Wednesday, April 25, 2012


Christ is in our Midst

April 25th

Notes and links for March 25th


Calendar:

For the best graphic representation & explanation of the Liturgical year see the Holy Transfiguration Monastery site.
For the Antiochian 2012 calendar.

Liturgics:

Primary source is Archbishop Averky tome titled Liturgics found on the Holy Trinity Mission Website found here.  (If you ever give out of something to read about Orthodoxy go there to either the website or the work by Abp. Averky!)

For an introduction to Church music go to: Ancient Faith podcasts.There are two podcasts (one of which has been transcribed.)

For learning chanting listen to the 22 podcasts here: Learning to chant This lecture series also has the best explanation and introduction to Byzantine notations. (Just visualize it as the GPS system in your car that talks to you saying turn this way or that way, go faster or pump your brakes)

Misc.

Not directly connected to the discussion on the 25th I thought this link to be very interesting. It opens another window and takes you to a 3 dimensional architectural video depicting the buildings that have occupied the site of Calvary and the Holy Sepulcher. It starts in the present day and go backwards to the time of the Crucifixion. It is an excellent representation of not only the present structure but the topography of the area at the time of Christ. An interesting observation is that if shows how the sun rose on that first Pascha and how the light would have illumined the empty tomb! So if you have an extra 14 minutes or if you are home-schooling go for it.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

The Holy Fire & misc. thoughts

In the discussion that followed Vespers last night when asked what is the meaning of  the Priest coming out of the Royal Doors with a lit candle at the time that all of the lights are extinguished on Holy Saturday, Father responded that this is a re-enactment of the receiving of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem every year. As some had further questions about this that were not completely covered this is an attempt to provide more information.

 The Holy Fire is an annual event that was first documented in 1106 although it is believed to have occurred from much earlier times, maybe even as far back at to the time of the apostles. On Holy Saturday in the Holy Sepulchre the Patriarch of Jerusalem, after being thoroughly searched for matches or other fire making devices, enters the tomb where it is believed Jesus was buried. The building in which the tomb is located is completely darken. The Patriarch prayerfully waits. At some point in time the unlit candle that he is holding is miraculous lit. He exits the tomb and shares the fire with the faithful. Here is a link to a more complete explanation. Probably the most comprehensive website is holyfire

My favorite story about the event is story written in 1846 describing an event on Holy Saturday in 1579. It is told that in that year the Armenians wanted to displace the Jerusalem Patriarch and bribed the Turks to let them have possession of tomb on that day. The fire never came from in the tomb but from a column outside of the building to where the faithful of Jerusalem were standing in anguish. The fire split the column. Here are pictures of the column split by the Holy Fire, the damaged columns are still in place today!

For those not present last night the group decided to have a short snack break of fasting stuff, such as peanut butter and jelly on bagels for the next 5 Wednesday nights after Vespers, this will be followed by a 30 minute or so discussion (by all) in the Temple. The first two Wednesday nights will be discussions on symbolism in the Church, such as the Church colors, the architecture, etc. The last three meetings will be more specifically directed to the services from Saturday night Vespers, the Hours and the Holy Liturgy.

Please bring all you questions and more importantly, your input and join us as we seek "Christ in our midst."

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Readings and Worksheet for March 3, 2012

Please give thought to the writings and think about the questions so that we may benefit from your insights. You may also post your comments below.


1 Our life depends on the kind of thoughts we nurture. If our thoughts are peaceful, calm, meek, and kind, then that is what our life is like. If our attention is turned to the circumstances in which we live, we are drawn into a whirlpool of thoughts and can have neither peace nor tranquility.


His major premise: Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?


2 Everything, both good and evil, comes from our thoughts. Our thoughts become reality. Even today we can see that all of creation, everything that exists on the earth and in the cosmos, is nothing but Divine thought made material in time and space. We humans were created in the image of God. Mankind was given a great give, but we hardly understand that. God's energy and life is in us, but we do not realize it. Neither do we understand that we greatly influence others with our thoughts. We can be very good or very evil, depending on the kind of thoughts and desires we breed.


