Caroling for Christ: Bethlehem Story Alive at the Metropolia Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
Caroling for Christ: Bethlehem Story Alive at the Metropolia Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA

UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA

CONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

PRESS RELEASE

 

Caroling for Christ: Bethlehem Story Alive at the Metropolia Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA

By Rev. Fr. Vasyl Pasakas

 

With over 150 participants of the first annual “Caroling for Christ” concert sponsored by the Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, some 250 people witnessed a powerful and spiritually uplifting event at the Ukrainian Cultural Center of the UOC of the USA on Saturday, January 10, 2015.

His Eminence Metropolitan Antony, Primate of the UOC of the USA bestowed his blessing on this hopefully annual event under the auspices of the Ukrainian Language and Religion School of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church in South Bound Brook, NJ under the leadership of director - Pani Halyna Marynets.

Participants from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and New York represented the parishes and parochial schools of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.

 During the concert of Carols, the story of salvation was told through songs and artistic expressions of ancient performances of VERTEP.

"During this holy season of Christmas, it is with great joy that we hear again the narrative of our salvation -- of God's creative love and the human family's rejection of that love, the Message of hope prophesied in the time of old; the glorious message of the Incarnation, revealed and accepted by the Most Holy Birth-Giver of God, heralded by the angels and sent out to the whole world by the proclamation of the Gospel," stated Bishop Daniel in his conversation with teachers and parents prior to the beginning of the concert.

Opening the program, which was masterfully led by Olenka Hoshovsky of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in New York, NY, His Grace Bishop Daniel, speaking on behalf of His Eminence Metropolitan Antony and the Consistory of the UOC of the USA welcomed the participants and guests of the program with a short overview of how the idea to begin such community event came into existence. It was truly due to the input of the parishioners of various parishes of the Church that a simple idea to gather children of various Ukrainian Language and Religion parochial schools became a reality, yet opening the platform not only to caroling but also to prayerful reflections by the children, their parents and teachers.

One after another the representatives of various schools: St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church in South Bound Brook, NJ; Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in New York, NY; St. George Ukrainian Orthodox parish in Yardville, NJ and Dormition of the Birth-Giver of God Ukrainian Orthodox parish of Chester, PA took the stage singing carols, reciting poetry and proclaiming the Glad Tidings of Christ’s birth! Hymns and carols, each carefully chosen to complement the Scripture passages of the season, were performed in Ukrainian and English languages.

In conclusion of the program, the participants and those in attendance were treated to a theatrical presentation of a traditional Nativity story – VERTEP – masterfully performed by the parishioners of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in New York, NY under the pastoral leadership of Very Rev. Fr. Todor Mazur.

During the afternoon event, Bishop Daniel called upon those in attendance to pray, never forgetting God's majesty and that we should always trust in Christ’s presence and share it with those around us.  The bishop also led prayers for justice; for God's mercy; for the strength to forgive others; for peace in our families, communities, and world; and for those in need.

"Let us remember, in His name, the poor and the helpless, the cold and the hungry, the oppressed, the sick, the dying and those who mourn, the lonely and the unloved, the aged and the children, those who do not know the Lord and those who have turned away from the Lord," stated Vladyka Daniel in his conclusion remarks.

Moreover, the bishop called upon the teachers, parents and children to remember the traditions of Ukrainian Orthodox Church; to keep them alive through such prayerful traditions of caroling and Verteps that have been preserved and passed to us by our forefathers.

As the afternoon hours came to conclusion, Metropolitan Antony and Bishop Daniel presented all participants with the gifts of love, expressing their gratitude to the children and adults in attendance.

As part of the celebration, participants of the festive concert collected $560 to benefit the surviving orphan children of Ukrainian Maydans and ongoing war in Ukraine. The donation was gratefully accepted by His Eminence Metropolitan Antony.

After the services, His Grace Bishop Daniel, President of the Consistory of the UOC of the USA stated: 'It was wonderful to see so many children at the concert at the Metropolia Center of the Church. Children and their parents and teachers travelled long distances in some cases to reflect on the humble birth of a child who brought light and hope to our world. I was so glad to be able to share in the Christmas story with them. If they left being connected to each other, sharing the joy of Nativity season, then the Consistory of the Church has done its job through this kind effort.'

Caroling for Christ: Bethlehem Story Alive at the Metropolia

Caroling for Christ: Bethlehem Story Alive at the Metropolia - 01/10/2015

(41 images)


Share This:



< PreviousNext >
You might also like:

Strategic Plan

image
image
Prayer Books
Prayer Books
Calendar 2024
Calendar 2024
Prayer Book
Prayer Book

  

Recent Galleries
Metropolia
Directories
Institutions
Organizations

Mailing Address
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
P.O. Box 495
South Bound Brook, NJ 08880

Offices:
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
Metropolia Center
135 Davidson Avenue
Somerset, NJ 08873