O great Lord and God! You have led us from corruption to imperishable life through the life-giving death of Your Christ. So, now, deliver our senses from the mortal tyranny of our passions and place them under the safe and able guidance of our inner reason. Let not our eyes wander in search of evil sights, nor our ears indulge in listening to idle talk. Cleanse our tongues of unbefitting speech, O Lord, and purify our lips that they may praise You. Keep our hands from evil deeds and make them ever ready to do only the things that please You. Do this, Lord, by strengthening our understanding, and, indeed, our entire being, by your grace.
For You deserve all glory, honor, and worship, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
For the last 20 years or so, my brothers and I have been involved in researching our family heritage. We have spent most of that time researching the Preble side of our family tree although there are many branches and all are equally important.
Yesterday, on my way to another meeting, I stopped by the Mount Feake Cemetery in Waltham Massachusetts to pay a little visit to a grave of my Great Great Grandfather William Henry Preble. I never knew him, and I have never seen a picture of him and I am not sure why I feel certain closeness to him. Maybe it has to do with his service in the Civil War as that is an area of research interest for me. The strange this is my family is not what I would call cemetery people, we do not go and visit the cemetery, but I felt like I needed to take this little detour and visit his grave.
William Henry Preble was born in 1838 in Deer Isle Maine and by the age of 12 had moved with his family to Machias Maine. At the age of 23 he enlisted as Corporal in Company H of the 9th Maine Infantry Regiment and went off to fight in the Civil War. The 9th Maine fought alongside the 54th Massachusetts at Fort Wagner in South Carolina, this was the battle made famous by the movie Glory starring Matthew Broderick. Not sure if he was wounded, but he is listed as sick and in hospital after the battle and he served the rest of the War with the Invalid Company of the Volunteer Reserve Corps on Long Island New York.
Upon his discharge he returned to Maine and continued his family. Prior to 1880 he moved with his family to Wisconsin and took up farming. Maybe this is where I get it. By 1900 he had moved back east and settled in Waltham Massachusetts. According to his obituary he was a contractor in Waltham where he lived the rest of his life. He died in 1921 6 years after his wife of 57 years Lydia.
During my visit to his grave I noticed no mention of his service in the Civil War. No marker was present at the grave or on his marker that is placed in the ground. I am wondering if this is how he wanted it or if it was something that just was not done. I asked in the office if flags were placed on veteran’s graves and was told that if they know he is a veteran they will place a flag. I am not sure how they would know since it is not marked.
I have made some inquiries about getting a marker for his grave as I believe it is important that veteran’s graves are marker, it is the least we can do for those who served.
Why do I write all of this? I believe it is important that we tell the stories of those who have come before us. During the funeral service in the Orthodox Church, we sing may their memory be eternal, it is up to us to keep their memory alive.
Clergy gathered for the Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers
Saturday night, the Churches of the Worcester Council of Orthodox Churches gathered at St. George Cathedral in Worcester to commemorate the great feast day that we celebrate today. Like countless others before us, we gathered to remember the great victory of the Church over the devices of the Evil one when the Icons were restored. Countless numbers of people gave their lives in defense of something that most of us take for granted, thousands gave their lives to protect the images of Christ, the Theotokos, the Apostles, and the Saints, and it is a shame that more people could not stop their busy lives to remember a very large part of our Church.
It may be difficult for us to believe, but there was a time when it was illegal for Churches to display images on the walls and on the Icons screens in their churches. It was illegal for individuals to possess an Icon on their person or in their home, and for some the penalty was death. Icons play a vital role in our Orthodox worship, much like statues play in the Church of the West, we do not worship the image, but what the image represents, and it is unfortunate that we do not venerate these images more.
But we cannot talk about the restoration of the images made of wood and plaster and paint without speaking of the restoration of the images made of flesh and blood.
We all know the story, we read it this past week in the daily readings that are proscribed by the Church, our first parents were cast out of the garden. Last Sunday, we remember this expulsion from the garden and how our first parents were exiled from paradise and how their image was stained, not because of a piece of fruit or because of a serpent, these are just excuses, but because they willingly turned their back on God. They made a choice to follow their own will and not that of God and for that they were cast out.
After that life was not easy for humanity. Read the Old Testament to find out just how hard life became and still is for humanity because of the desire to follow our own will and not that God. The image of humanity that was created in the very image and likeness of God was tarnished, blackened if you will, by sin because of a single choice and a single action, pride.
