UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA

CONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

PRESS RELEASE

Pascha in Philadelphia

At daybreak on Pascha, the faithful of St. Vladimir Cathedral parish welcomed his Eminence Metropolitan Antony for celebration of the Feast of Feasts. Despite the light rain, the faithful of the parish participated in a holy procession on the church grounds, remembering the myrrh-bearing women who came to Christ’s tomb, only to learn the glorious news of His holy resurrection. A decorative banner was placed on the outside of the church, designed by Vitality Hrytsay, proclaiming “Christ is Risen! Христос Воскрес!”, sharing the message with the wider community.

The parish Choir, under the direction of Karen Ferraro, joyfully sang the liturgy as Metropolitan Antony, Fr. Taras Naumenko, and seminarians Yurii Bobko and Volodymyr Yavorskiy, along with the congregation, marked this Paschal day.

After liturgy, the parish hall was filled with parishioners and visitors for the blessing of Paschal foods in their baskets. Several hundred people took part in this day.  After the blessing of baskets, they left with the joy of Christ’s resurrection.

As we prepare this fall to celebrate the 90th anniversary of our parish and the 50th anniversary of our current cathedral building, we are blessed as a parish to have had such a wonderful Paschal celebration, and look forward to many more years.

By Reader Stephen Revucky