Archbishop Daniel Leads Liturgical Services for the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord
Archbishop Daniel Leads Liturgical Services in Carnegie, PA

Archbishop Daniel Leads Liturgical Services

for the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord

On Thursday, February 15, the great feast of the Meeting of the Lord, His Eminence Archbishop Daniel, spiritual father of the Western Eparchy of the UOC of the USA, led the liturgical services of the feast day at Sts Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Carnegie, PA. His Eminence was co-served by pastor Very Rev. Fr. Steven Repa and Deacon Evan O’Neil with the assistance of Reader Michael Kapeluck.

In his sermon on the feast of the Meeting of the Lord, which coincides this year with the entire week of Meatfare Sunday (the Sunday of the Dread Judgment),Vladyka Daniel reminded the faithful of the reality of the Dread Judgment, which very few, even among Orthodox Christians, take time to contemplate. "The feast of the Meeting of the Lord is in accord with the meaning of the Sunday of the Dread Judgment," His Eminence noted. "The Righteous Simeon long awaited Christ, and now he receives the Savior in the Temple of God, and he no longer fears proceeding into life eternal." Archbishop Daniel added that the Righteous Simeon is an example for us of how we should receive Christ into our own temple, for our bodies are the temple of God: "If we will be with Christ, then we have nothing to fear from the Dread Judgment. On the contrary, we will rejoice with Christ in life eternal, as in it rejoiced the Mother of God, the Righteous Simeon, and other saints."

During the Liturgy, Archbishop chanted Memorial Litany for the victims of the horrific shooting that took place in Parkland, Florida on February 14, 2018, stating on behalf of the Council of Bishops of the UOC of the USA: “…once again we are faced with the unspeakable violence in Florida, which reminds us of how precious human life is…

Wednesday’s school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., was the 18th school shooting of 2018 — a year that’s not even two months old… While many of these incidents — including the most recent before Wednesday’s shooting, one on Feb. 8 at New York City’s Metropolitan High School — did not result in any fatalities or injuries, schools nationwide have been rocked by gun violence in recent days. According to the news networks, there have been school shootings in 13 states so far this year… our prayers are with the victims, their families and all those affected by this terrible act… please join me this morning in praying for the victims of violence, and their families and loved ones, in Florida... the merciful love of Christ calls us to solidarity with the suffering and to ever greater resolve in protecting the life and dignity of every person.”

Many parishioners gathered for the weekday feast. Upon completion of the Liturgy, Vladyka Daniel led traditional service of blessing of candles, stating in his remarks that everyone must become an opportunity for internal transformation and transfiguration. “This Apostolic Feast is an invitation leading to God, light and hope, which fills our hearts and souls with love and warmth; once again reminding us of meeting the Lord, evaluating our lives by Him, and the necessity of having the Eternal Light of our Lord inside us. Today more than ever we need the light of God, so that the darkness of ignorance disperses. Therefore, we won’t be only the bearer of light, but be the light around us, showing by our example the sweetness of being a member of Christianity and the Church”, noted the Archbishop.

In honor of the feast, the traditional festal luncheon with pancakes was served in the parish social hall. Archbishop Daniel, clergy and parishioners enjoyed the opportunity to meet and interact with one another over a delicious meal.

Archbishop Daniel Leads Liturgical Services in Carnegie, PA

Archbishop Daniel Leads Liturgical Services in Carnegie, PA - 02/15/2018

Photos by Reader Michael Kapeluck

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