Parish Feast: The Living Prayer of the Heart and the Magical Power of Christmas Night…

I have no doubt that everyone who visited the Church of St. Joseph the Betrothed on Cumberland Avenue in Chicago last Sunday experienced special moments in their lives. It was warm here, like at home. Here, hearts beat in unison with Ukraine. Here, the Lord's love penetrated souls with the light of the Bethlehem Star, the purity and majesty of the newborn Jesus, the feeling of a Christian family, and the joy of communal prayer.

That day, the parish, led by Father Mykola Buryadnyk, celebrated the Parish Feast. The Holy Liturgy was led by Bishop Benedict, joined by priests from other parishes. There was a sense of unity in faith, unity in prayer, unity in love. The hearts of those present were filled with quiet gratitude to God and sincere prayers for peace for Ukraine. The Parish Feast became a living prayer of the heart. Although we are all far from our native land now, Ukraine was with us on this day and felt in every breath, in every tear, in every quiet: "Lord, have mercy and protect us..."

After the Liturgy, all parishioners and guests of the church moved to the church hall, where the Parish Prosphora continued. It became a celebration where the themes of gratitude to everyone who works for the good of the parish, for its development, for sacrificial and sincere charitable deeds, intertwined with the themes of the Christmas holidays, during which we are and are inspired by their light.

A special chord of the feast was the Nativity Play. Initially, the youngest students of the "Vyshyvanka" dance school lit sparks of love and kindness in the hearts of those present with their sincere carol. Then the nativity performance continued with an extraordinarily moving play titled "Christmas Night, You Should Have Been a Fairy Tale." The original script was written by poet and playwright Nadiya Marchuk, and it was brought to life on stage by talented actors from the "Homin" theater (director Vasyl Mytnychuk) and young students from the "Dyvo" theater studio (director Vasyl Mytnychuk, with the first and main assistant director — Leonid Mytnychuk).

The performance not only resonated with the events happening in Ukraine today but demonstrated them. Therefore, each scene of the play was received by the audience with joy or condemnation, with admiration or anger, with pain in the heart and with great faith in God's mercy, in the victory of truth and justice. All these feelings were evoked by the actions of the play's characters — both positive and negative, including misfortune, war, Putin, a corrupt official, our glorious military, kings bringing good news, a wounded and battered but unbreakable Ukraine, the Mother of God, angels, carolers, and well-wishers. Together, they created a contemporary nativity play that affirmed faith, strengthened hope, and enhanced love — those Christian virtues that open the way to God for us, with which the Lord Himself blesses us.

Therefore, it was very appropriate and very touching that the stage performance, which enriched the Parish Feast with its content, was presented through a nativity play. After all, a Nativity Play in wartime is a light that sirens cannot extinguish. The Nativity Play does not sound louder — it sounds deeper. Its words pass through fear and fatigue, touch the heart, and remind us that life is stronger than war.

This year's Nativity Play is not only about kings and angels, but also about us. About children holding a star and shining as if they hold the real sky. About adults listening to carols with moist eyes because every "rejoice, earth" is a small victory over despair. This Nativity Play is about the birth of light and the conviction that with the newborn Jesus, faith and hope are born. About Christmas, which comes not just in silence, but in courage. About memory. About those on the front line. About the prayer that flies to them along with the carol. About the resilience of Ukraine, which resonated from the stage with the words:

"I am a nation, I am strength, I am a people.

I am the light that never fades.

I am truth without rotten rewards.

I am true love that never dies..."

At the conclusion of the Parish Feast, the incredible church choir "Irmos" performed, leaving warmth in every heart with their singing. Bishop Benedict sincerely blessed those present. The parish priest, Father Mykola Buryadnyk, welcomed guests as if in his own home. The sisterhood served a delicious meal. A family atmosphere prevailed in the hall. Special guests of the celebration were Ukrainian soldiers undergoing treatment and prosthetics in the USA. People sincerely thanked them for their service, for their courage, for Ukraine, warmly communicated, and shared the warmth of a true Christian family.

This feast left a bright light and hope because as long as we are together in prayer, as long as Ukraine lives in our hearts, we are never far from home!

Photos by Petro Kovtun (fragments of the performance) and the author.