Bishop Martin joins Byzantine community Divine Liturgy for anniversary celebration
CHARLOTTE — Bells, chants and the aroma of incense filled the air Sunday as two bishops from two different Catholic traditions met for the first time.
Bishop Michael Martin visited St. Basil the Great Eastern Catholic Parish in Charlotte Oct. 13 and met its shepherd, Bishop Bohdan Danylo of the Ohio-based Eparchy (Diocese) of St. Josaphat, for a Mass celebrated in the Eastern Catholic tradition.
Bishop Danylo was in Charlotte Oct. 12-13 for a pastoral visit. His eparchy encompasses parishes in 11 states including St. Basil in Charlotte. The Mass, or Divine Liturgy, commemorated the 10th anniversary of his episcopal ordination and the 40th anniversary of the eparchy.
St. Basil the Great Parish has grown into a multi-ethnic congregation brought together by the ancient spirituality and liturgy of Byzantine (Eastern) Christianity, said its pastor, Father Joseph Matlak. The community, which worships at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte, has received support and encouragement from the Diocese of Charlotte since its founding in 2006.
At the beginning of Sunday’s celebration, members of the parish presented both bishops with bread and salt – traditional symbols of hospitality and friendship.
Members of the parish and many visitors filled Aquinas Hall at St. Thomas Aquinas Church for Sunday’s celebration, joining in harmony to sing the many prayers that make up the Divine Liturgy. Bishop Danylo celebrated the liturgy, with priests from the Diocese of Charlotte and Belmont Abbey joining him and Bishop Martin attending in choir.
In his homily, Bishop Danylo referred to the day’s Gospel reading, which recounted Christ’s parable of the sower from Matthew’s Gospel. The parable compares seeds that fall on different types of soil to the way different types of people react to God’s Word.
“This message challenges us on this beautiful October day – how will we carry the Word of God given to us in the Gospel?” the bishop asked. “I admire your community because you come together not only to celebrate Divine Liturgy but to pray the Vespers together on Saturdays. Prayer is what gives us the strength to grow that seed – the beauty of our Byzantine tradition that we hold so dear to our hearts.”
Bishop Danylo recalled how the Byzantine community once was small but now takes up nearly all of the space in Aquinas Hall, and he challenged members of St. Basil to continue their growth by reaching out to more people in the community.
“So many people are hungry to know the Word of God and know that someone loves them,” he said. “Let people see in your face the kindness and gentleness of the One who came to us. May this community be the image of the seed that grows and bears fruit.”
At the end of the celebration, Bishop Danylo thanked Bishop Martin for the diocese’s support of the community over the past two decades and expressed the hope that one day St. Basil’s growing congregation will worship in their own church.
Bishop Martin was presented with an icon dedicated to the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God, which falls on Oct. 1.
Bishop Martin thanked Bishop Danylo, Father Matlak and the parish for the gift and the warm welcome. “It’s good to be able to celebrate together and to know of our communion,” he said. “Know that your parish community … is always welcome here.”
In honor of the anniversary celebration, people also were able to venerate two first-class relics (a physical piece of a saint) that were on display: St. Basil the Great, patron saint of the parish, and St. Josaphat, the eparchy’s patron. A piece of the True Cross was also on display.
Members of the congregation gathered for a meal at the end of the liturgy, which featured everything from barbecue and macaroni and cheese to traditional Eastern European foods like kielbasa and stuffed cabbage rolls.
“It was wonderful to see both bishops here and to see so many people turn out for the liturgy,” said Anesa Loya, a member of St. Basil Parish. “It’s always nice when East meets West!”
Father Michael Debesay of the Charlotte Eritrean Catholic Community was grateful to be able to attend the special liturgy with both bishops.
“This is the beauty of the Catholic Church,” he said. “We have different forms of worship but the same heartbeat. It was such a wonderful experience to be standing together with the other priests and to see the bishops. This is what Jesus meant when He gave us the Church.”
— Christina Lee Knauss
