The Very Reverend Father Alex Shuter, Pastor
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Divine Liturgy (Mass) Schedule11am Sunday mornings
and on weekdays at 8:30am:
Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday
--- + + + ---
Divine Liturgy is being streamed live, via Facebook.Visit our Facebook Page
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Confession is available before Divine Liturgyor by appointment
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February 20
5:30pm
Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
Liturgies of the Presanctified Gifts
and for Holy Week.
The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is a service unique to the Eastern Church and the Byzantine Rite. It is celebrated during the Great Fast, and provides the faithful with the opportunity to receive Holy Communion on those days when then the Eucharistic Sacrifice is not celebrated. The word "presanctified" indicates that the "gifts" (the Body and Blood of Christ) which are distributed at the service are those consecrated at a previous Eucharist. Historically, we know for a fact that the per-sanctified liturgy itself was used as early as 692 when it was decreed by the Council of Trullo that the liturgy would be served during the weekdays of Lent. We also have record of pre-sanctified being celebrated as early as the early 600s in writings of St. Gregory the Dialogust.
Link to make on online donation to the
2025 Bishop's Appeal
{Ascension Church Identifier Number is 216}
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This Week's Liturgical Scripture Readings
Beginning February 8, 2026
Readings
Sunday of Cheesefare
10:35 Third Hour
11am Divine Liturgy
Rom 13:11-14:4
Mt 6:14-21
1st Week of the Great Fast
Monday
First Day of the
Great Fast
8:30am Divine Liturgy
Gen 1:1-13
Prov 1:1-20
Tuesday
8:30am Divine Liturgy
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6pm Men's Club Meeting
Gen 1:14-23
Prov 1:20-33
Wednesday
8:30am Divine Liturgy
Gen 1:24-2:3
Prov 2:1-21
Thursday
8:30am Divine Liturgy
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6pm Rosary
Gen 2:4-19
Prov 3:1-18
Friday
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Liturgy of the
Presanctified Gifts
5:30pm
Gen 2:20-3:20
Prov 3:19-34
Saturday
Heb 1:1-12
Mk 2:23-3:5
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About Us
Ascension of Our Lord is a Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic church, located in Williamsburg, Virginia. The church's ancestral origins are from Eastern (Slavic) Europe. The Byzantine Catholic Church follows the Holy Traditions of the Byzantine East, with roots in Constantinople, while maintaining union with the Catholic church of Rome. All services are conducted in English. Roman Catholics in good standing with the Church are free to receive the Holy Sacraments.
A Brief History
As the first Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic Church in Southeastern Virginia, the parish family first came together with a Divine Liturgy celebrated at St. Mary Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church at Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia on November 4, 1984, when Father John Lazarek began his missionary work. For four years, Fr. Lazarek travelled from Annandale, Virginia, to the Tidewater area to celebrate the Divine Liturgy.
In September of 1987, the mission purchased Greensprings Community Chapel. On February 4, 1988, Bishop Michael J. Dudick, D.D., The Eparchy of Pasasaic, granted canonical status to the newly-named Ascension of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church. On October 25, 1988, Father Edward G. Cimbala was assigned as the parish's first resident pastor.
In October of 1989, Father Edward Cimbala began his missionary work in Virginia Beach by founding Our Lady of Perpetual Help Byzantine Catholic Church while continuing to serve the Williamsburg parish.
Today
Ascension parish has grown from a parish formed to meet the needs of the ethnic Byzantine Catholics of the area into a parish home for many residents who have come to love the Catholic traditions of the Christian East. God has blessed our parish over the years and we look forward to all that He has in store for us in the years to come!
To read more about Byzantine Catholics
follow this link.
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This Week's Liturgical Scripture Readings
Beginning February 8, 2026
This Week's Liturgical Scripture Readings
Beginning February 8, 2026
| Readings | Sunday of Cheesefare 10:35 Third Hour 11am Divine Liturgy |
Rom 13:11-14:4 | Mt 6:14-21 |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Week of the Great Fast |
||
Monday First Day of the Great Fast 8:30am Divine Liturgy |
Gen 1:1-13 |
Prov 1:1-20 |
Tuesday 8:30am Divine Liturgy ---------- 6pm Men's Club Meeting |
Gen 1:14-23 | Prov 1:20-33 |
Wednesday 8:30am Divine Liturgy |
Gen 1:24-2:3 | Prov 2:1-21 |
Thursday 8:30am Divine Liturgy ---------- 6pm Rosary |
Gen 2:4-19 | Prov 3:1-18 |
Friday ---------- Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 5:30pm |
Gen 2:20-3:20 | Prov 3:19-34 |
Saturday |
Heb 1:1-12 | Mk 2:23-3:5 |
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About Us
Ascension of Our Lord is a Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic church, located in Williamsburg, Virginia. The church's ancestral origins are from Eastern (Slavic) Europe. The Byzantine Catholic Church follows the Holy Traditions of the Byzantine East, with roots in Constantinople, while maintaining union with the Catholic church of Rome. All services are conducted in English. Roman Catholics in good standing with the Church are free to receive the Holy Sacraments.
A Brief History
As the first Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic Church in Southeastern Virginia, the parish family first came together with a Divine Liturgy celebrated at St. Mary Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church at Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia on November 4, 1984, when Father John Lazarek began his missionary work. For four years, Fr. Lazarek travelled from Annandale, Virginia, to the Tidewater area to celebrate the Divine Liturgy.
In September of 1987, the mission purchased Greensprings Community Chapel. On February 4, 1988, Bishop Michael J. Dudick, D.D., The Eparchy of Pasasaic, granted canonical status to the newly-named Ascension of Our Lord Byzantine Catholic Church. On October 25, 1988, Father Edward G. Cimbala was assigned as the parish's first resident pastor.
In October of 1989, Father Edward Cimbala began his missionary work in Virginia Beach by founding Our Lady of Perpetual Help Byzantine Catholic Church while continuing to serve the Williamsburg parish.
Today
Ascension parish has grown from a parish formed to meet the needs of the ethnic Byzantine Catholics of the area into a parish home for many residents who have come to love the Catholic traditions of the Christian East. God has blessed our parish over the years and we look forward to all that He has in store for us in the years to come!
To read more about Byzantine Catholics
follow this link.
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!