Ukrainian Orthodox Church to honor Archbishop Antony (01/04/98)

Ukrainian Orthodox Church to honor Archbishop Antony

SOUTH BOUND BROOK, N.J. - On Saturday, January 17, the Saturday before Theophany, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. will honor Archbishop Antony of New York, ruling bishop of the Eastern Eparchy and president of the Consistory, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the holy priesthood.

Solemnities will begin with the celebration of a divine liturgy of thanksgiving at 10 a.m. in St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle Memorial Church in South Bound Brook, N.J. The principal celebrant of the liturgy will be Metropolitan Constantine; concelebrating will be bishops and archbishops, and local clergy.

Following the liturgy, an agape banquet and program honoring the archbishop will be held in the main auditorium of the Ukrainian Cultural Center, 135 Davidson Ave., Franklin Township, N.J.

Ordained to the holy priesthood on November 26, 1976, in St. John the Baptist Parish in Sharon, Pa., Archbishop Antony, then the Rev. John, served as pastor of St. Vladimir Parish in Ambidge, Pa., and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Hammond, Ind. In addition to his pastoral duties, he served as spiritual advisor of the senior and junior chapters of the Ukrainian Orthodox League, editor of the UOLeague Bulletin, editor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Word and rector of St. Sophia Theological Seminary.

Archimandrite Antony was called by the Council of Bishops and the Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. to espicopal service and was consecrated to the episcopacy in St. Andrew Memorial Church by the late Patriarch Mstyslav I and the present Church primate, Metropolitan Constantine. Elected to the position of consistory president, Archbishop Antony's ministry is focused on the spiritual and material growth and development of Ukrainian Orthodox parishes in the U.S.

Agape banquet tickets at $30 per person, may be purchased at local Ukrainian Orthodox parishes or at the consistory by telephoning (732) 356-0090. Reservations and ticket orders must be made with the consistory by January 12.