Église ukrainienne
orthodoxe de
Saint-Marie la Protectrice

НЕДІЛЯ 7-ТА ПО ПАСЦІ, CВВ. ОТЦІВ ПЕРШОГО ВСЕЛЕНСЬКОГО СОБОРУ (325). Голос 6-ий. Апостола Симона Зилота (І). Свт. Симона, єп. Володимирського і Суздальського, в Києві, в Ближніх печерах (1226). Мчч. Алфія, Філадельфа, Кипріяна, Онисима, Еразма та інших (251). Мч. Ісихія Антіохійського (IV). Прп. Ісидори юродивої (ІV). Блж. Таїсії (V). Києво-Братської ікони Божої Матері (1654). На Утрені: Єв. 10-те: Ів. 21:1-14. На Літургії: ряд. Діянь 20:16-18, 28-36; Ів. 17:1-13; ап. 1 Кор. 4:9-16; Мт. 13:54-58.

Сьогодні: по Літургії – каву подає Жіноче Товариство. Запрошуємо! От. Ігор виголосить бесіду: «Хто винен у розп’яттю Ісуса Христа».

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF PASCHA. HOLY FATHERS OF THE FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL (325). Tone 6. Apostle Simon Zelotes (I). St. Simon, Bp. of Vladimir and Suzdal, in the Near Kyiv Caves (1226). Matins: G10: Jn. 21:1-14. Liturgy: regular: Acts. 20:16-18, 28-36; Jn. 9:1-13. Apostle: 1 Corinthians 4:9-16; Mt. 13:54-58.

Today after Liturgy our Women’s Association serves coffee. Please join us. Fr. Ihor will speak on the subject: “Who is responsible for the Crucifixion of Christ”.

ПОРЯДОК БОГОСЛУЖЕНЬ

Сьогодні: 9:00 ран. Утреня; 10:00 ран. Літургія, а під кінець Панахида по Симону Петлюрі, Головному Отаману УНР (78-ма р.).

24-го травня, Понеділок, Рівноапп. Мефодія (885) і Кирила (869) учителів Слов’янських: 9:30 ран. Св. Літургія

29-го травня, Троїцька батьківська (заупокійна) Субота: 9:00 по ран. Літургія. 11:00 ран. Відправи на Цвинтарі Мавнт Роял. 5:00 по пол. Вел. Вечірня з Літією.

30-го травня Неділя, П’ЯТИДЕСЯТНИЦЯ – День Св. Тройці: 8:00 ран. Утреня; 9:00 ран. Літургія а потім Вечірня з колінопреклонними Молитвами – вперше по Великодні стаємо на коліна в Храмі.

31-го травня, Понеділок, День Святого Духа: 9:00 ран. Св. Літургія

5-го червня, Субота: 5:00 по пол. Вечірня.

6-го червня, Неділя Всіх Святих: 9:00 ран. Утреня; 10:00 Літургія, під кінець Панахида а потім поминки по бл.п. Петрові Сарнавському (40-ий день). 6:00 веч. Вечірня (служить о. Ігор Охримчук і співає Хор Соборної Парафії Успення Пресв. Богородиці в Оттаві). Год. 7:00 веч.: Протодиякон Назарій Полатайко з Вінніпеґу виголосить бесіду: «Ікони і Православ’я».

ORDER OF SERVICES

Today: 9:00 a.m. Liturgy. At 11:00 a.m. Fr. Ihor will serve an Obidnytsia in St. Sophie Cathedral as Fr. Volodymyr is away in Ukraine on vacation.

May 19, Wednesday, Leave-taking of Pascha: 9:30 a.m. Liturgy. 5:00 p.m. Vespers with Litia.

May 20, Thursday, ASCENSION of Our Lord: 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.

May 22, Saturday, Translation of the Relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker from Myra to Bari (1087): 9:30 a.m. Liturgy. 5:00 p.m. Vespers.

May 23 Seventh Sunday of Pascha. Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council: 9:00 a.m. Matins; 10:00 a.m. Liturgy followed by a Panakhyda for Symon Petliura, Head of the Ukrainian National Republic (78^th ann.).

May 24, Monday, Equals-to-the-Apostles Methodius (885) and Cyril (869) First Teachers of the Slavs: 9:30 a.m. Liturgy.

