We celebrate the first Saturday of the Lent Memory of St Theodore and St Ephraim. This is the fourth part of this short article on St. Ephraim by my friend Jacob Varghese of Sharjah
Mar Aprem - ‘HARP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’ - 1st Sat of Great Lent
When the heretic Apollinaris was creating havoc in the Church with his erroneous teaching concerning the nature of Christ at His Incarnation, St. Ephraim tricked Apollinaris' servant into lending him the two books in which these teachings were set forth. After gluing all the pages together, he returned the books to the unsuspecting servant and then challenged Apollinaris to a public debate. When Apollinaris found himself unable to open his books to quote from them, he became thoroughly confused and retired in shame. His heresy soon died out.
He served the Nisibian community during several Roman and Persian sieges. A story is often related that on one such siege he cursed the Persian attackers from the city walls and a cloud of flies and mosquitoes settled on the army of Shapur II and compelled it to withdraw. To escape the cruel Persian persecution of the Christians, Assyrian populations of the Bet-Nahrain communities abandoned their homes. Mar Aphrem, too, accompanied his flock from Nisibin and finally settled at Edessa (Urhai), the capital of Osrhoene (Atouriya or Little Assyria). Living as a monk and a prolific writer, he spend the remaining years of his life defending his theology against the heresies of his time.
Not only was St. Ephraim en eloquent and powerful teacher, he was also a prolific writer. Although he lacked a formal education, he comprehended with ease the most abstruse problems of philosophy, and his commentaries on the Old Testament books of Moses impressed even the most scholarly men of Ms time. But if his writings spoke to the mind, they were more greatly to be praised for the effect they had on the soul. As St. Gregory of Nyssa writes: “Who that is proud would not become the humblest of men, reading his discourse on humility? Who would not be influenced with a divine fire, reading his discourse on charity? Who would not wish to be chaste in heart and soul by reading the praise he has lavished on virginity? Who would not be frightened by hearing his discourse on the Last Judgment, which he has depicted so vividly that nothing can be added to it?"
To be Continueed...
Saturday, February 25, 2012
First Saturday of Holy Lent St. Ephraim -3
We celebrate the first Saturday of the Lent Memory of St Theodore and St Ephraim. This is the third part of this short article on St. Ephraim by my friend Jacob Varghese of Sharjah
Mar Aprem - ‘HARP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’ - 1st Sat of Great Lent
St. Ephraim once had a revelation regarding St. Basil the Great. He saw in a vision a pillar of fire reaching to heaven, and he heard a voice: "Ephraim, Ephraim! Such as you see this pillar of fire, so, too, is Basil!" The vision inspired Ephraim with the desire to see this great Teacher of the Church, and, taking with him an interpreter (for he spoke no Greek), he journeyed to Caesarea in Cappadocia. There the holy hierarch greeted the desert-dweller with a corresponding enthusiasm and admiration: "I now see that what I heard about you is true. It is written in the Prophet David: Ephraim is the strength of my head (Ps. 59:9). These prophetic words refer truly to you, for you have led many to [he way of virtue and strengthened them in it. And your meekness and dispassion of heart shin e for all, like the light."
Then Basil the Great asked: "Why, venerable father, do you not receive consecration to the order of priesthood, as befits you?" "Because I am a sinner, my lord!" answered Ephraim through the interpreter. "O, if only I had your sins!" said Basil, and added: "Let us make a prostration to the ground."
But when they were bowed to the ground, St. Basil laid his hand on St. Ephraim's head and recited the prayer of consecration to the diaconate. That is how St. Ephraim was made a deacon and ordained to the diaconate and was a lecturer in the newly-established school at Nisibis He was at that time about sixty years old. It was the Saint's desire to continue in the hermetic life, but such was his talent as a preacher that the Lord would not have his light hidden under a bushel. Obedient to the Lord's will as revealed to him by an angel, Ephraim returned to Edessa where he began again to instruct people in the Faith. There he also established a college, which later produced many famous teachers of the Syrian Church
To be Continued....
