Volume 61 No. 3 April 2017 VOLUME 61 NO. 3 APRIL 2017 COVER: CRUCIFIXION MOSAIC EDITORIAL at St. George, Houston, by Aiden Hart . contents www.aidanharticons.com IS IT REALISTIC TO CALL MYSELF 3 EDITORIAL by Bishop JOHN THE FOREMOST OF SINNERS? 5 METROPOLITAN JOSEPH CELEBRATES SUNDAY OF IN BROOKLYN AT A RECENT RETREAT THAT I ATTENDED, SOMEONE ASKED HOW THE LANGUAGE OF REPENTANCE 7 THE SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY SERMON by Metropolitan TIKHON FOUND IN OUR PRAYERS SQUARES WITH THE LANGUAGE OF SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-WORTH

12 WOMEN FROM WESTERN PROVINCES COMMON TO OUR TIMES. THIS QUESTION RAISES SO MANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT I THINK ON RETREAT IN ALBERTA by Maryann Kowalsky ARE WORTH EXPLORING, AS WE PREPARE OURSELVES FOR PASSION OR HOLY WEEK, AND FOR OUR PARALLEL LIFE JOURNEY TO SALVATION. LIKE MOST MESSAGES OF ETERNAL TRUTH, AN 13 “THE MURDERERS OF GOD, THE LAWLESS NATION OF THE JEWS …”: UNDERSTANDING OF REPENTANCE AND SALVATION TAKES SOME EFFORT. COMING TO GRIPS WITH SOME OF OUR HOLY WEEK HYMNS by Fr. Bogdan G. Bucur Let’s start with St. Paul’s statement about himself in esteem prevents St. Paul from speaking boldly 19 THE RICH RESOURCES OF THE WESTERN RITE the First Letter to Timothy (verses 12–17): about the truths revealed in the prophecies and the by Fr. Nicholas Alford I thank Christ our Lord, who has life of Jesus Christ. To my knowledge, nobody ever accused St. Paul of not speaking boldly! 20 PICKING FRUIT IN THE strengthened me, because He considered me GARDEN OF THE : faith ful, putting me into service, even though St. Paul must have known that, compared to the A PILGRIMAGE OF great sinners of history like Nero and Caligula, or ANTIOCHIAN SEMINARIANS I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy the great sinners of the Bible, like Herod, David, 26 GIVING: ANSWERING GRACE because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the Ahab, or Jezebel, he – Paul – wasn’t so bad. Yet WITH GRACE Paul knew that we are judged only by God, and, by Fr. Joseph Huneycutt grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in 28 ORATORICAL FESTIVAL by Jordan Khabbaz Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus 30 COMMUNITIES IN ACTION came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason Letters to the editor are welcome and should include I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, the author’s full name and parish. Submissions Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect for “Communities in Action” must be approved by the local pastor. Both may be edited for purposes patience as an example for those who would of clarity and space. All submissions e-mailed and provided as a Microsoft Word text or editable believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King PDF. Please do not embed artwork into the word eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be documents. All art work must be high resolution: at least 300dpi. honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: St. Paul must have understood that he was U.S.A. and Canada, $20.00 forgiven by God, who literally knocked Paul o Foreign Countries, $26.00 Single Copies, $3.00 his horse as he was on his way to Damascus to

The WORD (USPS626-260) is published monthly, continue his persecution of the . We know except July and August, by the Antiochian Orthodox that he understood God’s forgiveness, because God Christian Archdiocese of North America at 358 Mountain Road, PO Box 5238; periodicals postage later sent Paul out as an apostle. Accepting this paid at Englewood, New Jersey 07631-5238 and at additional mailing offices. vocation, Paul must have known that God was willing and able to work through him. Yet, St. Paul Postmaster send address changes to The WORD, 358 Mountain Road, PO Box 5238, Englewood, continues to call himself rst among sinners. One NJ 07631-5238 may ask in modern terms, wouldn’t this unhealthy ISSN 0043-7964 www.antiochian.org. and unrealistic view of himself be an expression Canada Post Publication Agreement No. 40043404 Return Canada address to of pride that makes himself a greater sinner than American International Mail, STN A – BOX 697, others. Or we may wonder if such a lack of self- Windsor ON N9A 6N4, Canada

2 JanuaryApril 2017 2016 e Word 3 Editorial

in judging, God considers the gifts and graces given to METROPOLITAN JOSEPH CELEBRATES each of us. Paul did not know the intimate relationships be- SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY tween God and anyone else. IN BROOKLYN Here St. Paul speaks of him- The Most Reverend self, the only one whom he Metropolitan JOSEPH has a chance of understand- The Right Reverend Bishop ANTOUN ing. Knowing God’s mercy The Right Reverend and love, St. Paul concludes Bishop BASIL (as we do when we are hon- The Right Reverend est), that we fall short of hit- Bishop THOMAS ting our target of perfectly ex- The Right Reverend Bishop ALEXANDER pressing God’s love and will The Right Reverend in His world. Each of us is the Bishop JOHN greatest sinner we know. The Right Reverend Notice the context of St. Bishop ANTHONY Paul’s self-disclosure as fore- The Right Reverend Bishop NICHOLAS most of sinners: he uses his Founded in as confession to express God’s Al Kalimat in 1905 immeasurable mercy, and His by Saint Raphael (Hawaweeny) Founded in English as desire for us to share His eter- The WORD in 1957 by Metropolitan ANTONY (Bashir) nal life. For this, St. Paul gives glory to God. is text, like life itself, is more about God than it is about me. is is a healthy and not self-centered perspective. Editor in Chief The Rt. Rev. Bishop JOHN, D.Min. Healthy self-esteem comes from a realistic under standing of who we are in Assistant Editor Christopher Humphrey, Ph.D. relationship to God, the God who loves, chooses, forgives, and embraces us, and Design Director Donna Griffin Albert lives within us. Recognizing our shortcomings allows us to ll the emptiness [Photo credits: Sub-dea- Editorial Board The Very Rev. Joseph J. Allen, Th.D. cons Daniel Cripe and Anthony Bashir, Ph.D. caused by fear, anxiety and sin, with God. When we will not see our need of God, Andre Christoforides] The Very Rev. Antony Gabriel, Th.M. Ronald Nicola we distort reality; recognizing both the magnitude of our sins and the greatness of Najib E. Saliba, Ph.D. God’s mercy oers us balance, so that we can live in Truth. is Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH cele- con John is known for his voice, it is his humility that Member In this edition of e WORD, Fr. Bogdan Bucur looks closely at the language brated the and, later in the makes him loved by all. During the lunch in The Associated Church Press Ancient Faith Publishing used of “the Jews” in our liturgical tradition. is language comes from the earliest afternoon, Pan-Orthodox Vespers, for the John’s honor, Metropolitan JOSEPH thanked the fam- Ecumenical News International days of the Church, when the Church understood herself as Jewish, and saw the Sunday of Orthodoxy at St. Nicholas Ca- ily and friends who came to witness the ordination. He Orthodox Press Service H controversy with the synagogue largely as an intra-Jewish one. e early Church thedral of Brooklyn, New York. His Eminence arrived especially thanked the choir, made of up close friends Editorial Office: The WORD was Jewish by blood, as well as religious tradition. e God of Abraham, Isaac and at the Cathedral for Orthros and was greeted by the of the new deacon, and led by Protopsaltis Dr. Gram- 2 Lydia’s Path Jacob is the God we worship, and the Word of God who spoke to them. When Cathedral Dean, Archpriest omas Zain, and visit- menos Karanos of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School Westborough, MA 01581-1841 e-mail: [email protected] Gentiles entered the Church, they were received into the “Israel of God,” and ing hierarchs, His Eminence Archbishop MICHAEL of eology, for a job well done. Sayidna then told the Subscription Office: became part of it – this is how the Apostle to the nations speaks of the Galatians of New York and New Jersey of the Orthodox Church new Deacon that the best advice he could give him was 358 Mountain Road (Galatians 6:16)! erefore, when we condemn those who hung Christ on a tree, in America, and His Grace Bishop JOHN of the Di- not a long speech, but just one simple phrase, based on PO Box 5238 Englewood, NJ 07631-5238 we speak to ourselves of our betrayal of Christ by our sins. Even today we continue ocese of Worcester and New England. e celebratory years of experience: “Make time for your family.” Arch- to choose sin over God! nature of today’s “Triumph of the Holy Icons” was com- bishop MICHAEL then gave a beautiful teaching about Lent is our time to retake charge of ourselves. is takes time and eort. bined with another celebration: the ordination of Sub- the historical and theological role of the diaconate in rough fasting, study, and alms-giving, the Church shows us how to journey deacon Rassem Elmassih to the diaconate. Rassem, who the Church throughout the centuries. Deacon John will home, get back on our path to salvation, and use our talents appropriately. I don’t was ordained with the name John (the Baptist) is well- serve as Metropolitan JOSEPH’s deacon and work at the think we can change our language without losing some of the message delivered known and loved throughout the Archdiocese, and that Archdiocese headquarters. May God grant him, his wife to us by St. Paul and the Apostles. We need to work in our relationships with love was present at the liturgy. Family and friends came Alexis, and their forthcoming child many years as they God to understand God better; this will help us better understand ourselves and from all over to pray and to shout “AXIOS,” as Metro- begin their ministry of service to the Church. each other. God has given us the Scriptures, tradition and the Church to help us politan JOSEPH vested the new Deacon John. In his Not long after the lunch nished, people from accomplish our holy goals. words about the new deacon, and to him and his wife throughout the Greater New York area began to gath-

Bishop JOHN, Foremost of sinners Alexis, he reminded everyone present that while Dea- er for the annual Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers. His

4 April 2017 e Word 5 Metropolitan JOSEPH

Beatitude Metropolitan TIKHON of the Orthodox Church in America Metropolitan TIKHON’S Sermon on joined the other hierarchs from the INTERESTED IN STUDYING morning and delivered the homily. e Sunday of Orthodoxy More than forty clergymen (bishops, ORTHODOX THEOLOGY? priests and ) from the Greek A homily delivered by Metropolitan TIKHON at Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, Orthodox Archdiocese of Ameri- Brooklyn, New York, March 5, 2017 ca, the Orthodox Church in Amer- UNABLE TO ATTEND A SEMINARY ica, and our own Archdiocese  lled OR THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL? the Cathedral – a sign of our unity ST. STEPHENS’ COURSE OF STUDIES IN of faith. e ”Spirit of Orthodoxy” Pan-Orthodox Choir from the New ORTHODOX THEOLOGY IS YOUR ANSWER. York area, led by Aleksei V. Shipoval- OR nikov, together with a Byzantine choir INTERESTED IN STUDYING led by Cathedral Protopsaltis Fadi Broumana, sang the responses in the YOUTH MINISTRY FOR ORTHODOX vesperal prayers. In his homily, Met- PARISH SETTING? ropolitan TIKHON relayed the his- tory of Sts. Raphael of Brooklyn and St. Stephen’s Course of Studies in Orthodox Tikhon of Moscow and, just as they Theology with a concentration in Youth Ministry is your gathered the faithful and celebrated their common Orthodox faith to- answer. St. Stephen’s Course, a three-year directed gether more than one hundred years reading program is sponsored by the Antiochian Christian ago, we were here tonight, in this his- Orthodox Archdiocese of North America. toric Cathedral, doing the same thing. Once again, following Vespers, and as For Information and catalogue, contact: we began the second week of the Fast, everyone returned to the Cathedral y dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we Wonderworker. I am sure I speak for all of us in expressing [Photo credits: Sub- ST. STEPHEN’S COURSE OF STUDIES deacons Daniel Cripe and Hall for a Lenten supper and shared gather this evening to celebrate the Sunday thanks to the Dean, Fr. omas Zain, and the , lead- Andre Christoforides] fellowship after a long, beautiful and 385 IVY LANE, BERGENFIELD, NJ 07621 of Orthodoxy and to pray together at this ership and faithful of this community, for their wonderful inspiring day of prayer. E-MAIL: [email protected] M peaceful, yet glorious, Pan-Orthodox Ves- hospitality this evening. Thomas Zain, Archpriest and Dean TEL: 201-569-0095 pers service. We hear the wonderful antiphonal singing by It was a great honor for me to accept Sayidna Joseph’s St. Nicholas Cathedral, Brooklyn, New York the Spirit of Orthodoxy choir and the Cathedral cantors. invitation to o er some words to you this evening, and it Especially in North America, this day has become for Or- is by his prayers, and those of all of you who have gathered thodox Christians a time to come together with thanksgiv- from the local Orthodox Churches in this area, that I o er ing to Almighty God, to celebrate our unity and our com- these humble re ections on this  rst Sunday of the Great Please send me further information and application forms mon joy at the restoration of the holy icons. I am grateful to Fast. On the very  rst day of , the Holy Ortho- for: His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH, the Archbishop of dox Church prayed the following hymn at Vespers: “Let us St. Stephen’s Course of Studies in New York and Metropolitan of All North America for the set out with joy upon the season of the Fast, and prepare Orthodox Theology Antiochian Archdiocese, and a dear friend in Christ, for his ourselves for spiritual combat. Let us purify our soul and great kindness in inviting me to be with you this evening. cleanse our  esh; and as we fast from food, let us abstain e friendship and brotherhood between the Ortho- also from every passion. Rejoicing in the virtues of the Spir- Name: ______Please print dox Church in America and the Antiochian Orthodox it, may we persevere with love, and so be counted worthy Archdiocese is long-standing and deep. It is wonderful to to see the solemn Passion of Christ our God, and with great Address: ______be here this evening, along with His Eminence Archbish- spiritual gladness to behold His holy Pascha.”1 op MICHAEL, from the Orthodox Church in America’s Today, we are given a foretaste of these sights; we are City: ______State: ______Zip: ______Diocese of New York and New Jersey; and His Grace Bish- given a glimpse of the Resurrection even as we enter into op JOHN, from the Antiochian Diocese of Worcester, in the second week of the Fast, even as we complete one of E-mail: ______this beautiful Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the the most intense weeks of our liturgical and spiritual lives.

