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Hernando Today

A Ukrainian Catholic Christmas

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By MAUREA SLEESMAN Hernando Today correspondent

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 6, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Although as the priest at St. Andrew's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Mikhail Kouts looks respectfully resplendent during Mass, he can don comfy old T-shirts and khakis and be a charming and dutiful bakery go-fer and helpmate.

Each Wednesday you can purchase delicious fresh church-made varenyky (pierogis), tender breads filled with ground nuts, poppy seeds or fruit, traditional cookies such as (ruglach), and during Advent, specialty Christmas cookies and breads. Drop by the church from noon until 3 p.m. or pre-order what you would like.

"Father Kouts is a dear and humble man whether he's helping our souls or our church baking," said Alyce Clark, the order-taker and one of the bakers for the popular September-through-May Wednesday church fundraisers. "He pitches right in to help the weekly bake sale, whether it's hefting bags of flour, scrubbing pans, greeting shoppers and visitors or joining in the kitchen conversations in English or his native Ukrainian.

Each Tuesday the volunteer baking crew begins before dawn in the massive baking undertaking, working until noon. Alyce Clark returns in the afternoon to bag and organize the hundreds of yielded foods.

"We typically sell many standing orders and additional sales of pierogis with fillings choice of potato, sauerkraut, prune or plum and poppy seed. They freeze well and are served as a side dish with sour cream or chopped onions sauteed in butter until golden."

You might buy a round loaf of cake-like babka bread. At Christmas they make Kolach, a braided bread circle-shaped, as a symbol of eternity. It is used with a mold of salt in various shapes, as a humble but heartfelt seasonal greeting. Kolach will have a large candle placed in the center, featured at "Sviata Vechera," the traditional Christmas Eve supper.

Members fast the day before and also prepare for the elaborate 12-course dinner, to be held at the church after the Christmas Eve Mass. A wheat, poppy seed and honey dish begins the meal, called "Kutia," with the honey representing the sweet spirit of Christ. Other courses include borsch, fish, varenky, cabbage rolls, mushrooms, mashed beans, fruit compote and dessert.

Hay is put under the table and tablecloth to symbolize the humble place of Christ's birth. In homes, candies and nuts are placed under the hay for children to find, and the family sings carols. Near midnight, families go to Nativity Mass. As a child in Ukraine, Father Kouts remembers people of different faiths collectively gathering for the carols and music in his parish church. The greeting "Khrystos Razdayetsia," - Christ is born - is said, to which one replies, "Slavite Yoho," Let us glorify Him.

The following days feature more caroling and visiting, starting with the home of the priest.

Clark grew up in the faith in farmland Gronlid, Saskatchewan, and fondly recalls riding in horse-drawn "cabooses," that were large enough to seat 10 and had small stoves to give warmth in the wintry chill. "Christmas gifts weren't trendy then, so traditionally we got oranges, candies and nuts and played simple games and sang. Thirty or so of my family would gather for the dinner and festivities in those simpler and thrifty post-Depression times. That still occurs, a wonderful reunion time and religious observance."

St. Andrew's Ukrainian Church is one of the few churches having worship services on Christmas Day.

The Eastern Rite Church is in union with The Pope, and shares the same belief, sacraments and faith of all Catholic peoples. A brochure for guests explains some of the slightly different traditions and participation that comprise Divine Liturgy. In the service held in Ukrainian, congregational singing is also in the native language.

This writer's suggestion: A beautiful family experience would be to visit the early worship in English and then stay for the all-Ukrainian worship service among this friendly congregation of faithful believers. The artful altar and liturgical installations come from an old church while the ultra-modern colored windows portray biblical stories.

If you add Christmas greenery and Advent symbolism to the church's unique centuries-old offering of the Glory of Christ's birth, it will increase your unique seasonal uplift and abundant food for thought and discussion, even if we don't have snowfall.

"Khrystos Razdayetsia!"

"Slavite Yoho."

When do they meet?

Peirogi and bake sale:

Wednesdays noon to 3 p.m.

Sunday worship services

In English: 9 a.m.

In Ukrainian: 10:30 a.m.

Christmas Eve Mass: 5 p.m.

Christmas Day Mass: 10 a.m.

St. Andrew's Ukrainian Catholic Church is located at 8064 Weeping Willow St., (northwest of S.R. 50 and Mariner Blvd.), Brooksville. Phone: 597-5589. Web site: www.byzantine.net/St. Andrew/.

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