Mar Aprem - ‘HARP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’ - 1st Sat of Great Lent
St. Ephraim once had a revelation regarding St. Basil the Great. He saw in a vision a pillar of fire reaching to heaven, and he heard a voice: "Ephraim, Ephraim! Such as you see this pillar of fire, so, too, is Basil!" The vision inspired Ephraim with the desire to see this great Teacher of the Church, and, taking with him an interpreter (for he spoke no Greek), he journeyed to Caesarea in Cappadocia. There the holy hierarch greeted the desert-dweller with a corresponding enthusiasm and admiration: "I now see that what I heard about you is true. It is written in the Prophet David: Ephraim is the strength of my head (Ps. 59:9). These prophetic words refer truly to you, for you have led many to [he way of virtue and strengthened them in it. And your meekness and dispassion of heart shin e for all, like the light."
Then Basil the Great asked: "Why, venerable father, do you not receive consecration to the order of priesthood, as befits you?" "Because I am a sinner, my lord!" answered Ephraim through the interpreter. "O, if only I had your sins!" said Basil, and added: "Let us make a prostration to the ground."
But when they were bowed to the ground, St. Basil laid his hand on St. Ephraim's head and recited the prayer of consecration to the diaconate. That is how St. Ephraim was made a deacon and ordained to the diaconate and was a lecturer in the newly-established school at Nisibis He was at that time about sixty years old. It was the Saint's desire to continue in the hermetic life, but such was his talent as a preacher that the Lord would not have his light hidden under a bushel. Obedient to the Lord's will as revealed to him by an angel, Ephraim returned to Edessa where he began again to instruct people in the Faith. There he also established a college, which later produced many famous teachers of the Syrian Church
To be Continued....
First Saturday of Holy Lent - St Ephraim -2
Born again in repentance, St. Ephraim began to train as an athlete of virtues, exercising himself in the study of the Holy Scriptures and in prayer and fasting. The passionate and wayward youth was transformed into a humble and contrite monk, weeping day and night for his sins and entirely surrendered to God. Ephraim's earnest resolve pleased the Lord, Who rewarded him with the gifts of wisdom; grace flowed from his mouth like a sweet stream, in fulfillment of his parents' dream.
St. James recognized his disciple's God given talents, and as a bishop he entrusted Ephraim with preaching the Word of God and instructing children in school. In 325 he took Ephraim with him to the First Ecumenical Council in Nicea. Returning to Nisibis, Ephraim continued with his missionary work until 363 when the Persians conquered the city and most of its Christian inhabitants departed.
St. Ephraim decided to go to the city of Edessa around which monastic life was flourishing. He prayed that there the Lord would send to meet him a man who could converse with him on the Holy Scriptures for his spiritual profit. In Edessa, Ephraim earned a humble living in the service of a bath keeper. He used his free time in preaching the Word of God to the unbelievers. Angered' by St. Ephraim's successes, the devil set his traps to catch the servant of God. Once, for example, as the Saint was preparing his dinner, a woman gazing from the window of an adjacent dwelling conceived a desire to seduce him. "Bless me, sir," she shouted at him. "The Lord bless you," replied the Saint. "What do you need for your food?" she continued. Discerning the true purpose of her conversation, Ephraim answered, "Three stones and some sand to block up your window." The shameless woman, was a harlot. The Saint said, " we ought to be ashamed of, and also fear God, Who knows all the secrets of men! For He will judge the whole world and will reward everyone according to his deeds." By God's grace his words moved the harlot to repentance and she begged him to guide her to the path of salvation. Having received from him basic instruction in the Christian Faith, she entered a convent.
After living for some time in Edessa, the Saint was advised by a Holy Elder to go into the wilderness. He settled in a cave of the nearby "Mount of Edessa," where he gave himself up to prayer, fasting and the study of Holy Scripture. There occurred an incident, which illustrates the Saint's dispassion. Once, after a long fast, his disciple was bringing him a meal, when the dish of food fell and broke. Seeing the brother's shame and consternation, the Saint said simply: "Never mind, if the food will not come to us, we shall go to the food." He sat down on the ground by the broken dish and proceeded to eat the meal as well as he could. It was said of him that although he was naturally prone to passion, he never exhibited angry feelings towards anyone from the time of his embracing the 'monastic life
To be Continued .....
