Sacred Song

Of all the instruments God created – the human voice is the greatest of them all. 

 

 

Video footage – Monastery Ravanica – Orthodox Church – The Ascension of Our Lord Church – May 2007.  This is a wonderful, peaceful holy place, more than 6 centuries old.

Translation from the Greek to English

It is truly right to bless thee, O Theotokos,
ever blessed, and most pure, and the Mother of our God.
More honorable than the cherubim,
and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim.
Without corruption thou gavest birth to God the Word.
True Theotokos, we magnify thee.

Kyrie Eleison… Lord have mercy.

No other instrument offers such clarity, depth, and uncompromising authenticity as the human voice.  It cannot hide behind anyone or anything, it stands as it is, with all of its beauty and imperfections, but when a multitude of voices come together, that which is never perfect all alone, now can reach the heights of perfection in community – always in community.  Melody, harmony, unity… beauty.   The voice of the Church ceaselessly honors Him who formed and fashioned the vocal chords in every one of us, and we sing today with voices from the ages, we join in the ancient song of Church, in the continuity of praise, joining even the Cherubic and Seraphic songs of Paradise, yet all the while toiling here on earth.  A miracle.

But now, as in all times, God especially blesses certain singers with an extraordinary blessing. Men and women who have the “gift of angels” and continue the tradition of sacred song and singing in the Church reminding and teaching new generations who may have forgotten, or never knew,  the ways of the past.  We have inherited over two millenia of sacred singing, and now in these days, there is a hunger and a longing again, amidst the shallowness of some contemporary music, for the richness and depth of this sacred tradition.  The simplicity.  The beauty.  The richness and theological depth of music and vocal song  that needs no accompaniment or electric amplification to make it sound “better”.  Orthodoxy is blest with this rich tradition, and today, one of the greatest voices teaching the Tradition of sacred song to thousands of emerging generations, and to the secular venues of a post Christian Europe is Divna Ljubojevic.

Her desire is to preserve, and extend the tradition.  This virtuous passion of hers, and others like her, (Cappella Romana, Boston Byzantine Choir)  captures the desire for things that last beyond the fad of this year, or even last year.  These are the reasons why there is such a surge in our time for music that transcends time, space and momentary fads: (i.e. cultural relevancy).  It has been said that Divna has the “voice of an angel“, and yet she claims no such title for herself.  She only knows that it was in an Orthodox monastery, singing with the Mothers and sisters, who taught her this angelic form of worship as a child - that she found her soul, and her calling.

Glory to God for the sacred song of the church.  We pray that others in our time will discover what rightfully belongs to all of us, and yet so very few today even know exists.   In our singing, and in our preservation of the ancient song handed down to us, may we in turn, pass this beauty to our children, and to their children – for I fear their  world may be sorely in need of this beauty, truth and glory in a world that continues to journey down the road of division and devastation.

Here is wonderful interview with Divna:

What can urge young people to turn towards sacred singing?

Their spiritual state! It is always your spiritual state which determines everything. Within our being, it is the soul which searches, asks for something and finally makes the ultimate choice. In other words, we might speak of ‘a sense of belonging’. Concerning sacred singing, this decision can only be made at a time when the being is still receptive, innocent, unshaped, unsoiled. And it is when you keep such a disposition that you can go on singing this repertoire all your life long, till the end.

In your case, how did it occur?

Exactly as I’ve just told you. At the time when my soul was still searching for its identity, I went to the monastery of the Presentation, I heard Mother Agniya and the sisters; they sang divinely and – there it was, I was caught!

 What is the link between melody, God’s share in art and your own talent?

Everything is intertwined. Melody can be the mediator between the human and the Divine, and even indeed the very link with the Divine. As for talent, what artist has time to think about his own talent before years and years of maturity? Talent is a glance God casts on the being, and as such a happy occasion for the one who is granted it as it enables him a relationship worthy of God.

How can you be dedicated to something so sublime and solemn at a time of chaos and speed?

Each time has its own chaos! The relationship between Chaos and Time can be compared with the one between an adolescent in puberty (man) and a Father (God). Today’s chaos is precisely this ‘immoderate speed’ which gets you nowhere, since it is apparent and doesn’t exist in time. It is akin to mass blindness, caused, I think, by this dust lifted by high-speed. And since this rush has to be justified, new values have been invented, just as you cut and put flowers in a vase, flowers without roots. All this is vain since, much before those false values, there has been God’s Truth on man. It is since then that the ‘branch’ on which man may be picked up has been growing. This is the reason why I find it so simple and natural to devote myself to this kind of music, which is sublime – since it comes from God- and solemn – since life is indeed a celebration.

 What can you tell us about your experience as a choirmaster in Paris?

The beginning of my professional commitment in Paris is linked to the creation of the choir of the Serbian church Saint Sava, whose members at the time were exclusively Serbs. I worked with them for several weeks to form the choir who sings during liturgies. It was both a professional experience I’ve already had but also something new because those singers were born in France or else had lived there for so long that they had actually become French. I started working with foreigners in 1998. Since 2002, I’ve opened work-groups in Paris and London and another is to be opened in the Netherlands shortly.

  How do these varied audiences react to your work, to what they hear?

They are the best evidence that sacred music and working on this music brings man upwards. This is what I experienced thanks to my work as a choirmaster as well as thanks to the concerts, in France, England and Germany. I think it will always be this way wherever I sing and work.

Except from the singing lessons themselves, is there a theological  history about the metaphysical foundation of singing?

Since the beginning, singing is intricately linked to a ‘theological history’, thus it has indeed metaphysical foundations. Whatever form it takes, singing has existed since the time of the Apostles and represents the angelic songs addressed to God. Does a greater metaphysical and theological foundation exist? This can easily be felt through the text that carries the melody or that is carried by it.

What do you think of the current trends of ethnic or world music?