6 April 2017 e Word 7 Sunday of Orthodoxy

All Orthodox Christians throughout the world can tell that of the veneration of the holy icons, is truly a resurrectional for prayer this evening. e two saints I would like to speak I would like to o er you some of the  avor of those the First Week of Great Lent is upon them, because we all feast, a paschal celebration and a source of encouragement about this evening are directly and historically connected days when St. Tikhon and St. Raphael  rst encountered begin to fast a little more, to pray a little more attentively, for us in our Lenten struggles. e Sunday of Orthodoxy, as to this place. eir names are well-known to you: Saint Ra- each other in New York, because they give us some sense and to attend a few more services, such as the Great many of us know, refers speci cally to the historical events phael, Bishop of Brooklyn and founder of this Cathedral even then of the unity Orthodoxy shared at that tumultu- of Saint Andrew and the Liturgy of the Presancti ed Gifts. of the year 843, at which time the veneration of icons was and Saint Tikhon, the Patriarch of Moscow and Enlight- ous time. Many of the details of those days in 1898 were re- But this is more than an external change in our behavior restored in the Holy Church. e great event that we cele- ener of North America; but the particular close relationship ported in  e American Orthodox Messenger of January 13, and habits. It is an inner transformation that has the poten- brate today was not a political victory; it was not simply the that they had with each other and their importance for the 1899. e Messenger, much like  e Word magazine, which tial to a ect the culture around us, as it did during the time victory of one party, the iconophiles (or -lovers) over life of Orthodox in North America may not be was started by St. Raphael in those years, was intended to of St. . In one of his homilies, o ered dur- another party, the iconoclasts (or icon-smashers). Rather, it so well known. When we speak about people in the past, provide theological instruction and news to the Orthodox ing the First Week of Lent, he says, was a re-a rmation of the eternal victory of our Lord Je- we often lose sight of their close connection to us. Since we faithful. At that time,  e American Orthodox Messenger was For the last two weeks our city was given over sus Christ over death and corruption. Hence, today’s feast are gathered here in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, however, edited by St. Alexander Hotovitzky, and he reported in de- to gluttony and lack of self-restraint, and straight is a proclamation of the victory of Pascha and of the real- I thought it would be helpful for us to re ect on some his- tail on St. Tikhon’s arrival on December 12, 1898. ere away we had troubles, shouting,  ghts, disturbances, ity of the resurrection in our lives, and this is an important tory that this place shares with both of these great North had been some disappointment because the ship “Cham- shameless songs and obscene laughter. But this week message for us to remember and to share with the world American saints. pagne,” crossing the Atlantic from France, had been kept in when the fast came it made everything more honour- around us. Although this present building was not acquired until quarantine overnight. Organizers of the welcome had for- able. It took us away from frivolity’s expensive cares, One of the clearest and most e ective ways in which 1920, the community of St. Nicholas began to take shape gotten about this detail, so some of the faithful who had stopped us toiling for the sake of our useless stomachs, this victory is revealed is through the icons of the saints, of in 1895, when then- Raphael (Hawaweeny) come from afar had to return home without seeing Arch- set us instead to works of repentance and persuaded the Mother of God and, above all, through the icon of our arrived to care for the Syro-Arab (Antiochian) clergy and bishop Tikhon. Yet this was by God’s providence – though us not to labor for the food which perishes but for the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. is is so, not simply because faithful. A few years later, in 1898, Bishop Tikhon (Bel- unremarked by those there at the time – since the Archbish- food which endures to eternal life.2 the icons o er us images of the resurrection and depictions lavin) arrived to serve the North American Mission of the op’s arrival on American soil was the morning of December of Christ and His miracles, but because those images and . is year, 2017, we celebrate 13, 1898, the day that St. Herman of Alaska is celebrated Saint Gregory then describes the atmosphere that now those depictions introduce us, in the most direct way, into the 100th anniversary of St. Tikhon’s election as Patriarch of as the  rst saint of North America, his traditional day of covers the city of essalonica, when the shouting, yelling the reality and the meaning of the Incarnation, that is, the Moscow. But before his service as Patriarch of Moscow and repose in 1836. and worldly singing have stopped, when the smell of roast- reality and the meaning of Christ’s of salvation. All , St. Tikhon served as Archbishop of the North e welcome at the dock in Manhattan included ing meat is no longer  lling the air, and instead people are is means nothing less than the possibility for human be- American Mission from 1898 to 1907, which was a time crowds of Russian- and Arabic-speaking faithful, the Rus- fasting, spending their time in Church, and tearfully pray- ings to participate by grace in the Divine Life of the Holy of explosive growth for Orthodoxy. In the early 1890’s, sian Consul General, Fr. Raphael and the assistant priest of ing and singing psalms. Although this salutary change may . rough the holy icons of the saints we see the an- St. Alexis (Toth) had started a movement among Eastern the Antiochian parish, Fr. Ephrem, and many others. One cient glory and divine beauty of man restored, just as we see Catholics (the so-called Uniates) that eventually brought a Antiochian parishioner recited a welcoming poem in Ara- the divine glory of the Incarnate Word of God in the icons hundred parishes and thousands of faithful from Austro- bic, while St. Raphael acted as interpreter. He was  uent in of our Savior. Hungary back into the fold of the Orthodox Church. At Russian, having lived in Russia and taught there for a num- e holy icons, and the theology they convey to us, are the same time thousands of new immigrants poured into ber of years at the Kazan Academy. truly a gift of the Incarnation. As the for today’s the United States, many of them Orthodox from a wide Fr. Raphael accompanied St. Tikhon to St. Nicholas feast (which we sang this morning at the Divine Liturgy) variety of ethnic backgrounds. As they set up communities Church (which was then located at 323 Second Avenue in states, it is our very salvation that is depicted in the holy many of them turned to Archbishop Tikhon (and his pre- Manhattan, between 18th and 19th Street) where Fr. Alex- icons: “ e uncircumscribed Word of the Father became decessors) for episcopal oversight. ander Hotovitzky greeted him with joyful but also sober- circumscribed, taking  esh from thee, O eotokos, and So when St. Tikhon got o the boat in Manhattan on ing words about the challenges the new archbishop would He has restored the sullied image to its ancient glory,  lling December 12, 1898, he found a vibrant and ethnically face in America, including pressure on the faithful in Alaska it with the divine beauty. is our salvation we confess in mixed community of Orthodox that came to greet him, and hatred from the Uniates: “O Vladyka, your Eminence, deed and word, and we depict it in the holy icons.” So we and it was Russian and Arabic that dominated his  rst days there are many wild branches in this vineyard. Insincerity, are not simply celebrating the ability of humans to icono- in New York. e senior Orthodox priest in New York at stubbornness, capricious children unused to a father’s af- graphically portray Christ and the saints, we are celebrating the time was Archimandrite Raphael Hawaweeny, who fectionate oversight … unbelief lurks in the hearts of peo- our very salvation, which is the possibility for each of us to therefore had a leading role in greeting the new bishop, ple, and many of our brothers have fallen away under the have our sullied image restored to its ancient glory. leading him from place to place and from service to service. weight of need and the seductions of surrounding non-Or- not take place in cities such as New York, nevertheless, we, Today, I would like to illustrate this by sharing an ac- During the next few days, Archbishop Tikhon encoun- thodox society.” Archbishop Tikhon thanked everyone for as Orthodox Christians, have gone through one week of count of two particular saints who can help us, in our par- tered two other leading clergy, who in addition to Fr. Ra- their kindness and said that his sincere and most heartfelt puri cation and prayer, not as ends in themselves, but as ticular context, to receive this great gift of salvation into our phael would in later years be canonized as saints: Fr. Alexis prayer at this moment is the petition in the Lord’s Prayer, means to attain the resurrection, which awaits us at the end own lives. When I speak of our own context, I am speaking (Toth), whom I mentioned earlier, and Fr. Alexander Hoto- “ y Kingdom come!” He went on: of the forty days. in general about our presence here as Orthodox Christians vitzky – who built the Russian Orthodox St. Nicholas Ca- What better missionary goal is there than this? And Yet even after one week, the Church o ers us a taste of th in North America; but I am also speaking about this partic- thedral on 97 Street and was later martyred in the Soviet God has already shown his great mercy to America in that Paschal joy. Today’s commemoration, the restoration ular Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, in which we are gathered Gulag under Stalin.

8 April 2017 e Word 9 Sunday of Orthodoxy

no small measure. e Kingdom of God has already saints, Nicholas of Myra in Lycia the Wonderwork- strong and the spirit of mutual support and love among the arrived here: the building of Orthodox work has al- er and St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, help your Eminence clergy and faithful is the same as that which must have been ready begun and is gradually strengthening and ex- in your new archpastoral service for the bene t of the experienced in those days. panding. A good feeling is taking root among the Orthodox Church and the  owering of the Orthodox At the end of the Liturgy Fr. Raphael spoke to his com- widely dispersed members of the church here. And the faith in this new world. Amen. munity in Arabic (the Messenger printed his full remarks surroundings to which divine Providence has brought e Messenger goes on to speak of the pan-Orthodox in Russian ) and expressed gratitude to the Rus- us to carry out our life and work are not hostile to our environment that existed in those days: sian Church for providing pastors to care for all the Ortho- high goal. dox in America of all backgrounds who have been scattered Americans are reputed to be a religious people; anking Fr. Raphael for these kind words, Arch- across North America – Russians, Slavs, Syro-Arabs and America is a country of religious tolerance; the very bishop Tikhon replied that all the members of his Greeks. And in the spirit of the Apostle Paul who exhorted  rst pioneers came here to protect their treasure – their Orthodox  ock are dear to him, and that he will be his communities to pray for those in authority, he asked abiding religious convictions for which they had been equally good-willed towards all Orthodox, whatever them to pray for Tsar Nicholas II. He also asked them to 1. Forgiveness Sunday persecuted in the old world; and even now our own their national background. Orthodoxy is catholic. If pray for the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamida, under whose cons. We see Orthodox dioceses and parishes, one is in Russia, he said, one doesn’t experience this and theological schools, organizations and agencies for edu- Vespers, Lord I have brothers by blood and faith have  ed here from the rule most of the Orthodox Arabs had lived, asking God to cried… (Tone 2 old world where they are oppressed under the yoke of Orthodox catholicity, since all the Orthodox there place his kingdom on a foundation of wisdom, mercy and cation and charity, media ministries, prison ministries and ). submission to the pope and to Rome …. are Russians. But here, outside the borders of Russia, justice, so that all his subjects might live quiet and peace- campus ministries, as well as the publication of books and 2. Saint Gregory Palamas, where under the one roof of an Orthodox church are journals for the edi cation of Orthodox Christians and for Homilies, Mount Tabor May God’s Kingdom come! May it settle also in ful lives in all piety and purity. Finally, he said, “so that Publishing, 2009, our own hearts: may the inner forces of our spirit go gathered together Russians, and Greeks and Arabs and our prayers may be complete, we Syro-Arabs, living within outreach to all Americans. p. 47. out to meet the mercy of God. When we are at peace others, the understanding of the catholicity of Ortho- the borders of the United States, must always pray for the By God’s grace, all of these accomplishments have been with God, at peace with ourselves and our conscience, doxy is completely tangible. And therefore, Vladyka highest governing authority of this country, the honorable achieved through the various Orthodox Churches in North and at peace with our neighbors it is easy to overcome promised to do everything possible to assist the Antio- President of the United States, Mr. McKinley and all his America and by the dedication and initiative of Orthodox whatever troubles the enemy of the Christian puts in chians [Syro-Arabs]. cabinet ministers and counselors, proclaiming with all our Christian men and women of vision. We are grateful for front of us in this missionary arena, on the way to ful- Two days later, Saint Tikhon went to celebrate the divine heart: Many years!” what has been accomplished and are also mindful of the  lling our high calling. liturgy at the little Antiochian church of St. Nicholas that Fr. We live in a di erent civic and cultural context, but per- task still before us, with all its challenges and obstacles. Our proclamation of the Orthodox Faith must give Although the particular challenges are di erent, Saint Raphael organized when he  rst arrived in 1895, a loft at 77 haps these are not so di erent after all. We continue to pray Washington Street in lower Manhattan. is was the prede- for the highest governing authorities of this country; we priority to the proclamation of the Good News of Christ. Tikhon’s words about both the di culties and the opportu- What we are given in the treasury of the Orthodox Faith nities facing the Church are an encouragement to us today. cessor of this cathedral to which Fr. Raphael and his  ock also sorrowfully bear witness to great su erings throughout moved in 1902, and which became his episcopal cathedral a world that is ravaged by war, persecution and terrorism, is not intended to be an end in itself, but rather as a wit- Archimandrite Raphael then greeted Archbishop Tikhon ness to Jesus Christ and the Gospel. is is true about the on behalf of his Syro-Arab  ock with the following words: when St. Tikhon made him his vicar bishop in 1904. and continue to pray to God that we might live quiet and e loft-church on Washington Street was packed not peaceful lives in our families, communities and country. holy icons, which are not ends in themselves but windows All twenty-thousand of the Antiochian [Syro-Ar- only with Antiochians, but with Russians and many Ameri- And we continue to gather as bishops, clergy and faithful into the Kingdom of God. is is true about Orthodox ab] colony both in New York and throughout North cans. In his welcoming words, Fr. Raphael noted the small on a pan-Orthodox level, including at the very same loca- theology, which is not an end in itself but rather a guide America, together with me, congratulate your Emi- size of the church and the struggling condition of the immi- tions, as we  nd ourselves tonight at St. Nicholas Cathedral. to communion with God. Our faith, our icons, our theol- nence, our new spiritual father and Archpastor, on your grant parish, so seemingly out of place hosting such an ex- As we celebrate the Sunday of Orthodoxy, and re ect ogy, all the gifts we have been given as a great treasury, are successful arrival and dare to ask your Eminence one alted guest as the new Archbishop from Russia. Nevertheless, upon the blessings and struggles of the past, let us be in- means for us to acquire a new and iconic way of seeing and request only, that you would continue to show all of said Fr. Raphael, the children of this poor church have such a spired by the true icons of the Kingdom, St. Tikhon and of living. us Orthodox Antiochians [Syro-Arabs] who live within heart, which thanks to their sincere love as sons and thanks to St. Raphael, who remind us to be grateful to our merciful Christianity is about movement and vision (“come and your God-protected diocese the same motherly love, their genuine devotion and gratitude to their benefactors, can God for the gift of one another and for the freedom to wit- see” as we heard in today’s Gospel). is movement and vi- the same fatherly care, the same archpastoral attentive- boldly welcome into their midst your Eminence, our loving fa- ness to the Orthodox Faith, which has been proclaimed in sion are not limited to the physical realm or the con nes of ness that your Eminence’s predecessor showed us. [ is ther and all-merciful Archpastor. North America for more than two hundred years. When the mind; rather they take our hearts, which have been over- was Archbishop Nicholas (Ziorov), 1891–98.] Archbishop Tikhon in reply said that a generous in- the Russian Orthodox missionary monks arrived in Alaska shadowed by the grace of the Holy Spirit, on the journey And we, from our side, recalling the words of the ner disposition and warm feelings are always higher and from Valaam in 1794, the seeds of Orthodox that introduces us into the heavenly kingdom. We make Apostle, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for more valuable, no matter how rich the external conditions. witness were planted on this continent. ese seeds have this journey in the place that we have been planted and in they are keeping watch over your souls” (Hebrews And I think that we can genuinely say that today, almost grown over the decades of the Nineteenth and Twentieth the community of which we are a part, but our goal should 13:17) not only promise to the Holy Synod and 120 years after the events that I am recounting, we have Centuries. Descendants of the Alaskan native peoples are be to persevere and support one another on our common Your Eminence complete submission and  lial obedi- the same experience. Even though our external and even today faithful Orthodox Christians. e immigrant com- journey towards the heavenly kingdom, of the Father and ence to all your fatherly instructions and archpastoral our ecclesiastical circumstances may have changed since munities of Orthodox people from the Middle East, the of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. commands, but will wholeheartedly devote ourselves 1898, nevertheless, our existence as Orthodox Christians of Balkans and Eastern Europe are now Americans. e nu- from now on to your archpastoral care and blessing. many di erent backgrounds, our shared apostolic work and merous converts to Orthodoxy are a major presence in our May our Lord Jesus Christ, through the prayers of his our participation in the catholicity of the Church, remain Churches, with many serving as bishops, priests and dea-

