BOTH
LUNGS
By
Brent Kostyniuk
Rich liturgical cycle a guide throughout the year
“O Author of all
created things,
Who has established the seasons
and the years, bless the crown
of the year with your goodness, O Lord”
In this Troparion of the Indiction, celebrating the start of the liturgical
year on Sept. 1, Eastern Catholics are reminded of how the church guides
us through the cycle of seasons.
Ukrainian Catholic Archbishop Major Cardinal Joseph Slipyj elaborated
on the same theme at the conclusion of Vatican II. “The liturgical
cycle of our church is very rich. Our liturgical constitutions guide
the faithful throughout the whole year and continuously place before
their eyes the mysteries of the life, the passion, death, and resurrection
of our Divine Saviour, the grandeur of the Divine Motherhood, and the
powerful intercession of the most Holy Virgin Mary, the lives of holy
men and women, who by their heroic imitation of Christ glorified God
and the whole human race.
"The seasons of fast
and abstinence from boisterous entertainment are to help the faithful
exercise more self-control and better prepare them for the sacramental
encounter with Christ in the holy eucharist and that face-to-face encounter
with Christ on the day of his second coming at the end of the world.”
The Divine Liturgy, along with many lesser liturgies celebrated throughout the year, are the main source of theology for the East. Through this rich combination of liturgies and rituals the Eastern Christian is able to participate with the Creator in sanctifying all of nature, all of life. Thus, not only does he or she actively seek divinization on a personal level, that process of divinization extends to all creation. As it brings forward in time and space the redemptive act of Jesus Christ, the Divine Liturgy is the greatest of all sanctifying events.
Through the often repeated ektenias (litanies), we humbly ask
God to shower his mercies not only on those present, but on all creation.
Ultimately, we pray that we live in holy union with each other and God:
“Let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole lives
to Christ our God.”
All the elements of Eastern Christian life fall within the annual cycle
of the liturgical year which sanctifies time itself. Numerous feasts
commemorate Christ and the Theotokos, along with the saints. Special
troparions (hymns) and kondaks teach us about these feasts as we are
celebrate them. This cycle is a “great spiritual book that teaches
us in a practical manner how to praise, love, and serve God.”
The following is a list of important feasts on the Ukrainian Catholic
Liturgical Calendar and special rituals associated with them. Days of
obligation are in italics. They cannot be transferred, as Sundays are
already considered days of obligation.
Sept. 8 — Nativity
of the Theotokos
Oct. 1 — Protection
of the Theotokos, beginning of month dedicated to the Theotokos
Pylypkiw or Advent —
40 days of preparation for the Nativity of our Lord, beginning on the
Feast of St. Phillip, Nov. 14
Nov. 21 — Presentation
of the Theotokos
Dec. 6 — St. Nicholas
Dec. 8 — Immaculate
Conception
Dec. 25 —
Nativity of our Lord
Jan. 1 — St. Basil
Jan. 6 — Theophany
or Jordan — in commemoration of Jesus’ baptism, water
is blessed for use by clergy and laity throughout the year.
Feb. 2 — Presentation
of Jesus in the Temple — this marks the end of the Christmas season.
Candles are blessed and taken home for use at times of crisis and celebration
March 25 — Annunciation
Great Fast — 40 days
leading to Easter.
Lazarus Saturday —
the day before Palm Sunday.
Palm or Willow Sunday —
willow branches are blessed commemorating Jesus’ entrance into
Jerusalem, as well as the return of life in spring
Holy Thursday — reading
of 12 Passion Gospels, traditionally in four languages.
Good Friday — burial
service for Christ, followed by veneration of the plaschanytsia (shroud)
bearing the image of the crucified Lord.
Holy Saturday — blessing
of paska and other food to be eaten on Easter. As well, pysanky (decorated
eggs) are blessed in an adaptation of a pagan spring ritual. The eggs
may be decorated with Christian symbols such as intertwined triangles
representing the Holy Trinity.
Easter Sunday
Ascension
Pentecost Sunday (Green Holiday)
— the interior of the church is decorated with freshly cut boughs,
a sign of new life, both spiritual and natural.
June 24 — St. John
the Baptist — traditionally no red food could be eaten, nor anything
head shaped, such as cabbage, in respect for the beheaded saint.
June 29 — Sts.
Peter and Paul
August 6 — Transfiguration
— fresh flowers and herbs are blessed, to be used for healing
and beautifying our homes.
August 15 — Dormition of the Theotokos — garden vegetables and fruits are blessed, expressing gratitude for the earth’s bounty.
Far more than a liturgical calendar, the chain of feasts takes the Eastern
Christian through a cycle of seasons, both spiritual and temporal. Christian
prayer is linked to folk customs, as we seek to sanctify ourselves,
yet pay homage to the creation in which that sanctification takes place.
The liturgical year is a rich spiritual and theological guide, always
leading us forward on our path to divinization.
Kostyniuk, who lives in Edmonton, has a bachelor of theology from
Newman and is a freelance writer. He and his wife Bev have been married
for 31 years.
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