Home | St Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church

Upcoming Events: General Assembly Meeting_March 12 / Easter_ April 16

Загальні Збори 12 березня 2023р / General Assembly Meeting March 12, 2023

Welcome

Welcome to St Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Our church follows the Julian (old) calendar. All Orthodox Christians are welcome and encouraged to participate in the Blessed Sacraments of Repentance and Eucharist.

On this site you will find information about our church, the Orthodox faith, and events taking place in our parish. We welcome new parishioners and always look forward to meeting you in person. We sincerely hope that you will find this site helpful. If you have any questions about our church, please feel free to contact Father Igor Krekhovetsky or Lydia Dzus, Parish Council president via email using this site.

Наша Церква дотримується Юліанського (старого стилю) календара. Всі Православні християни запрошуються і можуть брати участь в Святих Тайнах Покаянні і Євхаристії.

На цім сайті Ви знайдете інформацію про нашу Церкву, Православну віру і про всі події, які відбуваються в нашій парафії. Ми завжди раді новим парафіянам і раді познайомитися з Вами персонально. Ми щиро надіємось, що цей сайт допоможе вам. Якщо Ви маєте якісь питання про нашу Церкву, Ви можете звернутися до отця Ігора Креховецького, або до голови парафіальної управи Микола Штанько.

We are asking for your prayers in order to stop the war in Ukraine.

Pray for Ukraine

Thank you for your support

St. Theodore_March 4 & Exaltation of the True Cross_March 19 & 26

St. Theodore of Tyron

Elevation of the Cross

Finding the Cross

In the year 324, Constantine sent Empress Helena on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in search of the “Holy Sepulcher” and “The True Cross.” The “Holy Sepulcher” is the location of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, while “The True Cross” is the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. On this pilgrimage, it was said that Helena “followed in the footsteps of Jesus,” by performing many acts of kindness and good works, such as giving money, food, and clothing to the poor, and also helping churches with funds as well as other needs. After weeks of traveling, she finally made it to Jerusalem. With the help of Judas Cyriancus, a man selected at random and forced against his will to help, Helena was able to get closer than she ever had to finding “The True Cross.” This is where the story diverges. Although some believe a commoner from a nearby town led Helena to “The True Cross,”others believe that it was Judas Cyriancus.

They continued their search for days, when their prayers were finally answered. Helena said it was then, “with sweet smelling dust and a flash of lightning” that she pointed to the place where she instructed Judas to started digging. Finally, they uncovered three crosses, one thought to belong to Jesus Christ, and the others belonging to the two thieves that died alongside Him. To test and see which one of these crosses truly belonged to Jesus Christ, they searched for a leper at the outskirts of Jerusalem. Once one was found, they returned back to the site of Golgotha, the place of Jesus’ crucifixion. The leper was instructed to touch each of the crosses one by one. He touched the first one and nothing happened. He touched the second one and still nothing happened. Finally, when he touched the third and final cross, the leper was instantly healed. It was this cross that healed the leper, and for that reason it is known as “The True Cross.”

Знайдення Хреста

У 324 році Костянтин відправив імператрицю Єлену в паломництво до Святої Землі в пошуках «Гробу Господнього» і «Істинного Хреста». «Гроб Господній» — це місце розп’яття Ісуса Христа, а «Істинний Хрест» — це хрест, на якому був розіп’ятий Ісус Христос. Під час цього паломництва було сказано, що Олена «пішла слідами Ісуса», виконуючи багато вчинків доброти та добрих справ, наприклад, роздаючи гроші, їжу та одяг бідним, а також допомагаючи церквам коштами, а також інші потреби. Після тижнів подорожі вона нарешті добралася до Єрусалиму. За допомогою Юди Киріанка, чоловіка, обраного навмання та змушеного допомагати проти його волі, Олена змогла підійти ближче, ніж будь-коли, до пошуку «Істинного Хреста». Ось де історія розходиться. Хоча дехто вважає, що простолюдин із сусіднього міста привів Олену до «Істинного Хреста», інші вважають, що це був Юда Киріан.

