Father Mark Morozowich elevated to the Rank of Mitred Protopresbyter
On May 10th at the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family in Washington, DC, a Hierarchal Divine Liturgy and Elevation to the Rank of Mitred Protopresbyter of Very Reverend Mark M. Morozowich, dean of the theology faculty of the Catholic University of America, took place.
Metropolitan Borys Gudziak, Bishop Bohdan Danylo, Bishop Paul Chomnycky, and Bishop Venedykt Aleksiychuk took part in the service. Participants included family and friends, other clergy, parishioners, and the president and faculty from the Catholic University of America as well as students.
Fr. Mark Morozowich is a Western Pennsylvania native of Ukrainian descent formed in the Ukrainian Catholic Church. He pursued a vocation to the priesthood in the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio. He served in Pittsburgh and in Butler, Pennsylvania before beginning doctoral studies at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome that yielded a comprehensive study of Holy Thursday Liturgy in Jerusalem and Constantinople from the Fourth to the Fourteenth Centuries. He lectured as an Associate Professor of Liturgy at the Catholic University of America, served as the Associate Dean for Seminary and Ministerial Programs, and is currently a dean of the School of Theology and Religious Studies.
The ceremony of elevation was held at the time of the Small Entrance. Bishop Paul Chomnycky read the Decree of Patriarch Sviatoslav. The rite of elevation was performed by Bishop Bohdan Danylo of Parma. He gave Fr. Mark an epigonation (diamond-shaped vestment that symbolizes a spiritual sword), gold pectoral cross, and miter (which signifies the kingship of Christ).
In his homily, Archbishop Borys Gudziak stressed that following the Lord Fr Mark Morozowich assumed different responsibilities — as a priest, scholar, professor, dean of theology faculty, and interim provost of the Catholic University of America.
“Father Mark is a liturgist. His theological specialty is studying, explaining, not just theoretically but practically, teachings of the Church, and helping people to pray together, to rejoice, to unburden, and to walk together”, said the homilist. “Because liturgy is working together. The action when we come closest to our destination on this earth”.
He mentioned that Fr. Mark Morozowich was instrumental during Saint Pope John Paul II’s visit to Ukraine in 2001.
Archbishop Borys finished with words of gratitude and prayer for Father Mark and his family, students, and colleagues, and for the Church and the University that Fr. Morozowich has been faithfully serving for so many years.
At the end of the Liturgy, Fr. Mark Morozowich thanked all the gathered and asked them to pray for peace in Ukraine, especially for the wounded soldiers. “In times like these [celebrations] we remind ourselves of the great joy of life, that in the midst of a problem, in the midst of the challenges, and yes, even in the midst of war, we hang on to the reality of Jesus Christ, who gives us his love and his hope”, said the Mitred Protopresbyter Fr Mark.
The UGCC Department for Information
