A Special Hierarchical Divine Liturgy - 5 August 2012 Litmanová, SK Pilgrimage (Otpust)

Video clips of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated as part of the annual pilgrimage (otpust) in Litmanová, Slovakia on the 5th of August 2012 were recently posted to YouTube.

The Litmanová otpust is sponsored by the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Prešov. This year, in celebration of the 1,150th anniversary of the arrival of Sts. Cyril & Methodius in the region (then known as Great Moravia), Metropolitan Babjak welcomed the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, as well as other bishops and dignitaries from neighboring Greek Catholic eparchies and Roman Catholic dioceses. As the ranking Eastern Catholic hierarch, His Beatitude served as the main celebrant.

This link (<= click here) will take you to a playlist - at the moment, the first twelve (12) clips are of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.  I will attempt to catalog them and update this post in a few hours with a list of the twelve videos in chronological event order.  By the way - some of the other ones in the playlist are worth a listen, as well, especially those featuring the voice of Hanka Servicka.

Although the clips are a bit choppy at times and the cumulative video is not a complete recording of the  Divine Liturgy, there are many "gems" that can be heard in these clips. Prostopinije at its best, courtesy of the Blessed Bishop Paul Gojdich Choir and an estimated 20,000 faithful pilgrims!

Looking Ahead - Traditional Hymns for the Feast of the Dormition

In the popular, well-circulated Marian Hymnal (light blue-colored, with stenciled icon on front cover), published in 1984 by the Byzantine Seminary Press on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the annual Uniontown pilgimage, several hymns are identified as being associated with particular Marian feast days.

Two such hymns were associated with the Feast of the Dormition in the Marian Hymnal:

1. Veselisja Vo Čistotji / Rejoice, O Purest Mother (pgs. 38-39); and,
2. Chrístíjane Pribíhajte / Christians, Join in Our Procession (pgs. 6-7)

The first, Rejoice, O Purest Mother, is the better known of the two and is also included in the Byzantine Catholic Hymnal (pg. 21).

This hymn has been a common element of the repertoire of many of our great choirs, past and present. In tribute, we will post one or two choral settings used by these choirs in the coming days (in advance of the Feast).

Propers & Hymns - Feast of the Transfiguration

Propers, hymns and hymn selection (order of worship) for the Solemn Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ (Monday, August 6, 2012), are available on the For the Faithful resource page.

Epistle - 2nd Peter 1:10-19
Gospel - Matthew 17:1-9

Festal Tone

NOTE: We have prepared and included a para-liturgical hymn for the Feast of the Transfiguration entitled "On Mount Tabor". The melody is taken from the hymn "Na Tavori Preobrazivsja" included in the 1969 Prešov hymnal, Duchovňi Pisňi compiled by Fr. Štefan Papp. The English lyrics are an adapted translation of those from the original hymn, prepared with the generous assistance of Susan Tychnowicz, a member of our parish choir.

Propers & Hymns - Tenth Sunday After Pentecost

Propers, hymns and hymn selection (order of worship) for the Tenth Sunday After Pentecost, also the Pre-festive Day of the Transfiguration (Sunday, August 5, 2012), are available on the For the Faithful resource page.

Epistle - 1st Corinthians 4:9-16
Gospel - Matthew 17:14-23

Tone of the week = Tone 1

As a reminder, we will have chant group rehearsal from 10:15AM-10:45AM in the choir loft before the Divine Liturgy.

Any and all are welcome!

The Dormition Fast & August Feast Days

The traditional Dormition Fast begins today (yesterday at Vespers), and ends at Vespers on August 14th. Although "interrupted" by the joyous Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, it is a traditional time for spiritual renewal relying especially on the intercession of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. The Paraklesis (<= click for service book) is traditionally prayed during this time of preparation.

The Dormition Fast begins today with the feast of the Procession of the Holy Cross, a penitential commemoration and one of three feast days of Our Lord this month (together with the Transfiguration on the 6th and the Translation of the Miraculously Formed Icon of Our Lord on the 16th).

The Feast of the Dormition on August 15th is a Great Feast of the Church and a day of precept, or holy day of obligation, for Byzantine Catholics.

The Feast of the Transfiguration on August 6th is a considered Solemn Feast.

On August 29th, we observe the Simple Feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, which is the final notable feast of the Byzantine Liturgical Year (September 1 - August 31), normally the last fixed, or immovable feast day listed in the Festal Menaion.