Thoughts and opinions from a Priest in the PNCC
Gradual:
V. Yours, O Lord, are grandeur and power, majesty, splendor and glory. For all in heaven and on earth is Yours;
R. Yours, O Lord, is the sovereignty; You are exalted as head over all.
Communion Verse:
V. You love justice and hate wrongdoing; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellow kings.
R. With myrrh, aloes, and cassia Your robes are fragrant.
From the website of the Polish Orthodox Church: Feast of St Gregory (Peradze) in Warsaw
The service of all night vigil started the celebration of the feast of St Gregory (Peradze) in Warsaw chapel of his name. It was also the day of St Nicolas.
During the service there guests from Georgia were also present, who came to Warsaw to participate in the feast and to take part in the Kartvelological Conference in the name of St Gregory (Peradze), which will start on December 7, on the University of Warsaw. There was also archbishop Andria of Samtavisi and Gori from Georgia present on the feast.
The service was celebrated in Polish language, which is quite unusual, as most parishes in Poland use Slavonic as their liturgical language.
After the vigil all the guests were invited for dinner, prepared by the parishioners of the chapel.
On the feast day Divine Liturgy was celebrated. There were more than 60 people present, which made it almost impossible to get inside the small chapel.
At 16.45, an hour of the death of St. Gregory (Peradze), a wreath was placed at the board, remembering professors of Warsaw University, who died during II world war. This board is placed on the area of the university and there is a name of St Gregory Peradze —“ who was the professor on this university before the war. During this celebration sang the choir of the chapel of St. Gregory. Archbishop Andria also participated.
St. Gregory (Peradze) was born in 1899 in Tbilisi (Georgia). He finished a spiritual seminary in Tbilisi. Then he started studies in Berlin (Germany). In 1927 he received PhD in philosophy.
After two years he organized a Georgian, Orthodox parish in Paris. In 1931 he became a monk and was a first parish priest in this parish. In 1933 he came to Poland to be a lecturer on the faculty in Orthodox Theology Section of Warsaw University. He worked there till the break of the war.
On May 5, 1942 St. Gregory was arrested by the Germans, who then occupied Poland. The reasons are not well known, but possibly he helped Jews and cooperated with the Polish resistance movement. After half a year he was moved the the concentration camp in Auchwitz (Oswiecim). He died there on December 6, 1942. The reasons for murdering him are not well known. A witness said, that he had volunteered for the death instead of other man there. He stood barefoot on the snow, he was bitten by fierce dogs, and then he was poured with fuel and fired. Till today it is not known, what happened with saint’s body.
St Gregory was canonised by the Georgian Orthodox Church in 1995. He is also well known and worshipped in Poland, as he spent many years, made a lot of his work and died there.
The chapel of St. Gregory (Peradze) was established by the metropolitan Sawa (the head of the Polish Orthodox Church) in 2006. Then regular services in Polish language started to be celebrated regularly. Now all the major feasts services are celebrated there also in Polsih. From September 2009 Sunday school started to operate for 10 children. About 60 people regularly attend Sunday services, and it is maximum which are able to get to the small chapel.
The chapel belongs to the Polish-Catholic church and is used by permission by Orthodox community.
Saint Gregory became a patron of the community because he is very close to young people, who are the members of this community. He lived not long ago in Warsaw and was active in similar spheres as people from the community (like science, conferences, university lectures etc.). This saint also attracts many Georgian people, who live in Warsaw or come there on different goals —“ they are often present on the services.
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm,
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
he has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”
Translation according to the Revised standard Version of the Holy Bible
"Wielbi dusza moja Pana,
i raduje się duch mój w Bogu, moim Zbawcy.
Bo wejrzał na uniżenie Służebnicy swojej.
Oto bowiem błogosławić mnie będą odtąd wszystkie pokolenia,
gdyż wielkie rzeczy uczynił mi Wszechmocny.
Święte jest Jego imię –
a swoje miłosierdzie na pokolenia i pokolenia [zachowuje] dla tych, co się Go boją.
On przejawia moc ramienia swego,
rozprasza [ludzi] pyszniących się zamysłami serc swoich.