But we know that the story does not end there, we know as resurrection people that it did not end with the expulsion from the garden and this commemoration today is not just about the restoration of the images we call icons, but it is a reminder of what is to come.
Our entire journey here on earth is for one purpose, and that is to restore our broken relationship with God. Sure, it has become fashionable today to talk about I’m okay you’re okay and that it is only sin if someone gets hurt, but that is heresy and always has been. We are not okay, we are broken and in need of healing, the healing that comes to us through the Church and from God.
Orthodoxy has a certain world view, we have a certain way we look at things and that is supposed to guide us in how we think and make decisions. Several weeks ago we heard in the Scriptures about the man who came to Jesus and asked Him what he had to do to enter Eternal Life, and Jesus response was love God and love neighbor. In other words, love of the creator and the creation. This is the Orthodox world view, and it must influence every decision and every thought that we have.
For most people, love of God is the easy part it is the love of neighbor that is difficult. How do we love someone who continuously hurts us and scorns us and casts us aside? How do we love someone who continuously uses us for their own benefit, and then when they have used us up, they cast us aside? It is not easy, but we do not have a choice in the matter we MUST love them whether they return that love or not. When we carry a grudge, they only person we are hurting is us, and our relationship with God, and we tarnish the image of God that we were created to be the image of. God is love, so we have to be that love.
How do we see others? How do we see our fellow human beings? Do we see them as Icons of Christ, as human beings created in the image and likeness of God or do we see them as things? Do we use labels when describing people, like; homeless, deadbeat, lazy, liberal, conservative, criminal, illegal immigrant, addict, terrorist, or do we see them as human beings that were created by an all loving God? Do we see them as their label or do we see them as Icons? Our Orthodox world view does not allow us to see our fellow human beings as anything but that, our fellow human beings.
I am a huge fan of the PBS series Downton Abbey. Many of you watch the program but for those of you who don’t it takes place at the turn of the 20th century in England in an extremely large manor house with the family living above the stairs and the servants living below the stairs. Live below the stairs was not all that bad, but the lesser servants were supposed to be invisible to the family, for the most part their names were not even known to them. If they were working in a room and a family member came in they were to scurry out without saying a word. Imagine a human being being invisible to another. If you think about it it is not all that hard to imagine.
When we have an opportunity to help those in need, when we have an opportunity to help those who have reached out their hands to us, and we slam the door or slap their hand away, that person is invisible to us. We see them as things and not as Icons of Christ.
Jesus Christ came to this earth not to save governments or nation states, Jesus Christ came to restore the image of humanity. There are very few times that Jesus directly addressed what the government of the day was doing, and he told those who were listing to render unto Caesar. He did not tell the government to treat the people better nor did he eat with them.
Jesus left us with a way of life, and that way of life is built upon love, love of God and love of our fellow human beings. These days that we spend in Great Lent lead us to the ultimate act of Love, Jesus giving His life for us on the Cross. Did he have to do it? Could there have been another way? Sure, but Jesus chose to come to earth in the form of man, not the form of the ruler of man, but of a lowly peasant who did not even have a place to lay his head at his birth, and he was killed as a common criminal, and He did all of that for one reason, the restoration of the image of God.
So yes, today we commemorate the actions of the fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council the restored the use of Icons, but we also need to think about how we treat, and how we think about the image of those around us.
Like most of the world, I have been paying pretty close attention to what the new Pope of Rome is doing these days. From what I have seen and from what I have read about Pope Francis they elected a reformer, I pray he is up to the task.
As an Orthodox Christian who came to Orthodoxy from the Roman tradition, I was extremely excited to see that Patriarch Bartholomew attended the Mass of Installation this week in Rome. He was not the only Orthodox in attendance but what makes this so noteworthy is this was the first time in history that a Patriarch attended a Papal Mass.
The media, in their own way, got most of the facts wrong. It was not the first time since 1054 that a Patriarch attended as I have just said and as some of my priest colleagues mentioned, this has never happened before. Delegations would be sent, but Patriarchs never did this in the past. The other thing they always seem to get wrong is, Patriarch Bartholomew is not the leader of the Orthodox Church, well he is the head of the Greek Orthodox Church and the Spiritual head, but he is not the leader in the same sense we think of the Pope of Rome.
