Ukrainian Liturgical Commission prepares new service books

(UOC-USA) - Following this year’s Annual St. Thomas Sunday Pilgrimage to St. Andrew Metropolia Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA in South Bound Brook/Somerset, NJ, the Liturgical Commission of the Church gathered for its 2010 annual meeting at the Consistory offices – the spiritual and administrative center of the Church from 12-14 April, 2010.

According to His Grace Bishop Daniel, who serves as the chairperson of the Commission, the work of the group is of extreme importance as it addresses the pastoral liturgical needs of the clergy and laity of the Church. The members of the Liturgical Commission are the clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, representing all three Eparchies:

• His Grace Bishop Daniel –
  Ruling Bishop of the Western Eparchy of the UOC of the USA
• Protopresbyter Frank Estocin –
  pastor of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Philadelphia, PA
• Very Rev. Bazyl Zawierucha –
  pastor of Holy Dormition Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Noarthapton, PA and Provost of St. Sophia
  Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary in South bound Brook, NJ
• Very Rev. Pavlo Bodnarchuk –
  pastor of St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Southfield, MI
• Very Rev. Taras Naumenko –
  pastor of Sts Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Palos Park, IL
• Rev. Fr. Harry Linsinbigler –
  pastor of the Protection of the Mother of God Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Dover, FL

His Eminence Archbishop Antony – president of the Consistory of the UOC of the USA and ex-officio member of the Commission – also participated in the meetings offering his advice and expertise as the members of the Commission reflected upon the three-volume work, which is to be released to public in the first part of 2011.

The members of the Commission worked daily at the Consistory offices of the Church and attended daily liturgical services at St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary. The Liturgical Commission will release the following bi-lingual liturgical service books once they are approved and blessed by the UOC Council of Bishops:

• Volume 1: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great.
• Volume 2: Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts.
• Volume 3: Vespers and Matins.
• Holy Hours and Typica, Funeral Books and the Book of Needs are in a process of being translated and developed.

The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for the second part of summer of this year.