Strąca władców z tronu, a wywyższa pokornych.
Głodnych nasyca dobrami, a bogatych z niczym odprawia.
Ujął się za sługą swoim, Izraelem,
pomny na miłosierdzie swoje –
jak przyobiecał naszym ojcom –
na rzecz Abrahama i jego potomstwa na wieki».
The Jesus of nonbelievers
walks among us
known a little from kitsch
and a bit from word-of-mouth
responsibly passed over
in the morning paper
defenseless
partyless
endlessly debated
avoided like a graveyard
for the victims of the plague
necessarily gray
therefore perfectly safethe Jesus of nonbelievers
walks among us
sometimes he stops
and stands like a hard crossbelievers nonbelievers
we’ll all be joined
by the unearned pain
that leads us toward truth
Translation unattributed
Pan Jezus niewierzących
chodzi między nami
trochę znany z Cepelii
trochę ze słyszenia
przemilczany solidnie
w porannej gazecie
bezpartyjny
bezbronny
przedyskutowany
omijany jak
stary cmentarz choleryczny
z konieczności szary
więc zupełnie czystyPan Jezus niewierzących
chodzi między nami
czasami się zatrzyma
stoi jak krzyż twardywierzących niewierzących
wszystkich nas połączy
ból niezasłużony
co zbliża do prawdy
About that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church.
He killed James the brother of John with the sword — Acts 12:1-2
O Glorious Saint James, because of your fervor and generosity Jesus chose you to witness his glory on the Mount and his agony in the Garden. Obtain for us strength and consolation in the unending struggles of this life. Help us to follow Christ constantly and generously, to be victors over all our difficulties, and to receive the crown of glory in heaven. Amen.
In prayerful remembrance on the 56th Anniversary of the death of our organizor and first bishop, Franciszek Hodur.
[audio:https://www.konicki.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/07-tyle-lat.mp3]Through the years unto Thee, O Lord,
Faithful service we have rendered,
At the break of dawn marched sunward,
At the chains of bondage straining,
At the chains of bondage straining.Unto Thee we built a temple,
Which for us became a treasure,
Pouring gifts of faith and courage,
In it is our hope forever,
In it is our hope forever.Christ Himself speaks from its altars,
As He spoke throughout the ages,
To the poor among His people,
When their blinded eyes He opened.
When their blinded eyes He opened.Now again He comes from heaven,
Midst the lab’ring, toiling people,
In the form of Bread and God’s Word,
To His humble, needful people.
To His humble, needful people.When in doubt by Him we are strengthened,
From degrading sin He lifts us,
Animates us and enobles,
From a dormant slumber wakes us.
From a dormant slumber wakes us.He pours new life into our souls,
Fires our hearts with passion sacred,
In contrition He refines us,
As a sword of steel we’re tempered.
As a sword of steel we’re tempered.Through the storms of life He guides us,
`Midst the thunder and the tempest,
Christ is ever there before us,
But are we, Lord, always faithful?
But are we, Lord, always faithful?Would to God we be faithful ever,
Would to God this sacred banner
In our souls and hearts be opened,
Until death our life does sever,
Until death our life does sever.
The Hymn of the Polish National Catholic Church as composed by Bishop Hodur.
Tyle lat my, Ci, o Panie,
służbę wiernie wypełniali,
szli ku słońcu w świt zaranie,
łańcuch niewoli targali.Dla Ciebiem wznieśli świątynię,
co nam skarbnicą się stała,
z niej moc i wiara nam płynie,
w niej nadzieja, przyszłość cała.Chrystus mówi z jej ołtarzy,
jak ongi mówił przed wieki,
do żydowskich szedł nędzarzy,
otwierać ślepym powieki.I dziś znowu schodzi z nieba,
między ludzi pracy, trudu;
w Słowie Bożym, w kształcie chleba,
do nas biednych, swego ludu.W zwątpień chwili nas umacnia,
dźwiga z grzechów poniżenia,
i ożywia i uznacnia,
budzi z martwoty, uśpienia.Nowe życie wlewa w duszę,
serce ogniem świętym pali,
przetapia w żalu i skrusze,
jak miecz hartowny ze stali.Pośród burzy życia wiedzie,
wśród piorunów, huraganu,
zawsze Chrystus jest na przedzie,
a my, wierni zawsze Panu!O bodajem wierni byli,
o bodaj ten sztandar święty,
aż do zgonu naszej chwili,
w duszy, w sercu był rozpięty.
