In a prayerful display of Orthodox Christian faith, vibrant tradition, and heartfelt unity, the faithful of St. George Ukrainian Orthodox Parish in Yardville, New Jersey gathered on the second Sunday after Pascha to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Great-Martyr George and the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women. This spiritually profound event became a living mosaic of prayer, bravery, and thanksgiving, bearing witness to the resilience of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and its unwavering dedication to Christ and His people in the homeland and diaspora.

Presiding over the liturgical celebration was His Eminence Metropolitan Antony, Prime Hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, joined by His Eminence Archbishop Daniel, Ruling Hierarch of the Western Eparchy and President of the Consistory. Concelebrating with them were Very Rev. Fr. Petro Levko, pastor of the parish, Rev. Fr. David Chidzhokie of the Three Holy Hierarchs Chapel at St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary, and Protodeacon Pavlo Vysotskyi of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Memorial Church. The seminarians of St. Sophia Seminary served prayerfully, with the choir of the seminary chanting sacred responses, drawing the faithful deeper into the mystery of the Resurrection.

The bishops were greeted at the parish entrance by the joyous gathering of children, who strew flower petals along the path to the church, symbolically welcoming the archpastoral presence into the heart of their spiritual home. Parish leaders, including the Board of Administration and Brotherhood, stood at the threshold with heartfelt words of greeting, affirming their love for the Church and requesting continued prayers for the vitality and unity of their parish community.

As the Divine Liturgy unfolded, the Gospel reading on the Myrrh-Bearing Women reminded all in attendance of the courage, faith, and steadfastness of the holy women who, despite fear, approached the tomb of the Savior, only to become the first witnesses of the Resurrection.

In his sermon, Archbishop Daniel spoke passionately about the need for spiritual bravery - the kind that flows not from defiance, but from love. He noted:

“We must be brave in our spiritual lives - not the kind of bravery that demands applause, but the kind that dares to love, to forgive, to speak truth when lies are easier. The Myrrh-Bearing Women were not famous, not powerful, yet it was to them that the angel of the Lord entrusted the greatest message in history: ‘Christ is risen!’”

He challenged the faithful to speak and live their faith with authenticity, even when society offers conflicting moral messages. “Let us be brave enough to live with compassion,” he said, “for courage without love is cold, but love with courage transforms the world.”

At the Great Entrance, Metropolitan Antony commemorated the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the hierarchs and clergy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and offered heartfelt prayers for the defenders of Ukraine. Archbishop Daniel, in his liturgical petitions, called upon the Lord to grant healing to wounded soldiers, peace to displaced refugees, and strength to recent Ukrainian immigrants finding hope in the United States.

The congregation, filled with fervor, approached the Holy Chalice with awe, receiving the precious Body and Blood of Christ. In this sacred moment, the faithful united not only in mind but in soul, reaffirming the unbreakable bond that holds the Church together as one Body of Christ.

Following the Liturgy, parishioners gathered in the parish hall for a festive luncheon prepared by the sisterhood and parish families. The celebration included performances by the children of the parish’s Ukrainian school and choir, offering songs of hope and patriotic dedication to Ukraine. The seminarians of St. Sophia Seminary, led by Rev. Fr. Roman Marchyshak, pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Trenton, also participated in the artistic offering—lifting spirits through music and reinforcing the Paschal proclamation: “Christ is Risen!”

A particularly moving gesture concluded the event: roses were presented to every woman in attendance, in honor of the Myrrh-Bearing Women and the ongoing, irreplaceable contributions of Orthodox women to the life of the Church.

Archbishop Daniel expressed deep gratitude to the women of the parish, the Parish Board, Brotherhood, Sisterhood, and every volunteer who labored to make the celebration memorable, saying:

“Today, we honor not only the holy martyrs and saints of old, but those among us who quietly, steadfastly, and lovingly build the Church each day. Your faithfulness is the fragrance of the myrrh that still anoints the Body of Christ.”

Subdeacon Mykola Stefanyk, ever-present with his camera, captured these moments as part of a growing historical record of this vibrant parish’s journey in 2025 - a year marked by challenge and grace, war and prayer, yet above all, the light of Christ’s Resurrection.

In conclusion, this dual feast day reminded all present that the Orthodox life is not one of passive remembrance, but of active, courageous, sacrificial love. It is about honoring the past while embracing the present with unwavering hope and living each day as a testimony to the Resurrection.

Reflecting on the spirit of the occasion, Archbishop Daniel emphasized: “We must remain brave in the face of political and cultural challenges to our Christian faith. We must care with dedication and bravery for the social and moral standards of our Christian tradition, protecting the vulnerable even at our own expense - just as the holy martyrs and saints of the Church have taught us by their witness.”

The faithful of St. George Parish, with their bishops and clergy, lifted their hearts in thanksgiving to the Lord who conquered death and invited each soul to walk in the light of truth, peace, and resurrection. As voices rang out once more with the Paschal hymn, “Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by death…”, the entire community was renewed in their calling to be bearers of Christ’s light in a world that longs for hope.

Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!