10 April 2017 e Word 11 WOMEN FROM WESTERN PROVINCES ON “THE MURDERERS OF GOD, RETREAT IN ALBERTA THE LAWLESS NATION OF THE JEWS …”: Coming to Grips with Some of Our Holy Week Hymns Fr. Bogdan G. Bucur

is article draws on a larger Sixty-ve Orthodox ror darkly.” We are to humble ourselves and say, “I really am study, “Anti-Jewish Rhetoric women from the three blind. I don’t know what God is doing in my life, or my in Byzantine Hymnography: western provinces of church.” Exegetical and eological Canada (British Colum- Father Michael brought out the icon of the eotokos Contextualization,” in bia, Alberta, and Sas- holding the Christ-Child. He asked us to notice a range of St. Vladimir’s eological katchewan) enjoyed an- things, and ask ourselves some questions. e eotokos Quarterly 62 (2017). other beautiful weekend looks like gentleness, meekness, self-control. She represents in the foothills of the every mother, our mother. e Word of God comes to us Maryann Kowalsky St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Rocky Mountains September 16–18, 2016, at the Entheos in Jesus Christ. e Scripture is the Word of God. e hu- Orthodox Church Calgary, Alberta Retreat Centre, Alberta. Of these, there were ten mother/ man heart can perceive spiritual reality. What does gentleness daughter pairs, two matushkas, one presbytera and one do- smell like? What does peace look like? How is it that an icon brodiyka. Women from twenty dierent Orthodox parishes can be to us a symbol, to which our hearts can say, “ at is attended, and two from Roman Catholic churches. Eleven what love, peace and gentleness looks like”? women were rst-time attendees; they were given special Father Michael had many such thought-provoking state- stickers on their name tags to help identify them, so we could ments and questions throughout his presentation. He said make them feel welcome. that we are always asking the wrong question, the “Why?” Entheos Retreat Centre is located 20 kilometers west of question. e correct question is “Who?” What does this Calgary in the country, bordering the Elbow River. I have have to do with my relationship with God. We need to be at been told many times that we are so fortunate to have this peace with our blindness. A DISCUSSION OF THE ANTI-JEWISH RHETORIC IN ORTHODOX HYMNOGRAPHY IS ESPECIALLY facility available to us, as it is unique. e peace and quiet Heartfelt thanks are given to retreat organizers Joan DIFFICULT TODAY – IN THE AFTERMATH OF ANTI-JEWISH POGROMS, IN THE SINISTER SHADOW is perfect for a Christian retreat. e sta at Entheos always Popowich, Matushka Barbara Eriksson, and Ghada Ziadeh, OF AUSCHWITZ, AND AT A TIME WHEN THERE ARE CONTINUING TENSIONS BETWEEN PALES- provide delicious, wholesome meals, and the rooms are al- for all their hard work in coordinating another successful ways clean and comfortable. gathering of Orthodox women. God grant you many years. TINIAN CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY LAND, ON THE ONE HAND, AND THE MODERN-DAY JEWISH Guest speaker Father Michael Gillis, the priest ank-you to the following clergy who beautifully served STATE OF ISRAEL AND THEIR OWN GREEK HIERARCHY, ON THE OTHER. SUCH A DISCUSSION IS of Holy Nativity Antiochian Orthodox Church in throughout the weekend: Rt. Reverend Father Taras Kro- NECESSARY, HOWEVER. THE WORDS IN THE TITLE ARE FROM ONE OF THE STICHERA AT THE Langley, B.C., spoke to us on the topic, “Seeing the chak, and Reverend Father Timothy Chrapko, Priests at St. 1 World as an Icon.” “We are all blind, but until we Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Calgary; and Arch- BEATITUDES CHANTED ON HOLY THURSDAY EVENING. SIMILAR REFERENCES TO “ARROGANT realize we are blind (and we like it that way), we priest Father Phillip Eriksson, Priest of the Holy Martyr Pe- ISRAEL, PEOPLE GUILTY OF BLOOD,” “BLOODTHIRSTY PEOPLE, JEALOUS AND VENGEFUL,” AND cannot see very well the iconographic meaning of ter the Aleut Orthodox Church, Calgary. Special thank-you “THE PERVERSE AND CROOKED PEOPLE OF THE HEBREWS” OCCUR IN THE UN AB BRE VIATED the world around us, and engage it eectively for to Father Michael Gillis for serving Sunday Divine Liturgy. ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE LAMENTATIONS SERVICE PRINTED IN THE LENTEN TRIODION. our salvation and the salvation of those around us.” May our Lord be with us all as we look forward to yet an- ere is always much more going on than you think other Women’s Retreat next year, September 15–17. For fur- (IN CONTRAST, THESE STANZAS ARE OMITTED IN THE ANTIOCHIAN BOOK OF SERVICES FOR you can see. Because you think you can see, you ther information, please contact Ghada Ziadeh at ziadehe@ HOLY WEEK AND PASCHA.)2 are actually blind. Paul said “Now we see in a mir- telus.net or 403-240-2549.

12 April 2017 e Word 13 Murderers of God

t is true that this kind of language appears less wilderness. Today they pierced with a lance the side ANTI-SEMITIC RANT OR CHRISTOLOGICAL PROCLAMATION? In all these hymns one encounters the same reading stri dent when considered within the context of of Him who for their sake smote with plagues. of biblical theophanies, and, by way of consequence, the A second necessary observation concerns the theo- Byzantine rhetoric, and that the pattern is set by ey gave Him gall to drink, who rained down man- same type of “YHWH Christology,” or “Christology of logical content of these hymns. e very fact that the the prophetic literature of the Hebrew Bible (for na on them for food. Divine Identity” as some scholars refer to it. Yet the an- I biblical “Lord’s reproaches to Israel” are placed on the example, Micah 6:1–5; Amos 2:9–12). Today, however, With Moses’ rod ou hast led them on dry ground ti-Jewish polemic is largely absent! In my opinion, this lips of Christ points to the primarily Christological in- these invectives are deeply disturbing, especially since through the Red Sea, yet they nailed ee to the Cross; absence demonstrates that the anti-Jewish overtones are ten tion of the hymns. In the line quoted above, the rhetoric of this kind has at times been part of the explo- ou hast suckled them with honey from the rock, yet not essential to the theological message of the hymns. point seems to be that it is Christ who rained manna sive mix that led to violence against Jews. As a matter of they gave ee gall. in the desert; it is Christ who divided the Red Sea; it is THE VERY HEART OF OUR TRADITION fact, “the Easter season was the traditional time for ghts Be not deceived, ye Jews: for this is He who saved Christ who smote Egypt with plagues; it is Christ who between Christians and Jews, which always had the po- you in the sea and fed you in the wilderness.5 e Christological interpretation of Old Testament fed Israel in the desert – in short, it is Christ who is the tential to turn into pogroms,” so that “traditionally the theophanies, which lies at the heart of much Holy We have here no less than the earliest Christology of “Lord” of the Exodus account. One could say, indeed, 3 Week hymnography, constitutes worst time for pogroms was Easter.” the Church – Kyrios Iēsous, “Jesus is Lord” (1 Corinthi- What do we make of all this? If this is how we wor- one of the most potent, endur- ans 12:3; Romans 10:9; Philippians 2:11) – wrapped in ing, and versatile “ingredients” ship, do we also believe in this manner? Clearly, a discus- the beauty of poetry, and consumed liturgically. Schol- sion is necessary. in the gradual crystallization of ars have pointed out the extraordinary diusion of these a distinct exegesis, doctrine, lit- HYMNS OF HOLY WEEK AND THE CHRISTIAN TRADITION kinds of compositions in Syriac, Greek, and Latin litur- urgy, and spirituality from the e roots of Christian hymnography lie in the very gical usage. e venerable Christian tradition popular- earliest stages of apostolic Chris- distant past. Consider the following passages, taken ized by the hymns is rooted in the even older tradition of tianity and throughout the rst from Byzantine hymns of the Passion and from the pas- prophetic reproaches of Israel (for example, Amos 2:9– millennium of the common era. chal homily of Saint Melito of Sardis, dated to the third 12; Micah 6:1–5; compare also Nehemiah 9:26 for the e New Testament often al- quarter of the Second Century:4 theme of Israel killing the prophets). ludes to the divine Name (Exo- e theological, liturgical, and pastoral consider- dus 3:14, egō eimi ho ōn; Exodus ations that are brought to bear on the hymnographic 6:3, kyrios), and proclaims Jesus Holy Friday: Antiphon 15 Melito of Sardis, “On Pascha,” 96 material must consider the larger context of the Church’s Christ as “Lord” (kyrios) – ob- growth from a charismatic, egalitarian, theologically in- Today, He who hung the earth upon He who hung the earth is hanging viously a reference to the Old the waters is hung upon the Cross. He who xed the heavens in place novative, and administratively schismatic group within Testament “Lord” (kyrios in the has been xed in place rst-century Judaism into the increasingly Gentile real- He who is King of the angels He who laid the foundations of the LXX) seen by the prophets. is is arrayed in a crown of thorns. universe has been laid on a tree ity of the Second Century. Indeed, during the early de- sort of “YHWH Christology” He who wraps the heaven in clouds cades of the Christian movement, the context for the that the theological program of Holy Week is precisely is wrapped in the purple of mockery. has been traced back to the New Testament. It gured vitriolic anti-Judaism found in the Hebrew Bible, in the bold identication of the Lord Jesus with the “Lord” signicantly in catechetical manuals such as Saint Ire- He who in the Jordan set free some apocalyptic writings of the Second Temple era, (κύριος/ YHWH), He-Who-Is, the God of our fathers, receives blows upon His face. naeus’ Proof of the Apostolic Preaching, and was not ab- and in the New Testament (for example, “brood of vi- the thrice-holy Lord of the seraphim (Isaiah 6), the Glo- sent from Clement of Alexandria’s elementary work, the e Bridegroom of the Church is e Master has been profaned, pers,” “synagogue of Satan,” “enemies of God,” “sons of ry enthroned upon the cherubim (Psalm 18:10 / LXX Instructor. It contributed significantly to Justin Mar- transxed with nails. God has been murdered, the King of the devil”) shifted gradually from harsh intra-Jewish po- 17:11; Ezekiel 1; 10), the king of Israel (Isaiah 44:6). e Son of the Virgin Israel has been destroyed … tyr’s articulation of the Christian faith in opposition is pierced with a spear … lemics to polemics between the overwhelmingly Gentile e preceding observation holds true of Byzan- to the emerging rabbinic Judaism, and was part of the Church and “the Jews.” e observations of a prominent tine festal hymnography generally, and can be veried anti-Gnostic arsenal deployed by Saint Irenaeus and Ter- scholar of early Christianity, Oskar Skarsaune, are par- by recourse to other festal hymns (Baptism, Palm Sun- tullian as well in the anti-modalistic argument of Tertul- e Christological proclamation clearly follows a ticularly to the point: day, Nativity, Presentation, and so forth), which are pat- lian, Hippolytus of Rome, and later writers. The no- similar pattern in Melito’s rhythmic prose and in the It may be worthwhile to reect a little on the terned creatively after the hymnography of Pascha. For tion that the “Lord” who spoke to the patriarchs and later Byzantine hymns: the lofty identity of the Lord, genesis of this strongly anti-Jewish trait in early instance, in the celebration of the Transguration the prophet is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ was, unveiled to the worshippers by recourse to biblical state- (and later) Christian hermeneutics.… As long as hymns explain that what Moses once saw in darkness, by the end of the rst millennium, inextricably linked ments about the God of Israel, is united in a paradoxi- this tradition is used in an inner-Jewish setting, he later sees, on Tabor, in the blazing light of the Trans- to Christianity as performed and experienced in liturgy. cal way with the humility of the New Testament events. there can be no question of anti-Jewish (far less “an- guration: the same glory, the same “most pure feet,” It irresistibly commanded the gaze of the iconographer, the same Lord.7 e hymns of the Presentation are also us says the Lord to the Jews: O My people, what ti-semitic”) tendencies, but rather of extreme Jew- the ready pen of the hymnographer, and the amazing ish self-criticism.… Something fateful happened to replete with the same Christological reading of the di- tales of the hagiographer. It nds its visual counterpart have I done to you, and how have you repaid Me? In- vine manifestation on Sinai,8 and the same occurs in stead of manna, you have given me gall, instead of this tradition when it was appropriated by Gentile in numerous Byzantine icons and manuscript illumi- Christians with no basic feeling of solidarity with the hymns of Epiphany: the Baptist is shaken with awe, nations; and in fourteenth-century , it was water, vinegar ... 9 the Jewish people. Very soon it deteriorated into a knowing that he is to baptize the Maker of Adam, the yet again the christological exegesis of biblical theoph- Today the Jews nailed to the Cross the Lord who Lawgiver of Sinai.10 divided the sea with a rod and led them through the slogan about Jews being unbelievers by nature and anies that provided the exegetical infrastructure for the Christ-killers by habit.6

