The Reverend Father Alex Shuter, Pastor
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The Great Feast of the Dormition of The Theotokos recalls the physical glorification of Mary as she shares in the resurrection life of her Son, Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. When, at her death (or falling asleep, that is, dormition), Jesus Christ received her body and soul into heaven, He in a way gave all humanity a preview of the transfiguration that awaits all of us in the Kingdom to come.
The blessing of Flowers
Holy Tradition tells us that all the Apostles, except Thomas, were transported mystically to Jerusalem in order to be with the Mother of God as she died and present at her burial. When Thomas arrived the next day, they opened the tomb so that he could say his farewell. They found only an empty tomb filled with sweet-smelling flowers. We bless sweet-smelling flowers in remembrance of this great sign of her holiness.
This Week's Liturgical Scripture Readings
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. 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. 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!
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Beginning August 18, 2019
Readings
10th Sunday
After Pentecost1 Cor 4:9-16
Mt 17:14-23
11th week after Pentecost
Monday
2 Cor 2:4-15
Mt 23:13-22
Tuesday
2 Cor 2:14-3:3
Mt 23:23-28
Wednesday
2 Cor3:4-11
Mt 23:29-39
Thursday
2 Cor 4:1-6
Mt 24:13-28
Friday
2 Cor 4:13-33
& 42-51Lk 9:51-56
Saturday
1 Cor 1:3-9
Mt 19:3-12
Lectionary
of the Byzantine Church for the entire year
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Many people have requested additioinal copies of the 25th Anniversary Divine Liturgy Booklet. A link is provided below, to a PDF edition.
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About Us
A Brief History
Today
To read more about Byzantine Catholics
follow this link.
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!