Faith in Focus with Father Vitalii

10/30/2025

10/14/2025

09/27/2025

On Saturday, September 27, the Greek (Byzantine) Catholic Eparchy of Mukachevo witnessed a historic and long-awaited event, not only for the faithful of Transcarpathia but for the entire Church in Ukraine and beyond. In the village of Bilky, bishops and clergy gathered from across Ukraine, Europe, and even America for the solemn beatification of Father Petro Pavlo Oros — a priest who gave his life for Christ and His Church during the persecution of the godless communist regime.

The solemn Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Grace Bishop Theodore Matsapula, concelebrating with Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, the Papal Legate, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, numerous bishops from Ukraine and abroad, as well as hundreds of priests. Thousands of pilgrims came from Transcarpathia, from across Ukraine, and from beyond its borders. Among the hierarchs present was Bishop Robert Pipta of the Eparchy of Parma, who represented the Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh.

The rite of beatification began with the formal petition, offered on behalf of the Greek (Byzantine) Catholic Eparchy of Mukachevo, to number Father Petro Pavlo Oros among the blessed. This was followed by the reading of a brief biography of the new blessed by Mr. Viktor Bohiv.

Cardinal Ryś then solemnly proclaimed the apostolic letter of the Holy Father Leo XIV, in which the Pope recognized the martyrdom of Father Petro Pavlo Oros and established August 27 as his liturgical feast day.

During the singing of the Megalynarion (“Magnification”), the relics and icon of Blessed Petro Pavlo were solemnly carried in procession — the relics borne by military chaplains, and the icon by newly ordained priests.

Bishop Theodore then expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Holy Father on behalf of the entire eparchy for the gift of proclaiming a new blessed.

The Liturgy continued with the singing of the troparion and kontakion of Blessed Petro Pavlo Oros, proclaiming the triumph of Christ’s faith over the darkness of evil.

09/14/2025

It's Pope Leo XIV's 70th birthday! 🥳 Pray for our Pope today, that the Lord will guide him in his ministry and bless him through his next year of life.

09/11/2025

Heavenly Father,
Lord of all nations and King of all peoples,
we come before You with hearts longing for healing.
Our land is wounded by division, burdened by fear,
and in need of Your merciful touch.

Send forth Your Holy Spirit upon America,
that we may be cleansed of pride, anger, and hatred.
Unite us, O Lord, not in our own strength,
but around Your Son, Jesus Christ,
who is our peace and reconciliation.

Bless our leaders with wisdom and humility,
our communities with compassion and justice,
and our families with faith and love.
Where there is hurt, bring forgiveness.
Where there is despair, bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let Your light shine.

Mother Mary, patroness of our nation,
intercede for us and lead us ever closer to Your Son.
May America always be a land
that seeks truth, protects the vulnerable,
and gives glory to God in word and deed.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

09/10/2025

Loving and merciful God,
on this solemn day we remember the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
We entrust to Your eternal embrace all those who lost their lives
the innocent victims, the heroic first responders,
and all who gave their lives in service of others.

Comfort the families and friends who still carry the pain of loss.
Bring healing to those whose hearts are wounded,
and grant peace to our nation and our world.

We pray for an end to hatred, violence, and terror.
Fill us with Your Spirit of reconciliation,
that we may build bridges of understanding and sow seeds of peace.

Lord, make us instruments of Your love.
May the memory of this day strengthen our resolve
to live in faith, hope, and charity,
until the day when You wipe away every tear
and all creation finds rest in You.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Lady, Queen of Peace pray for us.
Saint Michael the Archangel defend us.

09/04/2025

🕊️ SAVE THE DATE 🕊️
Pilgrimage for Teens & Young Adults to St. Michael the Archangel Basilica, Loretto, PA

"Blessed are those whose hearts are set on pilgrimage." Psalm 84:5

📅 October 4, 2025
📍 Loretto, PA

Join us for a day of faith, fellowship, and spiritual renewal at this special pilgrimage designed for teens and young adults. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, reflect, and grow!

✨ More information coming soon!

Stay tuned and mark your calendars now!