St. James recognized his disciple's God given talents, and as a bishop he entrusted Ephraim with preaching the Word of God and instructing children in school. In 325 he took Ephraim with him to the First Ecumenical Council in Nicea. Returning to Nisibis, Ephraim continued with his missionary work until 363 when the Persians conquered the city and most of its Christian inhabitants departed.
St. Ephraim decided to go to the city of Edessa around which monastic life was flourishing. He prayed that there the Lord would send to meet him a man who could converse with him on the Holy Scriptures for his spiritual profit. In Edessa, Ephraim earned a humble living in the service of a bath keeper. He used his free time in preaching the Word of God to the unbelievers. Angered' by St. Ephraim's successes, the devil set his traps to catch the servant of God. Once, for example, as the Saint was preparing his dinner, a woman gazing from the window of an adjacent dwelling conceived a desire to seduce him. "Bless me, sir," she shouted at him. "The Lord bless you," replied the Saint. "What do you need for your food?" she continued. Discerning the true purpose of her conversation, Ephraim answered, "Three stones and some sand to block up your window." The shameless woman, was a harlot. The Saint said, " we ought to be ashamed of, and also fear God, Who knows all the secrets of men! For He will judge the whole world and will reward everyone according to his deeds." By God's grace his words moved the harlot to repentance and she begged him to guide her to the path of salvation. Having received from him basic instruction in the Christian Faith, she entered a convent.
After living for some time in Edessa, the Saint was advised by a Holy Elder to go into the wilderness. He settled in a cave of the nearby "Mount of Edessa," where he gave himself up to prayer, fasting and the study of Holy Scripture. There occurred an incident, which illustrates the Saint's dispassion. Once, after a long fast, his disciple was bringing him a meal, when the dish of food fell and broke. Seeing the brother's shame and consternation, the Saint said simply: "Never mind, if the food will not come to us, we shall go to the food." He sat down on the ground by the broken dish and proceeded to eat the meal as well as he could. It was said of him that although he was naturally prone to passion, he never exhibited angry feelings towards anyone from the time of his embracing the 'monastic life
To be Continued .....
Fist Saturday of Holy Lent - St Ephraim -1
We celebrate the first Saturday of the Lent Memory of St Theodore and St Ephraim. Pray this short article on St. Ephraim by my friend Jacob Varghese of Sharjah will be helpful
Mar Aprem - ‘HARP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’ - 1st Sat of Great Lent
St. Ephrem (Mar Aphrem) - the Syrian, is both a Father and a Doctor of the Church. Ephrem was born in the ancient city of Nisibis, in Mesopotamia, at the beginning of the fourth century. He was born of Christian parents before the Edict of Milan (313) was issued. Through humility, he refused to become a priest, and stayed a deacon all his life. He became a monk when he was only a young boy. He was one of the great defenders of the Divinity of Jesus Christ at the Council of Nicea, in 325.
Mar Aphrem remains one of the most influential fathers of the Syrian Churches and he is revered as the "Sun of the Syrians," the "Column of the Church". Ephrem was a prolific writer and gave the Church an abundance of sermons, commentaries and hymns. According to St. Jerome: "Ephraim, deacon of the Church of Edessa, wrote many works [opuscula] in Syriac, and became so famous that his writings are publicly read in some churches after the Sacred Scriptures. If you read a volume, of his on the Holy Spirit; though it was only a translation, I recognized therein the sublime genius of the man". Because of this enormous amount of material, he was given the titles "Pillar of the Church. Saint Ephrem was a great hymn maker, and is called "Harp of the Holy Spirit" the "Lyre of the Holy Spirit". The Roman Catholic declared him as the ‘Spiritual Teacher of the Church”. Almost all the Churches of the world consider him as a saint. The body of his writing comprises a central part of the liturgical prayer life of many Churches. He was a great poet and teacher of priests. He wrote a sizeable part of our canonical prayers. He wrote countless hymns and prayers in love and praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Ephrem greeted her: “Hail, Reconciler of the whole world!”