Orthodoxy has many Patriarchs, for example, my Church has a Patriarch, Daniel of Romania. Patriarch Daniel is the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Each Patriarchate is autonomous and “runs” things in collaboration with the synod of bishops of that particular church.
According to Canon II of the First Council of Constantinople held in 381, Rome has primacy of place and then “The Bishop of Constantinople, however, shall have the prerogative of honor after the Bishop of Rome; because Constantinople is New Rome.” This does not mean that Constantinople is subject to Rome; Roman Universality came much later and is one of the contentious points between east and west. This was Primacy of Honor and how the various Patriarchs were to be commemorated during the Liturgy.
The other often misunderstood historical element is the date of 1054. 1054 is the date historians’ use as the final arbiter of formal separation between the Church of the East and the Church of the West, but there was an exceptionally long and complex history there that simply cannot be reduced to a date. This separation was long and painful, and yes, it came to a conclusion in 1054, but we need to keep things in perspective.
So where does that leave us today? Unlike some of my priest colleagues and other Orthodox, I think that we must dialogue with our brothers and sisters in the West. I think that we must do all we can to heal the rift and separation between the two ancient churches. However, there are certain theological problems that need to be resolved and that does not mean that the Orthodox should compromise the historic faith. I also think that using terms like heretic and heterodox and not helpful and only hurt the possibility of working together. We agree on far more than we disagree, sure the disagreements are large, but calling each other names is not helpful and I for one will not engage in it.
Patriarch Bartholomew has invited Pope Francis to come to Constantinople, and I also read, that they both will go to the Holy Land at some point in time. It would be nice if all of the Patriarchs could have a meeting, a meeting that is more than a photo op we have enough of those already, but a real meeting of substance. Let us not forget that Christianity is under attack not only by the Muslims but by modernity and the only way that we will defeat both of these is if we do it together.
To those of you who think Patriarch Bartholomew is a heretic for attending the Mass in Rome I bid you farewell. There will always be the fringe element on both sides who believe they are holier and more orthodox than the rest. You are free to leave and set up shop on your own. To my brothers who use the terms heterodox and heretic, I ask you to reconsider your words. Yes, they score great political points, but it is not helpful in any dialogue. The Orthodox do not need to cede any ground in theology, but we need to approach this in all humility and understanding as the father of the prodigal welcomed home his son. Now is not the time for arrogance but the time for humility.
You are free, of course, to disagree, but I ask you to do so with respect.
We witnessed a historical event in Rome, and I for one was extremely glad to see this. I think there is much we have in common with our Roman brothers and sisters, and we need to work together for the common good. Pope Francis has a heart for the poor in this world and we Orthodox share this concern, let us work together as brothers and sisters on the things we can to make a difference in this world. We need unity and understanding to resolve our theological issues, and that can happen if we are all open to the Spirit.
Today is the Sunday of Forgiveness. This is the Sunday that we clean our hearts and our minds of anything that we might be holding against our neighbors or against ourselves. As Christians, we are not to hold grudges or even the memory of past hurts and the things that others have done against us. No one is without fault, and as much blame as you pile on others we need to pile on ourselves. I have said this before, but it bears repeating, we can all use confession, and if we think we do not need it, we are guilty of the sin of pride. At the end of the Liturgy, today, rather than the usual blessing, we will all as each other for forgiveness and we will readily give forgiveness to one another If I have offended anyone by my words or actions I humbly as for your forgiveness and I ask for your prayers.
But today we also celebrate one of the greatest saints of the western world. Prior to the Great Schism of 1054 the Church was one universal church. The Church was divided by geography and not by theology. The Church is the west was developing along one path and the Church of the east along another. Prior to the great sin of Schism, many holy men and women walked on the earth, and one of those is St. Patrick of Ireland. It has been said that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s day, and as a Scotsman you have no idea how hard it was for me to say that!
However, I am comforted by the fact that Saint Patrick was in reality born in Kilpatrick in Dumbarton, wait for it, located in Scotland! It would seem that this great saint of the Irish was in fact born on Scottish soil. However, Scotland’s greatest saint, Columba was born on Irish soil, so I guess the trade was worthy, unlike some of those of the Patriots this past week. An interesting fact, neither one wanted to leave their native soil but St. Patrick was captured and brought to Ireland and St. Columba, as the legend goes, was exiled for his role in failed military battle against the king. Obviously God had other plans for these two.