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Hesychastic controversy.11 millions of people simply for belonging to the “Hebrew and Word of the Father, Israel has in a sense itself tological core is recognized as such, it is much easier to It is clear, then, that the exegesis of biblical the- race” by dictatorial states whose inhabitants claimed al- been crucied, raised, and changed, such as to be- discern the essential ethical implications of the hymns. ophanies, displayed so prominently in Byzantine festal legiance to the Christian faith. (After all, many of us come the “rst-fruits” of the new creation (1 Cor By “ethical implications” I have in mind the approach hymns, is not simply one strand of tradition among know only too well, from our own tragic histories, what 15:20), the “new” or “heavenly Adam” (cf. 1 Cor suggested by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware: others, but the very heart of Christian tradition. It goes it means to be labeled as an enemy of the State and tar- 15:45 .; Rom 5:12 .), the beginning of the world If we deplore the actions of Judas, we do so not without saying that today’s Orthodox Christians are to geted for “re-education” or extermination.) to come (Col 1:18). Yet, at least in Orthodox tra- with vindictive self-righteousness but conscious al- handle the spiritual treasure handed over to them with By the same token, we must have the necessary sen- dition, it would be most wrong to emphasize this ways of our own guilt .… In general, all the passages care and devotion; but, like the Sabbath, worship was si tivity for Orthodox Christians whose relationship with change, these altered circumstances, as denoting in the Triodion that seem to be directed against the made for man, not the other way around. Judaism is shaped by the experience of being marginal- rupture pure and simple with the Israel of the patri- Jews should be understood in the same way. When SOME PASTORAL AND LITURGICAL CONSIDERATIONS ized and oppressed within the State of Israel. Michael archs, kings, and prophets. True, far and away the the Triodion denounces those who rejected Christ Azar – a New Testament scholar and Orthodox deacon majority of Israel did not accept the change, and e heavy anti-Jewish rhetoric in some Byzantine and delivered Him to death, we recognize that these – articulates this point very well: they carry on to the present apart from the Church, words apply not only to others, but to ourselves: for hymns raises serious ethical and pastoral problems to- but I would maintain that that separation was and day. Most non-Orthodox churches have sought to ad- One ought not decontextualize the conversa- have we not betrayed the Saviour many times in our tion related to possible emendation of these texts. is not so much between Church and Israel, as be- hearts and crucied Him afresh?15 dress these concerns by way of liturgical reform. Since tween two separate and discrete entities, as it is a the 1980s, the Reproaches are optional in U.S. Catholic To abstract any conversation related to Orthodox I have shown above that the core Christological in- Christian-Jewish relations denies, for example, the schism within Israel, a schism which, if we are to parishes, and are usually replaced by other texts, such believe the Apostle, God — and only God! — will terpretation of Old Testament theophanies is present as Psalm 22. Some Byzantine-rite Catholic communities considerably dierent contexts in which Ortho- in hymns in which anti-Jewish rhetoric is absent, and dox Christians of Russia or the West and Orthodox heal at the end of days (see Romans 9–11). Chris- have tacitly replaced “Jews” and “Hebrews” with “evil tian and Jewish polemics, both in the early centu- that the anti-Jewish overtones are therefore not essential men,” “sinners,” and so forth. A revised version used by Christians of Palestinian communities nd them- to the theological message of the hymns. Liturgical re- selves. e Orthodox of Jeru salem, as ries of the Church and in more recent times, may Missouri Synod Lutherans replaces all reference to Exo- have often obscured this fundamental linkage and form might proceed in accordance with the criterion of dus with verses such as “I have raised you up out of the one important example, has diverse, complicated, maintaining this theological message (that Christ is the and often tense relationships with the State of Israel, kinship, but they could not erase it. It is built into prison house of sin and death,” “I have redeemed you the earliest documents of Christianity and reected Lord of the patriarchs and prophets, the Lawgiver on Si- from the house of bondage,” “I have conquered all your other Orthodox Churches (which are independent nai, the enthroned Glory) while excising the anti-Jewish of each other) and, most importantly, the Christian continuously thereafter in Orthodox literature and foes,” “I have fed you with my Word and refreshed you liturgy. us for St. Paul, as I read him, the discus- “ourishes.” In some cases, it might be helpful to switch with living water.” A Methodist hymnal recommends faithful in its care that each oers a unique dimen- to the passive voice; in others, to deliberately change the sion to the need for the betterment of Christian- sion at issue in epistles such as Galatians and, espe- adding several new verses (for example, “I grafted you cially, Romans centers not on the rejection of Israel, addressee from “Jews” to “believers” or “brothers,” with- into the tree of my chosen Israel, and you turned on Jewish relations. e call to amend these liturgical out, however, changing the Old Testament reference. For texts in countries where Christians experience little but rather, through the Messiah, on the expansion them with persecution and mass murder. I made you of Israel’s boundaries to include the nations.14 instance, “Today the Jews nailed to the Cross the Lord joint heirs with them of my covenants, but you made or no tension or hardship in the name of Judaism or who divided the sea … they pierced with a lance the side LITURGICAL REFORM WITH FAITH AND LOVE them scapegoats for your own guilt”) and suggests the a Jewish State is a call that must be articulated care- of Him who for their sake smote Egypt with plagues …” creation of a contemporary version, using other exam- fully and sensitively when transferred to those areas If and when liturgical corrections are to be applied, can become “Today is nailed to the Cross … the Lord 13 ples of human abuse of God’s gifts. where Christians indeed experience such things. we would do well to avoid some of the well-meaning who divided the sea … Today is nailed to the Cross the Rewriting or eliminating the problematic phraseol- e pastoral setting of some parishes in the Antio- but, in my view, theologically inept solutions adopted by Lord who divided the sea … Today is pierced with a ogy of some hymns can itself be deeply problematic if chian Archdiocese is particularly delicate: new immi- our separated brethren. More specically, it is of the ut- lance the side of Him who for their sake smote Egypt not done in consultation with the ecclesial body in such grants from and – people who equate the most importance to avoid replacing concrete references with plagues …” Or, similarly, “Do not be deceived, a way that it not only deals with the oending verses modern state of Israel with military occupation, police to God’s presence in the Old Testament (Passover, the Jews: for this is He who saved you in the sea and fed you but also confronts the underlying problem of anti-Jew- harassment, injustice, and humiliation – often worship Law at Sinai, the manna, the water from the rock) be- in the wilderness” could be changed to “Let us open well ish animus. I would think it preferable to engage in a side by side with Evangelical converts to Orthodoxy, cause this would dilute the Christological proclamation our hearts, O brethren: for this is He who saved Israel in theologically sound and pastorally responsible Church- many of whom retain the strong pro-Israeli convictions of the hymns: namely, that Christ himself is the LORD the sea and fed them in the wilderness.” And what would wide discussion of the Orthodox Christian engagement of their earlier (pre-Orthodox) Christian formation. (Kyrios) in the Exodus narrative. be lost if, rather than chanting “when You were lifted up with the Judaism of the Synagogue, and, more generally, For all of us there is much to rediscover from the Rather than excise this most ancient and eective today, the Hebrew nation was destroyed,” the Church with those blood-relatives of the Lord who are our con- mind of the Church, starting perhaps with Saint Paul’s Christology by way of liturgical reform, it is imperative would instead focus on the fact that with the Lord lifted temporaries. It is unconscionable today and unnecessary admonition to the Gentile Christians – those grafted to emphasize that, far from warranting any sort of anti- up on the Cross, death is destroyed and all mankind is to continue singing that by Christ’s lifting up on the onto the olive tree of Israel: “Do not boast … it is not Judaism, the prophetic reproaches against ancient Israel summoned to inherit immortality? Cross “the Hebrew race (genos Ebraiōn) was destroyed.”12 you that support the root, but the root that supports are actualized liturgically so as to address Christians, by In itself, the amendment of Orthodox liturgical texts Whatever we can and must say about the theological you” (Romans 11:18). On this point I nd the follow- calling them to recognize just Who it is that is facing and observances is neither wrong nor unprecedented. rather than socio-political signicance of this line, our ing statement by a learned Orthodox bishop helpful in them, so that they can commit themselves, “again and A very relevant example is “the contemporary practice proclamation today must be guided by pastoral sensi- charting our course forward: again,” to Christ as “the Lord,” the God of Abraham, of no longer proclaiming the Synodikon of Orthodoxy tivity to the suerings inicted, not so long ago, upon In Jesus of Nazareth, Mary’s son and eternal Son Isaac, and Jacob, the king of Israel. Once their Chris- with the more original censures against ‘the Greeks,’”