There is such a wide range of it that it gives you headache! We have entered a dangerous zone where one’s reason to sing is no longer education but personal glory and profit. Still, this music is very popular, which shows how depersonalisation has taken pride of place. Fortunately, fashions are always short-lived, and few and far between are those experiencing a long-lasting success.

 Why do you insist on authenticity?

Well, you know, authenticity is a constant requirement which demands continuous improvement. Mixing ‘my sound’ with modern or electronic expressions is only acceptable within the boundaries of good taste.

Anaphora!

Give Thanks…for He is Good

A blessed Thanksgiving to everyone.

May we never forget the goodness of God. 

Let us always remember that He is our Father, and we are His children.

That He is our  Shepherd.  And we are His sheep.

That He is good.  And He loves all mankind.

 

 

Give thanks with this beautiful piece of music , Oce Nas – “Our Father” – sung in Old Church Slavonic  by Orthodox vocalist Divna Ljubojevic 

Translation

Our Father, who art in the heavens,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

Priest.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
now and ever and unto the ages of ages.

All
Amen.

Here are the lyrics in old Church Slavonic developed by Sts. Cyril and Methodius.  Church Slavonic is the fourth official world language after Hebrew, Latin and Greek.   From Slavonic we have the Christian liturgy, Bible translations, and many hymns of the Church.

Отче наш, Иже еси на Небесех,
да святится имя Твое,
да приидет царствие Твое,
да будет воля Твоя,
яко на небеси и на земли.
Хлеб нащ насущный даждь нам днес
и остави нам долги наша,
якоже и мы оставляем
должником нашим,
и не введи нас во искушение,
но избави нас от лукаваго.

Glory to God for all things!

Anaphora!

+ Rev. Fr. Daniil Sysoyev – Memory Eternal

 

 

Martyred Orthodox Priest - Fr. Daniil Sysoyev

 

Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9  

But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God.  And no torture will ever touch them.  In the eyes of the undiscerning they seem to have died, and their departure was considered to be a misfortune.  And their passage from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace.

For though in man’s view they were punished, their hope is full of immortality.  Though chastened in a few things, Great kindness will be shown to them.  For God tested them and found them worthy of Himself.  He tested them like gold in a furnace and accepted them as a whole burnt offering…

Those who trust in Him will understand truth.  And the faithful shall continue with Him in love.  Because grace and mercy are upon His elect.  

Trisagion for the Departed – Troparion Tone 4 – Orthodox Funeral

With the spirits of the righteous made perfect in peace give rest O Lord to the soul of Your servant, O Savior; and keep it safe in that life of blessedness that is lived with You, O Friend of Man. In the place of Your rest, O Lord, where all Your Saints repose, give rest also to the soul; of Your servant, for You alone are Immortal.  You are our God Who went down to Hades to loose the pains of the dead that were there; give rest also to the I soul of Your servant.  O Virgin, alone pure and immaculate, that in maiden-motherhood brought forth God, intercede for his soul that he may have mercy and salvation.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – A masked gunman entered a church and murdered a Russian Orthodox priest who had received death threats for converting Muslims to Christianity and criticizing Islam, prosecutors and church officials said Friday.  The gunman approached Orthodox Priest Daniil Sysoyev, 34, in St Thomas Church in southern Moscow Thursday night, checked his name and then opened fire with a pistol, a spokesman for the investigating committee of the Prosecutor-General’s office said. “The main theory is that religious motives are behind the crime,” spokesman Anatoly Bagmet said.  The head of Russia’s Orthodox Church warned on Friday against rushing to accuse “individuals or groups” of the murder of a priest in Moscow.  Sysoyev was known for his missionary work among Muslim immigrants, and had received numerous death threats.  Patriach Kirill said:

Any murder is a grave sin. But the murder of a priest in a church is also a challenge to the law of God.  This sin will not be left unrevenged by God.   And justice will hopefully be ensured by people. But as long as the killer has not been identified, I ask you to refrain from any hasty accusations against individuals or groups.

Kirill also said God’s work often requires martyrdom.

The murder stirred a wave of condemnation from all religious groups in Russia, and demands to ensure better security for the clergy.   Some nationalist lawmakers claimed Thursday’s decision by the Constitutional Court to extend a ban on capital punishment in the country could have “inspired” the killer.  “The priest was gunned down in a Moscow church. This happened when the Constitutional Court had virtually abolished the death penalty,” A Just Russia member Vera Lekareva said.

 

 

 

Martyrdom is no stranger to the Orthodox Church.  From the very first martyrdoms of St. Stephen, the Apostles of Jesus, to Apostolic Fathers like Ignatius of Antioch, and Polycarp, to modern-day women and men – like Father Daniil - the blood of the martyrs continues to be the “seed” of the Church.  In fact, more Christians have been martyred in the last century than in the previous nineteen combined, and the Orthodox Church has paid the price dearly under the tyranny of Communism and radical militant Islam.  Countless millions have given their lives freely for the sake of Christ, His Church, and the precious Gospel, and it appears, that we are moving into another period of history in which Christians will be asked, once again, to give their lives as a witness - instead of denying the Truth of the gospel found in Christ Jesus.

But is it any surprise?

Jesus taught these things about the last days in which we now live…

These things I command you, that you love one another.  If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own.  Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  “A servant is not greater than his Master, if they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you…

…but when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.  And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.   John 15:18f

A young boy reverences the body of Fr. Daniil

The question remains for all of us:  “”Will I live my life like Fr. Daniil?”  “Will I live in such a way as to speak the truth about the Gospel, and do it with love and no fear?    And am I willing to give my life as an offering to those who would use hatred and violence to stop me?”  Christianity at its core is a message of LIFE.  Of mercy.  Of  LOVE.  It is a movement of redemption, mercy, and grace.   We are taught, and we believe, “Thou shall not kill.”  Abortion is wrong – it is sin.  Euthanasia is wrong – it is sin.  Murder is wrong – it is sin.  We are commanded to love our enemies, and to do good to those who hurt us and hate us.  There is no room at all, in the Faith of our Fathers, for retribution, or returning evil with evil.  Our Savior, is Christ Jesus, who freely gave up his life for the life of the world, who freely ascended the Cross, and allowed his enemies to murder Him for the redemption of the world, and so ours is  a faith of LIFE.  He never threatens, or forces, or coerces people to convert.  True Christianity, does not kill others, or hurt them, or threaten them if they do not convert.  But some faith traditions do. 