A happy feast of St. Stephen, Proto-Martyr. May we follow his example in fearlessly proclaiming the truth of the Gospel and witnessing to the reality of heaven.
We give Thee thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to Thy Son Jesus Christ, Who standeth at Thy right hand; where He liveth and reighneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. — Traditional Collect for the Feast of St. Stephen, Book of Common Prayer (1979).
By now almost everyone has heard of the Iraqi shoe throwing incident. The day after the incident I came arcoss an article through Christian NewsWire: Iraqi Christians Remain Under Siege
A press release issued last week from the USCIRF states: “Although there has been some reduction in violence in Iraq since the Commission’s last report on the country in May 2007, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom remains seriously concerned about severe violations of religious freedom there. The situation is dire for Iraq’s smallest religious minorities, including ChaldoAssyrian Christians, other Christians, Sabean Mandaeans, and Yazidis, who face a threat to their very existence in the country.
…
Although it is difficult to state how many Iraqi Christians are in the country, the number in 2003, prior to the fall of Saddam Hussein, was around 550,000. Violence targeting Christians has caused many to leave the country. Church leaders in Iraq conservatively estimate that almost 75,000 Christians live outside Iraq in Syria, Jordan or in the West and that another 75,000 have fled to northern Iraq. That means less than 400,000 Christians remain in mainland Iraq. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has estimated that at least 2 million Iraqis have fled the country since 2003 and another 2 million are displaced inside the country, mostly in northern Iraq.
Some say that in the past few years almost 500 Iraqi Christians, including pastors and priests, have been murdered because of their faith. Even more Christians have been killed in attacks, fighting or kidnapping for money. Approximately 2,000 families (a total of 10,000 Christians) fled the northern city of Mosul two months ago due to terrorism. The violence resulted in an estimated 25 to 40 Christian deaths. Hundreds remain homeless…
My first thought was — shouldn’t they be the ones throwing shoes? As I reflected on that I thought, no, they have dropped the other shoe (Matthew 5:39). In witness to Christ they travel shoeless, as He did. They are rejected, and without aid, except from Christians and others who are of good will. They are the new martyrs and confessors. For all of our President’s professed Christian certainty, he has cast these sheep before wolves.
Caesar never understood those who would not throw shoes, slap faces, or take an eye-for-an-eye. So let’s reflect on what is essential in our witness. It is those who rely on God, not on shoes, or weapons, or the works of men. Our vindication is from God.
On this day I also ask your prayers for the newest priest in the PNCC, the Rev. Deacon Adam Egan to be ordained in St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Cathedral at 10am. May God bless his ministry. May our dear Lord send many men to serve His people in our Holy Polish National Catholic Church.
From Asia News: Lalji Nayak, martyr for the faith in Orissa
Bhubaneshwar (AsiaNews) – Lalji Nayak, tortured to force him to abandon his Christian faith, died of his injuries two days ago. …”they [his radical Hindu assailants] stuck a knife in his neck and threatened to kill him if he did not renounce Christianity, but Lalji Nayak, even though he was severely bleeding, refused to abandon his faith. He died in the hospital on October 1″.
Lalji Nayak’s village, in Rudangia, was attacked by Hindu fundamentalists on September 30, at four o’clock in the morning. Rudangia is in the district of Kandhamal, the epicenter from which the pogrom against Christians began more than a month ago.
For a complete recap of the martyrdoms, assaults, rapes, and pillaging taking place in India, all directed at Christians, see The Western Confucian’s coverage. The headlines alone are horrific.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy!
Mary, Queen of martyrs and confessors, intercede for us!
All holy martyrs and confessors, pray for us!
Thank you to the Young Fogey for the link.