When he was still a baby, his parents had a prophetic dream: from the boy's tongue sprang a lush vine, which produced abundant clusters of grapes. The more the birds ate the fruit, the more it multiplied. Later it was revealed that these clusters were his sermons, the leaves of the vine--his hymns.
Remember not O Lord the sins of my youth. (Ps. 25:7). Judging from his youth, however, one could never have guessed his future greatness. In spite of his parents' having educated him in Christian precepts, he was impetuous and even rather wild, like an unruly colt which resists the bridle: "I would quarrel over trifles, acted foolishly, gave in to bad impulses and lustful thoughts .... My youth nearly convinced me that life is ruled by chance. But God's Providence brought my impassioned youth to the light of wisdom." He relates the story of his conversion: "One day my parents sent me outer town and I found a pregnant cow feeding along the road. I took up stones and began pelting the cow, driving it into the woods. In the evening, it fell down dead and was eaten by wild beasts. On my way back, I met the poor owner of the cow. 'My son,' he asked, 'did you drive away my cow?' I not only denied it grass and drove into the woods, but heaped abuse and insult upon the poor man."
A few days later he was idling with some shepherds. When it grew too late to return home, he spent the night with them. That night some sheep were stolen and the boy was accused of being in league with the robbers. He was taken before the judge, who cast him into prison. In a dream an angel appeared to Ephraim and asked him why he was there. The boy began at once to declare that he was, innocent. "Yes," said the angel, "you are innocent of the crime imputed to you, but have you forgotten the poor man's cow?"
While in prison, when Ephraim saw the tortures to which criminals were subjected, he became terrified. He turned to God and vowed that he would become a monk if God would spare him such a cruel ordeal. The judge however, just laughed at the youth's tears and ordered that he be stretched on the rack. But just then a servant came to announce that dinner was ready. "Very well," said the magistrate, "I will examine the boy another day." And he ordered him back to prison. Although he was spared from the rack, Ephraim had learned his lesson and, like the Prophet David, he entreated the Lord to overlook his youthful folly. True to his vow, upon his release he went straightway to the hermits living in the mountains where he became a disciple of St. James (Jan. 12), who later became a great bishop of Nisibis.
To be Continued...
Mar Aprem - ‘HARP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’ - 1st Sat of Great Lent
St. Ephrem (Mar Aphrem) - the Syrian, is both a Father and a Doctor of the Church. Ephrem was born in the ancient city of Nisibis, in Mesopotamia, at the beginning of the fourth century. He was born of Christian parents before the Edict of Milan (313) was issued. Through humility, he refused to become a priest, and stayed a deacon all his life. He became a monk when he was only a young boy. He was one of the great defenders of the Divinity of Jesus Christ at the Council of Nicea, in 325.
Mar Aphrem remains one of the most influential fathers of the Syrian Churches and he is revered as the "Sun of the Syrians," the "Column of the Church". Ephrem was a prolific writer and gave the Church an abundance of sermons, commentaries and hymns. According to St. Jerome: "Ephraim, deacon of the Church of Edessa, wrote many works [opuscula] in Syriac, and became so famous that his writings are publicly read in some churches after the Sacred Scriptures. If you read a volume, of his on the Holy Spirit; though it was only a translation, I recognized therein the sublime genius of the man". Because of this enormous amount of material, he was given the titles "Pillar of the Church. Saint Ephrem was a great hymn maker, and is called "Harp of the Holy Spirit" the "Lyre of the Holy Spirit". The Roman Catholic declared him as the ‘Spiritual Teacher of the Church”. Almost all the Churches of the world consider him as a saint. The body of his writing comprises a central part of the liturgical prayer life of many Churches. He was a great poet and teacher of priests. He wrote a sizeable part of our canonical prayers. He wrote countless hymns and prayers in love and praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Ephrem greeted her: “Hail, Reconciler of the whole world!”
