CONTACT: Rev. Ihor Midzak
203-324-7698
STAMFORD EPARCHY CELBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
On Saturday, October 18th, 2008, the Ukrainian Eparchy of Stamford will celebrate the occasion of the 50th anniversary since its establishment as an independent Eparchy with a Pontifical Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving to be held at St. Basil College Seminary Chapel, Stamford, at 2 p.m. The Divine Liturgy will be preceded by a special luncheon for invited Cardinals, Bishops, and dignitaries, in the Ukrainian Museum at 11 a.m. In the evening, a dinner dance ( zabava) will be held at the Italian Center, in Stamford, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The well known band Zolota Bulava, from Montreal, Canada, will perform.
All of the Latin Rite Cardinals and Bishops of the East Coast, Eastern Rite Bishops of the United States and Canada, and Ambassadors and Consulate officials of Ukraine will be invited. All clergy from the four Ukrainian Eparchies of the United States, religious sisters, trustees, and religious organizations will be included totaling close to six hundred guests. Bishop Paul Patrick Chomnycky, O.S.B.M. will join with Lubomyr Cardinal Husar as the principal celebrant and homilist and, the Dumka Choir of New York City, will sing the Liturgy.
The actual historical date of the fiftieth anniversary is July 10, 1958 when Pope Pius XII erected the Ukrainian Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Philadelphia consisting of the Eparchy of Stamford and the Archeparchy of Philadelphia. On November 1, 1958 Bishop Ambrose Senyshyn, OSBM was appointed as the first Eparch of the newly created Eparchy of Stamford.
The golden anniversary celebration will begin on Friday, October 17th at 5 p.m. with Great Vespers and Blessing of Water at St. Vladimir’s Cathedral, Stamford, followed by a reception at 6 p.m. On Saturday, October 18th, the celebration begins with Matins at 8 a.m. in St. Basil College Chapel before the arrival of the guests and the Pontifical Divine Liturgy at 2 p.m. All of the clergy and faithful from the 54 parishes of the Stamford Eparchy in New York and New England will be invited to attend.