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suggesting that “to choose to remove negative references able light of the Godhead” (Second Canon of Trans guration, against Jews is not far from this.…”16 Ode 1 Sticheron [, 483]); “He who once spoke through symbols to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, “I am He who is” e time has come for the Orthodox Church to ex- [Exodus 3:14] was trans gured today upon Mount Tabor before orcize the anti-Jewish animus lurking at the door, intent the disciples …” (Great Vespers of Trans guration, Apostichon on de ling our worship and devouring our souls (Gen- [Menaion, 476]). 8. Receive, O Simeon, Him whom Moses once beheld in darkness, esis 4:7). I close with the very pertinent words of Father granting the Law on Sinai, and who has now become a babe Eugen Pentiuc, a scholar directly involved in teaching subject to the Law, yet this is the One who spoke through the and advising Orthodox seminarians in the U.S. and the law! …” (Great Vespers of the Presentation: Sticheron at Lord I have cried Menaion  e Old Testament: [ , 408]); “Today Simeon takes in his arms the author of an impressive work entitled Lord of Glory whom Moses saw of old in the darkness, when on Eastern Orthodox Tradition. Mount Sinai he received the tables of the Law …” (Presentation of the Lord: Sticheron at the Lity [Menaion, 413]). e Orthodox Church as a whole, and espe- 9. “ e Maker saw the man whom He had formed with His own cially and more e ectively the hierarchs, should hand, held in the obscurity of sin, in bonds that knew no escape. revise and discard anti-Judaic statements and allu- Raising him up, He laid him on His shoulders [Luke 15:5], and sions from hymnography and from liturgy itself, as now in abundant  oods He washes him clean from the ancient shame of Adam’s sinfulness” (Second Canon of eophany: Ode a matter of fact. e poetry of Eastern Orthodox 5 Sticheron [Menaion, 372–373]). e Rich Resources hymns is too sublime to be marred by such low sen- 10. [John the Baptist speaking to Jesus]: “Moses, when he came timents echoing from a past dominated by religious upon ee, displayed the holy reverence that he felt: perceiving that it was y voice that spoke from the bush, he forthwith quarrels and controversies.… Having said this, I turned away his gaze [Exodus 3:6]. How then shall I behold ee of the Western Rite am not calling here on a quick and in toto revision openly? How shall I lay my hand upon ee?” (First Canon of of the Eastern Orthodox liturgy, but rather for an eophany: Ode 4 Sticheron [Menaion, 370]). 11. See John S. Romanides, “Notes on the Palamite Controversy and ongoing serious re ection and congenial discussion Related Topics,” Greek Orthodox  eological Review 6 (1960– on those anti-Judaic statements in hymnography, 1961), pp. 186–205; 9 (1963-1964), pp. 225–270; Bogdan G. which are not and should not be part of such a so- Bucur, “Dionysius East and West: Unities, Di erentiations, and phisticated and Christ-centered tradition as is the the Exegesis of Biblical eophanies,” Dionysius 26 (2008), pp. hen we enter the church building and print-on-demand company Lulu.com. Recently, in ad- 115–138; “Sinai, Zion, and Tabor: An Entry into the Christian 17 experience the liturgy, we experience dition to their use in many parishes of the Antiochian Orthodox. Bible,” Journal of  eological Interpretation 4 (2010), pp. 33–52. 12. Great Friday , Sticheron at the Praises (Triodion, p. 597). a foretaste of life in the Kingdom. e Western Rite Vicariate, several of these works have been Fr. Bogdan G. Bucur Associate Professor of Theology, Duquesne University; Pastor, Saint e translation used in the Antiochian Archdiocese has “the He- sacred dialogue between clergy, aco- approved for use by Western Rite communities of the Anthony the Great Orthodox Church, Butler, Pennsylvania brew race hath perished.” W lytes, singers and congregation, along with the move- Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. 13. Michael G. Azar, “Prophetic Matrix and eological Paradox: ments and smells and tastes and sights, all combine to A new Altar Missal for the Western Rite Holy Week 1. Great Friday Matins, Sticheron 3 at the Beatitudes ( e Lenten Jews and Judaism in the Holy Week and Pascha Observances of Triodion, trans. Mother Mary and Kallistos Ware [London/ the ,” Studies in Christian-Jewish Rela- lead us to join our voices with saints and angels and all liturgies has recently been published by St. Gregory’s. Boston: Faber&Faber, 1977], p. 589). e translation used in tions 10 (2015), p. 26. the company of heaven. is glorious action, however, is work contains the Palm Sunday liturgy, the liturgies the Antiochian Archdiocese has “the assembly of the Jews, that 14. Bishop Alexander Golitzin, “Scriptural Images of the Church: doesn’t happen by accident, but by much careful work for Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday evenings, the service wicked, God-attacking nation….” An Eastern Orthodox Re ection,” in One, Holy, Catholic and 2. From the service of Lamentations, Staseis 1 and 2 (Triodion, pp. Apostolic: Ecumenical Re ections on the Church, ed. Tamara Grd- and preparation, so that we may o er our best to God in for the Blessing of Oils and Unction for Holy Wednes- 629, 630, 637). zelidze (Geneva: WCC Publications, 2005), pp. 255-256. our worship. e very word liturgy comes to us from the day, the Maundy ursday and Good Friday liturgies, 3. John D. Klier, “ e Pogrom Paradigm in Russian History,” and 15. Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, “ e Meaning of the Great Fast,” Greek leitourgia, which means “the work of the people.” and the Paschal Vigil. e music for all of the chants Peter Kenez, “Pogroms and White Ideology of the Russian Civil in  e Festal Triodion, p. 60. War,” both in Pogroms: Anti-Jewish Violence in Modern Russian 16. Azar, “Prophetic Matrix,” pp. 22–23. Clergy, acolytes and singers all have to practice and pre- for the clergy, including that for the Passion Gospels, History, ed. John D. Klier and Shlomo Lambroza (Cambridge: 17. Eugen Pentiuc,  e Old Testament: Eastern Orthodox Tradition pare to follow the services the church has passed down is provided in traditional forms. Both the Liturgy of St. Cambridge University Press, 1992), pp. 33, 306. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014), p. 40. to us, along with the work of bread-bakers, those who Gregory (the old Roman liturgy) and the Liturgy of St. 4. Great Friday Matins, Antiphon 15 (Triodion, p. 587); Melito of prepare the bulletins, those who clean the church, and Tikhon (based on English forms) are included. e texts Sardis: On Pascha. With the Fragments of Melito and Other Ma- terial Related to the Quartodecimans (tr. Alistair Stewart-Sykes; many others. One of those other behind-the-scenes tasks are from  e Orthodox Missal, published by the Western Crestwood, NY: SVS, 2001), p. 96. is the preparation of the various liturgical books that are Rite Vicariate in 1995, and other approved sources. 5. Holy Friday: Antiphons 12 and 6; of the ird Royal required for our services, and this is true for both the  e St. Ambrose Hymnal, published in 2001, is a col- Hour (Triodion, pp. 583, 577, 603, 584). 6. Oskar Skarsaune, “ e Development of Scriptural Interpreta- Eastern Rite and the Western Rite. lection of hymns and service music selected for use in tion in the Second and ird Centuries,” in Hebrew Bible / Old Over the past twenty-one years St. Gregory Ortho- Western Rite parishes. Many of the texts in this hymnal Testament:  e History of Its Interpretation I/1: Antiquity, ed. dox Church in Silver Spring, Maryland (formerly of are ancient, coming to us from such as Magne Sæbø (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1996), pp. 404. See also Skarsaune’s more elaborate discussion in his more Washington, D.C.) has published a number of liturgical St. Ambrose and St. Gregory the Great, but many of recent book, In  e Shadow of the Temple: Jewish In uences on and musical resources for use in Western Rite Ortho- the texts are from later centuries as well. In his Western Early Christianity (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2002), p. dox parishes. Some of these are available in Adobe PDF Rite Edict of 1958, Metropolitan ANTHONY (Bashir) 262-264. form directly from our website: stgregoryoc.org. Others declared that we may make use of “all such Western li- 7. “ ou hast appeared to Moses both on the Mountain of the Law and on Tabor: of old in darkness, but now in the unapproach- are available for sale through our website, or through the turgical rites, devotional practices and customs as are Continued on page 32

18 April 2017 e Word 19 s the sea breeze brushed up against our faces that so many spiritual giants called home, and where the and we breathed in the aroma of ocean air, Mother of God shelters those who  ee there for refuge. the sea fog cleared and we could not believe e history of , commonly referred to what we beheld. From the bow of the as the “Holy Mountain,” reaches back to the very roots A “Axion Estin,” we gazed in wonder at the of Christianity. In his work on the life of St. Peter the ancient peninsula of Mount Athos, painted with zig- Athonite, by St. Gregory Palamas, one can read the il- zagging pathways and dotted by small hermitages and lustrious beginnings of the Holy Mountain. According PICKING FRUIT large, castle-like monasteries. e peninsula’s towering to Athonite tradition, St. John the eologian was sail- peaks, rock clefts, and seaside dwellings have sheltered ing from Joppa with the eotokos to visit St. Lazarus many of our most beloved saints and ascetics. We had in Cyprus (who was raised from the dead by Christ). IN THE GARDEN OF THE already visited this mountain many times, but only in As they sailed, however, a severe storm forced them o imagination, through illustrations sketched out in the course and they landed on the Athonite peninsula. It is THEOTOKOS lives of saints, or by the hymns chanted in church to said that all the olive trees on the mountain bowed to the great, God-bearing ascetics. Now, beholding it with our Mother of God as she set foot on the beach, and the pa- A Pilgrimage of Antiochian Seminarians physical eyes, we were amazed to see  nally the place gan idol of Dios that stood on the mountain crumbled.

20 April 2017 e Word 21 Garden of Theotokos

e pagans who inhabited the mountain at the time re- cilitate this education, not only through learning from op NICHOLAS and learn the structure of our Lenten and monasteries went by. e boat soon pulled up to the ceived Christianity and the eotokos fell in love with books, at our respective seminaries, but also through services. With God’s help, these assignments and respon- holy monastery of Xenophotos. e iron gate dropped the natural beauty of the peninsula. She was so favor- pastoral counseling, and now spiritual pilgrimages un- sibilities will help form us into the spiritual doctors and from the boat and clanged against the dock, and we able toward this place that she prayed, asking if it could der the care of His Grace Bishop NICHOLAS. surgeons that are needed in the Church. For medical stepped onto the land and walked towards a party of be her garden and that her Son might set it aside for One might ask why it is so important to go to an old students, books and short hospital visits are not enough monks awaiting us. We were soon oered light refresh- her. Hearing a voice from heaven, it was conrmed from mountain lled with a bunch of celibate men in black to complete their education: they must experience in- ments in a guestroom, from which we peered out over that time forward that Mount Athos would belong to robes to gain insight into what it means to be a priest tense hospital rounds and residencies. Medical profes- the sea and down to the crashing waves below. We were the Mother of God. e First Ode of the Canon of the and pastor. It is a pretty common question and concern, sionals are required to learn and study directly under an shown to our rooms, then given a tour. An American Athonite Fathers reads, “When God apportioned the na- but our saints answer it best. St. Nicodemus the Ha- already skilled and educated doctor and physician. Who monk, Fr. Zosimas, who now calls the Holy Moun- tions according to his Angels, knowing that you, O Vir- giorite (another Saint of Athos), describes the spiritual would be comfortable under the knife of a new surgeon tain his home, led us through the various hallways and gin, would be his immaculate Mother, he then allotted father and the priestly order as a profession that admin- who has only done bookwork, and hasn’t been taught courtyards of the monastery, which was established in you this great and beautiful mountain as an inalienable isters spiritual medicine and, specically, compares ef- or directed by a trained professional? is pilgrimage to the Tenth or Eleventh Century. e monastery includes inheritance.” fective priests and father-confessors to skilled surgeons Mount Athos could be likened to medical rounds or res- roughly eleven separate chapels, and the main church Under the cloak of the eotokos, monastics took or doctors. e Orthodox Church rightly has been de- idency in the context of our spiritual formation. (catholicon) is ranked as the biggest on Athos. e mon- refuge on the Holy Mountain; there are archaeological scribed by many as a hospital for the spiritually sick and Monasticism is a complete renunciation of the astery is dedicated to St. George and houses a miracle- traces of monasticism on Athos dating from before the inrm. We are all in the Church because we need to be world, and Athos is, in the words of the theologian working icon of the Saint. e icon miraculously washed Fourth Century. It has harbored all sorts of monastic life, healed of various diseases and maladies. ese spiritual Jean-Claude Larchet, “a witness to the Kingdom of up on the beach and fresh water sprang up underneath from the most elusive hermits in rock clefts or small huts illnesses, however, are not always visible to us. It is up to God already present among us” and “a reminder and it. We had the blessing of venerating this icon every day to the ourishing coenobitic life1 after St. Athanasios the doctors and the surgeons of the hospital to diagnose an announcement of Paradise.”2 It is a place set aside and tasting the holy water from the fountain that still ex- established the Great Lavra. To this day, the eotokos rightly certain diseases, perform necessary surgeries, and in the world solely devoted to the Mother of God and ists on the beach. e monastery, like most, is surround- is called the Abbess of the Holy Mountain, because it is administer the correct medicine, so that people may re- cultivation of the fruits of the spiritual life. In this sense, ed by a large castle-like wall, which was used to keep her garden and she continues to cultivate fruits of prayer ceive healing. At seminary, we spend most of our time it is occupied by spiritual warriors and surgeons, who raiding pirates out. Monks of this monastery also suf- in the hearts of the faithful ascetics who dwell there. reading, just as any medical student would do with med- cut away maladies and perform critical surgery with fered for their faith when soldiers were sent to force the In 2016, all Antiochian seminarians were informed ical texts, Church history, dogmatics, canon law, and a and the movement of the sign of the monks to commemorate the Pope in their liturgy. For by His Grace Bishop NICHOLAS of Brooklyn, that His other spiritual disciplines. In the wisdom of the Arch- cross. erefore, in our formation as pastors, the Holy standing up for the Orthodox faith, many monks were Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH gave his blessing for diocese, along with communal and private prayer in the Mountain is an exceptional place to visit and learn, martyred and thrown down a well that still exists today. a seminarian pilgrimage to Mount Athos, and for it to seminary, we also spend time in parish assignments, to tasting the fruit of cultivated prayer and walking the e monastery is lled with rich history and deep con- become a required part of our seminarian program. As learn from pastors and gain experience in our liturgical same narrow paths of those who have ascended beyond nections to the saints, and the tour of it overwhelmed us seminarians, we are called to learn how to be pastors and tradition. Our Lenten experience is hard, yet practical the peak of Athos to their heavenly homeland. with gratitude. spiritual fathers. e Archdiocese takes great care to fa- and necessary, as we go from parish to parish with Bish- We watched on the water in silence as hermitages We fully immersed ourselves in the monastic