This is a continuation of the major premise.
a) Do you buy into “every is nothing but Divine thought made material?”
b) Are you a Divine thought made material? c)Accepting for the sake of discussion that we are Divine thought made material how does that relate to how we “greatly influence others with our thoughts?”

If our thoughts are kind, peaceful and quiet, turned only toward good, then we also influence ourselves and radiate peace all around us – in our family, in the whole country, everywhere. This is true not only here on earth, but in the cosmos as well. When we labor in the fields of the Lord, we create harmony. Divine harmony, peace and quiet spread everywhere. However, when we breed negative thoughts, that is a great evil. When there is evil in us, we radiate it among our family members and wherever we go. So you see, we can be very good or very evil. If that's the way it is it is certainly better to choose good! Destructive thoughts destroy the stillness within, and we have no peace.


Recall thoughts that have been kind, peaceful & quiet, can you share how this influenced you, how this influenced those around you?
(You could try to recall negative thoughts but you are much better off not reviving said thoughts without someone to help support you – forgive my preaching.)


Our starting point is always wrong. Instead of beginning with ourselves, we always want to change others first and ourselves last. If everyone would begin first with themselves, then there would be peace all around! St. John Chrysostom said that no one can harm the man who does not injure himself – not even the devil. You see, we are the sole architects of our future.


Today, alone, recall how you have wanted to (and maybe tried to) change someone, ie have been judgmental.
What did St. John Chrysostom mean? Can you give an example?


By his thoughts man often disturbs the order of creation. That is how the first people were destroyed – in a flood – because of their evil thoughts and intentions. This is true even today; our thoughts are evil, and therefore we do not bear good fruit. We must change. Each individual must change, but it is unfortunate that we do not have examples to guide us, either in our families or in society.


Wow, the first people caused the great flood!
a) Can I then blame and not be held responsible for any of the evil in the world?


b) Who do I look to as a guide now, what would my ideal guide(s) be like?
c) How do I acquire such a guide(s)?


3 The Old Testament people were unable to accept God's boundless love. Likewise, they were unable to accept His commandants and continued to follow the ancient rule of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (cf. Ex. 21:24). Even today, we Christians still adhere to this Old Testament rule and are therefore surrounded by many unpleasant things in life which destroy our inner peace. We are unable to forgive our own brother, let alone others.


Do I (and if I do how) demand (as a price of forgiveness) an eye for an eye? How have I demanded or at least wanted that sweet taste of revenge, specifically? How has this effected my inner peace.


You can see now how this goes. When we nurture evil thoughts, we become evil. We may think we are good, but evil is in us. We do not have the strength to resist it. And we know that, as Christians, we must not even think evil, let alone do it.


What does he mean, “we do not have the strength to resist it (evil)? Hey, I'm pretty strong (spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, physically, etc. - pick one or more)!


We, however, have Divine power, Divine life and Divine energy. On the day of Final Judgment we shall have to give an answer for the way we have used this Divine power, life, and energy which have been given to us: whether we have contributed to harmony in the universe, or have sown disharmony.


a) Be able to define & discuss (in 50,000 words or less) Divine power, life & energy.
b) Grade yourself as to whether you have contributed to harmony or sown disharmony.
c) What is a passing grade?


4 The Lord has taken all of our sufferings and cares upon Himself, and He has said that He will provide for all our needs, yet we hold on to our cares so tightly that we create unrest in our hearts and minds, in our families, and all around us


All of the above to get to the application, does he tell us how to let go of our cares? Well, how do we do it? Be specific as to how you attempt to let go. Would you share with us?


Whenever I am burdened by problems, and when I try to bear all the cares of the monastery and the brotherhood by myself, then there is trouble in store for me and the brethren. Even the easiest job is carried out with great difficulty. But when I commit myself, the brotherhood, and everything else unto the Lord, even the hardest of jobs get done with ease. There is no pressure, and peace reigns among the brethren



The first column is from Part Two, Chapter One (pages 63-65) of Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives, from the writings of Elder Thaddeus, compiled by the St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, (c)2009 The website is http://www.stherman.com/