Why? 

Would you want to be part of a faith that says, “Convert or die?”  Believe or else….!

How senseless?  How pointless?  How illogical?  If your faith is the true faith, then it cannot be stopped by anyone, or any movement, including the bullet of a mortal man; for who can stop the truth and heart of God?  And if your faith is the true faith, then why would you need to resort to death threats, intimidation, and strong-arm tactics to “convert” people?  Wouldn’t people be naturally drawn to your Truth – simply for the sake that it is right and true?   If your faith is the true faith, why would you feel the need to threaten others to stop their teachings?  Would not their own pointless doctrines fall on deaf ears since yours is superior?

No Christian is afraid to die.  Father Daniil was not afraid.  No Christian should ever fear death.  Our lives are in God’s hands.  No human on earth is in control of our destiny.   God alone has determined our day and time.  He has already established the day and date of my departure from this world as well.  And we are at peace.  He is our Father, and we are His children, and He longs for the day when we will make our departure from this world, into the presence of His being.  Our death is but rhe doorway to eternal life with Christ, the life  that we all long for, that Jesus has already won for us.   Death is not our enemy, for death has been trampled down by death.  Christ is risen from the dead, and we rise in new life with Him.  Similarly we love our enemies.  We bless those who persecute us.  We pray for our attackers.  We give our coats to those who steal our clothes.  We do not attack and kill, or threaten others to convert to Christianity, we simply do not need to.  We speak the truth in love, and the message of Christ has the power that converts the soul,  heart, and mind.   We fight hatred with love.  We cannot help but speak, and we cannot stop speaking with our words and with our lives, about the goodness of God.  For us to stop speaking and sharing the Good News of the Gospel is like a death realized now, so how can we withhold the gift of mercy and eternal life from anyone?  

In the end – we speak because we love.  We will not recant our faith – for there is no other choice.

We patiently point out the errors of others, because we love them.  But we will not kill.  We will not murder.  We do not follow the ways of Satan, who is the father of death and destruction.

Precious in God's Eyes is the Death of His Saints

Father Daniil stands in the long noble line of martyrs.  Men and women who spoke courageously.  He obeyed the command of Christ, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and pf the Son and of the Holy Spirit…’

For this confession he gladly exchanged his temporary life here on earth, for that which is far better, far greater – for an eternal existence in the very bosom of Christ himself for all eternity.

May God have mercy on us all.  May God have mercy on those who kill, maim, threaten and take life for the cause of their faith. Pray for us now, sainted martyr Fr. Daniil Sysoyev!  You may be the first of many more martyrs to come in our day and in our times.  Pray for us to remain faithful, loving and steadfast in the times in which we live.

Memory Eternal Father Daniil… Memory Eternal!

Anaphora! 

Evagrius of Pontus – Food for the Fast

Evagrius (345-399)

As we move into the second week of the Nativity fast, I am confronted with the discipline of prayer.  

The purpose of the fast is to free us from worldly pursuits, and to set us free to engage in spiritual virtues – like prayer.  So what about prayer?  First, do I pray?  Second, if I do pray, where, when, and how long do I pray?  Finally, what is it that I pray for?  Do I “name it and claim it” in Jesus’ name as if God were an empty check waiting for me to fill in the blanks, or do I humbly, and reverently submit to his gracious and perfect will as Jesus’ teaches us “…Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”?   

A couple of  things are certain.  Praying is essential – and praying is hard.  Probably the hardest thing any Christian will attempt to understand and master in their lifetime.

I’m convinced that praying is hard, simply because Satan fears it the most.  Imagine a world full of Christians who, daily, hourly, weekly, and moment by moment – are in communion and oneness with God through prayer?  Imagine the power and the fullness of faith that would be given to the Church that prays ceaselessly - but alas – Satan fights us at every stage to stop any ideas that we have to pray consistently and with a childlike faith.  But we must persist. 

Why?

Praying is what we were made for.  Praying means oneness.  A communion of mind, heart, body and soul.  Praying is more than words, it is more than, “how long” and “when” and “where”?   To pray is to be with God.  To pray is to obtain the mind, and heart and thoughts of God.  To pray is to speak the very words of God, thus for centuries the prayer-book of the Church has been the Psalmody, and how blessed are those who will pray them weekly.  (In fact, that is my Nativity fast objective – to pray each of the 20 Kathismata, all 151 Psalms each week, dividing the prayers up: morning, noon and night.)  Not easy to do, but I am growing in my patience and persistance – not to mention that as I pray these words out loud, I am obtaining the mind, heart and the very words of God Himself as they soak into my spirit and soul.

So here is what I have figured out after forty-five years on the concept of prayer:

1. It’s a lifelong pursuit, and a continual battle.
2. It’s not easy, but it’s  extremely necessary.
3. It’s required for growth toward Theosis.
4. I must learn pray with the mind and words of the church.
5. I must end each prayer “…Thy will be done…” for God’s will for me is greater than my wishes for myself.

 

Here is what our Father in the faith – Evagrius of Pontus teaches us;

Sometimes it happens when you start to pray, you find you can pray well.  At other times, even when you have expended great effort, you may find your efforts frustrated.  This experience is to make you learn that you must exert yourself constantly, for having once gained the gift of prayer, you must be careful to keep it safe.