22 April 2017 e Word 23 Garden of Theotokos

sched ule. At 1 a.m., a monk would clang a bell to wake and the common meal is considered an extension of the where the newly canonized St. Paisius lived, and visited a.m. until about 2 or 3 p.m., we ate and then rested. 1. In coenobitic monas- us up for a time of personal prayer. An hour later we church service, just as it was in ancient Christian times. a small kellia4 dedicated to St. Procopius. Here we At around 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve, we were called to ticism, monasteries house many monks 3 would hear the rhythmic beat of the talanton and we After the meal, we met with one of the two American met Fr. Kyrillos, a monk of Syrian/Lebanese descent, the Church for the Christmas Vigil, which went until 8 who live, work, and would gather in the monastery’s candle-lit catholicon monks for conversation over coee and cookies, where who wants to bring a Middle Eastern presence to the a.m. Christmas morning. We were able to serve the festal pray together as a and begin the Midnight Oce, running into Orthros. we asked spiritual questions and talked about life at Holy Mountian. During our time at these places we service with Bishop NICHOLAS and participate in all large community. A great champion and e Orthros practiced at the monasteries was packed full the monastery. From these talks, we walked away with got to pray in front of miracle-working icons of saints, the festal rubrics that the monastery carried out. It was founder of coenobitic of the appointed psalter readings (kathismata), the full nuggets of wisdom and inspiration for our own lives. especially of the Mother of God. At Docheriou, we very beautiful – one of the most incredible services most life is St. Pachomius canons to the commemorated saints, and other beautiful We were given jobs that sometimes required a lot of venerated the icon of the “ eotokos Quick to Hear,” of us have ever experienced. When Holy Communion the Great (May 15). 2. Jean-Claude Larchet, who had healed a mute boy just weeks before we arrived. was served and the sun began to rise on Christmas day, “ e Prophetic Role Other beautiful icons of the eotokos that have we saw that snow had covered the ground. We walked of Mount Athos in made a lasting impression on us were the “Abbess” at out of the catholicon to a white blanket over everything. the Contemporary Pantocrator, that miraculously lled a jug of olive oil for We experienced exactly what is read in the of World” (2016). 3. is is a carved the monks; the “Portaitissa” at Iveron, which bled when anksgiving: “In winter, I have beheld how silently in wooden plank that is a soldier stabbed it during the iconoclastic period and the moonlight the whole earth oers ee prayer, clad used to call the monks came to the monastery from Nicea by drifting at sea; and in its white mantle of snow, sparkling like diamonds,” to prayer. It is played by striking a wooden “ e Comforter” of Vatopedi, which had miraculously and “Why is it that on a Feast Day the whole of nature hammer against the changed in its depiction of the Mother of God as she mysteriously smiles? Why is it that then a heavenly board in a rhythmical pulled Christ’s hand away from her mouth to warn the gladness lls our hearts; a gladness far beyond that of pattern. Historically, it was used in the monks of a pirate attack. Among the we were able earth and the very air in church and in the Altar becomes ancient monasteries of to venerate were the True Cross, Christ’s swaddling luminous? It is the breath of y gracious love.” Egypt and Palestine, clothes, and His garment divided at the Crucixion; Being immersed in this life of prayer and in such and later when bells the belt of the eotokos (which helps women who are tangible closeness to the saints, we gathered all the in churches were outlawed under the barren); the head of St. (which still spiritual fruit that we could on the mountain and rule of the Ottomans. has his incorrupt ear by which St. Paul spoke to him); watched the intense life of the ascetics around us. We 4. A kellia is a small, de- the heads of St. Luke the Apostle, Stephen the First chanted during the Anabathmoi of Sunday Orthros in the pendency mon astery that houses a smaller Martyr, Basil the Great, , Gregory the Fifth Tone, “For those in the desert, life is blessed, in that number of monks. eologian, Silouan the Athonite, and others; the arm of they soar with divine love,” and we truly felt carried up St. George; the incorrupt hand of St. Marina (that hit a on the wings of these ascetics in the Athonite desert. In variants that we do not get to hear very often. After the manual labor, but were encouraged to do the work in demon with a hammer); and dozens of others. reading the lives of the saints and studying the lives of Doxology was read or chanted, depending on the rank prayer. In this way, we exercised both our soul and body. For many of us, especially the clergy that went on this the ascetics, we think that this type of life is far removed of the feast, the hours were read and the Divine Liturgy Some days, we left Xenophotos to visit other monasteries pilgrimage, the culmination of our time on the Mountain from us, or not applicable anymore. It is within our began. e monks put us in a place of honor: we were able or for walks along the beautiful winding pathways of the was the blessing of participating in the monastery’s reach, however, and not just on the Holy Mountain, but to stand next to Bishop NICHOLAS’s throne and close Holy Mountain. At 3 p.m. we gathered in the catholicon services at Xenophontos. For our rst Sunday, we served in the prayer corner of our own homes. Experiencing the to the chanters, and to observe the entire service fully. for Ninth Hour and Vespers. Afterwards, we gathered a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with Bishop NICHOLAS rhythm of life on Athos has given us the sweet taste of an After Liturgy ended, we lined up to receive antidoron again in the for our second meal, as the lives presiding. ough all services were in Greek, the monks intense spiritual life, something we now all must strive to from Bishop NICHOLAS, drank from a cistern of holy of the Saints were read. e last service of the day in allowed us to serve in Arabic and English. us we bring into our own homes. water, and went back to rest in our rooms. By the time the catholicon was Compline, directly after the meal. could celebrate in the Athonite tradition and experience ough the Athonite life might sound very intense we got to our rooms, it was around 5:30 a.m., but many e service ended as the sun began to set and the icons their rst hand, which contains variants of what and harsh, the most intense part of our pilgrimage was times it did not feel like we were in service for very long. that frescoed the church walls above us began to dim most churches here follow on a given Sunday. e stepping o the Holy Mountain. When we boarded the With the lampadas that lit the faces of wonder-working from the day’s last light. We spent parts of our evenings monastery’s deacon, Fr. Ieremias, is an American from “Axion Estin” and watched the coast of Athos vanish icons, the melodious chant, and graceful censing speaking to Bishop NICHOLAS about our day, and Texas, and he explained variations of the services to us. into the distance, the real struggle began. We took the patterns, we truly felt like St. Vladimir’s emissaries, who sitting in the company of monks to ask theological or We were also able to serve the Vesperal Liturgy of St. seeds of Athos with us, but it is up to us to plant them exclaimed that they did not know whether they were in practical questions. Usually at about 8 p.m., most of us Basil on the morning of Christmas Eve, and experienced and allow them to grow within our own hearts. us we heaven or on earth during their rst Orthodox service. retired to bed, listening to the calming crash of ocean the beginnings of festal joy. All the chandeliers were may bear fruit and cultivate lives as dedicated spiritual After we took a light rest or did spiritual reading, the waves outside our windows. lit with golden beeswax candles and swung back and physicians, with the help of the Mother of God. semantron struck again at 8 a.m., calling us to prayer e Mountain’s close link to the saints has made it a forth under the icon of Christ the Pantocrator in the We seminarians are deeply grateful to His Eminence in the monastery’s old catholicon. Here we read the treasure of holy icons and relics. During our pilgrimage catholicon’s dome. From the altar, it looked like the Metropolitan JOSEPH and His Grace Bishop Paraklasis to the eotokos. After this beautiful service, around Mount Athos, we visited the monasteries of ceiling was moving, as every candle holder and lamp was NICHOLAS for blessing us with this pilgrimage, to we went to the refectory to eat in silence as the lives of Docheriou, Panteleimon, Pantocrator, Iveron, and being swung in time with the rst festal hymns. After the foster our pastoral development and to aid us in our the saints were read. Prayer continued even at meal time, Vatopedi. In addition, we stopped in Karyes, near morning’s service Vesperal Liturgy, which lasted from 8 spiritual lives.

24 April 2017 e Word 25 FROM “THESE STONES” In an often-misquoted verse, St. Paul the Apostle I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have Department of Mission and Evangelism Department writes, “ e love of money is the root of all evil” (1 not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my Timothy 6:10). St. Paul teaches that our Lord realizes money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have g G that we have needs to meet in order to live and to received back my own with interest.” erin race carry out His work. God is, however, a jealous God e Lord sows the Word to bring heaven to earth, sw w and demands our full commitment with nothing but he expects man to work to eat and to co-operate n it else taking precedence over His Lordship in our lives. with grace (see 2 essalonians 3:10). Man has his own A h at is why the Apostle Paul warns his rst-century responsibility for his upkeep, and is the servant of God : G Greek congregation that the love of money is evil. from the beginning in the garden, and throughout his g life. God made man to know him, to love him, to serve n r All that we have is on loan from God. It is all gift. i a What we do with our time, talent, and treasures will him here on earth, and to enjoy him forever in heaven. v c 2 e servant does not know he must serve; therefore, he i be accounted for on the last day. e is wicked and lazy. us, the Lord gives the one talent to e above, of course, refers to Our Lord’s parable him who has ten talents. “For to everyone who has, more G Fr. Joseph Huneycutt of the talents, which teaches that we are saved by grace will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him given to us – and invested (Matthew 25:14–30). It’s a who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” familiar story, but bear with me: A man, before traveling is is the law of reciprocity in the kingdom of heaven. to a far country, called his own servants, and delivered his God will give more and more to his faithful servants, but 1. e WORD Magazine, ears ago, before I ise to keep reading (reading goods to them. He gave to each according to his ability. he will give less and less to those who do not believe in November 2005. was ordained and we is free) while I mention the T 2. John G. Panagiotou, All are not created equal, but have dierent abilities in him. Christ comes that man might have life, and that held reader services in word. is is not about “Big T” Orthodox Christian music, intellect, arts, business, religion, and so on. He they might have it more abundantly (see John 10:10). All Stewardship: What Do our home, a frequent visitor versus “Little T” traditions, but a more gave one ve talents, the other two, and yet another one. Jesus, the Bible, and Y God asks is that man remains faithful. God will reward would often drop a fty-dollar or hundred- mundane and essential t. I’m afraid I’ll lose a the Church Fathers e servant with ve talents invested them in trade, and man in due time. Say about Tithing and dollar bill in the collection plate. Later, the Council mem- few of you because, well, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Doh! earned another ve talents. Likewise, the servant with two Giving to God? http:// bers would giddily gather and pore over icon catalogues At the 2005 General Assembly of the Archdiocese in talents, invested them, and made two talents more. But God not only tolerates us, He gives us blessing www.aoiusa.org/ wondering how best to spend the money. e salad days Detroit, Metropolitan PHILIP said: the servant who had received one talent, dug a hole in the and beauty. Because of this alone we should struggle. orthodox-christian- of church planting are, in hindsight, the best! At the very least, for this alone we should love, stewardship-what-do- Tithing, like praying and fasting, puts God rst ground, and hid his lord’s money. e lord returned, and because He rst loved. We know the struggle, yet jesus-the-bible-and- Speaking of salad days, I remember as a layman put- and teaches us to trust Him, rather than ourselves, as settled his accounts with his servant. e lord said to his the-church-fathers- we are constantly forgetting the fearful Day when ting a fty-dollar bill in the plate as it passed by. I had our leader. When we tithe, God is given the rst part, servant, who had, per his abilities, received ve talents – say-about-tithing-and- we must stand before our Creator and give answer. wanted to give only a twenty, but thought it bad form the rst tenth of the gifts that He gave to us. When and invested them – and made ve talents more, “Well giving-to-god/ Instead, we waste time in fear of the day at hand, 3. Joseph Huneycutt to make change in the pew. Back then, forgive me, I re- we tithe, we enter into His ministry at a serious lev- done, good and faithful servant: you are faithful over a petty politics, ill health, worldly cares, and death. and Steve Robinson, member dwelling on just how the parish would spend el that will allow the parish and the Archdiocese to few things, I will make you ruler over many things, enter Fire From Ashes – e What we should fear is showing up short when the that increase! minister as they should. Only when the parish and into the joy of your lord”. He rejoices and praises his Reali ty of Perpetual talents are tallied.3 Conversion (Ancient As budgets grow and communities mature, the priest the Archdiocese operate at a level pleasing to God, servants who are faithful, and rewards them with shares of Faith Publishing, may say: “Ladies and Gentlemen, please stand. Now, can the people receive the ministry that God wants his kingdom (see 1 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Timothy 2:11–13). To return to missions and edgling parishes: tithing is 2014), p. 131. reach your arms out forward. Grab the wallet of the Likewise, the lord answers the servant to whom he had of great importance. It may often be the case that a greater 4. Richard Reidy, Stew- them to have. Contributing tithes to the Church is person in front of you and give like you’ve always wanted ardship. https://oca. dierent from making a pledge. Tithes are based on given two talents, and who had earned two talents more. percentage of parishioners do tithe in such communities, org/parish-ministry/ to give.” at’s an old, old joke from – I’m just guessing what God has given us, not what we think the local e servant who had received one talent said, “Lord, I viewing the godly practice as essential for survival. e stewardeducation/ here – the early days of the Church, but it’s true: we have parish needs to operate. Tithes also represent the rst knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not truth is, that’s the truth! Our bigger, more mature parishes stewardship no problem spending other people’s money. When it 5. http://stbarnabasoc. part, not what is left over after we pay our bills and sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. can learn much from our “younger” brothers and sisters. org/wisdom-day-met- comes to giving our own money, it’s no laughing matter. have our recreation. Tithing represents a signicant erefore, I was afraid, and went and hid your talents Speaking of the more established parishes, it should ropolitan-joseph/ I like the old story about the guy who came to church shift in thinking. at is why tithing, like praying in the ground. Look and behold, there you have what is be noted that there is a dierence between “fundraising” with his family. As they were driving home afterwards the and fasting, is a spiritual gift that deepens our rela- yours.” e servant fears God, but does not love him. He and “stewardship.” Fundraising means getting people Dad was complaining about everything. He said, “ e tionship with God and changes our life.1 hates God (see Deuteronomy 5:9), who owns all things, to give more (usually for a specic purpose or project). chanting was too loud. e sermon was too long. e an- because he does not own all things. He envies God. Christian stewardship, on the other hand, helps people When we read the Scriptures, we nd that there nouncements were unclear. e bulletin had typos. e e fear of the Lord does not mean that we are to be more giving. building was cold. e people were unfriendly.” He went are over 2,000 verses having to do with money and to be afraid of God, but to answer grace with grace Christian Stewardship could be dened as the on and on, complaining about virtually everything. Fi- money management. Jesus speaks about money and money in thanksgiving (see Hebrews 12:28, 1 Peter 2:17, “eective commitment or investment of human and nally, his observant son said, “Dad, you’ve got to admit it management more than any other topic, including heaven, Revelation 14:7, 19:5, 1 John 4:18–19). e lord answers material resources in participation with Christ in His wasn’t a bad show for just a dollar.” hell, salvation, and so forth. e topic is very important for his servant: “You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that love for others.” ere are two primary points to be Fine: I’ll stop with the jokes – but only if you prom- the Christian life. Continued on page 33

