Pilgrims of the UOC of the USA Visit Patriarchate of Jerusalem
Pilgrims of the Church Visit Patriarchate of Jerusalem

UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA

CONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

PRESS RELEASE

 

Pilgrims of the Church Visit Patriarchate of Jerusalem

 

Reflecting upon the answer to the daily question of the pilgrimage: “What does it mean to be an Orthodox Christian in Jerusalem?” the pilgrims of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA visited the Ancient Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

His Grace Bishop Daniel, the Ruling Hierarch of the Western Eparchy and President of the Consistory of the UOC of the USA led a group of 25 pilgrims on a visit to the Patriarchate on November 15, 2014.

Having received a blessing from the hands of His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine, the pilgrims of the Church spent about an hour with the Patriarch, learning about the history of the Patriarchate, the Order of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulcher and about the life of Orthodox Christians in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas that are under spiritual protection of the His Beatitude.

“For us, Ukrainian Orthodox Christians from the United States of America”, said Vladyka Daniel, “a great honor indeed, the fact that we find ourselves in the Holy Land these days… His Eminence Metropolitan Antony expresses his most sincere prayerful greetings and gratitude for your Beatitude’s time spent with us… You are the spiritual father, guardian and keeper of the All-holy sites of pilgrimage, and we respect and pray for you”.

Responding to His Grace, His Beatitude assured the pilgrims of his prayers especially mentioning the ongoing war conflict in Ukraine.

In conclusion of the meeting, Vladyka Daniel, assisted by Very Rev. Volodymyr Steliac and Rev. Anthony Perkins presented the Patriarch with the copy of the icon of the “Offering of First Fruits” depicting Sts Volodymyr and Olga holding a model of the Desyatyna Church of the Dormition of the other of God, symbolic of St. Volodymyr’s determined effort to donate 10 percent of his income and wealth to the Lord. The icon was a gift of iconographer Cheryl Pituch and her husband Eugene and his brothers in memory of parents Eugene and Julia Pituch. It is being utilized by the clergy of the UOC of the USA to educate their faithful about tithing of their own treasure, talent and time for the glory of God and the building of His Kingdom on earth.

Following the presentation of the icons, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos bestowed upon His Grace Bishop Daniel patriarchal panagia and pectoral crosses to the clergy of the pilgrimage. Moreover, the Patriarch hosted the group of pilgrims with some tea and pastries and in conclusion of which each pilgrim of the UOC of the USA approached His Beatitude to receive a blessing, while being presented with a gift of an icon from the hands of Patriarch Theophilos.

Biding farewell to the Patriarchate, Vladyka Daniel and the clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA received a blessing from the Patriarch to participate in the service of Divine Liturgy in the Church of Holy Sepulcher (The site of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem is identified as the place both of the crucifixion and the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth. The church has long been a major pilgrimage center for Christians all around the world) and the Church of the Nativity of the Lord in Bethlehem.

To read more about the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, visit the official web site of the Patriarchate.

Pilgrims of the Church Visit Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Pilgrims of the Church Visit Patriarchate of Jerusalem - 11/15/2014

(24 images)


Share This:



< PreviousNext >
You might also like:

Strategic Plan

image
image
Prayer Books
Prayer Books
Calendar 2024
Calendar 2024
Prayer Book
Prayer Book

  

Recent Galleries
Metropolia
Directories
Institutions
Organizations

Mailing Address
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
P.O. Box 495
South Bound Brook, NJ 08880

Offices:
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
Metropolia Center
135 Davidson Avenue
Somerset, NJ 08873