Archbishop Abel’s visit to the Transfiguration Cathedral,

Brooklyn, NY.

   On December 28^th, 2008 the delegation of the Polish Orthodox Church represented by Archbishop Abel from Lublin and Chelm, Ihumen Andrew, Chancellor of the Diocese of Lublin and Chelm, and Protodeacon Mark participated in the enthronement of His Beatitude Jonah, Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada. After the enthronement ceremony, the Polish Orthodox delegation came to New York and visited the Orthodox Transfiguration Cathedral in Brooklyn. The delegation celebrated Vespers on Saturday, January 3, 2009 and Divine Liturgy on Sunday, January 4, 2009. Archpriest Father John Polanski who had represented Metropolitan Christopher of the Orthodox Czesko-Slavonska Church at the enthronement of His Beatitude Jonah in Washington also participated in the Divine Liturgy. After the service, Archbishop Abel thanked Father Wiaczeslaw, the choir, and the parishioners for their warm welcome and presented Father with a beautiful jeweled cross.

Many people attended the services and the Rector of the Orthodox Transfiguration Cathedral, Very Reverend Father Wiaczelaw Krawczuk thanked the guests for coming and praying in our Cathedral, celebrating the end of our Centennial year, which was coming to a close.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah’s visit to the Transfiguration Cathedral, Brooklyn, NY

On January 7th, the Orthodox Transfiguration Cathedral celebrated Christmas according to the Julian Calendar. At this year’s Nativity of Jesus Christ the parish had a special guest, His Beatitude Jonah, Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada. At the election in Pittsburgh, PA, as Father Wiaczeslaw was congratulating the newly elected Metropolitan, he invited the new Metropolitan Jonah to celebrate the Nativity at the Transfiguration Cathedral of Our Lord in Brooklyn, NY.

His Beatitude accepted Father Wiaczeslaw’s invitation and on January 7^th, at 10:00 am was welcomed to the parish with bread and salt by Starosta Ms. Mary Ellen Kandratino, the children Marta Kliszcz and Barbara Krawczuk who presented flowers, and Rector Father Wiaczeslaw. Our Metropolitan celebrated Divine Liturgy with Archpriest Father Joseph Lickwar, Chancellor of the Diocese of Washington and New York; Archpriest Father Samuel Kedala, Dean of New Jersey; Archpriest Father Thomas Zain, Dean of the St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral; Archimandrite Dionysios, Abbot of Petras Monastery in Karditsa, Greece; Archimandrite George of Greece; Archimandrite Chryssostomos of Greece; Archimandrite Irineos of Greece; Igumen Father Christopher, Dean of the Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Protection of Manhattan, NY; Archpriest Father Daniel Degyansky of Woodside, NY; Priest Father Boris Slootsky of Mays Landing, NJ; Priest Father John Bartholomew of Sea Cliff, NY; Protodeacon Kyril Sokolov; and Deacon Igor Ksynyuk.

During the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Jonah ordained Deacon Igor Ksynyuk to the Priesthood. Metropolitan Jonah gave an enlightening sermon in both English and Russian about the meaning of the Nativity. At the end of the service the Metropolitan addressed the parish and thanked Father Wiaczeslaw, the choir, and parishioners for their warm welcome. The rector of the Cathedral, Father Wiaczeslaw presented His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah with a staff, a symbol of his authority. Fr. Wiaczeslaw also thanked him for coming and praying on such a special day, the Nativity of Jesus Christ, in such a special year, the parish’s Centennial Anniversary. Fr. Wiaczeslaw Krawczuk presented newly ordained Priest Father Igor Ksynyuk with a beautiful cross so that he may use it in the future.  After the service everyone went to the church hall to break the Nativity Fast. Everyone enjoyed themselves and sang many Christmas carols.

Yolka at the Transfiguration Cathedral

The parish’s yearly Yolka production took place on January 11, 2008. Many people braved the freezing weather and icy streets to attend Divine Liturgy and make sure their children were in church to celebrate the newly born Jesus Christ. Although the weather was cold outside, the presentation warmed the hearts of everyone. Many children, some as young as 4, sang carols, played instruments, and performed in two shows, one about Christmas Tree’s and one about the Nativity. Matushka Elzbieta once again organized the church school students beautifully and the performance by the children was a sight to behold.