May 29, Trinity Saturday, Commemoration of the Departed: 9:00 a.m. Liturgy. 11:00 a.m. Services on Mount Royal Cemetery. 5:00 p.m. Vespers with Litia.

May 30, PENTECOST, Day of the Holy Trinity: 8:00 a.m. Matins; 9:00 a.m. Liturgy followed by Vespers with the Kneeling Prayers – we kneel in the Temple for the first time since Pascha. Also memorial for Petro Sarnawsky of blessed memory.

May 31, Monday, Day of the Holy Spirit: 9:00 a.m. Liturgy.

June 5, Saturday: 5:00 p.m. Vespers.

June 6, Sunday of All Saints: 9:00 a.m. Matins; 10:00 Liturgy. At Liturgy’s end Panakhyda followed by Memorial meal for Petro Sarnawsky of blessed memory (40^th day). 6:00 p.m. Vespers – Fr. Ihor Okhrimtchouk will serve and the Choir of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin (Ottawa) will sing. 7:00 p.m.: Protodeacon Nazari Polataiko from Winnipeg will speak on «Icons and Orthodoxy».

Молимось за недужих парафіян: Протоєреїв Юрія Бриґідира та Захарія Ревка; Марію Валах, Ніну Замоздру, Василя Ризаніва, Анну Романову, Василя Черняковича та Николу Харка.

Рідна школа Митрополита Іларіона Тел.: 637-8597. Навчання продовжується в суботу 29-го травня у Пластовій домівці, 3355 Dandurand.

Metropolitan Ilarion Ukrainian School Lessons continue on Saturday, May 29 at 9:00 a.m. in the Plast Building, 3355 Dandurand. Tel.: 637-8597.

Why do we believe that Jesus is God incarnate?

(Sunday of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council)

The most important reason to believe anything is that what we believe in is true. There are those who feel that if one believes something that sort of makes it true – in other words, once you have decided to believe something the evidence for it will follow. It goes something like: if you decide to believe in God than God will become real for you and you will derive benefit from that faith.

However one may put it the other way around, i.e. if you do not believe something than that makes it untrue. In other words if you do not believe in God than God does not really exist for you. This may be too bad because then the comfort and strength you might derive from your faith will either be lacking or will have to be found elsewhere – perhaps by believing in yourself and your own ingenuity or power.

But this sort of conviction really makes faith a matter of wishful thinking. If God is only God if you believe in Him then it is only you who are real and not He. You have more power than He does because if you do not believe in Him than He does not exist. Then one may ask is the One we believe in truly God, if He only exists as a result of our faith in Him?

Seen in this way, it would appear that it is nobler and more heroic to simply accept that God does not exist and build your life without the assistance of this “wishful thinking” sort of “faith”.

The Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council did not see matters in this way. They saw their work not as the construction of a useful myth that would encourage the faithful and make their lives more meaningful, but as the God-inspired and directed uncovering of ways of speaking of Him which would reflect in human words the infinite mystery which He is.

There is a reality and one speaks as truthfully about it as one can find words to express it. Then it is up to those who hear to choose to believe or not.

The Fathers – and hopefully we Orthodox Christians – believe that Jesus is God incarnate because that is Who He revealed Himself to be. He did so by His words which are recorded in Holy Scripture. He did so by His works which are describe therein and which continue in the Church. This is the way that the people of the Church throughout the ages have experienced His life, words and presence among them.

It remains a mystery much deeper than we can explain. How could He be human and God at one and the same time? We do not know that. We do not say that it is so because it is self-explanatory. We say that it is so because we have found that this is the best way to describe what He is and does.

We do not say that He is the Father incarnate. But we do say, as did He that He and the Father are one – in a special way known by and possible only for Him. Through Him – faith in Him, and participation in His life through the Life of the Church (by means of the Sacraments) – we too enjoy a growing unity with the Father.

We do say that He is the Son incarnate. And that the Son of God (the special relationship that only Jesus has with the Father – available to us as well through Him) is also God. And also in the historical person Jesus of Nazareth – fully human.

Does saying and proclaiming this help us? Yes, if it is the truth. We have discovered that it is in fact the truth. Can we demonstrate in a conclusive and exhaustive way that it is the truth? To every person’s satisfaction? We can not. We are speaking about a reality greater than the “ordinary” events of everyday life.

But when we speak of this, we speak of something that we believe to be true whether or not we – or anyone else – believes it. It is truth that generates faith. Not faith that generates truth.