26 April 2017 e Word 27 another, we cannot help but to serve one another and was. At the age of 21 she helped open the doors of the ORATORICAL FESTIVAL to serve the Lord. rst Orthodox pre-school in the Boston area to 17 child- Being an Orthodox teen serving the Lord in North ren. Sadly, she wasn’t able to see the pre-school grow as As For Me And My House, We Will Serve The Lord America, I can imagine that it is a lot dierent living in much as it has, because she passed away some years after. other countries with lots of Orthodox Christians, such May God remember her in His Kingdom. as and Russia. It is very dierent because Ortho- I never had the opportunity to meet her in person, doxy is a small minority religion here in North America. but I wish I had. I would like to thank her for all the JUDGES CHOICE FOR THE DIOCESE OF WORCESTER AND NEW ENGLAND MARY GURGHIGIAN Our Diocese is small and there are very few Orthodox hard work she did to start an Orthodox pre-school. It in our neighborhoods and schools. Sometimes it is hard is only a start, but in the future that pre-school can be our Grace, Bishop JOHN, Rev erend Fa- Commandments, honoring our mothers and fathers, to deal with all of the temptations and social norms that the foundation for an elementary school, then a middle thers, fellow participants and brothers and sacricing for our brothers and sisters, doing things for others expect one to follow. is is especially true dur- school and a high school. I hope that my children and sisters in Christ. Christ is in our midst! one another. ing Great Lent, when our fasting period is much stricter my grandchildren can learn in an environment where e eme for this Oratorical Festival We start in our own home parish, participating in the than others’. It’s not always easy to follow our Ortho- they don’t have to worry about being dierent because Y comes from the Book of Joshua 24: 15: Divine Liturgy. Perhaps we sing in the choir or help the dox teachings, but we eventually pull through if we do of what they believe in. Even more important, they will “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” chanters. We can read the Epistle during Youth Month. everything we need to do in the world to the Glory of be learning in an Orthodox environment that will teach is Bible verse is full of meanings, and we will ex- We can get involved in Teen SOYO projects that help God and do not separate our “Orthodox self” from our them to serve the Lord. Sonia truly served the Lord and plore some of them today. First, there are many ways the community, such as YES (Youth Equipped to Serve). “everyday self.” His ock with her eorts to provide an Orthodox edu- to interpret the meaning of “my house” in this passage. We can support the Food For Hungry People Program, Luckily we have places like the Antiochian Village cation to young children, and her legacy will continue. For example, it could refer to your own family, your volunteer at a local Food Bank, and collect food, clothes Camp to which we can escape in the summer time. We We have other examples in North America of lead- friends, your Church family, or your broader commu- and other necessities for the needy. We can also visit the have Sunday School during the school year and Divine ers who serve the Lord even when it may be very di- nity, whether geographical or cultural. e list can go sick and older parishioners who may not have children Liturgy and other Church activities all year round, but cult. Metropolitan PHILIP established the Antiochian on and on. or grandchildren to visit them. is is how we can serve sometimes we need more. I sometimes wish we had Vil lage, just one of many accomplishments that people What does it mean to “serve the Lord,” however? the Lord, by doing what He would do: Feed the hungry, Ortho dox schools in my area, like the may have thought impossible. Metropolitan JOSEPH, Well, I think we would agree that it certainly means to clothe the naked and visit the sick, lling whatever needs has Catholic schools. One can only dream, right? Well, Bishop JOHN, and many of our clergy and youth di- follow His Commandments and to partake of His Sacra- may exist. no. Actually, I’m not the only one who has dreamed of rectors provide our teens with excellent role models of ments. We also serve the Lord by living in His image and When we receive Holy Communion, we are joined this happening. service to the Lord. Finally, we need only look to the likeness; and of course, going to Church and praying to to Christ and to all our brothers and sisters. If we work A beautiful, inspiring woman named Sonia Daly Bel- Gospels and the Icons that adorn our churches for even Him and asking all the saints to intercede for us and for hard to keep that spirit within us, we will be able to cher, the founder of the eophany School in Needham, more examples of how to serve the Lord as did Joshua. those we remember in our prayers. make our daily actions part of our prayers, because we Massachusetts, also dreamed of an Orthodox school. We I can imagine all of them saying, “As for me and my Joshua was an example to the people around him will remain joined to Christ. learned about her and the school at Antiochian Village. house, we will serve the Lord.” Let us all be part of that and he showed them how to believe and to serve the Our Pastor preached recently on the Gospel pas- She started to try and achieve this goal at the young age house and work together like Joshua to serve as an ex- Lord, because “He is Holy.” How can a teen in our sage from Luke 24: 13–35, the Road to Emmaus. Two of 18, and a lot of people told her that it was impossible. ample to our brothers and sisters; to serve the Lord and Archdiocese today serve the Lord disciples were walking to a vil- Sometimes, very few people showed up to the meetings to serve one another in Christ Jesus. and serve as an example to oth- lage several miles from Jerusa- that she held to try and start an Orthodox school, but Mary Gurghigian ers? Just like Joshua, it is our mis- lem and talking about all that she never gave up. at’s how we know how strong she St. Mary Church, Pawtucket, Rhode Island sion to tell God’s children about had happened after the Resur- God; to help them to know God rection. A man came along and and ultimately to serve God. Do walked with them. It was Jesus, people know how to serve God? but they did not recognize Him MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Some may not. How do we, as when He talked with them and th Orthodox Christians, set an ex- walked with them. ey did not 9 Annual St. Emmelia Homeschool Conference ample for them as Joshua did in recognize Him until He blessed April 27th-30th, 2017 ancient times? and broke the bread at the table ere is an old saying that and gave it to them. When they AnIochian Village Conference Center “Charity begins at home.” We had received Communion from Worship, Fellowship, Workshops and AcIviIes for the Whole Family! need to start small and begin Him, their minds and eyes were to spread the Word together, to opened, and then they knew For details visit our website at serve the Lord and set an exam- Him. e same is true for all of www.stemmeliaconference.com ple for others. We start in our us. When we belong to Christ home, following one of the Ten and are joined together to one

e Word 28 29 April 2017 sweet, because he was with us again, a man who had overseen this par- ish for its forty-one years. Along the COMMUNITIES IN ACTION way he always supported us, but like St. Paul who admonished the Cor- ST. GEORGE HOUSTON Resurrection. I “Googled” the words St. George sanctuary. inthians’ to live up to their faith, so INSTALLS MOSAICS IN EXPANDED “Orthodox mosaic icon,” and then When I sent the e-mail, I had no did Bishop ANTOUN shepherd us. SANCTUARY clicked “images.” Among the rst idea that the recipient was a world- Occasionally he nudged us, pushed few images was a magnicent mo- renowned artist who does work for us, and even threatened us. It was On August 15, 2013, the Feast saic of Christ the Pantocrator (Ruler the royal family as well as the Vati- always done with love, as he always of the Dormition, I sent an e-mail of all), created for a church in Car- can. Aidan replied the next day by continued to encourage us – from a to someone named Aidan Hart. At di in the United Kingdom. I knew e-mail, writing, “I enjoyed making mission meeting in homes, to rented that time, with the upcoming ex- that the person who created this im- the St Martin’s Pantocrator so much facilities, to a makeover bank build- pansion, I thought it would be pos- age was the one that should create that I have been hoping and praying ing, and nally, ten years ago, to sible to ll our new walls with mo- the images for our newly expanded for more mosaic work!” the construction of a basilica-style saics of the Lord’s Crucixion and Little did I know that those e- building modeled after our moth- mails would begin the beautiful re- er church in Damascus. ( is was lationship between our community his birthplace and where he was or- and the God-inspired work of this dained a deacon.) He was here to blessed man, who uses his God-giv- help us celebrate the Tenth Anniver- en talents to oer praise to our Lord. sary of this beautiful new structure. In December 2013, Aidan accept- e visit was bitter, too, because ed our invitation to visit our par- Scaolding was erected, and a the work GOD has done through this would be his last ocial visit as ish. During that weekend visit, he prayer was oered in the sanctuary the hands of these faithful servants. he prepares to retire in July at the received a warm welcome and saw for the blessing of the mosaics and As we continue to gaze upon the Antiochian Archdiocese Conven- for his own eyes our sanctuary and the installation process. Panels of Crucixion and Resurrection mosa- tion in Miami. It was also bitter be- the plans to expand it. He drafted the Crucixion were then attached ics, may these works call us to con- cause he is in frail health, and our some drawings while here. e con- to the wall and the installation was sider the greatness of our Lord’s entire parish was saddened to see tract was signed in December 2014, quickly underway. Once the large unending love for us, His creation. him this way. and watercolors of his plans for the panels were attached to the wall, the May we respond to that call by imi- His Grace Bishop THOMAS – mosaics were sent via e-mail. Aidan tedious work of lling in the “cracks” tating His love. For just as the mo- formerly the pastor of this parish – revisited Ravenna, Italy, where he began. Aidan and Martin worked saics are many small pieces oering assisted Sayidna at Vespers and the previously learned the ancient mo- daily from morning until night. e witness to the world, so, too, each Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Dur- saic technique. Tesserae (small glass process they used is very similar to of us through our actions of love ing the doxology at Orthros, Bishop pieces) were ordered from Italy. Aid- those that installed mosaics a thou- come together to make the mosaic THOMAS tonsured John Kozak – an and his faithful assistant Martin sand years ago. eir awareness of of our Church oering a reection our chief chanter and choir director Earle began assembling the mosa- art and nature, and their skill, at- of Christ’s love. – a Reader. ics in Aidan’s studio in Shrewsbury, tention to detail and discipline, are Fr. James Shadid After Liturgy, the Sunday School evident in every aspect of their work. St. George Orthodox Christian Church, children presented His Grace Bish- England. His studio is about the size Houston, Texas of the St. George kitchen. e mosaic project was complet- op ANTOUN with a painting of ed appropriately on February 2, the multi colored owers created by their Over the course of the next three BISHOP ANTOUN VISITS Feast of the Presentation of Christ, palm prints. is painting included years, pictures of the progress were ST. PETERSBURG sent via e-mail and shared with the just a few hours before Aidan and the title of Sayidna’s favorite song: parish. On the morning of January 3, Martin returned to the airport for His Grace Bishop ANTOUN ar- “You Are My Sunshine.” At the ban- 2017, a very large, air-freighted crate, their ight to London. Besides leav- rived on Friday, February 10, 2017, quet following Liturgy there were containing the mosaic panels, arrived ing behind half a million pieces of at the Tampa International Airport few dry eyes as Bishop ANTOUN on our site. ey were unloaded and their lives on the walls of our sanc- for his annual visit to St. Nicholas bid “good-bye” to the ock he had kept in the chapel. Later that eve- tuary, Aidan and Martin also left in- Orthodox Church, Pinellas Park, shepherded from its inception. ning, Aidan and Martin arrived at delible marks of friendship and love and departed the following Mon- Many years, Master! Houston Intercontinental Airport. on our hearts. We are grateful for day. It was a bittersweet visit. It was