08/13/2025

Why we bless flowers on the Dormition of the Theotokos

The Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos is one of the most radiant days of the Byzantine Catholic year. On this day, we honor the falling asleep of the Mother of God and her glorious translation, body and soul into the Kingdom of her Son. Though the feast recalls her death, it is filled with joy, for we proclaim that the grave could not hold the one who bore Life Himself. A beautiful and ancient tradition accompanies this day: the blessing of flowers and herbs, a custom full of biblical meaning and spiritual symbolism.

The Holy Scriptures often speak of God’s saving work in the language of gardens and blossoms. In the Song of Songs, the Bride says, “I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys” (Song 2:1), words the Church applies to the Theotokos, for in her the beauty and fragrance of divine grace came into full bloom. The prophet Isaiah foretold that “a shoot shall come forth from the root of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots” (Isaiah 11:1), a prophecy fulfilled when Mary, the living garden of God, brought forth the Savior. Overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, she became the Paradise in which the Tree of Life, Christ, took root for the salvation of the world.

Our liturgical tradition tells us that when the Apostles later opened her tomb, they found it empty, filled only with fragrant flowers. This was God’s way of showing that the Mother of His Son was not subject to the corruption of the grave. The fragrance and beauty that remained were signs of her incorruption and her share in the glory of her risen Son. When we bless flowers on the Dormition, we re-enact this miracle in a symbolic way, receiving from the Church’s hands the same beauty and fragrance as a reminder that death is not the end, but the gateway to eternal life.

Blessing flowers is also a way of giving thanks for God’s creation. The Psalmist declares, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6), and the prophet Isaiah proclaims, “The desert shall rejoice and blossom like the lily” (Isaiah 35:1). By bringing the blossoms of the earth into the temple, we acknowledge that all creation is meant to glorify God and share in the renewal that Christ brings. Just as the bread and wine we offer at the Divine Liturgy are taken, blessed, transformed, and returned to us as the Body and Blood of Christ, so the flowers are offered to God, sanctified through prayer, and returned as a blessing for our homes. They remind us that our lives, like theirs, should be filled with the fragrance of virtue, beauty, and holiness.

Taking these blessed flowers home is more than a pious gesture, it is an invitation to let our households become places where Christ dwells, as Mary’s own life became the dwelling place of the Son of God. Their beauty is fleeting, reminding us that our earthly life is brief, but their blessing points us toward the eternal garden of God’s Kingdom, where the Theotokos now lives in glory.

As we prepare to celebrate this great feast, let us come together in joy, giving thanks for the life of the Mother of God and the salvation her Son has brought to us. On the day of the Dormition, bring flowers and herbs from your garden, from your yard, or from the store, whatever you can offer. Bring them into the church to be blessed, so that you may take home not only their fragrance, but the grace they carry as a sign of God’s love. Let us fill the temple with blossoms, just as the tomb of the Theotokos was once filled with flowers, and let us honor her by being present in the house of her Son on this most holy day.

08/04/2025

THE BLESSING OF FRUITS ON THE FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION

The Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, celebrated on August 6th in the Byzantine Catholic Church, is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the liturgical year. It commemorates the moment on Mount Tabor when Christ revealed His divine glory to His disciples Peter, James, and John. His face shone like the sun, and His garments became dazzling white, offering a glimpse of the uncreated light of God. This event, rich in theological meaning, also has a deeply sacramental and liturgical expression: the traditional blessing of fruits, especially grapes, on this holy day.

In the Byzantine tradition, the blessing of fruits on the Feast of the Transfiguration is not merely a quaint custom, but a profound liturgical and spiritual act. It is rooted in the biblical and agricultural calendar, in which August marked the beginning of the grape harvest in the Mediterranean world. The faithful would bring the first fruits of their labor, especially grapes, apples, and other seasonal produce, to the church to be blessed and offered in thanksgiving to God. This practice reflects the Old Testament commandment to offer the “first fruits” of the harvest (Exodus 23:19, Deuteronomy 26:1–11), acknowledging God as the source of all blessings.

In the Kontakion of the feast, the Church proclaims: “You were transfigured on the mountain, O Christ God, revealing Your glory to Your disciples as much as they could bear. Let Your eternal light also shine upon us sinners...” This light is the same divine energy that renews not only our souls but also the entire creation. By blessing the fruits, the Church affirms the goodness of the material world, which, though wounded by sin, is destined for transfiguration and glory in Christ. The fruits, transfigured through blessing and thanksgiving, become signs of the world redeemed and offered back to God.

