Saint Nicholas
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Mission

Click here to print out the flyer for the event.

Click here for the program guide.

Wednesday, June 4 (5:30-9pm)
“Icons - Seeing the Light” by Fr. Damian Higgins, Holy Wisdom School of Iconography

TOPIC: This talk will discuss Holy Icons as images or likenesses of holy persons or the sacred mysteries of our salvation. Icons manifest our belief in the great mystery of the incarnation whereby God has truly become one of us. These sacred images are not simply representations of historical events. Nor are they merely a teaching tool, a pictorial explanation of what we believe. They are meant to be, in themselves, a proclamation and re-presentation of a sacred reality. Indeed, they celebrate the great gift of faith.

BIOGRAPHY: Fr. Damian Higgins is an accomplished iconographer and is the founding Director of Holy Wisdom School of Iconography in Augusta, GA. He is a monk of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and is also serving as priest-in-residence at Saint Ignatios of Antioch Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Augusta, GA.

Friday, June 6 (5:30-9pm)
Divine Liturgy (Eastern Catholic Mass)
“The Eucharist: Sacrament of the Kingdom - Part 1” by Fr. David Anderson,

TOPIC: This talk will provide numerous historical, theological and spiritual reflections on the central mystery of our faith as celebrated in the Divine Liturgy.  

BIOGRAPHY: Fr. David Anderson is currently pastor of St. Peter Eastern Catholic Church in Ukiah, CA.  He is a graduate of St. Vladimir’s Seminary in Crestwood, N.Y.  In addition to serving as a parish priest for 25 years, he is a translator of patristic and liturgical texts, and is especially known in Northern California for his classes on scripture, liturgy and the church Fathers which continue to be presented in parishes there.

Saturday, June 7 (7:30am-7pm) - Sunday, June 8 (10-2pm)
“The Eucharist: Sacrament of the Kingdom - Parts 2 & 3” by Fr. David Anderson
Lunch is provided on Saturday by Saint Nicholas Mission.
Great Vespers (Evening Prayer) at 5:30pm
Sunday Divine Liturgy at 10am. Festive Potluck to follow.

Monday, June 9 (5:30-9pm)
“History of the Byzantine Catholic Church in Slavic Countries and America”
by Fr. Robert Markovitch

BIOGRAPHY: Fr. Robert Markovitch, MD is currently serving as the pastor of Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Hudson, NY. Robert Markovitch was born in Lorain, Ohio, where his father had settled after leaving the Pennsylvania coal region (Scranton, PA) following military service in WW II.  After graduating from high school in Ohio as co-valedictorian, he attended Northwestern University, obtaining a BA in Psychology.  During his time in medical school, Robert attended St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Rossford, Ohio, where he served as cantor.  Robert became a medical doctor in 1987, when he obtained an MD degree from the Medical College of Ohio. Dr. Robert did his medical residency at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA and McKeesport Hospital in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.  During his medical training, he  attended Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church in Berwick, PA, and St. John the Baptist in Pittsburgh, PA.  Upon completion of his residency, Dr. Markovitch became a board-certified family doctor. After medical training, Dr. Robert worked in Urgent Care and as a Family Doctor in Wapakoneta and St. Mary’s Ohio.  During this time he attended St. Michael’s in Rossford, Ohio.  Dr. Markovitch also participated in medical student training during a visit to Haiti, where he volunteered in a home for orphans run by Mother Teresa’s order, the Missionaries of Charity.  He also testified before a committee of the Ohio State Legislature on pro-life issues. Dr. Robert then moved to Washington, DC in 1992, where he attended St. Josaphat’s Seminary and the Catholic University of America.  During this time, he worked in the Emergency Room of Providence Hospital in Washington, DC.  After receiving graduate degrees in philosophy (MA) and theology, (STB, pontifical degree) Dr. Markovitch prepared for ordination in Stamford, CT.  He was ordained to the priesthood in January of 2001.  His first pastoral assignment was at St. Josaphat’s in Rochester, NY, where he also did volunteer medical work at a clinic run by the Sisters of St. Joseph.   Since 2003, Fr. Robert is serving as the pastor of two parishes:  St. Nicholas in Hudson, NY, and St. John the Baptist in Pittsfield, in the Berkshire region of Massachusetts.  Fr. Robert Markovitch, MD has been the guest speaker/homilist at church pilgrimages and conferences, and has authored many newspaper and magazine articles.

Tuesday, June 10 (5:30-9pm)
“Mission, Memory and Identity: Reflections on the Mission of Eastern Catholicism ”
by Fr. Sean Labat

TOPIC: This talk will cover the role of history and community identity in Eastern Catholicism. It will address how the past shapes us in the present, some possible avenues for a unique vocation for Eastern Catholicism, as well as some present challenges for Eastern Catholicism in building an identity and a missional vocation as a church that is both fully Eastern and fully Catholic.

BIOGRAPHY: Fr. Sean Labat is currently parochial vicar of Saint Basil Ukrainian Greek Catholic Mission in Charlotte, NC. He is a presbyter of the UGCC Eparchy of Saint Josaphat in Parma, OH. He has an M.Div from St. Vladimir Theological Seminary in Crestwood, NY and a PhD. in history from the University of Chicago. 

The requested donation for the symposium is $10 per speaker ($20 for Father David's series) or $45 for the entire conference.
 
Come learn more about the "Eastern lung" of the Catholic Church!