Ukrainian Church in America puts out new liturgical texts

(UOC-USA) - Following the glorious celebration of Pentecost, the members of Liturgical Commission of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA gathered for its 2012 quarterly meeting at the Consistory offices of the spiritual and administrative center of the UOC of the USA in South Bound Brook, NJ on 5 June, 2012.

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:

• His Grace Bishop Daniel – Ruling Bishop of the Western Eparchy of the UOC of the USA
• Very Rev. Bazyl Zawierucha – pastor of Holy Dormition Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Northampton, 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 St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Philadelphia, PA
• Rev. Fr. Harry Linsinbigler – pastor of the Protection of the Mother of God Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Dover, FL
• Rev. Fr. Ivan Synevskyy –Assistant Director of the Consistory Office of Public Relations and pastor of Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church in South Plainfield, NJ

His Eminence Archbishop Antony – the Locum Tenens and acting Metropolitan of the UOC of the USA 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 near future.

The Liturgical Commission will release the following bi-lingual liturgical service books once they are approved and blessed by the 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.

In addition, the members of the Liturgical Commission of the Church began the final review of the second Draft of the popular edition of “Divine Liturgy” (with traditional music and melodies in Kyivan and Halytsky Chants) presented in a parallel English-Ukrainian format and adopted for congregational singing or mixed choir. The work was compiled and edited by Markian Komichak, Choir Director from St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, OH.

The Liturgical Commission of the Church meets several times a year and has as its goal the promotion of the liturgical life of the Church by:

• Developing bi-lingual liturgical books for use of the parishes of the UOC of the USA;
• Overseeing the preparation of liturgical educational materials for publication;
• Regulating pastoral liturgical practices throughout the country and promoting studies in Sacred Music and Liturgical Theology;
• Assisting the Council of Bishops of the Church in the preparation and development of the liturgical publications and the Church Year Calendars.
• Studying and researching emerging liturgical developments and questions.

The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for the first part of autumn of this year.