Grapes are especially symbolic in this feast because they represent the Eucharist, the Blood of Christ poured out for the life of the world. The blessing of grapes serves as a reminder of the Paschal mystery, in which Christ’s Transfiguration points ahead to both His Passion and His Resurrection. Just as grapes must be crushed to produce wine, so must Christ suffer death to bring forth new life. Thus, the fruit of the vine becomes a powerful symbol of transformation, sacrifice, and divine joy.

This ritual also invites the faithful to bring their own lives their daily labors, sufferings, and gifts as “fruits” to be blessed and transfigured by God. In doing so, we are reminded that our entire existence is to be eucharistic: an offering of thanksgiving. The blessing of fruits teaches us that holiness does not separate us from the world, but sanctifies it. The glory revealed on Mount Tabor becomes a light to guide us in transforming every aspect of life into a living sacrifice of praise.

The blessing of fruits on the Feast of the Transfiguration is a celebration of divine beauty, gratitude, and the destiny of all creation to be renewed in Christ. It is a reminder that in Him, all things, whether spiritual or material, find their true purpose and are glorified.

07/27/2025

“If the devil doesn’t make you bad, he will try to make you busy”

In our Byzantine tradition, we sing during the Divine Liturgy: “Let us set aside all earthly cares, that we may receive the King of all.” These words come just before the Great Entrance, when the Holy Gifts are brought forth, when heaven and earth mysteriously meet. It is a call to cast aside every distraction, every worldly attachment, and every anxious thought that competes with God for the throne of our heart. And yet, in the noise of today’s world, it is not always sin that draws us away from Christ. Sometimes, it is simply busyness.

This is the more subtle and dangerous tactic of the evil one. The devil, the ancient serpent, is cunning. If he cannot destroy the soul by overt evil, by hatred, by lust, by pride, then he will work in quieter ways. He will fill your life with noise, obligations, meetings, notifications, and endless ambitions. He will clutter your heart with careers, promotions, social events, and the pursuit of comfort. Not because those things are evil in themselves, but because they can easily become idols.

Saint Paul warned us: “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14). Not every “opportunity” is from God. Some doors open only to lead us away from Him. The devil rejoices when our prayer life is replaced by productivity, when our love for the Divine Liturgy is lost in Sunday errands, when our hunger for holiness is dulled by social media scrolling and worldly pursuits.

In the image above, people are shown bowing before the twin pillars of Worldliness and Opportunities, captivated not by evil, but by distraction. And the words of Ecclesiastes ring true: “All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.” (Ecclesiastes 6:7) No matter how much we accomplish, how much we acquire, or how much we are praised, the soul will not be satisfied unless it is united with God.

In our Byzantine heritage, the Fathers of the Desert taught us about nepsis, a state of spiritual wakefulness and attentiveness. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos once said, “People today have filled their lives with so many unnecessary things that they’ve lost the taste for prayer.” To fight against the evil of distraction, we must reclaim silence. We must protect our inner life. Carve out time each day for stillness, for Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Come to the Liturgy, not out of obligation, but because it is the wellspring of life. Make confession a regular practice, not just an occasional ritual. Fast not only from food, but also from screens, noise, and gossip. Be radical in your pursuit of God.

This is not easy. But the good news is that Christ is already victorious. The enemy can tempt, but he cannot conquer a heart surrendered to God. We are not alone in this battle. We have the grace of the sacraments, the wisdom of the Church, the prayers of the Theotokos and all the saints.

Remember the words of Saint John Chrysostom: “No one can harm the man who does not injure himself. Not even the devil.” Therefore, let us not waste our lives in chasing shadows. Let us not settle for being merely “busy” Christians, but become burning lamps of prayer and charity, keeping vigil until the Bridegroom comes. Let us put aside every earthly care, not with disdain for the world, but in order to give first place to Christ, the true King. And let our lives say, in word and in action: “My soul thirsts for You, O God, the living God.” (Psalm 42:2)