REFLECTIONS ON

• OCN Website

• The Video - "A New Era Begins"

The Orthodox Christian News Service

Published by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S., November 28, 2003

REFLECTIONS ON PHILIP’S FAST 2003

PERMANENT CONFERENCE
OF UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX BISHOPS
BEYOND THE BORDERS OF UKRAINE

To the Venerable and Christ-loving Clergy,

Monastics and laity of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Love and peace be unto you from God our Father,

Grace from His Son Jesus Christ

and continual fellowship with the Holy Spirit!

We have come to the time of year made sacred because of our preparation for the solemn commemoration of the Nativity/Incarnation of the Only-Begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ. It is a time of pilgrimage, a spiritual journey begun on 15/28 November and lasting for 40 days, which focuses attention on personal renewal based on not a minimal observance of the Orthodox Christian lifestyle, but on attention to quality and excellence in following the life-giving Gospel.

Pylypivka - Philip’s Fast, which calls for renewal by reflecting on the person of Jesus Christ and the miracle wrought by His Nativity/Incarnation, can very easily be overshadowed and even buried by concerns, which, if not bridled, can plague and distract many of us during this holy season. They are concerns like the mass assault on malls for “Xmas” shopping, “Xmas” parties, the writing of “Xmas” cards and many other diversions, which can not only detract from the goal of this journey, but also remove Christ from it completely.

What is our real goal? Simply put, it is to mature in Christ, to attain to spiritual quality and excellence in our profession of the Orthodox Christian Faith, to invite Christ Jesus into our very being, to proclaim to an increasingly nominal and apathetic Christian society that, that which it would rather not hear: “I bring you tidings of great joy…a Savior is born…He is Christ the Lord!” – and you shall find Him in the hearts and homes of those who bind themselves to Him and who, as living reflections of the Gospel, proclaim Him by their very lifestyle.

For those of us who adhere to the Orthodox Faith and Order embraced by the Blessed Ol’ha and the Venerable Prince Volodymyr of Kyiv and who appreciate the richness of the heritage, which binds us to Kyivan Rus’ – Ukraine’s venerable past and challenging present, Pylypivka 2003 is the time to stand up and be numbered among those who seek and proclaim Christ, as did our forefathers. We proclaim Christ the Only-Begotten Son of the Father, born of Mary through the Holy Spirit, Christ the true light shining brightly from the cave in Bethlehem and from the Holy Tables of our parish churches. For us, Pylypivka 2003 is the time to “let our light so shine before men, that they might see our good works and give glory to our Father Who is in Heaven” [Matthew 5:16]. This is the Father, Whose Beloved Son “loves those who are just and shows mercy to those who are hardened in sin…” (Prayer of the First Hour).

May He, Who so loved the world that He sent His Only-Begotten Son to be our Lord and Savior assist us in our resolve to mature and be nourished by the word of Truth and Life-giving mysteries. May we grow and mature in Faith as Ukrainian Orthodox Christians so that others, having witnessed the Faith manifested in our personal lives and in our parish communities, will be drawn to Christ and like the shepherds of Bethlehem, will glorify and praise God for all that they had seen and heard through us.

Assuring you of our prayers and love and requesting yours, we remain your servants in the Lord,

+ Wasyly

Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

+ Constantine

Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and in Diaspora

+ John

Archbishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

+ Antony

Archbishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA

+ Vsevolod

Archbishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA

+Ioan

Archbishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Diaspora

+ Yurij

Archbishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

+ Jeremiah

Bishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church,

Latin America Eparchy