30 April 2017 e Word 31 Western Rite 2017 JACK G. SHAHEEN MASS COMMUNICATIONS SCHOLARSHIPS Western Rite continued from page 19 TH Orthodox Christian Network | 36th Street and Massachusetts Ave, NW | Washington D.C. 20007 20 ANNIVERSARY! not contrary to the Orthodox Faith.” us, the use of to recall those heroic witnesses who have gone before. THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN NETWORK DEBUTS FIRST ANNUAL JOIN THE 67 PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS! 30 UNDER 30 INITIATIVE congregational hymns is customary in our parishes, and  e Orthodox Ritual, largely based on the Rituale Ro- The Orthodox Christian Network is excited to announce its first annual we are not limited to texts and music composed before manum (the Roman Ritual), was  rst published by the 30 under 30 campaign Award Amount: $2,500.00 th FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—WASHINGTON D.C.— The Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) is Purpose: To honor Arab-American students who excel in Media Studies. the schism of the 11 Century. We have translations of Vicariate in 1958. is work was edited by a committee excited to welcome it’s First Annual 30 under 30 initiative; where members are asked to nominate emerging Orthodox leaders, from within their own communities in North America. Eligibility: College students enrolled in the 2017–2018 academic year; The event recognizes 30 emerging leaders under the age of 30 who demonstrate impacting hymns from the early Church, such as the Phos hilaron, which included Fathers Alexander Turner, Paul Schnei- personally and/or professionally through their exceptional leadership in North America. Juniors, Seniors and Graduate School students who are majoring in The initiative—spearheaded by Managing Director Eleni Alexiou, under the direction of Journalism, Radio, Television, and/or Film. but we also may sing hymns by later Catholic and Prot- rla, and Alexander Schmemann. e Ritual contains OCN’s Board of Directors—aligns the mission of OCN, outreach and operations in an effort to develop, demonstrate and encourage Orthodox young adults throughout North America and Applicants: Hard copy applications only. Send the following items to ADC’s estant writers, such as Bernard of Clairvaux and Charles forms for baptism, weddings, services for the sick and the international community to build on their existing efforts. Research Institute: “30 under 30 is an opportunity to show support for and invest in this next generation of Wesley, which convey the basics of the Christian faith. the departed, along with many di erent blessings (such trailblazers,” says Eleni. “We want to hear from young entrepreneurs and leaders that exemplify Christian Values in their lives and the lives that they touch. This group of adults • A one-page statement explaining why you merit the scholarship, your Two forms of the Daily O ce (Matins, Vespers, etc.) as those found in  e Book of Needs). We published new are changing the way of our Orthodox Christian future.” goals, and a declaration that you are a U.S. citizen of Arab heritage; The initiative draws on Orthodox leadership in the fields of medicine, nutrition, are used within the Western Rite Vicariate:  e Monas- editions in 2005 and 2016, containing additional ser- science, public policy, social science, humanities, arts and law, among other. • Two original signed letters of recommendation from professors of Mass tic O ce and  e English O ce. For the Monastic Of- vices and blessings. Whenever appropriate, musical no- The initiative aims to Communications; • Identify best practices and share widely young adults in the nation and the world • Copies of your articles, DVD’s, fi lms, and so forth (items will not be returned  ce, resources have been reprinted by Lancelot Andrew- tation is given for chanting. • Use the power of community to help individuals and communities access Orthodox to you); es Press in Denver. When a commission of the Russian In 2008 we published  e Orthodox Missal - Altar media in a modern world, develop resources for youth to aspire towards • Offi cial academic transcripts (minimum 3.0 GPA); • Increase young adult engagement in Orthodoxy and Programming Synod reviewed the Book of Common Prayer at the re- Edition, for parishes using the Liturgy of St. Gregory. It • Your permanent home address and phone number, e-mail address, and The Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) is an official agency of the Assembly of Canonical your phone number during the school year, if different. Bishops of the United States of America, originally commissioned by SCOBA to create a quest of St. Tikhon in 1904, they observed that “while provides the priest with all the texts and music needed at national, sustainable, and effective media witness for Orthodox Christianity throughout North America. Deadline: Wednesday, June 1, 2017 the recourse in prayer to the Holy Mother of God, to the altar for the Divine Liturgy for Sundays, major feast For more information on The Orthodox Christian Network 30 under 30 initiative, please visit: Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted; http://myocn.net/30-under-30-initiative/ the Angel Hosts, and to the illustrious Saints, the glori- days and most other occasions.  e Epistles provides the For commentary, interview requests, or further details pertaining to OCN, please contact: only hard copy applications will be accepted. Presvytera Mallory Kasapakis, Media Relations  cation and invocation of them, forms an essential part lessons for the liturgy from the New Testament epistles, 954-522-5667 | [email protected] Submit all materials to of Orthodox and Catholic worship, these things are en- the Acts of the Apostles, the Revelation of St. John, and The ADC Research Institute ABOUT THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN NETWORK: Attention: Mr. Nabil Mohamad tirely foreign to Anglican worship. It is absolutely neces- occasionally from the Old Testament from the old West- Orthodox Christian Network is a non-profit Orthodox organization that was commissioned to comfort, inspire, and inform Orthodox Christians and seekers around the world using media ADC Vice President, ministry. For many years OCN followed the growth in the media and technology world sary that there should be introduced into this worship ern Rite lectionary. offering the latest in communicating the gospel through radio programs both land based and 1990 M Street, NW, Suite 610 on line, podcasts, blogs, video and social media. The numbers of individuals interacting with some such prayers (or hymns) in one or another form  e St. Bede Choir Book is a collection of two- and the OCN now are amongst the highest in the area of faith based media ministry outreaches. Washington, D.C. 20006 They are also the only Orthodox non-profit telecommunicating work force, with satellite 1 offices in DC, Boston and Florida. Their mission is to strengthen Orthodox Christian If you have any questions, call 202-244-2990, or e-mail: [email protected]. and degree.”  e English O ce, a basic resource based three-part settings of music composed by our choir di- communities and to share the timeless faith of Orthodoxy with the contemporary world through modern media: radio, the Internet, podcasts, DVDs, television and more. They wish Awards will be presented at the 2017 ADC National Convention in Washington, D.C. on the Anglican Book of Common Prayer forms, was rector, Khouria Rebecca Alford, to be sung by cantors or to inspire the Orthodox everywhere, nurture children in the faith, welcome back those who have lapsed and with the joyful, Christ-centered message of the Church, reach out to invite published by the Vicariate in 1989, but without the en- choirs during the distribution of communion. Written and lovingly welcome all those outside of the Orthodox Christian family. richments called for in the report to the Russian Synod. speci cally for parishes with a small number of singers, Giving With Grace continued from page 27  e St. Ambrose Hymnal provides over eighty of the tra- these settings of Scriptural and liturgical texts help our ditional O ce Hymns returning us to the teaching of singers follow the example of St. Bede who, in seventh- made. e  rst is that Stewardship always has to do Just because one does not have abundance does not An excellent resource the Church fathers. In publishing  e English O ce Not- century England, sought to maintain the musical praises with a Christian’s task to give away gifts that have al- mean that one need not give thanks. We owe it to our- for teaching tithing ed, we sought to supply the remaining missing elements of God in the monastery with only one other chanter. ready been given to him by God. is presupposes, selves, our children, and those yet to enter our church and stewardship in to the O ce, particularly the antiphons, collects, ver- St. Gregory’s Prayer Book, published in 2016 in cele- of course, acceptance of the belief that all things are doors to move forward, as able – in faith, with gratitude the parish may be sicles and responses. Both an o ciant’s edition (contain- bration of our parish’s twentieth anniversary, is a “pocket conferred on us by God. – toward godly stewardship. Tithing, giving ten percent found on the Antio- ing all that a priest, deacon or lay o ciant needs to lead prayer book” of services, prayers and devotions. It con- Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will of one’s income, is God-pleasing, as are all gifts o ered chian Archdiocese’s the service) and a pew edition are available. Both contain tains brief forms for Morning, Noonday and Evening your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). Somehow, in by pious and cheerful givers with humble hearts. As His webpage: http:// Matins, Noonday prayers, Vespers and Compline. e prayers (in both Western and Eastern forms), both the some way, what a person does with his money, how Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH says: www.antiochian. entire Psalter is included and simple melodies are given Liturgy of St. Gregory and the Liturgy of St. Tikhon, he thinks about it, where he spends it, what he will org/christianeduca- for singing the services. Daily O ce Lessons contains the forms for Confession, prayers for the sick and dying, Tithing is not just for converts. do to earn it, and the things to which he will give it, It is not just for the rich. tion/tithing-pro- Old and New Testament readings for Saturday Vespers along with prayers and devotions for many occasions. are some of the real clues to who he is inside, to what gram-2009-2010 and Sunday Matins throughout the year, as well as les- e Western Rite has a beautiful, rich and ancient It is for all of us. is essentially important to him, to what is really in It brings us peace, knowing that we have given to sons for major feast days. heritage. Its prayers, hymns and services have served to his heart. It is signi cant to note the order of things A Western Rite Orthodox Martyrology, similar to the guide many to holiness. We give thanks that our Patri- God what is rightfully His. in the words of Jesus. He does not say, “Where your It makes our parishes strong by providing the Byzantine Synaxarion, provides daily readings from the archate and our Archdiocese have given the Western Rite heart is there shall your treasure be also.”4 lives of the martyrs and other saints, both Eastern and a home within Orthodoxy where it may be restored and support it needs. Western. Based on the old Roman Martyrology, the preserved. In publishing these works we hope to make My  fteen-year-old daughter recently lamented how It builds up our youth, who see our gratitude to preparation of this work was started by the late Fr. Jack the treasures of the Orthodox Western Rite known to students her age never had a typing (key-boarding) class. God and are in turn grateful to their parents. Witbrock, an Antiochian priest in New Zealand, then many, and available to all who would o er their prayers Many of us are old enough to remember those rooms full Yes, if you really want your children to appreci- 1. Russian Observations completed here after Fr. Jack’s repose. In monastic use a and praises in this way. of big clunky typewriters and sentences like: Now is the ate what you do for them, try being an example of 5 upon the American reading from the martyrology occurs in the  rst o ce of time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. I gratitude. Prayer Book, tr. W.J. Fr. Nicholas Alford, Pastor St. Gregory Orthodox Church, Silver Spring, Maryland hope you will forgive my hokey paraphrase: Now is the time Barnes, Alcuin Club the day. Some of our parishes have included the reading Fr. Joseph Huneycutt Vice-Chairman of the Department of Missions and Evangelism Tract, 1917, p. 30. from the martyrology before Vespers or Matins as a way for all good parishioners to come to the aid of their parish.

32 April 2017 e Word 33 “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."

Mark 11:17

comments on this topic

The topic is from the Gospel of Mark, in which Jesus quotes both from Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:8-11 speaking in terms of Join the competition in these age groups: what is and is not to happen in God’s House NEW! – the temple – The Church. It begins with the Pre-teens: Ages 10-12 statement that rst and foremost it is a place Teens: Ages 13-19 * of prayer – a place to worship the Living God Adults: Ages 20+ and secondly it is for all nations – all people who choose to serve the Living God. Once * The Diocese of Los Angeles and the West has two teen groups: 13-15 and 16-19 one chooses to serve God and to follow His “My house shall be called a house of way – all who do so are welcomed. As the prayer for all nations” Scripture says, “For as Many as were baptized MARK 11:17 All questions will come from into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is the Gospel of Mark as found neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in in the Orthodox Study Bible. Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs Available from Ancient Faith Publishing and other ne bookstores. according to the promise” (Galatians 3: 27-29). Paul further writes, “but Christ is all and in all” (Colossians 3:9-1). Saint John Chrysostom in his homily on Galatians 3:27-29 clearly shares that no matter where we came from, Study Site and Practice Questions anyone who has been baptized in Christ is no longer what he was by birth. www.orthodoxyouth.org/Mark “He that was Greek, or Jew, or bond man yesterday, carries about with him the form, not of angel or archangel, but of the Lord of all, yes he displays in his own person the Christ” (Saint John Chrysostom Commentary on Galatians).

For more information and rules on the Oratorical and Bible Bowl Festival, visit www.antiochian.org/festivals The Bible Bowl is run by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese Department of Youth and Parish Ministries

The Oratorical Festival is run by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese Department of Youth and Parish Ministries

ChristAwakensMyPersonhood The Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, Eagle River and the Pacifi c Northwest St. Thekla Nestled in the Mountains Of South Carolina Summer 2017

Registration and Staff Applications Available

st  Creek Hikes Online January 1 www.campstthekla.org/  Lake Access  Ropes Course 2017 Camp Dates Ages 9-17  3 Outdoor Chapels  Modern Cabins with Air Conditioning June 25 - July 1  4 Square, Gaga Ball, Carpet Ball, Angle Ball July 2 - July 8 St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Church

https://www.facebook.com/CampStThekla Van Nuys, California

 Invites you and your family to the

Join us in Houston, Texas, for the Parish Life Conference! Hosted by 2017 Parish Life Conference St. Anthony the Great at the Westin in Memorial City, this year’s conference is in the center of Memorial City Mall and within July 5-9, 2017 walking distance of shopping, dining, and many local attractions.

We’re looking forward to seeing y’all there!

www.stmichaelvannuys.org www.laplc.org Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel 5855 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles, California Rooms starting at $139.00/night https://www.facebook.com/CampStThekla 150 Asbury Drive, Cleveland SC 29635 W] THE WORD 358 Mountain Road PO Box 5238 Englewood, NJ 07631-5238

Christ is Risen!

The 2017 Archdiocese Convention Comittee and Host Parish wish all our beloved Antiochian Brothers and Sisters in Christ a Blessed and Joyous Pascha!

The 53rd Biennial Archdiocese Convention Committee is dedicating the Grand Banquet and History Journal to commemorate the retirement of His Grace Bishop ANTOUN A Lifetime of Service and Eight Decades of Love, Humility and Sunshine

June 23-30, 2017 Hosted by Saint George Cathedral, Coral Gables, Florida

Departmental Archdiocese General Assembly, Teen SOYO, Young Adult Ministry, Clergy/Clergy Meetings: Wives, Department of Christian Education, Antiochian Women, Order of Saint Ignatius Spiritual: Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, Bible Studies, Daily Liturgical Services, Little Compline, Uplifting Sermons, and more … Educational: Bible Studies, Workshops, Leadership Training, Bible Bowl/Oratorical Festival, “Ask Abouna” Sessions and more … Social: Antiochian Game Show, Club Saint George, Dinner and Hafl i, Teen Banquet, Order of Saint Ignatius Banquet, National Debke Competition, Grand Banquet and Hafl i, Young Adult Events, Teen SOYO Events, and more … AC2017Miami.org