Parma's Orthodox and Catholics "United in Christ" (07/02/00)

Parma's Orthodox and Catholics "United in Christ"

PARMA, Ohio - It was a simple event: a vespers service on a Saturday evening. A standing-room-only crowd of Catholic and Orthodox faithful packed St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral here on May 20 as Catholic Bishop Robert Moskal of St. Josaphat's Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral and several Ukrainian Catholic clergy participating in an Orthodox service.

They joined Metropolitan Constantine and Orthodox clergy in conducting vespers as part of a weekend called "United in Christ!" The next day, Metropolitan Constantine and the Bishop again with their respective clergies came together for a banquet and concert celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago.

This event took place at St. Josaphat's Astrodome Hall. Over 500 faithful attended and were delighted by over 150 performers. Entertaining the clergy and the faithful were students from the Kashtan Dance School, girls from Grades 2-7 of St. Josaphat's School, the Malvy trio, and two choirs - one youth and one adult - that combined Orthodox and Catholic singers from the Cleveland area.

In his pastoral letter regarding the weekend, Metropolitan Constantine quoted the letter of St. Paul to the Galatians: "If we live by the spirit, let us also walk by the spirit ... Let us have no conceit, no provoking of one another, no envying of one another. If a man be overtaken in any sin, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness ... Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ."

In his pastoral letter, Bishop Robert wrote: "The sign by which people know we are Jesus' disciples is our love for each other and not a fanatical loyalty to our group. Any diversity should strengthen us and challenge us to think deeper, to study harder and to pray more. If we do this, we Catholics will discover our own Orthodoxy, and we Orthodox will discover our Catholicity."

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