Вони продовжували пошуки кілька днів, коли на їхні молитви нарешті було почуто. Хелена сказала, що саме тоді «солодким запахом пилу та блискавки» вона вказала на місце, де вона наказала Юді почати копати. Нарешті вони знайшли три хрести, один, як вважалося, належав Ісусу Христу, а інші належали двом розбійникам, які померли разом з Ним. Щоб перевірити, який із цих хрестів справді належить Ісусу Христу, вони шукали прокаженого на околиці Єрусалиму. Коли один був знайдений, вони повернулися на Голгофу, місце розп’яття Ісуса. Прокаженому було наказано доторкнутися до кожного хреста по одному. Він торкнувся першого, і нічого не сталося. Він торкнувся другого, але нічого не сталося. Нарешті, коли він торкнувся третього й останнього хреста, прокажений миттєво зцілився. Саме цей хрест зцілив прокаженого, і тому він відомий як «Істинний хрест».

March 2023 Liturgical Schedule

March Liturgical holy days

The Pantanassa Icon

Sisterhood Food Sale resumes on March 25th 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The ladies of our Sisterhood are planning to resume their famous Ukrainian Food Sale on March 25th between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

You are all invited to come and partake of the food items listed on the traditional menu.

The prices are very reasonable.

Come and enjoy!

Our thanks to our generous parishioners and friends.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS!

Thank you to all our parishioners and friends who continue to support our parish by sending donations by mail. Please mail your contribution to: St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 3176 St. Paul Blvd, Rochester NY 14617.

Дякуємо всім нашим парафіянам та друзям, які продовжують підтримувати нашу парафію, надсилаючи пожертви поштою. Будь ласка, надішліть свій внесок до: St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 3176 St. Paul Blvd, Rochester NY 14617.

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Donations Appreciated

CAN YOU PLEASE HELP?

Many churches today face decreasing membership numbers - St Mary's is no different. Our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents built one of the most beautiful Ukrainian Orthodox churches in the United States!! They did it by working hard and by making contributions... in many ways. Why? To give their children and future generations a special place to worship.

Many of them are no longer with us, but their dream lives on. Your help is needed to keep their dream alive. Our annual expenses are over $125,000.00 and are growing each year. This year, in particular, we have agressively made many needed repairs: repairs to the front steps, the renovation and painting of the interior of the church, renovation of the hall kitchen, and many other areas as well. We face the difficult task of trying to pay for all those repairs. We thank our volunteers for the enormous work done to date. Please help by volunteering your time or by making a donation. Thank You!

Kindly send your donation, no matter the amount, to:

St Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 3176 St. Paul Blvd, Rochester NY 14617-3433

Calling on our Parish Members for Volunteer Work

** VOLUNTEERS NEEDED **

Don't have time every week or month? Just an hour or two whenever would help.

Our Sisterhood needs "crimpers" to make varenyky and if you don't know how... WE'LL TEACH YOU. Or you can make potato or cheese balls, cut out circles of dough, or help with other fun tasks. We'll provide a meal and great conversations with a terrific group of ladies. We get together monthly starting at 5:00 pm. Join us whenever you can and be ready to have fun - no appointment necessary. If you'd rather sell, serve or wash a few pots and pans, why not pop in at our monthly Food Sale - lunch will be provided.

The Brotherhood can also use volunteers for repairs, cleaning and general property maintenance around the church property. Yes, the Brotherhood also provide meals and something to whet your whistle too. Contact Walter (585) 748-4202 to sign up and to get the work schedule.

Did You Know?

Do You Want to Live Longer? Here's how...

Attending weekly religious services can add seven (7) years to your life, concluded Christopher Ellison in a study of 22,000 Americans at University of San Antonio last year.

More than 100 studies suggest that regular prayer, meditation and connection with a faith community can lower blood pressure, boost immune functions, improve sleep, enhance recovery from illness and lower the chance of heart disease and cancer. Spiritual practices can thicken the brain cortext to defend against depression as well, a 2013 Columbia University study found.

Now that you know the secret, please join us Sunday.