Do not pray for your heart’s desires, for they may not entirely harmonize with God’s purposes.  Pray instead as you have been taught:  “May Your will be done in me.”  Pray to God this way about everything, that his will might be accomplished in you, for He only desires what is good and useful in your life, whereas you do not always request this.

I have often prayed and asked God for what seemed good in my own estimation.  Like a fool, I kept on at God to grant me this; I would not leave it to Him to arrange as He knows best for me.  Then, having obtained the thing I had prayed for so stubbornly, I have often been sorry that I did not leave it to the will of God, for the reality often turned out very different for the way I had imagined.

 

Evagrius was born in Pontus around the year 345 and studied under the Cappadocian Fathers. St. Basil the Great tonsured Evagrius a reader, and St. Gregory the Theologian elevated him to the diaconate. As a deacon, Evagrius Ponticus would attend the Second Ecumenical Council (First Constantinople) in 381, which formulated the last portion of the Nicene Creed (the article dealing with the Holy Spirit). After visiting Jerusalem, Evagrius became a monk in the Egyptian desert in 383. There his life would touch those of two other saints: St. Macarius of Alexandria, his mentor; and St. John Cassian (“Cassian the Roman”), his disciple. (Many believe he also met St. Macarius the Great.) He died in Kellia, Egypt, in 399.

Evagrius passed on his firsthand knowledge of the Desert Fathers to many visitors and disciples, becoming particularly well known for his teaching on prayer. He exhorted his followers to practice the virtues, engage in regular Psalmody, and refrain from making any physical/mental images during prayer. However, like so many others, he became influenced by the teachings of Origen, believing in the doctrines of apokatastasis, the “restitution of all things” (including the reconciliation of Satan), and in the Platonic notion of the pre-existence of the soul. The Fifth Ecumenical Council (Second Constantinople) in 553 deemed both these doctrines (and Origen himself) heretical. Although never glorified as a saint, Evagrius’ teachings on asceticism, prayer, and the spiritual life had a profound impact upon both Christian East and West.

Anaphora!

St. Maximus – Food for the Fast

St. Maximus the Confessor

Learning to do more  – with less. 

Learning to be content with what I have – instead of with what I want. 

Learning to live simply, that others might simply live.

Words from the desert, from St. Maximus the Confessor,

that give life to the world.

 

Love is a most holy condition of the soul in which it values the mystical knowledge of God

above all other existent things.

We cannot enter into such a state of love, however,

if we are still obsessively clinging to material values.

 

If you love God, you will certainly start to love your neighbors too. 

You will find you are unable to hoard your money any longer

but will want to distribute it in a godly way, being generous to all who are in need.

 

If you imitate God by giving alms you must not discriminate between the deserving and the underserving,

between the wicked and the innocent.

For God gives what is necessary to all  with an open hand, as is appropriate to them,

and always honors a good person more than the wicked.

 

Pray for us St. Maximus, to hear your words of wisdom, but more importantly – to act upon them.

 

Champion of Orthodoxy, teacher of purity and of true worship,  Enlightener of the universe and adornment of hierarchs: All-wise father Maximus, your teachings have gleamed with light upon all things.

Intercede before Christ God to save our souls. Let us the faithful fittingly praise the lover of the Trinity, The great Maximus who taught the God-inspired faith, That Christ is to be glorified in His two natures, wills, and energies; And let us cry to him: “Rejoice, herald of the faith.”

Anaphora!

Merry ‘counter-cultural’ Christmas!

Before you read my post below…

Here is a geat video you need to watch and great site you need to visit.  If living a non-consumption, non-indulgent lifestyle is appealing to you, then join the ‘conspiracy’…. Compassion instead of Consumerism.

 

www.adventconspiracy.org

 

 

Now for the rest of the story…

 

The funny thing about blogging is that it all starts out very innocently. 

You discover a great partner  like WordPress, you fiddle around a little bit, and then “bam”, within minutes you have your own personal place in cyberspace.  Then comes that first post.  You work hard, agonizing over every word choice, picking the right photo, putting on your best “Fox News” reporter persona in order to be compelling and interesting.  Then you hit that life changing button called “Publish“, and BINGO!  you’re an “author”!  Not only do you have your own soap box from which to speak – but you’re actually speaking – or writing!    The big question is this :  “Is anybody out there listening?”  “Does anybody even care about what you wrote?  Can anyone even find it, amidst the millions of posts, and billions of words uploaded everyday?   I remember in the early days after I published my first post, I went into my statistics home page like a kid on Christmas morning – “I wonder how many thousands of people read my post today?   And even though, in the beginning we humbly and nobly say things like this, “Blogging for me is a spiritual discipline, I do it for me, so that I can express some thoughts and feelings… yadda yadda… I’m  really not concerned with how many people actually visit the site, and I’m not worried about how many comments that people leave behind…?”  The reality is that most bloggers I know write with the intention of others reading… and oh how desperate I can be get when I walk into my home after a long day of work, and during dinner, I gently drop the subtle hint:  “So, did anyone read my post today?”  and then the kids look down, the dog goes into the other room, and the mood goes south – because even family members don’t often have time to read Dad’s post.  Yes, it’s painful but very true!

The truth is that bloggers do count, and some watch each day.  How many visited?  How many page views?  How many left behind some message whether it be good or bad?   And for most amateur, non-famous, ordinary people like me it’s a very humbling reality: a whopping 3.25 visitors show up each day, and hardly ever leave a comment… but the amazing thing is that you keep writing and posting… because someone, even one person does show up, and in the end, writing is good for our soul- even if no one reads, and imagine if that one person who does come – is blest because of their visit.  So we write on!

