Orthodixie

By Julie McCarty

Over the past decade, I have become hooked on icons.

The first time I fell in love with an Eastern Christian icon was when a seminary professor explained the symbolic meaning of Andrei Rublev’s “Icon of the Trinity.”

Everywhere I go these days, I see Eastern Christian icons making their way into Roman Catholic quarters. There are icons for sale in Catholic bookstores. Parishes are purchasing icons for their worship space. I have even heard of Catholics learning iconography, the sacred task of creating icons. If Roman Catholics are going to embrace this ancient spiritual art, I think it is important for us to …

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Thanks to FWD from blog reg, Keith.

O Most Merciful Master, we sing and magnify Thee, the sinless God, Who hast willingly suffered and accepted passion in the flesh for our sakes. For when the glorious Disciples were made bright at the supper and the washing of feet, then the evil Judas, afflicted with greed, was darkened; and taking the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him that was appraised, he betrayed Thee the Righteous Judge to the most lawless high priests and scribes. For having received his fill of many good things, and being made a disciple, he conceived the thought of betrayal and handed Thee, the immortal King and Lord of Glory, to the lawless wolves; being committed to strangulation, and having dipped his hand into the dish, with a false kiss, he said to the high priests: Him that I shall kiss, that is He, seize Him. For the way of greed, O most lawless Judas, hath put a halter upon thee, which thou didst bear as the righteous judgment of God. But we, the faithful, if we in love communicate of the most pure and life-creating Body and Blood, in love and fear adore also the Saviour, in His sufferings on the Cross, in His burial and Resurrection: our Lord and God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

For Thine is the Kingdom ….

Thanks to Fr John Shaw.

by Maria C. Khoury, Ed. D.

Waking up to the dark rainy skies on this beautiful Orthodox Palm Sunday morning was a reflection of the psychological darkness experienced in the Holy Land since September 2000 where between the Israeli occupation, Islamic rule and mother nature, the small Christian community suffers to continue the local traditions and customs reflecting deep Christian roots in Palestine. The Light of Christ usually shines everywhere there is witness for Christ’s love and peace and will continue to be the beckon of hope in the troubled land of Christ’s holy resurrection.

The glorious ecumenical Palm Sunday procession in our village of Taybeh has been disturbed many times especially during the first few years of bloodshed and violence where it was impossible to celebrate in public chanting “Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord” (John 12:13) but this year the rain scared away most people from carrying out the march holding the symbolic palm branches reaffirming our acceptance of Christ. The parishioners of St. George Greek Orthodox Church marched in a procession around their church property three times in remembrance of Christ’s glorious entrance into Jerusalem particularly two thousand years ago when Christ completed his retreat into the village of Taybeh, Biblical Ephraim. Taybeh is well known for receiving Jesus right before His crucifixion (John 11:54). This is why the Ecumenical Palm Sunday procession with the faithful from three churches, Orthodox, Latin (Roman Catholic) and Greek Catholic (Melkite) is one of the most beautiful events in the village of Taybeh because people are literally walking the footsteps of Christ as they march on the same holy ground that Christ walked two thousand years ago.

Since the Oslo Agreement the local Christians outside Jerusalem and Bethlehem have made a cultural and social compromise to celebrate Christ’s birth together according to the new calendar on December 25th and Easter according to the old Julian calendar on the Orthodox Pascha so there can be a unity of celebration among the different Christian denominations since we are so few in numbers. However, since Jerusalem and Bethlehem are popular spots for pilgrims Christmas is celebrated three times, Catholic, Orthodox and Armenian and Easter twice according to the dates of both the new and old calendars.

God’s promise to humanity for salvation is the only hope the small Christian community can cling too since wars, the Apartheid Wall, 50% unemployment and the totally collapsed economy has forced so many Palestinians to leave their beloved homeland seeking job opportunities in America, Australia and Europe. Since 2000, more than 3,000 Christians have left the Bethlehem area where if you visit today you will find Bethlehem a true prison with the Israeli army holding the key to the only gate that allows Palestinians with permits to enter. The misery we experience on the ground every day just to move around for school, work and basic daily needs is unexplainable and unimaginable for people that do not go to school with guns pointing at their heads as soldiers check the identification on passports. There is only one deliberate reason to have this inhumane treatment on a day to day basis and it truly feels that all efforts are being made to rid Palestine of all Palestinians.

We make an appeal to Christians in all corners of the world not to forget the Holy Land of Christ’s birth, crucifixion and resurrection and show the ultimate solidarity for our small Christian community by coming and walking the footsteps of the Lord. We invite people from all over the world to come and receive the true light of Christ from the Life-Giving Tomb of Christ and worship our true God who died on the cross to save our sins and give us eternal life.

“Come ye and receive light from the unwaning Light, and glorify Christ, Who a rose from the dead.” (Easter Sunday Midnight Resurrection Service)

More from Dr. Khoury may be found H E R E.

When the sinful woman was offering the spice, the Disciple was making a bargain with transgressors of the law. The one rejoiced in pouring out the spices so great in price, while the other hastened to sell the priceless One. The one knew the Master, the other was separated from the Lord. She was freed and Judas became a slave to the enemy. Indifference is evil, but great is repentance, the latter grant to us, O Saviour, and redeem us who for us did suffer.

* * *

Ah, for the wretchedness of Judas! For, seeing the adulteress kiss the traces of his feet, he was thinking with deceit of the kiss of betrayal. She loosed her braids, and he was bound with wrath, offering instead of spice, rotted evil; for envy knoweth not how to honour the seemly, Woe to the wretchedness of Judas, and save from it our souls, O God.

* * *

O Saviour, the adulteress stretched forth her hair to thee, and Judas stretched forth his hands to the transgressors of the law; she to gain forgiveness and he to take silver. Wherefore, we cry to thee, O thou who wast sold and didst free us — O Lord, glory to thee.

* * *

Synaxarion

The … harlot anointed the head and feet of Jesus with spikenard, and wiped them with the hair of her head. The precious ointment was worth … about fifteen pieces of Venetian gold. When the Disciples saw this they stumbled, especially Judas, the money-lover, and were angry because Jesus rebuked them, lest the woman be embarrassed. Judas was wroth, and went to the high priests, where they were gathered in the house of Caiphas, taking counsel against Jesus, and agreed with them to deliver the Master for thirty pieces of silver. From that time Judas sought an opportunity to deliver him (Matthew 26:2-16) . Because of this the fast of Wednesday was instituted from the days of the apostles age itself.

Wherefore, O Christ God, anointed with the supersensuous ointment, deliver us from suffering, and have mercy on us.

— Taken from the Holy Wednesday Bridegroom Service.

That evil adversary Judas, was moved by a silver loving mind. He planned by conspiracy, the Betrayal of the Master, and fell from the light, accepting darkness. And having bargained for the sale, he sold the Priceless One. Wherefore, that wretched man found hanging and horrible death a reward for his deed. Save us, therefore, O Christ, from his company, and grant forgiveness of sins to those who eagerly celebrate Thy Pure Passion.

— Taken from Holy Tuesday Bridegroom Matins.