Metropolitan Antony Celebrates Patronal Feast Day
Metropolitan Antony Celebrates Patronal Feast Day

UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA

CONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

PRESS RELEASE

 

Metropolitan Antony Celebrates Patronal Feast Day

 

His Eminence Metropolitan Antony, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and the Locum Tenens of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Diaspora celebrated his patronal feast day at St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church in South Bound Brook, NJ on Friday, January 30, 2015.

It was an honor for the local St. Andrew Memorial Church community of the Metropolia center of the Church to have His Eminence Antony serve at the Altar of the Memorial Church – a place where he received the Grace of Archpastoral service from the hands of his predecessors Patriarch (Metropolitan) Mstyslav and Metropolitan Constantine of blessed memory. It was at the Memorial church that His Eminence begun his archpastoral service, spending a number of years in the service of the chief administrator of the entire Metropolia of the Church. In the presence of over a dozen of local clergy and a number of parishioners, Metropolitan Antony, assisted by His Grace Bishop Daniel led the Divine Liturgy at which the prayers were offered for those who have shared with the Metropolitan the light burden of Christ’s ministry. Moreover, Metropolitan Antony offered prayers for the ancestral suffering homeland Ukraine and the men and women of Ukrainian nation that offer their lives in the service of their homeland. The choir of St. Andrew Memorial Church under the leadership of Maestro Michael Andrec chanted the responses to the Liturgy.

In his greeting remarks Bishop Daniel reflected upon the life path of the Patron Saint of the Church’s Frist hierarch – Venerable Anthony the Great. The bishop spoke of St. Anthony’s spiritual struggles and the path to perfection. In addition, Vladyka Daniel reflected upon Metropolitan’s life journey and the call to ministry in Christ’s Holy Vineyard. In conclusion, His Grace presented Metropolitan Antony with a beautiful archpastoral panagia. Responding to the prayerful chants and exclamations of “God, grant you many years - Mnohaya Lita” intoned by Very Rev. Yuriy Siwko, Metropolitan Antony recalled in his remarks the newly-departed monk Ephrem of St. Herman’s House of Hospitality (FOCUS), whose simple life’s motto and response to every challenge was – I AM HAPPY! The Metropolitan spoke about the simplicity of spiritual happiness and the benefits of spiritual perfection to which it leads.

Following the Divine Liturgy a reception was held and hosted by the Protection (Pokrova) of the Birth-Giver of God Sisterhood of St. Andrew Memorial Church, where clergy, seminarians, representatives of Ukrainian government and neighbors greeted His Eminence on his Name’s day. Vladyka was moved by the kind gestures. He also conveyed warm sentiments of appreciation and affirmation.

May God grant His Eminence Metropolitan Antony many more healthy, holy and happy years!

Metropolitan Antony Celebrates Patronal Feast Day

Metropolitan Antony Celebrates Patronal Feast Day - 01/30/2015

Photos by Subdeacon Volodymyr Sukanets of St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Bound Brook, NJ)

(17 images)


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

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