That’s why my post yesterday on “Food for the Fast” really shocked me.  In one day almost 215 people visited the site!  That’s more visitors than I have combined in the last four months!  On top of that four people actually left comments…  I kept laughing to myself saying, “Wow, what happened?”   I thought that my computer was broken, or that WordPress made a counting mistake!  As near as I can figure out – here are the options:

1. I suddenly became  famous overnight and the world decided to visit the blog. 
2. All my “friends” on Facebook, who I occasionally let know that I posted, felt sorry for me and visited en masse! 
3. The topic that I wrote about, contentment versus consumerism, and the practicing of Orthodox fasting during the season of indulgent feasting - resonated with a number of people.
4. Or, someone famous, ”Tweeted”.  Someone with a big, 40,000+  following of twitterers, send a tweet to the flock about something they read that they liked and showed up at my place?

I would like to think that a combination of #3 and #4 – were the culprits in yesterdays unusual, and hopefully, not the last massive migration to this humble blog.

So in the spirit of giving the audience what they want (and giving us all what we need) ; I would like to share a new resource that I have had the privilege to work on at Zondervan:  it’s life changing and powerful and it’s called Advent Conspiracy…  AC epitomizes everything that I wrote about in yesterday’s blog:  the war during this time of year against consumerism, consumption, indulgence, and gluttony.  The authors Chris Seay, Rick McKinley and Greg Holder challenge America to do something better during this advent season; something better like this:

Worship Fully   -   Give More   -   Spend Less   - and   Love All

Christmas Can STILL Change the world.  

As long as we are willing to be changed first!

Anaphora!

Food for the Fast

The “Holidays” in America. 

Synonymous for many things: family, parties, gifts, gifts that no one wants, or needs, ”spending” so the economy grows - an intense, but short time in which we try to cram all the relational connections that we should have been working on during the other eleven months of the year, into one frantic and frenetic 30 day lollapalooza.  The “holiday’s” are also synonymous for indulgence.  Indulgences of every kind:  food, shopping, drinking, eating, shopping - you name it, and in the next 30+ days, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day ( or Super Bowl Sunday) depending on how you classify the “holidays”, Americans go into a consuming frenzy of living out the axiom that  ”more is better”.   But in Orthodoxy, it’s just the opposite. 

Fasting.   

The conscious denial of something, in order to obtain mastery over the body; so as to increase communion with God.  What an amazing concept.  A drastic and intentional move away from consumption and consumerism towards compassion and contentedness.  Self denial.  Learning to be content with what is, instead of what might be.  Happiness with what you have, instead of with what you want.  Being able to say no to the things of the world, saying no to the compunction for owning things, and trading them all in, for a season – a 40 day journey – of learning to be content.  Content to be with God.  I have said it once before, but for the Orthodox Christian: “Fasting is Feasting!”

So while our culture eats, spends, drinks and indulges its way towards New Year resolutions of losing weight and reducing credit card debt, the Orthodox Church will refrain:  choosing not to feast, but rather to fast, in order that our bodies might better anticipate the feast to come, that our hearts might better hear the song of the Christmas angels singing “Glory to God in the Highest…” receiving the true gift of the Season; Peace from the Prince of Peace.  We will fast for a season, so that we might truly know what it means to feast – for a day!

In the spirit of this Nativity Fast where we refrain from dairy, meats, oils and alcohol, from November 15 to December 25, I want to make use of a powerful book called The Book of Mystical Chapters: Meditations on the Soul’s Ascent from the Desert Fathers and Other Early Christian Contemplatives,  as a foundation upon which to build some weekly thoughts from the Desert Fathers and Mothers of the Orthodox Church.  You see, fasting is not just about what you “won’t” do, but rather it’s more about what you “will do” in the place of something else.  For instance, by not eating as much, I free myself up to pray more often, to worship more deeply.  So, I remove “stuff”, in order that I might fill my life with “better” stuff.  Jesus once said, “…I have food to eat, that you do not know of…“  His food was separation from the world, so that He might commune better with His Father. 

As the six weeks of this Nativity Fast unfold, as each Holiday party gives way to the next, as each Orthodox Christian says “no” to their fleshly wants, and says “yes” to the desires of the soul… It is good to “fill” ourselves, and  to“gorge” on the wisdom of the desert, to become “gluttons” feasting upon the spiritual wisdom of women and men who gave their lives entirely to the pursuit of holiness and sanctity.  Here is a nice summary from the introduction to the book…

This book is a portable collection of Christian monastic wisdom, a very small edition of the vast amount of teachings that exist and are still used in the monasteries of the Eastern Christian world to this day.  It has been arranged in the manner of an ancient manual of instruction, in three ascending books: Praktikos, Theoretikos, and Gnostikos.  The earliest writers tended to divide their spiritual teachings into three basic categories, suitable for the stages of first: searchers , second, young monks of several years’ standing and third, the more advanced. 

The instructions were usually arranged into short paragraphs, meant to be learned by heart and meditated on over and over again for a day, or even a week until the paragraph had broken like a fruit on the tongue of a monk and revealed its inner flavor to the searching mind.

Come with me as we move towards the Feast Day of the Nativity, travelling like the Magi, in search of the star, but in reality, in search of Wisdom personified in a Person.  Journey with me, through the desert, as we say no to the temptations to gluttony, and instead turn our hearts towards the  filling of our souls with manna from the desert, food from the table of the greatest ascetics and monastics in all of Christendom.  Come with me, as we partake of food that will feed our souls and pave the way toward fullness of life now, and to a glimpse of the culmination of life as it will be lived in eternity. 

Here is our first taste - in this fasting season:

Abba Antony said:

Whoever sits in solitude and is quiet has escaped from three wars: 

those of hearing, speaking and seeing. 

Then there is only one war left in which to fight, and that is the battle for your own heart.

-Sayings of the Elders

Anaphora!

Ranks of Angels

As some of you may know, I work for a Christian Publishing company.  Three times a year we conduct a week-long conference that presents the content of the soon to be released products coming up in the next sales cycle.  It is a busy, energetic, exciting and tiring week.  In the end we always ask ourselves, “How much of all that we make will people actually have the time to read?”  It seems that each cycle the list of releases gets longer and longer with more and more “stuff”, in order to help people in their Christian faith.  Sometimes I wonder if we make too much “stuff”, and even though it is “good stuff”, I wonder if we are contributing to the overwhelmed feeling that most people have?  What do you think?   Are people so harried and hurried running, and going that it ’s hard to slow down and take care of the things that matter most?  Is it better to produce a few, powerful and deeply impactful resources – or to just unleash the overflowing pipeline , and let lots of things enter the market?

