with time

Leave a comment November 29, 2017 nourishinggrace

Baptizing language and redeeming the time.

It is customary at Festal Liturgies for Orthodox Christians to greet one another with the words “happy feast” or “blessed feast.”

Last Saturday after the Divine Liturgy commemorating Saint Katherine – who is the patron Saint of our parish, I said Chronia Polla (Happy Feast) to my friend Mary from Kalamata, Greece. She replied to me “και του χρόνου” which directly translated means “and time” or “with time” but really says may we be here to celebrate it next year too. Recently, I learned that on Mount Athos monks say this to one another with the Paschal greeting.

It struck me deeply that this is a gentle language of repentance and of remembering the Lord – it’s a way of saying that tomorrow is not guaranteed. Monastics often encourage us to “remember our death” (to american ears that may not seem like such an encouragement because we spend much time and effort to avoid it, yet it is an encouragement – it is the absolute best encouragement we can receive!).

Remembrance of death is actually remembrance of God. It is a reminder that we are not guaranteed tomorrow – a holy reality check – which actually serves to bring us to the present moment, for the present moment is a most blessed space and time in which to be.

Graveyard in Normandy, France – Mont Saint-Michel

The present moment with its joys, wounds, blessings, anguish, celebrations, remorse and sometimes even tears is where we live the Gospel commandments. It is also where we fall short of them. The present, most fully found in the Divine Liturgy and services of the Church, is where we also find and live our repentance and where we learn to redeem or sanctify the time while sharing in Eternity.

Graveyard in Normandy France – Mont Saint Michel – see how the windows of the town look right into the cemetery

We give alms, pray, Confess and receive the Mysteries of the Church in the present. One could just easily leave every Confession with the words “και του χρόνου” because truly no one of us knows whether this Confession will be our last, whether this Eucharist will be our last, whether this Liturgy will be our last.

Cemetery of Mont Michel

I am not a native speaker of Greek, in fact I really don’t speak Greek at all – save for the words in the Liturgy, but the more I listen in recent years the more I see how the Greek language in particular, has been baptized over 2,000 years and molded and shaped by the Faith. These are not mere words, because the heart always follows. Rather than a rote response it always grounds and orients our hearts to the Lord.

Although we are heading now toward the Nativity my friend’s response brought Pentecost to my heart. And we should fervently pray, that one day – our land will have been Orthodox long enough that the English language will encompass the heart of the Faith too such that words of life flow effortlessly from our hearts to our lips too.

και του χρόνου and may God grant us all many years…

Side note :

In 2012, my family made a trip to France and visited Normandy. The pictures above are from a village called Mont Saint Michel, which actually began as a small Church and grew into a monastic community that flourished in medieval times. The abbey village appears to float on the water, because it is surrounded by water, in fact the tides rise and fall by as much as 15 meters each day transforming the beautiful surrounding landscape. One of the most striking sights in the village for our family is this cemetery, because it is surrounded by windows of homes and that is what struck us so deeply about it.

but those who seek the Lord

Leave a comment November 26, 2017 nourishinggrace

Saint – Katherine – bride of Christ and the Great Martyr of Alexandria is a most beloved Saint in the Orthodox Church. She is a shining beautiful example of true beauty, wisdom and wealth – but not in the sense of the world’s standards.

For in her life she was a woman of extraordinary wealth, and granted the very finest education of her time – having studied philosophy, rhetoric, medicine, languages, astronomy and music. Katherine was also known to be physically beautiful.

Many men wanted her to marry her but Katherine did not desire this – and her reply to her family was that she would only marry one more beautiful, greater in knowledge and wealth than she. In this way she could decline every suitor because all lacked these attributes in some way.

Despite her earthly wealth, education, fine clothes and beauty Katherine had a great emptiness deep within her. In her earthly life she had everything she could desire, yet she found herself starving within her heart and soul.

And that emptiness that Katherine experienced is a persuasive illustration of how the wealthy can go hungry but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. (Psalm 34:10)

It was Katherine’s mother – through a Holy Elder – who introduced Katherine to the to the Lord and the Orthodox Christian Faith. After spending time with the elder she returned home and spent the day in her apartment in prayer – that night she dreamt of Christ but He would not look upon her. The dream grieved her and she returned to the Elder to share the dream with him. This led to her Baptism. Again, she spent the day in prayer. Again she had a dream of Christ and the Theotokos with Christ but this time He did gaze lovingly upon her, and told her that now she had true beauty, wealth and knowledge and He gave her a ring as a sign of His betrothal to her soul.