There are many legends associated with Patrick, the leprechauns, driving the snakes out, and others such things but perhaps the greatness of his legacy remains in the writings that he has left behind. Through the pen of St. Patrick and his life, we learn about forgiveness, simplicity, confession, and humility.
St. Patrick had a remarkable insight and devotion to the Trinity. In the Icon of St. Patrick he is depicted holding the three leaf clover, not a four leaf clover as Hallmark would like you to believe. The three leaf clover was what Patrick used to teach his followers about the Trinity. A single stem with thee leaves branching off. Each leaf is separate but gets it nourishment and its very life, from the single stem. This very basic teaching has been passed down and has helped countless generations understand something that is almost incomprehensible, how can three be one?
After Patrick’s consecration as bishop, he was attacked for a sin that he confessed. No one is quite sure what this sin was but whatever it was he committed the sin when he was but 15 years old. He confessed this sin to a friend, and in jealousy this “friend” told people about it. St. Patrick was betrayed by this “friend” but, in his own humble way, he forgave this person and it is from that single simple action that we learn so much about character of this great man. We simply need to forgive not matter what has been done to us, no matter who it was that did it, we must forgive.
But the most famous of all his writings is the Lorica or the Breastplate of St. Patrick. The story is that St. Patrick and his followers used this prayer to defend themselves from those who wished to destroy them as the traveled across Ireland. The words of this prayer show St. Patrick’s deep love and knowledge of the Trinity and gives us a glimpse into the theological mind of this great saint.
It is simply a prayer of consecration to the Holy Trinity as the first words are “I bind myself today to the strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity.” The readers of this prayer are dedicating themselves to the Trinity and all that means for them and for us.
The prayer continues as they bind themselves to the Incarnation of Christ, His baptism, crucifixion, burial, and His resurrection. They go on to bind themselves to the preaching of the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, confessors and the deeds of righteous men. To the power of heaven, the light of the sun, the brightness of the moon.
They bind themselves to God’s power to guide, uphold, teach, to watch over them, and to keep them safe from all manner of evil.
Then comes the most famous part of the prayer,
Christ with me, Christ before me
Christ behind me, Christ within me
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left
In other words, I surround myself with Christ and His power to defend me!
This is the purpose of the season we start tomorrow, a closer walk and relationship with Jesus Christ, and we only realize that close relationship if we truly dedicate ourselves to Him, not just today, but every day.
Most of the world will celebrate this revered Saint today with a parade and possibly having drinks in a bar. Very few people will step foot into a church and bind themselves to the thing that St. Patrick loved so much, the Trinity! It is unfortunate that when we think of St. Patrick the first thoughts that come to mind very often is the drink and not the Trinity. But, for those of us here today, we have the opportunity to remember for different reasons. Today we will forgive each other, we will begin Great Lent with a clean slate towards one another, and I pray, we bind ourselves, as St. Patrick did, to the most Holy Trinity.
I bind myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity
I believe the Trinity in Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
1. Regardless of how you fast, fast every single day. This type of fasting helps wear down the passions and build spiritual endurance.
2. Know exactly what the fasting regulations are and try to approximate them as best you can. Each Lent, try to be more strict yet humble.
3. Particular concerns about fasting? Age, health issues, never fasted before, mixed-marriages? Speak with your priest.
4. Be sure to recite the Lenten prayer of Saint Ephraim. If you cannot make prostrations just make bows or cross yourself.
5. On weekends, we do not make prostrations and our fasting is slightly relaxed since Saturday and Sunday are holy days.
6. The Lenten services and tones are offered only during the week –
strive to participate as much as possible in these services and the spirit of lent will rub off on you.
7. Sports and outdoor activities are not contrary to the Lenten spirit.
8. Strive to avoid going to movies, parties, vacations, and other entertainments. This we do so we can have more time to devote to spiritual things.
9. Confession and Holy Communion are central to securing the benefits of Lent. Without fail, we should receive the Sacraments during the period of Great Lent.
10. Be mindful of what we look at and how much time we spend on TV and computer. Some give up TV for all of Lent. Others strictly limit their time and watch only educational and news programs. Surfing on the web? Hit the theological sites.
