Holy Thursday at St. Volodymyr Cathedral, Chicago, IL!
Holy Thursday at St. Volodymyr Cathedral, Chicago, IL!

UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA
CONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
PRESS RELEASE

Holy Thursday at St. Volodymyr Cathedral, Chicago, IL!

The Chicago Deanery of the Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA journeyed together for the Divine services of this year’s Holy Week.

On Holy Thursday, the clergy of the Deanery once again came together to pray at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago, IL for the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, which was concelebrated by the clergy of the Chicago Deanery with His Grace Bishop Daniel. 

This Liturgy commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist, and it was spiritually uplifting to see the clergy of the Deanery (Archimandrite Pankratij – pastor of St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago, IL; Rev. Fr. Walter Hwostik – pastor of Annunciation of the Birth-Giver of God Ukrainian Orthodox parish in Milwaukee, WI; Rev. Fr. Vasyl Sendeha – pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox parish in Palos Park, IL; Rev. Fr. Silouan Rolando – pastor of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox parish in Goshen, IN; Protodeacon Andriy Fronchak of St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago, IL) pray together at the Altar of St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral.

At the conclusion of the service, the faithful of the Deanery witnessed an ancient rite of the Washing of Feet, served by the Ruling Bishop of the Western Eparchy His Grace Bishop Daniel. This service portrays Christ's washing of His disciples' feet after the Last Supper. During the service, the celebrant washes the right feet of the 12 clergy, drying them with a towel and kissing them. The senior-ranking clergyman among those whose feet are being washed speaks the words of Holy Apostle Peter, and the bishop or speaks the words of Jesus. Then the bishop himself concludes the reading of the Gospel, after which he says another prayer and sprinkles all of those present with the water.

Following the service, Bishop Daniel reflected upon the spiritual meaning of the service and our personal journey with the Lord through the days and events of Holy Week. As the service concluded, the faithful venerated the Holy Cross from the hands of their hierarch and returned home in preparation for the service of the Holy Passion of our Lord.

On Thursday evening, His Grace Bishop Daniel led the service of the Passions of our Lord - the Reading of the 12 Gospels at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago, IL. Serving with the bishop were the pastor of the cathedral parish family – Archimandrite Pankratij and Protodeacon Andriy Fronchak, assisted by the seminarians of the Church subdeacons Vasyl Pasakas and Vasyl Dovgan. The evening entered those in attendance into the celebration of the holy, saving and awesome Passion of Christ. To take away our sins, Christ willingly endured the spitting, scourging, buffetings, scorn, mocking and the purple robe; the reed, sponge, vinegar, nails, spear and, above all, the Cross and Death. The confession from the cross of the penitent thief, crucified with Christ, is celebrated. This service is usually long, but its content is dramatic and deeply moving for the devout Christian.

Those, in attendance at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago, IL, had an opportunity to once again participate in the prayers and the historical sequence of the events, as related in the Gospels and hymns, providing a vivid foundation for the great events yet to come.

Holy Thursday at St. Volodymyr Cathedral, Chicago, IL!

Holy Thursday at St. Volodymyr Cathedral, Chicago, IL! - 04/12/2012

Holy Thursday at St. Volodymyr Cathedral, Chicago, IL!

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