www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology New Russian Catholic community

Dear brothers and sisters,

I was absolutely fascinated to hear and then to read your discussion about me and the new community in Denver. I'm sorry, however, that we are being viewed as part of a fratricidal Eastern jurisdictional battle of some kind.

My leaving Holy Protection Parish was actually not really very interesting. I was on loan to the Eparchy of van Nuys from the Archdiocese of Denver for three years. The three years expired last March, and I had to make a decision as to whether I would continue to work in the Eparchy or return to the Archdiocese. Internal parish problems and circumstances are not appropriately discussed on the internet.

You must realize, however, that I was on loan to the Eparchy of van Nuys from the Archdiocese of Denver. For some time I had been discussing with Archbishop Charles the possibility of a Russian Catholic community within the very heart of the Archdiocese for the benefit of the Archdiocese, so that we can all learn, as Pope John Paul II continues to ask of us, to breath with two lungs. I am committed theologically (at least as much as possible) to the Orthodox/orthodox principle of geographical ecclesial unity- one city, one bishop, one Church. Moreover, I am, after all, a Russian Catholic, not a Ruthenian Catholic, and I have both the moral and canonical right to follow my own Russian Byzantine tradition. I am who I am, and I have the right to exist as such. If I lived in a city with a Ruthenian bishop or a Melkite bishop, I would have asked him for exactly what I asked Archbishop Charles.

I have nothing against the Ruthenian Church. In fact, I admire it in many ways, despite the various problems that exist. There are, moreover, some wonderful people in the Eparchy of van Nuys, and, of course, there are also some difficult characters in parishes as well. But what else is new. Please do not try to turn me into a Russian anti-Carpatho-Russyn!

Archbishop Charles agreed to my proposal and appointed me as the Latin-Rite Administrator of St. Elizabeth of Hungary parish, with the special responsibility of forming the Russian Byzantine Catholic community of SS. Cyril and Methodius in the parish. The hope is that it will be a place of genuine encounter between Eastern and Western Christians, with each tradition existing and flourishing in its own integrity. Its orientation is towards the Archdiocese and evangelical outreach- that is, it has a positive reason-for-being. It is not against something.

Moreover, the parish is located on a campus shared by two colleges and a university and is in the downtown theater and restaurant district. This means that there is tremendous possibility for evangelical outreach with sufficient peoplepower. I only wish that I had some of you committed Byzantine Catholics, of whatever jurisdiction, to help with the work! The evangelical and evangelistic work of Christ is far more interesting and far more exciting than internal, jurisdicitional and ethnic squabbles and identities. Our primary identity is baptismal and eucharistic- something that we Easterners sometimes forget despite our wonderful theology!

Any of you- of whatever stripe!- are always welcome at St Elizabeth parish and SS Cyril and Methodius Community. Roman-Rite Mass is at 9:00 am and Russian Byzantine Divine Liturgy is at 11:00 am on Sundays.

God keep you all!

Fr. Chrysostom

Fr. Chrysostom, may the Holy Spirit guide you and your community. Many blessed years! Mnohaja i Blahaja Lita!
Subdeacon Randolph, a sinner

Thank you, Subdeacon, and God give you many years as well!

Fr. Chrysostom

Father Chrysostom,

I am glad you have come to set some people straight.

I hope God blesses your parish and community, and uses it to lead many souls to Christ.

In Iesu et Maria,
Justin
-Friendly neighborhood Latin Catholic

Father,

Christ is in our midst!

With prayers and best wishes in this new mission, and may God direct your work, and crown it with his own gifts.

Elias

Bless me a sinner, Father!

Yes, thank you for setting some people here straight!

The next time I feel some people need to be set straight on other issues, could I call on your help?

Alex

Dear Fr. Chrysostom,

Thanks for the informative post. I hope you will entertain a couple of questions as they do not pertain to "[i]nternal parish problems and circumstances."

The parish is named in honor os SS. Cyril and Methodius not St. Elizabeth the New-Martyr as one post/article says?


I find it curious that in a city with two BC parishes this third community will function out of a RC facility. I only wonder if one of those BC buildings would not be more appropriately appointed as they would have an icon-screen, etc. I know the Russian BC parish in NYC has its own place and I am under the impression that the one in CA does as well.

I do not mean any offense by either of these questions, if you find them harmful or offensive please tell me and I will retract them at once. I would merely like to understand the situation better.

Tony

Father Chrysostom,
Would you offer more information on the Russian Byzantine Catholic Churches? Is there an informative website on the net?
Thank you,
sam

Sam, I hope I am not speaking too much out of turn but the most comprehensive site of any Russian Catholic parish is St. Michael's Russian Catholic parish in NYC. Their website is http://stmichaelruscath.org and summarizes news from Russian Catholic parishes worldwide.

But Alex, whose going to keep you straight ?
But as a married man like myself I know who will keep you straight.

Dear Father Chrysostom!

Thank you for your post. May God bless and prosper the new community!

With Best Wishes to all;
Stefan-Ivan

Diak-

I checked your link- thanks for the info!

I'm curious. What is the difference between the Russian Catholic Church and the Byzantine Catholic churches (other than heirarchical structure)? And speaking of structure- who governs this Church?

How large are they outside of the US? I assumed they were under the Latins- if so, are they as latinized as some BC's?

Thanks,
Sam

Dear Father ~

You do realise, of course, that you must now build a website! (I think that it's required in the new Code of Eastern Canon Law!

Yes, Russian Byzantine Catholics have no Eparch of their own since +Leonid was martyred and thus, they are under the local Latin bishops. But they are probably the LEAST Latinized of the Churches of the Byzantine Catholic tradition and follow the Russian Orthodox Synodal tradition completely. As Diak as pointed out, they do not shorten the Litanies etc. I experienced the Liturgy several times years ago at the Russian Catholic Center in San Francisco and it was like going to a ROCOR Liturgy including the full chanting of the Post Communion prayers after the Liturgy.
It did have the "ethos" of an Orthodox Parish of the Russian tradition or as a priest friend joked "It smells like incense and Kapusta"
Simply beautiful (but hey, I'm biased, I love the Russian recension!!!

Just an interesting aside in terms of jurisdiction. The Russian Catholic community in El Segundo, California (St. Andrew) is technically under the jurisdiction of Cardinal Roger Mahony, the Archbishop of Los Angeles, but he has asked Bishop JOHN [Elya] of the Melkite Eparchy of Newton to take responsiblity for the parish. Consequently, the parish is served by Fr. Alexei who is, technically, a Melkite but serving the Russians. Their deacon is also a Melkite.

Edward, deacon and sinner