One other thing struck me this week during the presentations.  The number of our products releasing next Spring that deal with: the End Times, the Apocalypse, Demons, Devils, the Paranormal, and, you guessed it – Angels!  Current research indicates a 150% jump in teen-young adult reading in areas such as: the occult, paranormal life, vampires, and the apocalyptic genres. 

So why the fixation in our culture on the “End”?   On the paranormal?  On angels and demons?  On cultish and occultic themes?

Perhaps fiction is  just a simple way for people to ‘escape’ tough times?  Perhaps it’s due to the crumbling of the gods of our culture (money, possessions, power and sex), perhaps it’s the crises in our economies, the crisis in Government and leadership, perhaps it’s the never-ending ”War” on terror that has terrorized our nation again on, of all places, a military base ,  or perhaps it’s the feeling that the “end” might soon be coming, if Hollywood and the Mayans have anything to say about it?  (i.e. 2012) Whatever the reason, “angels” are “in” again, but for the Orthodox Church, they have never been “out”.  Angels, and their ministry, are a reality for us everyday, as they have been for the communion of saints over all the ages.

The first prayer I remember hearing.  The prayer etched in the deepest recesses of my memory. The first prayer I memorized, was the prayer my Mother prayed with me every night as she tucked me into bed…  This prayer is the same prayer Mary and I pray with our children, and, God willing, they will pray with their children…

Angel of God, my guardian dear; to whom God’s love commits me here.

Ever this day, be at my side, to Light and Guard, to Rule and Guide.     Amen

What follows is an informative article on the purpose, and the different ranks of angels.  Rest well, my friend.  God has provided each person with a Guardian Angel.  The reality is this: they are there.  The question is, “Are you aware of it?”  “Are you pleasing that angel by following the Christ?”  or is my, and your  life ,and our actions grieving and hindering their powerful work?   Only you, and I, can answer that for ourselves.

One day I will give an account of every action, thought and word that I have committed before the Judgment seat of Christ, and my guardian angel with be right there with me… so I live today, and each day,  in such a way that my angel will stand by me with his head held in honor, for the choices I have made, and for my cooperation not only with him, but with the Spirit of God who dwells and works within me.

The Synaxis of the Chief of the Heavenly Hosts, Archangel Michael and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers: Archangels Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jehudiel, Barachiel, and Jeremiel was established at the beginning of the fourth century at the Council of Laodicea, which met several years before the First Ecumenical Council. The 35th Canon of the Council of Laodicea condemned and denounced as heretical the worship of angels as gods and rulers of the world, but affirmed their proper veneration.

A Feast day was established in November, the ninth month after March (with which the year began in ancient times) since there are Nine Ranks of Angels. The eighth day of the month was chosen for the Synaxis of all the Bodiless Powers of Heaven since the Day of the Dread Last Judgment is called the Eighth Day by the holy Fathers. After the end of this age (characterized by its seven days of Creation) will come the Eighth Day, and then “the Son of Man shall come in His Glory and all the holy Angels with Him” (Mt. 25:31).

The Angelic Ranks are divided into 3  Hierarchies: highest, middle, and lowest.

The Highest Hierarchy includes: the Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones.

The six-winged SERAPHIM (Flaming, Fiery) (Is 6:12) stand closest of all to the Most Holy Trinity. They blaze with love for God and kindle such love in others.

The many-eyed CHERUBIM (outpouring of wisdom, enlightenment) (Gen 3:24) stand before the Lord after the Seraphim. They are radiant with the light of knowledge of God, and knowledge of the mysteries of God. Through them wisdom is poured forth, and people’s minds are enlightened so they may know God and behold His glory.

The THRONES (Col 1:16) stand after the Cherubim, mysteriously and incomprehensibly bearing God through the grace given them for their service. They are ministers of God’s justice, giving to tribunals, kings, etc. the capacity for righteous judgment.

The Middle Angelic Hierarchy consists of 3 Ranks: Dominions, Powers, and Authorities:

DOMINIONS (Col 1:16) hold dominion over the angels subject to them. They instruct the earthly authorities, established by God, to rule wisely, and to govern their lands well. The Dominions teach us to subdue sinful impulses, to subject the flesh to the spirit, to master our will, and to conquer temptation.

POWERS (1 Pet 3:22) fulfill the will of God without hesitation. They work great miracles and give the grace of wonder-working and clairvoyance to saints pleasing to God. The Powers assist people in fulfilling obediences. They also encourage them to be patient, and give them spiritual strength and fortitude.

AUTHORITIES (1 Pet 3:22, Col 1:16) have authority over the devil. They protect people from demonic temptations, and prevent demons from harming people as they would wish. They also uphold ascetics and guard them, helping people in the struggle with evil thoughts.

The Lowest Hierarchy includes the 3  Ranks: Principalities, Archangels, and Angels:

PRINIPALITIES (Col 1:16) have command over the lower angels, instructing them in the fulfilling of God’s commands. They watch over the world and protect lands, nations and peoples. Principalities instruct people to render proper honor to those in authority, as befits their station. They teach those in authority to use their position, not for personal glory and gain, but to honor God, and to spread word of Him, for the benefit of those under them.

ARCHANGELS (1 Thess 4:16) are messengers of great and wondrous tidings. They reveal prophecies and the mysteries of the faith. They enlighten people to know and understand the will of God, they spread faith in God among the people, illuminating their minds with the light of the Holy Gospel.