May the Strength of God guide us.
May the Power of God preserve us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct us.
May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us.
May the Shield of God defend us.
May the Angels of God guard us.
– Against the snares of the evil one.
May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us,
Christ be over all!
May Thy Grace, Lord,
Always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and forevermore. Amen.
Before the Feast of the Lord’s Resurrection the Holy Church has established a period of seven weeks of fasting. More precisely we should say that there are six weeks plus one, for the seventh is Passion Week, a time which we consider beyond fasting and indeed any earthly effort.
What is the meaning of the Fast, and why does the Orthodox Church still preserve this special kind of preparation before our great feasts?
We must remember in the first place that fasting is related to one of God’s provisions for mankind. The Holy Fathers say that in Paradise man received the commandment to fast, to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, otherwise he would die. The purpose of the commandment was to protect man from falling away from God, which brings death. St. Basil the Great says, “Because we did not fast, we left Paradise and were driven out of it”. Beginning with the commandment in the Garden of Eden, continuing with the prophets Moses, Elijah, and Daniel, with St. John the Baptist, and then with the Savior Christ Himself, fasting has been a practice respected by all who wished to put aside material things in order to gain spiritual things.
The Savior makes a statement which reveals the profound meaning of fasting: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which comes out of the mouth of God”. This shows that fasting does not mean just starving ourselves by abstaining from food, but nourishing ourselves with another kind of food—spiritual food, which is the Word of God. The Savior tells us that man is not made of soul and body, the soul desiring spiritual things and the body desiring material things; but man is soul and body, and spiritual things can be nourishment even for the body.
In fasting we can experience the fact that our body can be nourished also by another kind of food, not only by bread. This is because, as a result of our efforts in fasting, the body begins to let go a little of its attachment to material things and to receive spiritual things more. The very matter with which we are in solidarity through our body begins to be spiritualized through the work of grace, to which is added man’s efforts to receive the Word of God. In fasting we begin to understand a certain communion which was established between God and man before the fall of Adam, a communion in which the entire being of man, soul and body, participated. We also begin to understand the communion which exists between us as people, related to our communion with God. The closer we get to God, the closer we get to our brothers as well.
In the light of these things, every time of fasting is a struggle for each Christian who desires to fast. Today’s world and our responsibilities in it don’t encourage our fasting. In every fast, the struggle comes in trying to find a certain balance between our ascetical efforts and fulfilling our daily responsibilities. But this struggle will bring spiritual joy for the one who fasts and discovers the meaning of our Savior’s words about feeding on the Word of God.
I congratulate you on your election to the high and responsible service to the Primate of the Roman Catholic Church.
When your predecessor – Pope Benedict XVI – the relationship between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches have received new impetus and were marked by positive dynamics. I sincerely hope that Your Holiness and promoting co-operation between our two Churches will be developed in the spirit of brotherly love and mutual understanding.
At his accession to the papacy you chose the name Francis, which recalls the famous saints example of sacrificial devotion to the suffering people, and zealous preaching of the Gospel. This is seen as your desire to continue to care for the poor and the suffering, in which you have expressed compassion and love for many years of your service in Argentina, carrying on the preaching of Christ crucified and resurrected the modern world.
The same service is now a priority for the Russian Orthodox Church, which opens the possibility for co-operation and interaction with the Roman Catholic Church.
Orthodox and Catholics today are also designed to work together to protect the Christians in need of support and participation, were harassed and persecuted in various parts of the world. Joint labor is required for the approval of traditional moral values in modern secular societies.
Please accept, Your Holiness, my best wishes for peace, spiritual strength and physical strength to the generous support of God’s coming to you in a responsible ministry.
It is with joy that I convey to You the congratulations of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America on the occasion of Your election as Pope.
You enter Your ministry at a time of many challenges to the Christian faith and the Christian vision of life. In North America we are confronted by these challenges daily. We have in America a close relationship with the Catholic Church, offering witness to the Gospel of Christ in the face of the erosion of Christian values in society.
Your example as Archbishop of Buenos Aires has told the world that Your commitment is to the Gospel of Christ, its truth and its love. Your witness during Your first steps as Pope confirms this commitment strongly and without reservation.
We pray for your Holiness, for Your ministry and mission. May the blessing of holiness and prayer strengthen You as You guide the Catholic Church in its pilgrimage.
