2018
AUGUST 15: DORMITION OF THE HOLY THEOTOKOS
** Holy Day of Obligation **
It is the dogma of the Catholic church that the Mother of God, the Theotokos, was taken to heaven in bodily form and the Eastern and Latin rite churches commemorate this event on August 15. It was declared as a dogma of faith in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. In the Latin rite is referred to as the Assumption. Together with the Orthodox church, the Byzantine Catholic Church refers to this holy day as the Dormition. It commemorates both the death of the Mother of God and her assumption into heaven. The feast is mentioned historically in the late 5th and 6th centuries. Tradition holds that the apostles were were all present when it was revealed her body was no longer in the grave. Historically, most believe this took place in Jerusalem, while Ephesus is also mentioned. Very little is known about the details of the death of Mary. The absence of her body in the grave being witnessed by the apostles was instead enveloped with the fragrant smell of flowers, the scent of heaven. In keeping this Holy Day, Eastern Christians keep a tradition of blessing flowers in honor of the Mother of God.
Parishioners are invited to bring vases or arrangements of flowers to the Feast Day Liturgies. Place them on the tables at the front of the church. Liturgies to be held at both St. Michael & St. Nicholas Churches
Liturgy Schedule:
Tuesday, August 14 Vigil 6 pm St. Nicholas Church, Swoyersville
Wednesday, August 15 Feast Day 9 am St. Michael Church, Pittston
AUGUST 16 6 pm
AKATHIST TO THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS
Honored in her “Icon of the Unburned Bush”
SPECIAL SERVICE requested in all Byzantine Catholic Churches
by our Bishop Kurt Burnette
St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, Swoyersville
FOR THE PROTECTION OF FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IN THE AREAS AFFECTED BY THE FIRES OF THE WEST COAST (CALIFORNIA AND ADJACENT STATES), AND THE REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE LIVES LOST IN THIS ONGOING CRISIS
Our Bishop Kurt Burnette is asking everyone to join in community prayer for this special intention. Consider coming to pray by singing this beautiful hymn to our Mother of God.