ANGELS (1 Pet 3:22) are in the lowest rank of the heavenly hierarchy, and closest to people. They reveal the lesser mysteries of God and His intentions, guiding people to virtuous and holy life. They support those who remain steadfast, and they raise up the fallen. They never abandon us and they are always prepared to help us, if we desire it.

All the Ranks of the Heavenly Powers are called angels, although each has its own name and position by virtue of their service. The Lord reveals His will to the highest ranks of the angels, and they in turn inform the others.

Over all the Nine Ranks, the Lord appointed the Holy Archangel Michael (his name in Hebrew means “who is like unto God”), the faithful servitor of God, as Chief Commander. He cast down from Heaven the arrogantly proud Lucifer and the other fallen spirits when they rebelled against God. Michael summoned the ranks of angels and cried out, “Let us attend! Let us stand aright before our Creator and do not consider doing what is displeasing unto God!”.

Holy Scripture and Tradition give us the names of the Archangels:

Gabriel: strength (power) of God, herald and servitor of Divine omnipotence (Dan 8:16, Luke 1:26). He announces the mysteries of God.

Raphael: the healing of God, the curer of human infirmities (Tobit 3:16, 12:15)

Uriel: the fire or light of God, enlightener (3 Ezdras 5:20). We pray for him to enlighten those with darkened minds.

Selaphiel: the prayer of God, impelling to prayer (3 Ezdras 5:16). He prays to God for mankind.

Jehudiel: the glorifying of God, encouraging exertion for the glory of the Lord and interceding for the reward of efforts.

Barachiel: distributor of the blessings of God for good deeds, entreats the mercy of God for people.

Jeremiel: the raising up to God (3 Ezdras 4:36)

On icons the Archangels are depicted in according to the character of their service:

Michael tramples the devil underfoot, and in his left hand holds a green date-tree branch, and in his right hand a spear with a white banner (or sometimes a fiery sword), on which is outlined a scarlet cross.

Gabriel with a branch from Paradise, presented by him to the Most Holy Virgin, or with a shining lantern in his right hand and with a mirror made of jasper in his left.

Raphael holds a vessel with healing medications in his left hand, and with his right hand leads Tobias, carrying a fish for healing (Tobit 5-8).

Uriel in his raised right hand holds a naked sword at the level of his chest, and in his lowered left hand “a fiery flame.”

Selaphiel in a prayerful posture, gazing downwards, hands folded on the chest.

Jehudiel holds a golden crown in his right hand, in his left, a whip of three red (or black) thongs.

Barachiel is shown with a white rose on his breast.

Jeremiel holds balance-scales in his hand.

Each person has a guardian angel, and every nation also receives its own guardian angel from God (Dan. 10:13). When a church is consecrated, it also receives a guardian angel (Palladius, Dial. Ch. 10).

Glory to God for Michael and all the Holy angels – who guard us – and protect us!

Anaphora!

Sacred Tradition – anchor for troubled times

Have you noticed lately that many “for sure“  and “non-negotiable” things are suddenly – not so sure and very negotiable?

How many historic, stable, and vital institutions of our culture are being challenged?  Torn down?  And redefined to be socially acceptable – but are morally and ethically bankrupt?

How many sacred teachings and historic foundations of the Christian Faith are being casually, and in some cases vehemently discarded?  For ideas and teachings that have no precedent but are accepted because they are “relevant“?

So where is the anchor in the midst of all this sea-change? 

Where are the ‘roots’ to be found that will stabilize us, the Church, and culture, as do the roots of  an Oak tree?  How does one begin to know who, or what is right, and wrong?  Where do we go to find the objective Truth, and to gain a perspective of certainty, and surety? 

Where is the wisdom to know where the ‘non-negotiable limits of orthodoxy run?’  And finally where do we go to find that unchanging wisdom, and then to muster the strength to act courageously on it?

This morning, in the quiet hours of early dawn, I was reminded in my readings of “where” former generations went.  And where we must return if we hope to remain Orthodox in these very ‘un-orthodox’ times.  (An excerpt from the book “Early Christian Doctrines” by JND Kelly  pages 48-49  Tradition and Scripture “The Appeal to the Fathers”)

In the Christological controversies, for example, Cyril of Alexandria’s ultimate appeal was always to its teaching – ‘the tradition of the apostles and evangelists…and the bearing of divinely inspired Scripture as a whole.’   In his eyes the authority of the Church Fathers consisted precisely in the fact that they (the Fathers) had so faithfully and fully expounded the real intention of the Bible writers. 

What he, and others, found impressive was that so many famous and saintly teachers, venerated in the whole Church, were unanimous in their interpretation of the Scripture and in their statement of the doctrines set forth. 

The results of this long evolution were codified in the middle of the 5th century by St. Vincent of Lerins…

Vincent of Lerins - Feast May 24

‘Learned and godly men’, he states, ‘have often searched for a sure, universally applicable rule for distinguishing the truths of the catholic faith from heretical falsehoods’.   ‘What is necessary’, he suggests, ‘is a twofold bulwark, the authority of the Divine Law (i.e. The Bible) and the tradition of the catholic church.’  (Not Roman Catholic – but catholic as meaning universal)  ‘In itself’, he concedes, ‘Scripture is sufficient , and more than sufficient, but because it is susceptible of such a variety of interpretations we must have recourse to Tradition.’  This norm of ecclesiastical and catholic opinion, as he designates it, is to be identified with ‘what has been believed everywhere, always and by all’.  Thus ‘we shall conform to the principle of universality if we confess as alone true the faith professed by the entire Church throughout the world; to that of antiquity if we deviate in no particular from the tenets manifestly shared by our godly predecessors and the fathers; and equally to that of content if, relying on former ages, we make our own definitions and opinions of all, or at any rate the majority of bishops and teachers.’

Thus in the end…

‘the Christian must, like Timothy, ‘guard the deposit’, the revelation enshrined in its completeness in Holy Scripture and correctly interpreted in the Church’s unerring tradition.’