Upon waking she found that this ring was still upon her hand.

Saint Katherine converted many – in fact even the wisest most learned scholars of the time who were sent to convince her that Christianity was a false teaching were silenced and converted as she channeled all of their earthly knowledge and wisdom through the love, true enlightenment and true wisdom of Christ.

All 150 of those men were martyred that same day – so true and profound was their conversion.

Saint Katherine was also martyred – but not on the wheel of torture shown in many her icons – traditionally icons do not depict the instrument of a martyrs death.

Katherine was beheaded and from her milk poured forth. Angels bore her body to Mount Sinai where she resides at Saint Katherine’s monastery

We learn so much from Saint Katherine but poignant is that the emptiness she felt within her is an emptiness that can only be filled with God – no person or amount of wealth can fit that space because it is a place reserved only for our First Love.

True treasure is found through a relationship with Christ in the Church and there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).

Saint Katherine is commemorated on November 25th.

For further reading on Saint Katherine, this is an excellent resource, for adults and children!

Saint Katherine by Potamis Publishing

speaking anaphora

Leave a comment September 16, 2017 nourishinggrace

One thing that touched me very deeply many years ago when I met the sisters at our local monastery is their conscious choice of words. Whenever the Abbess would answer the phone she would say “evlogiete” which is a way of saying hello in the form of “blessings”. Other times she would answer the phone with “amen” as her greeting. To say amen is to say so be it. In other words I am present.

Also, whenever we visit and ask “how are you” the sisters reply is never “I’m fine” or “good” but rather “thank God“.

Every time.

Whether I am fine or good or having a terrible day, “thank God” Who is the very source of my breath and my life.

This simple choice of words speaks not only to a beautiful component of the Greek language which over 2000 years has grown around Christ and the Orthodox Faith but also of kindness, hospitality and their monastic tradition.

It is the sisters way of elevating and “offering” their daily words and disposition to the Lord.

Like many things which reorient the heart, is a little way, and it is also a good way. It is a way of making room for God. It is eukharistia.

grace.

thanksgiving.

joy.

It sets a good sound to interactions, sanctifies words and creates spaciousness in the conversation.

It is a choice and a joy and one that by knowing them I have come to love.

the Voice of Truth

Leave a comment September 11, 2017 nourishinggrace

These beautiful sheep live about an hour away, at our local monastery. At a recent visit, our dear Abbess told us a story of how these sheep have really brought the Gospel to life, even for the nuns. It is that

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

This summer at their annual summer camp, they taught a beautifully enlightening and memorable hands on lesson to the children about Christ – the Good Shepherd, and how He truly knows His sheep and the sheep know Him Who gives them eternal life. They brought this parable to life to the kids about how the sheep will not follow the voice of the hireling, who does not lay down his life for the sheep.

The nuns brought the children to the sheep and each and every one of the campers called the sheep in exactly the same way as the shepherd at the monastery does.

Do you know what? Those sheep were not fooled. They did not respond to the kids, not a one of them. But when the sister shepherd voice they know called to them, all the sheep ran to her – every one.

This is a treasure lesson these kids will never forget. We are all sheep in a world offering many voices but only One is the Good Shepherd. May it always be that we hear and respond to His Voice.

small beginnings

Leave a comment September 2, 2017 nourishinggrace

Begin again… every September 1st is the renewal of the Liturgical cycle of the Orthodox Church – this Gladsome Light dawning a new year of Grace.

Redeeming the time

Seeking Christ. The Scriptures, Grace, a life of mercy and repentance are not only woven through the Liturgy but throughout the tapestry of our lives. Just as He pursues us, He wants us to seek Him and He wants to be found with our whole heart.

Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is unchanging, but we are not. We come to Him new each and every day. Each day, each year brings its own pain, joy, crosses, mercies and love in our lives and those that surround us. We are bound together in this time that we have – here and now.

And so, just as the sun rises in the east each morning, Orthodox Christians again and again, celebrate the Feasts of Christ, the Theotokos and the Saints :: from the Grace pouring forth from a young girls small, lowly but hidden ‘yes’ to the awesome humility of Christ’s glorification.

