SHENANDOAH — The commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday had an added dimension in Eastern Rite Catholic churches this year with the celebration of the Feast of the Annunciation on the same day.
One of the churches to mark the two important religious events was St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in Shenandoah with a Divine Liturgy celebrated by Monsignor Myron Grabowsky, pastor, assisted by the Rev. Thomas DeSimone, a Roman Catholic priest from the Archdiocese of New York.
The Annunciation feast marks the announcement almost 2,000 years ago by the Archangel Gabriel to Mary in Bethlehem that she would bear a son who would be the son of God. When Mary agreed, Jesus was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit and became man (The Incarnation). It is celebrated on March 25, nine months before the birth of Jesus on Dec. 25.
While the Annunciation, which is a holy day of obligation in the Eastern Catholic churches, is a fixed day, Good Friday and other days in the Lenten and Easter seasons are movable on the calendar, and occasionally the Annunciation and Good Friday coincide. In Roman Catholic churches, the celebration of the Annunciation is moved to after Easter. This year it has been moved to April 4.
Normally, the Divine Liturgy/Mass is not permitted on Good Friday, but Eastern Rite churches make the exception for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom with Vespers for the Feast of the Annunciation on Great (Good) Friday. The last time the Annunciation and Good Friday were on the same day was in 2005. The next time it will happen will be in 2157.
Most of the prayers in the Divine Liturgy were those from the Annunciation liturgy, but the Gospel reading included portions of three Gospels (Matthew, Luke and John) that included the narratives of the Annunciation and the Passion of Christ from his judgement by Pilate to his burial.
After reading the Gospel, DeSimone gave the homily. He spoke of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus and how Satan entered Judas when he opened himself up to him.
“Every time we say ‘yes’ to a sin, we are allowing him (Satan) to come in,” DeSimone said. “Confession pushes Satan back out, but we have to be aware of that. Why do you think it is easier to sin the second time with the same sin? Each time it gets easier and easier and easier. What are we saying yes to? Who are we saying yes to? Are we saying (to God) do unto me according to your word, or do unto you according to my word?”
The conclusion of the Divine Liturgy led to the procession of the Holy Burial Shroud (Plaschanicja) of Christ, which contains a depiction of Christ at his burial. According to the explanation in the prayer booklet, the priest takes the censer and incenses the Holy Shroud from each of the four sides of the altar. Grabowsky gave the Holy Shroud to Sam Litwak, Michael Fufla, Fred Koch and Edward Mohutsky, who carried it through the church in a procession that included most of those who attended the services. The procession went around the inside of the church three times. The procession symbolizes the funeral procession of Christ to the grave, stopping in the center aisle. After prayers before the tomb (a wooden stand large enough for the shroud and surrounded by flowers), Grabowsky placed the shroud in the tomb and the Book of the Gospels near it, and invited everyone to come to the front and venerate the shroud. The church remained open into the late evening for people to pray. The church will open at 10 a.m. today for veneration until Resurrection Matins and the Vigil Divine Liturgy are celebrated at 4 p.m.