When he was still a baby, his parents had a prophetic dream: from the boy's tongue sprang a lush vine, which produced abundant clusters of grapes. The more the birds ate the fruit, the more it multiplied. Later it was revealed that these clusters were his sermons, the leaves of the vine--his hymns.
Remember not O Lord the sins of my youth. (Ps. 25:7). Judging from his youth, however, one could never have guessed his future greatness. In spite of his parents' having educated him in Christian precepts, he was impetuous and even rather wild, like an unruly colt which resists the bridle: "I would quarrel over trifles, acted foolishly, gave in to bad impulses and lustful thoughts .... My youth nearly convinced me that life is ruled by chance. But God's Providence brought my impassioned youth to the light of wisdom." He relates the story of his conversion: "One day my parents sent me outer town and I found a pregnant cow feeding along the road. I took up stones and began pelting the cow, driving it into the woods. In the evening, it fell down dead and was eaten by wild beasts. On my way back, I met the poor owner of the cow. 'My son,' he asked, 'did you drive away my cow?' I not only denied it grass and drove into the woods, but heaped abuse and insult upon the poor man."
A few days later he was idling with some shepherds. When it grew too late to return home, he spent the night with them. That night some sheep were stolen and the boy was accused of being in league with the robbers. He was taken before the judge, who cast him into prison. In a dream an angel appeared to Ephraim and asked him why he was there. The boy began at once to declare that he was, innocent. "Yes," said the angel, "you are innocent of the crime imputed to you, but have you forgotten the poor man's cow?"
While in prison, when Ephraim saw the tortures to which criminals were subjected, he became terrified. He turned to God and vowed that he would become a monk if God would spare him such a cruel ordeal. The judge however, just laughed at the youth's tears and ordered that he be stretched on the rack. But just then a servant came to announce that dinner was ready. "Very well," said the magistrate, "I will examine the boy another day." And he ordered him back to prison. Although he was spared from the rack, Ephraim had learned his lesson and, like the Prophet David, he entreated the Lord to overlook his youthful folly. True to his vow, upon his release he went straightway to the hermits living in the mountains where he became a disciple of St. James (Jan. 12), who later became a great bishop of Nisibis.
To be Continued...
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Living with the Saint - Vattasheril Mar Dionysius
February 23 mark the memory of the great Saint Vattasheril Mar Dionysius of the Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Church. It also is important as we honor him to take the effort to know him, know what he has done to Holy Orthodoxy and mission of the Church and what is expected for us to realize in our lives in his footsteps as individuals and collectively as Church.
For me my knowledge of Thirumeny was very limited, in fact next to nothing till knowing a great father of the Church in our own times Fr. V.C Samuel of Memory Eternal has written a book about him (Truth Triumphs - http://www.malankaraorthodoxtv.in/saintdionysius/books.htm).
Starting with that book, I could realize that for V.C Samuel Achen and to me that Vattasheril Thirumeny was none other than St. Severus of the Church in India who had to face hardship for defending and upholding his principles and faith of the Church against errors and wrong doings from within and outside the Church. It is my prayer that we will take the effort to read and reflect how his life can strengthen us
The mission of St. Thomas the disciple of Christ in AD 52 that stated from the midst of few families within the Malayalee community in India faced up to Protestantism, Indoctrination by Roman Catholic, merely blindly following without understanding our faith and being subject to the Syrian Church with whom we share communion in reestablishment of the Catholicate of the East in 1912.
The Church is now yet to face its greatest test amidst prosperity, amidst secularism, amidst freedom, amidst the no language barriers that was prevalent in the past, amidst the boasting of the glory of the past, amidst nationalism, amidst the busyness of this life. May the prayers of St. Dionysius be a solace and strength to us. Lord Have mercy upon us, forgive us, lead us and the Church as you have led Vattasheril Thirumeny.
George Varghese
Calgary, Canada
February 23, 2012
For me my knowledge of Thirumeny was very limited, in fact next to nothing till knowing a great father of the Church in our own times Fr. V.C Samuel of Memory Eternal has written a book about him (Truth Triumphs - http://www.malankaraorthodoxtv.in/saintdionysius/books.htm).