It seems like such a little way, but is really is a door open to Grace, this beautiful tradition to place an icon of the Theotokos on our doorsteps – ushering in the rhythm of the Church throughout the liturgy and litanies of life.

As a convert, walking in an ancient faith, one always learning and growing… Last year was the first time we practiced this tradition. I didn’t feel quite right placing the Theotokos on the ground – something about reverence – so this year I placed Panagia on a wine crate on the front porch. I’m sure the neighbors are just looking at our porch like ‘huh?’

the beauty of change

Leave a comment August 22, 2017 nourishinggrace

It happens without fail every year. I think I only notice it for having lived in this area my whole life. This past week, the faintest scent of the coming Fall has hung in the early morning dewy air. You only smell it in the morning. I don’t know why.

A few weeks ago, a little golden angel leaf is the first fallen leaf on the deck. None of the other leaves have changed color… yet.

When I was a young girl, that faint aroma of moldering leaves always reminded me of the beginning of school, but now it brings the recollection of the approaching end and beginning of the Liturgical Calendar just beyond the Dormition of the Theotokos.

Another years journey through complete cycle of Christ’s birth to His glorification.. the mystery of Christ and the salvation of mankind. A new school year approaches… in the school of repentance.

dependable blessings

Leave a comment June 22, 2017 nourishinggrace

My husband and I have both lived in one geographic area our whole lives and this has really nurtured the blessing of what to expect seasonally, with the assurance of things to come.

Even amidst all of our rushing around, seasonal patterns emerge from the blur of the busyness of life. Like that every late May to early June in our neck of the world, we get tons of iridescent dragonflies hatching from the creeks and fluttering through the woods where I walk.

I love it and look for it each year. This year it seemed like they came a little late – and I thought maybe I had missed it! Then finally a few weeks ago those little dragonflies were everywhere!

❤️

There is an immense similarity in embracing the Liturgical cycle of the year, as the faithful live the seasons of our lives within the seasons of the Faith. The services of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Church offers a certain stability of place. Living within the Liturgical cycle of the Church is so grounding and needful.

A monk of the eastern Church has said that to live “the liturgical year forms Christ in us.”

Redeeming the time. Over many years, the pattern of the Liturgical cycle comes into focus, like the gears of a clock, the beauty of it all fits together. The faithful anticipate and are comforted by the coming seasons of fasting with the assurance of the awaiting feast. This steadfast enduring call to remember our first Love, inclines the soul onward, as one walks with Christ and participates in this Liturgical dialogue – which is a song of renewal, a honeycomb of sweet wisdom, and the Hymn of salvation.

In this day and age, not every family is able to live in the suburbs of one city their whole life. That’s okay. The reality is that no matter where the faithful live – we have same stability of place in the timeless, salvific geographic terrain of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Faith.

This is the unity of the faithful – that every Orthodox Church in every city or land preaches the same Christ and has the same Liturgical seasons. We are rooted and grounded walking through the daily Scriptures, minding the seasons of fasting and festal celebrations of the year, adoring our Most Holy Theotokos, commemorating the Saints, making room for the formation of Christ in us, through a life of repentance and receiving Him at each Eucharist.

The Orthodox Faith is nourishing, sober, seasonal, stable, relevant and True. While our own lives can often encounter that which is unexpected, no matter where one lives – Christ and His Church are the same yesterday today and forever.

This is a tremendous dependable blessing and gift.

anaphora of love

Leave a comment June 7, 2017 nourishinggrace

“Love isn’t something that comes from our hearts,

but rather from the heart of God.

And this love penetrates our hearts and minds,

from where it flows out to others,

ultimately returning to God”

Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra Monastery

the way of the spirit (p.90)

Thine own of Thine own.

Christ is Risen

Leave a comment May 24, 2017 nourishinggrace

Today Orthodox Christians take leave of the time of Pascha, the most beautiful time of year. The leave taking of Pascha is part of our migration from Pascha, to the Ascension to Pentecost. All through this season between Pascha to the Ascension we have greeted all in our company with Christ is Risen, often before even saying hello!

Tomorrow we will celebrate the the Feast of the Ascension, but in keeping with the abundant fullness of Christ’s Resurrection let us say, Christ is Risen one last time!

