PYLYPIVKA (ADVENT) PASTORAL OF THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC HIERARCHY OF THE U.S.A. TO OUR CLERGY, HIEROMONKS AND BROTHERS, RELIGIOUS SISTERS, SEMINARIANS AND BELOVED FAITHFUL

Glory to Jesus Christ!

As we begin “Pylypivka” or Philip’s Fast, we are mindful of so many things happening today:  the suffering and loss of life in Ukraine brought about by the Russian invasion; the needs of the new immigrants who have come to our eparchies over the past nine months – primarily women and children.  There are so many reasons to be sad and disappointed, discouraged and to lose hope.  

If we did not have our faith, we could easily lose hope amongst today’s tragedies in Ukraine, America and around the world.  But our faith and our Church help us to understand that there is a bigger picture, an underlying story, and that God is with us throughout it all.

The Philip’s Fast is a time of preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are once again called to embark on a journey to welcome Emmanuel among us!  In a short forty days, we will celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord.  At the Matins of the Nativity we will sing: 

“Christ is born, let us glorify Him. Christ comes down from heaven; let us go out and meet Him. Christ lives on earth, let us exalt in joy. All you faithful sing to the Lord, for He has been glorified.”                            

Hirmos 1, Canon Matins of the Nativity of Our Lord.

How can we prepare ourselves to welcome God among us?  How will we glorify Him?  Can this Christmas season be a profound and spiritual experience for me?

In order to properly prepare to meet Christ on His feast of the Nativity, Mother Church is giving us forty days to challenge ourselves to live our Christian calling and vocation: to deepen our knowledge of the Word of God, to live a life of community and personal prayer, and to perform acts of charity and mercy both in the church, and in the world.  In these three points, we can describe our vocation as a Christian, as well as the vocation of the entire Church.

Now is the time to daily set aside time for reading the Sacred Scripture and to meditate upon it.  We are also called to the learning of Divine truth, the truths of the Christian faith and share it with our families - Domestic Church.

We are called to renew our participation in liturgical services especially the Divine Liturgy.  The Eucharist is the center of the Christian life. The Eucharist is at the same time the culmination of the parish life and also the source of all its spiritual blessings.  During the Philip's Fast, let us invite a friend or neighbor to join us for the liturgical services in our parish community.

During these days, we are called both personally, and as a member of the community to pray, for oneself, and for others, to offer one’s self as a sacrifice to God, to forgive others and to ask God for forgiveness, to bless God and to be a blessing for others.

We are also called to look beyond ourselves and be of service to others, especially the less fortunate among us. During the Philip’s Feast let us look at our community and find those who need our help and assistance. We can visit the sick, assist the poor, give food for the hungry, care for orphans, support those who suffer injustice, promote peace, and offer comfort for those grieving.  We can perform all of this in our community where we live and work, as the needy live among us. In practice, this means to direct our attention and steps toward real people in our communities filled with fear, sadness, and hopelessness.  We are called to bring Christ’s peace and hope to them.  We are called to help cure wounds and heal their traumas.  

Let us start this season together!  Let us pray, meditate upon the Word of God, sacrifice for one another and trust in God.  Then with the renewed joy, we will be able to welcome God among us!

+Borys Gudziak

Archbishop of Philadelphia

Metropolitan of Ukrainian Catholics in the United States

+Paul Chomnycky, OSBM

Eparch of Stamford

+Venedict Aleksiychuk

Eparch of St. Nicholas in Chicago

+ Bohdan J. Danylo (author)

Eparch of St. Josaphat in Parma

+Andriy Rabiy

Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia

Pylypivka 2022