The Holy Mystery of Ordination: Too Big for Words (Part 8)
In the Orthodox Church, we embrace the holy orders as a call to serve, love, and build a community anchored in Christ’s servant-leadership
The Holy Mystery of Matrimony: Too Big for Words (Part 7)
In this message from our Holy Mysteries sermon series, we reflect on the Holy Mystery of Matrimony. In the Orthodox Tradition, a marriage is a sacred offering—brought into the church for God’s blessing, like Jesus blessing the marriage in Cana of Galilee by performing his first miracle there, turning water into wine.
Holy Eucharist: Communion of the Clergy
In this second in a series of video collaborations produced by St. Volodymyr Cathedral of Toronto and St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Oshawa, Fr. Bohdan Hladio demonstrates what happens at the Communion of the Clergy and discusses how the Holy Eucharist is prepared for distribution to the laity
Lectures on Liturgy
The Holy Altar
Another in the lecture series produced by St. Volodymyr Cathedral of Toronto and St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Fr. Bohdan Hladio describes the most important aspects of the Holy Altar — the sanctuary in the ecclesiastical East of Orthodox church buildings, found behind the iconostasis, where the laity may not enter without a blessing. Fr. Hladio explains the common features of the Holy Table and the items on it: the Artophorion (Tabernacle), Gospel Book, Blessing Cross, Communion cloths, oil lamps, Seven-branched Candlestick, Repidia (liturgical fans) and Processional Cross. He delves into the form and function of the Antimension — the Altar cloth into which a martyr's relics have been sewn. Consecrated and signed by the bishop, it is the basis of a bond between a bishop and the community he oversees, authorizing the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. It is onto the Antimension that the Holy Gifts are borne during the Divine Liturgy; without it celebration of the Liturgy is impossible. From the Holy Table, attention is turned to the High Place, the apse behind the Tabernacle, traditionally the place where the Synthronon — a tiered and elevated platform with benches for the clergy flanking the cathedra (the Bishop's throne) is located. It was from this throne that bishops of the early church delivered homilies instructing the faithful. Following the High Place, Father Bohdan briefly touches on the Diakonikon, a side table to the ecclesiastical south of the Holy Table (in much larger ancient churches, this might have been a separate room or vestry) — and its counterpart on the opposite side (the ecclesiastical north) of the sanctuary, the Table of Oblation — where the Proskomedia (the Liturgy of Preparation ofthe bread and wine that become the Body and Blood of our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ are prepared) takes place.
https://youtu.be/1cojRY8c8U0
Divine Liturgy - Vesting of the Priest.
The next in the series of videos about aspects of the Divine Liturgy the faithful rarely witness, produced by St. Volodymyr Cathedral of Toronto and St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Oshawa, Ontario. In this film, Fr. Bohdan Hladio briefly explains and then demonstrates the vesting of the priest before the Proskomedia (the Liturgy of Preparation that immediately precedes the Divine Liturgy), with prayers for the donning of each article of liturgical vesture drawn from the Books of Isaiah, Exodus and Psalms. The five fundamental vestments: Sticharion (стихар), Epitrachelion (єпитрахиль), Zone (пояс), Epimanikia (поручі) and Phelonion (фелон) are described, while the Epigonation (палиця) — an ecclesiastical award that not all priests might wear — and the priest's pectoral cross are also discussed.
Divine Liturgy - Proskomedia
In the first in a series of video collaborations between St. Volodymyr Cathedral of Toronto and St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Oshawa, Fr. Bohdan Hladio describes the Proskomedia: "The Liturgy of Preparation", focusing on the preparation of the leavened bread, wine and water which will become the Body and Blood of our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, at the Liturgy of the Faithful.
With the text of the prayers of the Proskomedia as a foundation, Fr. Bohdan explains how the Diskos (paten), Chalice, Spear, Asterisk (star-cover), small veils and Aër (large veil) are used; how the Lamb is cut from the first of five loaves of leavened bread (Prosphora); and how particles are taken from the remaining loaves for the Most-holy Theotokos (Mother of God), for the nine ranks of Saints, for the Hierarchs, the Civil Authorities, the Living and the Dead. Fr. Hladio elaborates on the pious practice of submitting the names of one's family and friends (both living and the reposed) and the associated offering of smaller loaves which are returned as blessed bread to family members following the Liturgy. He describes how the Lamb, having become the Body of Christ is further divided at the Eucharist, with specific portions to fulfill the Chalice, divided among the celebrating clergy; and reserved for the Communion of the laity.
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The Anointing of the Sick - Holy Unction: Too Big for Words (Part 6) Fr Andrew Jarmus
In this sixth installment of Fr. Andrew's sermon series on the Holy Mysteries - the sacraments - he discussed the Mystery of Holy Unction. "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." (James 5:14)
If We Confess Our Sins...: Too Big for Words (Part 5) Fr Andrew Jarmus
God calls us to a life of faith and holiness, but if we're being honest with ourselves, we'll admit that we fail at it quite regualrly. Fortunately, God's mercy endures forever, and his has given his children a way back to him. Every time we fall, we get back up again with the assurance of God's forgiveness.
The Eucharist:Too Big for Words (Part 4) Fr Andrew Jarmus
In this fourth episode on the Holy Mysteries - the sacraments, we examine the Eastern Orthodox understanding of the Eucharist. In the Orthodox Church, Holy Communion is called "the medicine of immortality and the antidote to death."
The Holy Mystery of Chrismation: Too Big for Words (Part 3) Fr Andrew Jarmus
In John 3 Jesus says that we need to be "born from above" ("born again") "of water and Spirit". In this video, we learn about the Eastern Orthodox Church's understanding of the birth of the Holy Spirit. We discover that the roots of this belief are found in the earliest days of Christianity
The Holy Mystery of Baptism: Too Big for Words (Part 2) Fr Andrew Jarmus
Discover the profound mystery of Baptism in Part 2 of our Holy Mysteries series. Dive into its significance, history, and spiritual gifts. This is the second part in my sermon series of the Holy Mysteries (sacraments) in the Eastern Orthodox Church
Exploring the Great Mystery: Too Big for Words Part 1 - Fr Andrew Jarmus
Here's Part 1 of a series delving into the Holy Mysteries (the sacraments) in Orthodox Christianity. Too profound to fully define, yet undeniably real, these rites connect us in a personal and intimate way to Christ's cross and empty tomb.
Video coverage from the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of Ukrainian Orthodoxy in Australia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeWx3RMqRAM&t=262s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFhT27F4ZoE