St. Michael’s Cemetery in Duryea, Pennsylvania was known from its inception as St. Peter and Paul Cemetery.  It is located alongside a residential development, but in its early days was surrounded by mining property and undeveloped land.  It was an independent cemetery created by local residents of Duryea who incorporated the property in 1914 as St. Peters Russian Greek Catholic Cemetery Association of Duryea.  With many former parishioners of St. Michael’s Byzantine Catholic Church interred at this site, ownership was recently transferred to St. Michael’s in the authority of the Eparchy of Passaic, NJ.

Adapted verses from Psalm 118 (chanted)

Blessed are they whose life is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.
Blessed are You, O Lord; guide me by Your precepts.
Blessed are they who observe Your decrees, O Lord, and who seek You with all their heart.
Blessed are You, O Lord; guide me by Your precepts.
The law of Your mouth, O Lord, is more precious to me than thousands in gold and silver.
Blessed are You, O Lord; guide me by Your precepts.
Your hands, O Lord, have made me and formed me.
Blessed are You, O Lord; guide me by Your precepts.
Had not Your law been my delight, O Lord, I should have perished in my affliction.
Never will I forget Your precepts, O Lord, for through them You give me life.

With the souls of the just brought to perfection, * give rest, O Savior, to the souls of Your servants, * keeping them for the blessed life with You, * for You love us all. In your place of rest, O Lord, * where all your Saints repose, * give rest to the soul of Your servants; * for You alone us all.  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit: You are the God Who descended into Hades * and and loosened the bonds of those imprisoned there; * Now, O Savior, give rest to the souls of your servants. Now and ever * and forever. Amen.  Virgin, uniquely pure and immaculate, * without seed you gave birth to God. * Intercede for the salvation of the souls of your servants.     Troparia – small Panachida service

John 6:35-40

At that time Jesus said to His disciples: “I myself am the bread of life. No one who comes to me shall ever be hungry; no one who believes in me shall ever thirst. But as I told you – though you have seen me, you still do not believe. All that the Father gives me shall come to me; no one who comes will I ever reject, because it is not to do my own will that I have come down from heaven, but to do the will of him who sent me.  It is the will of him who sent me that I should lose nothing of what he has given me; rather that I should raise it up on the last day. Indeed, this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks upon the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life.  Him  I will raise up on the last day.”

Only in God is my soul at rest, in him comes my salvation.  Psalm 62: 2

Remembrance and Photos from Veteran Honor Guard Memorial Day ceremonies:  Go to Memorial Day page