 

 What will sustain us, save us, and keep us steadfast in times of challenge and chaos is this…

 

‘The Great Tradition’ is the actual, original tradition (Greek NT – paradidomai/Latin – tradere) – the teaching and faith of the catholic church, which the Lord bestowed, the Apostles proclaimed, and the Fathers safeguarded…’

St. Athanasius – 4th Century AD

“What do you think will save, and sustain us in tumultuous times?”

Anaphora!

The Bodiless Powers

On Sunday, November 8, the Church celebrates the feast of the “Synaxis of the Holy Heavenly Bodiless Powers” especially the Archangels Michael and Gabriel.  It was wonderful during the Divine Liturgy yesterday as we were singing the Thrice Holy Hymn, ”Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth…” and to really understand, and know, that we were, at that same moment, singing with the angels, the “song of the angelic host“.  In fact, a few times, as I closed my eyes and then opened them – I faintly saw the ethereal shimmer of a few “wings” flying round about the altar!!   Or, at least, I wanted to see them!  (PS Many of the greatest saints in the Church, in fact, have seen them hovering during the Liturgy!)  Such is my hope, in my lifetime!

Because Angels are so interesting, and yet, so poorly understood, I thought about posting some reflections this week on their ministry and their importance in the scope of eternity, and of their crucial role in our daily lives.  

I am also grateful on this date,  for my mother Patricia, who forty-six years ago – overruled my father when it came time to give me a name, on that hot and humid birth-day, way back in July 1963.  It seems that  my Dad had this strong notion of naming me “Charles” after his uncle, my grandfather’s brother.  Now don’t get me wrong, he was a great man (an Engineer and College Football All American), and I have nothing against the name Charles per say.  It’s a powerful, noble, and royal name, but I must be honest, and confess openly that I’m  glad that my ‘all too compliant’ mother was adamant about this issue, and won my Dad over to the name of Michael – Michael Christopher.  I have come to love and cherish my parents, and my name, because I have come to know and love the ministry of Michael, the Great Archangel of God’s heavenly host; and I have felt his presence and guidance in my life in unmistakably powerful ways in so many ways in my life.

So as a warm up to some posts on angels  - I thought you might like to learn more about Michael - and why I am thankful that he is my patron, my namesake, and the guardian and protector of my life – and your life.

From The Prologue from Ohrid - by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich

The angels of God were celebrated by men from earliest times but this celebration was often turned into the divinization of angels (II Kings 23:5). The heretics wove all sorts of fables concerning the angels. Some of them looked upon angels as gods; others, although they did not consider them gods, called them the creators of the whole visible world. The local Council of Laodicea (four or five years before the First Ecumenical Council) rejected the worship of angels as gods and established the proper veneration of angels in its Thirty-fifth Canon. In the fourth century, during the time of Sylvester, Pope of Rome, and Alexander, Patriarch of Alexandria, the present Feast of Archangel Michael and all the other heavenly powers was instituted for celebration in the month of November. Why precisely in November? Because November is the ninth month after March, and March is considered to be the month in which the world was created.

Also, as the ninth month after March, November was chosen for the nine orders of angels who were created first. St. Dionysius the Areopagite, a disciple of the Apostle Paul (who was taken up into the third heaven), described these nine orders of angels in his book, On the Celestial Hierarchies, as follows: six-winged Seraphim, many-eyed Cherubim, God-bearing Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Virtues, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels.

The leader of all the angelic hosts is the Archangel Michael. When Satan, Lucifer, fell away from God and drew a part of the angels with him to destruction, then Michael stood up and cried out before the faithful angels: “Let us attend! Let us stand aright! Let us stand with fear!” and all of the faithful angelic heavenly hosts cried out: “Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God of Sabaoth! Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory!”

`Michael” in the Hebrew language means “Who is like unto God?” or “Who is equal to God?” St. Michael has been depicted from earliest Christian times as a commander, who holds in his right hand a spear with which he attacks Lucifer, Satan, and in his left hand a green palm branch. At the top of the spear there is a linen ribbon with a red cross. The Archangel Michael is especially considered to be the Guardian of the Orthodox Faith and a fighter against heresies.

Concerning the Archangel Michael, see Joshua 5:13-15 and Jude 1:9. Among the angels there reign perfect oneness of mind, oneness of soul, and love. The lower orders also show complete obedience to the higher orders, and all of them together to the holy will of God. Every nation has its guardian angel, as does every Christian. We must always remember that whatever we do, in open or in secret, we do in the presence of our guardian angel. On the day of the Dread Judgment, the multitude of the hosts of the holy angels of heaven will gather around the throne of Christ, and the deeds, words, and thoughts of every man will be revealed before all. May God have mercy on us and save us by the prayers of the Archangel Michael and all the bodiless heavenly powers. Amen.

Festal Hymn for the Holy Angels

Heavenly Commanders,
Who watch over us with great care,
Cover us with your wings,
And shield us with your power.

Armed with the power of God,
Crowned by His glory,
You wield flaming swords,
To cut the demons down.

Swift, swift as rays of light
You soar on the clouds-
The clouds of the air-
Where you do battle for God.

Without fatigue and without sleep
You hover ceaselessly
Over men and created things,
And over countless worlds.

Behold, yours are mighty armies,
Legions virtuous,
And gentle battalions of angels:
And, according to the Creator, our brothers.

Commanders of the might of heaven,
Lead us where we need to go-
To the throne of the Most High
Who created us from nothing

 

Troparion – Tone 4

Commanders of the heavenly hosts,
we who are unworthy beseech you,
by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory, and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you:”Deliver us from all harm, for you are the commanders of the powers on high!”

Kontakion – Tone 2

Commanders of God’s armies and ministers of the divine glory,princes of the bodiless angels and guides of mankind,
ask for what is good for us, and for great mercy,
supreme commanders of the Bodiless Hosts.

 

 

Anaphora!