Starting with that book, I could realize that for V.C Samuel Achen and to me that Vattasheril Thirumeny was none other than St. Severus of the Church in India who had to face hardship for defending and upholding his principles and faith of the Church against errors and wrong doings from within and outside the Church. It is my prayer that we will take the effort to read and reflect how his life can strengthen us
The mission of St. Thomas the disciple of Christ in AD 52 that stated from the midst of few families within the Malayalee community in India faced up to Protestantism, Indoctrination by Roman Catholic, merely blindly following without understanding our faith and being subject to the Syrian Church with whom we share communion in reestablishment of the Catholicate of the East in 1912.
The Church is now yet to face its greatest test amidst prosperity, amidst secularism, amidst freedom, amidst the no language barriers that was prevalent in the past, amidst the boasting of the glory of the past, amidst nationalism, amidst the busyness of this life. May the prayers of St. Dionysius be a solace and strength to us. Lord Have mercy upon us, forgive us, lead us and the Church as you have led Vattasheril Thirumeny.
George Varghese
Calgary, Canada
February 23, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
February - Sunday of Departed Priests
February: Sunday of All Departed Priests - An update
Evening : St.Matthew 25:13-30 , Morning :St.Luke19:11-28
Before Holy Qurbana
Numbers 20:23-29 ,Deuteronomy 34 :1-8 ,Isaiah65:13-20
Holy Qurbana
Acts 20:26-38 ,I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 ,St.Matthew 24:42-51
From the Nativity , we moved to Sundays of the Theophany with the last Sunday being how God does not reveal Him self if we are not cooperating with His grace and working with Him. With the Ninevah lent, we moved towards Holy Lent and Pascha (Easter) . This Sunday , May we remember in Holy Qurbana all departed Fathers and seek their prayers. Our Achen told today the the Church commemorate the two Sundays the Departed Priests amd all faithful predominantly before the Holy Lent so that we seek their solace as we go along with them to battle during Holy Lent.
Some Fathers that come to immediate mind
Saints:- Saint Severus of Antioch, St. Gregorios of Parumala , Saint Geevarghese Mar Dionysius
Departed Bishops of Malankara :Bishop Philoxenos (Delhi), Bishop Makarios, Paulos Mar Gregorios , Adding Bishop Ivanios
Departed Priests : V.C Samuel of Blessed Memory, Fr. P.C Eapen and Fr. Thomas Mundukuhy from ICON days , Our Kottathuvila Achen of Alleppey , Added Fr. Constantine
Evening : St.Matthew 25:13-30 , Morning :St.Luke19:11-28
Before Holy Qurbana
Numbers 20:23-29 ,Deuteronomy 34 :1-8 ,Isaiah65:13-20
Holy Qurbana
Acts 20:26-38 ,I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 ,St.Matthew 24:42-51
From the Nativity , we moved to Sundays of the Theophany with the last Sunday being how God does not reveal Him self if we are not cooperating with His grace and working with Him. With the Ninevah lent, we moved towards Holy Lent and Pascha (Easter) . This Sunday , May we remember in Holy Qurbana all departed Fathers and seek their prayers. Our Achen told today the the Church commemorate the two Sundays the Departed Priests amd all faithful predominantly before the Holy Lent so that we seek their solace as we go along with them to battle during Holy Lent.
Some Fathers that come to immediate mind
Saints:- Saint Severus of Antioch, St. Gregorios of Parumala , Saint Geevarghese Mar Dionysius
Departed Bishops of Malankara :Bishop Philoxenos (Delhi), Bishop Makarios, Paulos Mar Gregorios , Adding Bishop Ivanios
Departed Priests : V.C Samuel of Blessed Memory, Fr. P.C Eapen and Fr. Thomas Mundukuhy from ICON days , Our Kottathuvila Achen of Alleppey , Added Fr. Constantine
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Nativity Thoughts
Nativity Thoughts - Christ is Born! Glorify Him!!
