at least that's what the calendar said last year. But I keep hearing that today is the feast of Theodore Romzha. Was it moved? Was I (and last year's calendar) wrong?

Elizabeth

I noticed that as well.

The 2011 liturgical wall calendar published by Byzantine Seminary Press has Oct 31 as Blessed Theodore's feast. I looked at the reverse side where it is gives a brief description of each saint and it lists Nov 1st as the feast of Blessed Theodore.

I still have the video of his beatification in which it was publicly announced that Nov 1st would be his feast day.

I believe this is just a printing error, because I also noticed that the same 2011 calendar has back-to-back feast days for St. Elias the Prophet (July 19 and 20). It's only on July 20th.

Byzantine Seminary Press should be notified to proofread its 2012 calendar before it goes into print.

Addendum:

Hmm, I just went on the Eparchy of Mukachevo website and it lists Oct 31 as his feast. OK, now I am confused!

It was changed. The reason why is that under the Soviets Moscow time was imposed on the Ukraine, which was I believe an few hours behind or maybe just an hour behind. I think all Soviet states "adopted" Moscow time.

So when Blessed Theodore died it was November 1st in Moscow but it was still October 31 in Ukraine. This is why I was told it was changed. I could be wrong but I am pretty sure that is why.

I can vouch that-- I went to liturgy in Uzghorod yesterday, October 31st, and it was definitely the feast of Theodore Romzha. It probably does have to do with timezones-- Zakarpathia Ukraine should really be in Central European Time, but is instead in the same timezone with the rest of Ukraine. Earlier this year the Ukranian parliament voted to remain always on daylight savings time, which was then reversed a day later over protests from people in Uzhgorod that if that were the case sunrise during the winter would come as late as 10:00 am for them!

Thanks for the info.
Is there an official announcement about it posted online?
Some webpages, like the Wikipedia page [en.wikipedia.org] on Blessed Theodore, will have to be corrected. Having a link to the announcement regarding the change would be helpful.

Not an official announcement, but a data point:

Father David Petras' 2011 typikon for the Byzantine Ruthenian Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh has the following (p. 116):

"Special note: At the request of the Church of Uzhorod, the Sacred Congregation for Oriental Rites transferred the commemoration of Bl. Theodore Romzha to October 31, effective in the year 2009."

Thank you all for the information!

Elizabeth