Venerable Nun Martyrs Olympia and Laurentia

The feast day of these two Nun Martyrs beatified by Pope John Paul II, together with 25 others during his historic trip to Ukraine in 2001, was celebrated on Sunday, June 27th. Consisting of a Moleben, the blessing of icons and a reception the celebration took place at the Khram (Shrine) built in their honor by the Saskatoon members of their religious order, the Ukrainian Sisters of St. Joseph.  Presided over by His Excellency Bishop Bryan Bayda, CSsR, with assistance from other members of the Saskatoon Clergy and the Cathedral Youth Choir, the afternoon service prayerfully united scores of faithful, including Bishop Emeritus Michael Wiwchar, CSsR,  in songs of gratitude and praise. The six life-sized icons, that were blessed at the onset of the celebrations were written by the hand of Sister Sophia and together with those blessed last year and a few more yet to come, will eventually be installed in the window shaped indents on the Khram’s exterior walls.  At the ‘feast day‘ reception special mention was also made, and traditional greetings extended to, Bishop Bryan on the occasion of his second anniversary as the Ukrainian Catholic Eparch of Saskatoon. The ‘cult‘ of our martyrs had been further advanced, earlier in this quarter, when on Tuesday, April 27th Rt. Rev. Mitred Protopresbyter Andriy Chirovsky, visited the Khram and was presented with a relic bearing icon of Venerable Olympia and Laurentia.  Father Chirovsky who is Chair of Eastern Christian Theology & Spirituality at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, as well as, Pastor of Saint Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in Tucson, Arizona, is passionate about singing the praises of all of the Martyrs and encouraging the faithful to do likewise; and, the icon of our Sister Martyrs will surely assist him in this cause.  We extol you, O Venerable Nun Martyrs Olympia and Laurentia, and we honor your precious suffering, which you endured for Christ.