Today we join together with the Church to glorify and honour and commemorate the birth of Him our God. Our Church following the Syrian tradition brought to India prescribe the fast of 25 days and come together as Church and celebrate the feast of Nativity.
Scripture Readings
Evening: St. John 1: 1-18
By the Fire Pit: Hebrew 1:1-12, St. Luke 2:1-14
Morning: St. Luke 2:15 -20
Before Holy Qurbana: Genesis 21: 1-8, Micah 5: 1-8, Isaiah 9:1-7
Holy Qurbana: 1 John 1:1-10, Galatians 3:23- 4:7, St. Mathew 2:1-12
Once again, I am amazed at how wonderfully how the Fathers have arranged the Scripture readings noting for the first time this year how the very essence of the theology of Incarnation is brought out through the Gospel and the Epistle reading from St. John the Theologian. Need to remind myself to memorize it.
Faithfulness
As we go forward to another year, a reminder that strikes out is need to remain faithful and be a channel for this generation to reflect and live out the teachings now as the fathers have proclaimed and lived in the past. This year, I was blessed to read of how the Church had used this wonderful Anaphora of St. Timothy of Alexandria in the Liturgy to teach and affirm its Christology against Chalcedon. Pray it will be used by each of us to know whom we believe
“In truth you are Holy and Blessed by all, O God the Father, and Holy and Blessed by all is your Only begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who was born ineffably before the world, who eternally holds the throne at the right hand side of your majesty, and your Holy Spirit who is Holy and Blessed by all, through whom all things of earth and heaven are sanctified.
And those who are near to you in Heaven offer glory and honour, to your name and [you are] honoured by all, O King of the worlds. We therefore, your servants, [who have] many sins, while answering with the heavenly armies, We praise, glorify, and bless and ask you for mercy - Our Savior and God, Have mercy upon us, Reveal your merciful face to us and save us. For you are the one who had mercy upon our race and sent your only begotten Son, Lord, who is our Saviour Jesus Christ, Illuminator, Benefactor and Redeemer of our souls and bodies, Who was proclaimed by His prophets in the ancient days, when He was about to dwell among us, came in the end of time and took Himself our humanity ; the Word became flesh; He neither took change nor alteration, but by the Holy Spirit He was conceived by Mary , The Ever Virgin and Holy Mother of God. He took a body having a rational and intelligent soul, in True and Hypostatic unity, which was not an imaginary apparition. Without Separation, or Division, He truly took a human Body and Soul and all that a man has and in all things He resembled us except Sin. He did not merely dwell among men, but while being perfectly God the Word, He perfectly took flesh and became man. His Divinity did not become Humanity, but He remained in His Divinity and took completely the Human nature. He was not two, but One King, One Christ, One Lord, One God the Word Incarnated who is revealed to us. He dwelt among men, affirmed the earth and blessed it; He restrained the waves of the sea. He was known with His deeds, revealed in power, conquered the human passions and put an end to the transgressions of the law, converted the erring, and destroyed the power of death from us, which had man in the beginning and showed Him to be invincible in the end. Through the [human] body He caught hold of [death] and that which was caught was destroyed. Through His death, he restored the glory of man who was destitute from glory.”
Belief
This year with my usual critical view of Christmas programs only for parents using as opportunity to mere showing off the talents of children and the boisterous and stylish, I am being led to be more and work together to understanding and caring within the family and foster such thoughts to the Church as a whole.
I believe a part of it is the reminder sent through this wonderful prayer sent by my brother and the message of the Nativity Homily by Fr. Binny Kuruvilla to go even beyond that is our calling.
“Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against you and that my sins separate me from you. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my sinful past and turn to you for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, that He was raised from the dead and is alive. I invite Jesus to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey you and to convict me when I sin. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.”
“For a Christian the Nativity of Christ is not limited to December 25, but each day and every moment that we allow Christ in our lives as affirmed by Gospel reading to “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord “This was the experience of the wise men and witness of the Church who allowed to be guided to Him unlike King Herod.
