Traditional Greetings - Presentation of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church (2024)

FAQs

Traditional Greetings - Presentation of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church? ›

When greeting a priest or another parishioner, the traditional greeting given is "Glory to Jesus Christ!". The other person then replies with "Glory Be Forever!".

The traditional Ukrainian Christmas greeting is 'Христос Родився' (Khrystos Rodyvsia - Christ is Born) to which the response is 'Славімо Його' (Slavimo Yoho - Let us glorify Him). A more general seasonal greeting is 'Веселих Свят' ('Veselykh Svyat'), which literally means 'Happy Feasts”.

Traditionally, the equivalent to “Happy Easter” is Khrystos voskres! (Христос воскрес!), translating as “Christ has risen!”. When that is said, the traditional response is always Voistinu voskres! (Воістину воскрес!), meaning “Indeed he has risen!”.

Thus approaching a Priest, we offer our hand to him for the Blessing. Our hands should be held cross-wise, palms upward, right hand over left. We say to him: “Blahoslovy” or “Father, Bless”. (In the case of a Bishop, we say: “Blahoslovy Vladyko” or “Master, Bless”.)

As Catholics, we Eastern and Roman Catholics share the same faith and have the same seven sacraments. The difference is that we Eastern Catholics have a different way or rite of expressing our faith in regards to Liturgy and customs.

One of the symbols of Christmas in Ukraine is the didukh, which takes an honorable place in the house during the Christmas holidays. The didukh is a rye, wheat, or oat sheaf, which symbolizes the harvest, well-being, wealth, the spirit of ancestors, and it is a talisman of the family.

Добридень! – [dobryden'] – Hello! (shorten form of “добрий день”) This greeting is the most common and the most universal.

The most popular phrase is “pryvit” – which is the equivalent of “hi” or “hello” in Ukrainian.

Table of Contents. Христос воскрес! [khrystos voskres] – Christ has risen! Воістину воскрес! [voistynu voskres] – Indeed He has risen!

In general, the Eastern Catholic Churches allow ordination of married men as priests. Within the lands of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the largest Eastern Rite Catholic Church, priests' children often became priests and married within their social group, establishing a tightly-knit hereditary caste.

How do you show respect in Ukraine? ›

Eye contact is very important in Ukrainian culture and is considered a sign of respect. Showing respect to those who are older is expected, and it is uncommon for a teenager to call an adult by their first name. Borrowing money between close friends is common with the expectation that it will be paid back.

Most Ukrainian Catholic Churches have moved away from Church Slavonic; church services are mainly in the Ukrainian language.

A Catholic of the Roman rite of the Church can attend an Eastern Catholic divine liturgy and receive Communion during that liturgy without problem, and the Eastern Catholic divine liturgy would fulfill the Sunday/holy day obligation.

Ss. Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church

All of the Catholic Churches have the same Christian faith, share in the same Holy Mysteries (Sacraments), and are united together by the leadership of the Pope of Rome, yet we express our faith according to our own rites.

Ukraine's Santa Claus is called Did Moroz (Father Frost) or Svyatyy Mykolay (Saint Nicholas).

It is no secret that the main symbols of Christmas in Ukraine are the Christmas star, didukh, nativity scene, and carols. The Christmas star is an attribute associated with the birth of Jesus Christ: it was the Star of Bethlehem that announced the miraculous birth.

Much like our Christmas Eve with Santa Claus, the children in Ukraine are just as excited on this day for St. Nick! Schools, churches and families celebrate the day with visiting and sleigh rides. Schools have plays to tell the story of St.