There is a story our mission committee was told six months ago from a Guatemalan missionary. It absolutely warms my heart, and I think it will yours too. They are catechizing an entire village, and he talked about – just how does one do this. His story is narrated to a video of the village, and the setting is that it is also, like today, the leave-taking of the time of Pascha. The missionaries wanted to let everyone know that it is the last day of the season to greet one another with Christ is Risen.

The village is very poor, and it’s people subsistence farmers. From the pictures, the village is nestled in what appears to be valley but by the sea. The entire village has a public announcement system (of all things!) that anyone can use to broadcast a message as early as 5:00am. So the missionaries, who are through OCMC, considered the village public broadcast system be the best way to spread the catechetical message. Just before sunrise, the missionaries began to make the announcement (in Spanish, of course) that “today is the Apodosis of Pascha – and it is the last day that we say and sing Christ is Risen.”

As our missionary narrates the story, the video pans from inside the radio room, to a shot outside in the village. You can see the sun just barely rising over the horizon, and hear “Christ is Risen” over the speakers.

How absolutely beautiful that as the sun is rising, the voices of the villagers can be heard in response, chanting and singing “Truly He is Risen”. Voices of pure jubilation. Literally, hearts were overflowing with joy- it is clear they have tasted the Lord.

It gave me goosebumps.

Father Alexander Schmemman, of blessed memory, says that “One cannot know that God exists and not rejoice.”

The story of this village, I told my family – how beautiful, simple and pure was their faith. These people rely on God for absolutely everything. They can’t run to the store if there is a blight on their tomatoes or if there is a draught. There is scarcely medical care. They recognize with clarity that God is the source of their life and all their blessings.

May all of our hearts rejoice with simple delight in the Risen Lord, for each and every blessing, for each and every sorrow, for our relationships and the gift of this life. May we glorify God and exalt Him, in the Church and throughout our encounters with all who cross our paths.

Truly, through the Cross, joy has come into all the world.

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

shout-out from a stylite

Leave a comment January 4, 2017 nourishinggrace

Icon of Saint Genevieve of Paris and Saint Simeon the Stylite :: photo taken in Church of Saint Etienne-du-Mont

Troparion of Saint Genevieve

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O Shepherdess who guardest the sheep at Nanterre against the horde of wolves and the Scourge of God,

thou dost protect the city of the Parisians.

O St Genevieve, do not forget to guard thy spiritual sheep even now,

from heaven where thou livest after death.

On January 3rd, the Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Genevieve. Saint Genevieve of Paris, a delicate young woman, whose fasting, vibrant inviolable faith and hopeful prayers, halted the invasion of barbarian Atilla the Hun into Paris is the patron Saint of that beautiful city.

In venerating Saint Genevieve of Paris, we also remember two other beloved Saints of the Orthodox Church, Saint Simeon the Stylite and Saint John Maximovitch.

Why Saint Simeon the Stylite? Saint Simeon the Stylite was one of the most exceptional eastern orthodox monks of that time, and out of all the theologians and clergy in France, he sent a shout-out from his pillar in Syria to an otherwise lowly and unknown humble young woman – who had sought his blessing. This is why in some icons he stands next to her – and East encounters West.

Saint John Maximovitch, because as Archbishop of Western Europe in the early 1950s, he was deeply interested in learning about and venerating the pre-schism Saints of the region. He was the first Orthodox Hierarch to encourage the veneration of these local Saints in Western Europe and introduced her to the Russian people living in France at that time.

Saint John Maximovitch said that it contradicts our Orthodox spirituality to only appeal to the saints of Russia or Greece, especially for second and third generations of immigrants to a new country. Saint John felt that it was essential to live with the grace of the land, as well as the grace of the universal Church, believing in God’s providence, and honor the Saints that God has placed there.

“The Life of St. Genevieve was printed in the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate in 1954 or 1955, and she was the first spiritual door for Russians into the veneration of western saints. We had had earlier Orthodox church theologians in the West who knew of her, but their message had not been received by the émigrés…

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When we read the lives of western saints of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, their lives and ascesis often seem strange to the Orthodox mind; but when you read the life of St. Genevieve, you see clearly that she is one of us. The first moleben to be served before a previously unrecognized western saint was done before her relics in early 1941. Now it is an annual tradition that on the first Sunday after January 3, her feast-day, the Orthodox have a joint moleben for her feast.(1)