I pray this will be the experience of each of us and in all our encounters
Feast of Nativity - 2011
Today we join together with the Church to glorify and honour and commemorate the birth of Him our God. Our Church following the Syrian tradition brought to India prescribe the fast of 25 days and come together as Church and celebrate the feast of Nativity.
Scripture Readings
Evening: St. John 1: 1-18
By the Fire Pit: Hebrew 1:1-12, St. Luke 2:1-14
Morning: St. Luke 2:15 -20
Before Holy Qurbana: Genesis 21: 1-8, Micah 5: 1-8, Isaiah 9:1-7
Holy Qurbana: 1 John 1:1-10, Galatians 3:23- 4:7, St. Mathew 2:1-12
Once again, I am amazed at how wonderfully how the Fathers have arranged the Scripture readings noting for the first time this year how the very essence of the theology of Incarnation is brought out through the Gospel and the Epistle reading from St. John the Theologian. Need to remind myself to memorize it.
Faithfulness
As we go forward to another year, a reminder that strikes out is need to remain faithful and be a channel for this generation to reflect and live out the teachings now as the fathers have proclaimed and lived in the past. This year, I was blessed to read of how the Church had used this wonderful Anaphora of St. Timothy of Alexandria in the Liturgy to teach and affirm its Christology against Chalcedon. Pray it will be used by each of us to know whom we believe
“In truth you are Holy and Blessed by all, O God the Father, and Holy and Blessed by all is your Only begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who was born ineffably before the world, who eternally holds the throne at the right hand side of your majesty, and your Holy Spirit who is Holy and Blessed by all, through whom all things of earth and heaven are sanctified.
And those who are near to you in Heaven offer glory and honour, to your name and [you are] honoured by all, O King of the worlds. We therefore, your servants, [who have] many sins, while answering with the heavenly armies, We praise, glorify, and bless and ask you for mercy - Our Savior and God, Have mercy upon us, Reveal your merciful face to us and save us. For you are the one who had mercy upon our race and sent your only begotten Son, Lord, who is our Saviour Jesus Christ, Illuminator, Benefactor and Redeemer of our souls and bodies, Who was proclaimed by His prophets in the ancient days, when He was about to dwell among us, came in the end of time and took Himself our humanity ; the Word became flesh; He neither took change nor alteration, but by the Holy Spirit He was conceived by Mary , The Ever Virgin and Holy Mother of God. He took a body having a rational and intelligent soul, in True and Hypostatic unity, which was not an imaginary apparition. Without Separation, or Division, He truly took a human Body and Soul and all that a man has and in all things He resembled us except Sin. He did not merely dwell among men, but while being perfectly God the Word, He perfectly took flesh and became man. His Divinity did not become Humanity, but He remained in His Divinity and took completely the Human nature. He was not two, but One King, One Christ, One Lord, One God the Word Incarnated who is revealed to us. He dwelt among men, affirmed the earth and blessed it; He restrained the waves of the sea. He was known with His deeds, revealed in power, conquered the human passions and put an end to the transgressions of the law, converted the erring, and destroyed the power of death from us, which had man in the beginning and showed Him to be invincible in the end. Through the [human] body He caught hold of [death] and that which was caught was destroyed. Through His death, he restored the glory of man who was destitute from glory.”
Belief
This year with my usual critical view of Christmas programs only for parents using as opportunity to mere showing off the talents of children and the boisterous and stylish, I am being led to be more and work together to understanding and caring within the family and foster such thoughts to the Church as a whole.
I believe a part of it is the reminder sent through this wonderful prayer sent by my brother and the message of the Nativity Homily by Fr. Binny Kuruvilla to go even beyond that is our calling.
“Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against you and that my sins separate me from you. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my sinful past and turn to you for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, that He was raised from the dead and is alive. I invite Jesus to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey you and to convict me when I sin. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.”
“For a Christian the Nativity of Christ is not limited to December 25, but each day and every moment that we allow Christ in our lives as affirmed by Gospel reading to “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord “This was the experience of the wise men and witness of the Church who allowed to be guided to Him unlike King Herod.
I pray this will be the experience of each of us and in all our encounters
Feast of Nativity - 2011
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