SaintElias.com -> The Clergy

The Mitred Archpriest Roman Galadza and his family

Our Pastor, Fr. Roman.

He is actually a Mitred Archpriest (ergo the photos of him wearing a Mitre or a purple Kamilavka or Skoufiya, as here in this photo). He is also the Protopresbyter of the Charnetsky Deanery of the Toronto Eparchy.

(The white robe [cassock] and coloured sash indicate that the photo was taken at Pascha).

With Fr. Roman is his wonderful wife Irene, the "Panyi Matka" of our parish.

Besides being a full time wife, a mother of 6, a grandmother (yes, believe it nor not) of 3, a volunteer of Everything parish activity, she still manages to hold down a full time job at the local Catholic school.

As is often the case, Panyi Matka also comes from a clerical family - her grandfather was a priest.

At this point, you may be wondering if we really are CATHOLICS, since our our priests have wives. Let me assure you that we are in full Communion with the Pope of Rome (if you prefer the Latin term: "Communio in Sacris").

Within the Byzantine Tradition of the Church, we have conserved that most ancient Tradition: MARRIED Priests.

This Sacred Tradition stretches back to Biblical commandments (Titus 1:6, etc.). It is witnessed to by the continuous practice of the Church throughout the ages.

It is hallowed by the Church's proclaiming Saints amongst its numbers, both of the Wives as well as of the Married Priests.

And most recently it has once again be reaffirmed by Canon Law - canons 373 - 375 et al. of the C.C.E.C., approved by Pope John Paul II, in 1990. (Naturally, marriage must precede ordination.)

"Panyi Matka" is one of the terms used to both address and refer to the Priest's Wife. It means roughly "Reverend Mother".

And she really is the spiritual mother of our Church, in so very many ways.

Like any mother, her tasks are often invisible, too often unnoticed, but absolutely essential to the pastoral care and nurture of the Church.

She has easily the toughest job in the parish and of course is not thanked nearly enough. Nevertheless she is much appreciated and much beloved.

Other names used in Byzantine Churches for the Priest's wife are: Panyi Dobrodyka (also Ukrainian), Presbytera (Greek), Preotessa (Romanian), Matyushka (Rusyn) - indicating that the Priest's wife is not only tireless in good works but also in a very real sense shares in the priesthood of her husband.

This is a photo of our Pastor and his wife being married by a priest, who is now Patriarch Lubomyr, primate of the Ukrainian Greco-Catholic Church.

Can't do much better than that!

The Patriarchal connections actually go way back.

Panyi Matka Irene served as Catechist in Father Huzar's (as he was then) parish in Soyuzivka, New York.

Patriarch Lubomyr was also Fr. Roman's Liturgy professor at the Seminary.

Of course Fr. Roman himself is no slouch. He has had to raise a family, be a parish priest, start a new parish (from scratch), do the fund raising, and build a Church (both financially and physically. Plus he had to do this and teach full time and be a Chaplain in the local Catholic school.

In case you're tempted to think our Pastor is some sort of bookish "Poindexter" memorizing the Pedalion all day long....

If you don't believe me, here's what his School Annual said:

Psalm 127 (128)

Except the LORD built the house,
they labour in vain that build it.
Except the LORD keep the city,
the watchman waketh but in vain.

It is vain for you to rise up early,
to sit up late,
the eat the bread of sorrows:
For so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD:
and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

As arrows in the hand of the mighty;
so are children of his youth."

The Pastor's family:

Ilya (kneeling);

Fr. Roman & Panyi Matka Irene (seated);

[standing, from left to right: Anastasia, Sofia, Nikolai, Kenneth (son-in-law) holding Nikolai, Larisa holding Finian, and Valentyna.

A Family Wedding:

"Dance O Isaiah...." (a Hymn from the Service of Crowning)

Psalm 126(127)

May the Lord bless you from Zion

and you will see the prosperity of Jerusalem

all the days of your life...

You will see your children's children

Peace be upon Israel!

"Father & grandson"

Ukrainian version
Українська версія

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