APPEAL OF THE HIERARCHY OF THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES Regarding the events of January 6, 2021
As Christians, on the Feast of the Theophany, we continue to celebrate and welcome the Emmanuel—“God is with us,” the Prince of Peace, “the Beloved Son of the Father” who calls us all to be His sisters and brothers in the Father’s house. But as a nation, today, we witness an appalling assault on the central seat and process of American democracy which must stop.
Criminal trespassing, menacing break-in, and the intimidation of senators and members of Congress is unconscionable.
Any use of Jesus' name to justify this violent behavior and chaos is a travesty of the Gospel. There is nothing Christian about it.
Americans bear a great responsibility for the future of democracy in the world. American leaders, first of all the President of the United States, must do everything in their power to reestablish peace and the rule of law.
There is much injustice in our land. There is much anger. No injustice will be remedied by violence.
We ask all of our priests, religious, and faithful to pray for the future of our country, to call for repentance, to witness to the integrity of the Gospel of our Lord, and begin the difficult work of rebuilding the unity of America.
We are called to help all people hear and believe the fundamental truth of Theophany— that each person is a "beloved son or daughter of the Father."
We have a long road ahead of us.
Let us return to a motto of the founders of our country: "In God we trust."
+ Borys Gudziak
Metropolitan and Archbishop of Philadelphia
+ Paul Chomnycky
Bishop of Stamford
+ Benedict Aleksiychuk
Bishop of St. Nicholas Eparchy in Chicago
+ Bohdan Danylo
Bishop of St. Josaphat Eparchy in Parma
+ Andriy Rabiy
Auxiliary Bishop of the Philadelphia Archeparchy
Guidelines for the Resumption of Public Liturgical Services
Please remember to support Ss. Cyril and Methodius Church by mailing your weekly offerings! Our parish has financial obligations that still need to be met. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic: our Liturgical Services are celebrated by the Priest only (without the participation of the faithful). Our Annual Baked Haddock Fish Dinner has been CANCELED. Your financial support of our parish is needed now more than ever.
To read the letter from our Archbishop regarding offerings, please click here.
Divine Liturgy (Mass) Times
Saturday: 4:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am
Weekday Divine Liturgies
Monday - Friday: 9:00 am
Holy Day Liturgies: 9:00 am
Confessions: Saturdays at 2:00 pm
Office Hours
Staff
- Father Nestor Iwasiw, Pastor
- Mr. Patrick Marcinko III, Cantor, Choir Director
- Mrs. Sandra Berta, Director of Religious Education
St. Cyril's Church
St. Cyril's Cemetery
Archieparchial Holy Thursday Services at Holy Myrhh-Bearers Ukrainian Catholic Church in Swarthmore, PA
On Thursday, March 29, 2018, the Archieparchial Holy Thursday Services were held in Holy Myrrh-Bearers Ukrainian Catholic Church in Swarthmore, PA. The YouTube video of these services can be found by clicking here.
Churches of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia
Why I Come To Church
"Why I Come to Church" was produced by the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. This video may be viewed on YouTube by clicking this link.
St. Cyril's Choir Christmas Caroling
Guidelines for Public Liturgical Service during the Green Phase of Reopening
Lackawanna County in Pennsylvania has entered the GREEN phase on Friday, June 26, 2020. Until further notice, on Saturdays there will be Confessions at 1 pm, with the Divine Liturgy at 3 pm. On Sundays, the Divine Liturgy will be at 10 am.
Our Archbishop has issued Guidelines for Opening Parish Churches and Resumption of Public Services on Sundays, Holy Days of Obligation and Weekdays during the GREEN phase. The Guidelines are as follows:
- The church should be cleaned/sanitized once a week when the public may be present, especially those areas and surfaces that are commonly used and touched (bathrooms, railings, doors, backs of pews, etc.);
- In GREEN counties of the state of Pennsylvania, there is no limit to the number of participants at the services as long as norms of social distancing are maintained;
- Social distancing of 6 feet must be maintained:
- While sitting or standing in the pews - between non-family members;
- While standing or moving in the aisles in line for Communion and returning to the pews;
- Wearing masks is recommended for laity. Priests are obliged to wear masks while distributing Holy Communion;
- Veneration of icons, crosses, etc. should be done without touching or kissing them. The Holy Water fountains must be emptied;
- There should be no social gatherings after the services. People should leave the church promptly upon the completion of services;
- Please remind parishioners that if they are not feeling well that they should stay at home;
- Please remind parishioners that they are not bound by the Sunday obligation if they are ill, at high risk to contract the virus, or if for health reasons they are afraid to attend the services. Dispensation from Sunday Liturgy obligation remains valid until further notice;
- When distributing Holy Communion with a golden spoon, please instruct those who choose to receive to open their mouths wide, not touch the spoon, and not cough or sneeze upon it. The spoon must be sanitized immediately after each communicant by wiping it with a cloth soaked in antiseptic or pure alcohol (at least 65-70%) and with a dry cloth afterwards. In the absence of a deacon or servers the tetrapod or other table can be used to place upon it the articles for disinfection.
- Celebrations of weddings, baptisms and funerals are allowed if all precautions listed above are observed. Water is considered to be safe since the virus spreads from person to person via air droplets;
- While hearing confessions, please observe social distancing;
- Collection baskets are to be left in designated places so that parishioners may leave their offerings without passing around baskets;
- Please refrain from choir singing due to closeness and danger of possible infections. Instead, please encourage the faithful to recite or sing responses.
- Live streaming of Divine Liturgies and other services from your church is recommended;
- Please keep the church well ventilated by opening windows or by turning on air-conditioning;
Please consider other precautionary measures to ensure that our churches are safe and everyone’s good health is maintained.
Memorial Services at the Cemetery
Visit from St. Nicholas
Holy Year of Mercy Pilgrimage
Metropolitan Archbishop Stefan Soroka of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and Ukrainians in the USA attended the Divine Liturgy at 4:00 p.m on October 15, 2016 in Ss. Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church, Olyphant, Pa. Metropolitan Soroka was greeted at the Church doors by the youth of the Parish who were dressed in the traditional Ukrainian clothing.