On Rich and Poor

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Two Forms of Robbery
The rich usually imagine that, if they do not physi­cally rob the poor, they are committing no sin. But the sin of the rich consists in not sharing their wealth with the poor. In fact, the rich person who keeps all his wealth for himself is committing a form of robbery. The reason is that in truth all wealth comes from God, and so belongs to everyone equally. The proof of this is all around us. Look at the succulent fruits which the trees and bushes produce. Look at the fertile soil which yields each year such an abundant harvest. Look at the sweet grapes on the vines, which give us wine to drink. The rich may claim that they own many fields in which fruits and grain grow; but it is God who causes seeds to sprout and mature. The duty of the rich is to share the harvest of their fields with all who work in them and with all in need. – Saint John Chrysostom ~ From, On Living Simply

h/t Classical Christianity

General

The Churching of Women

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Yesterday, I wrote about the Service of the Naming of the Child. I mentioned in that article the service of the Churching of Women. That is the subject of today’s article. As with the Naming Service, this service has fallen out of use as well and I would like to see all of these services restored as it is part of the rich Tradition of the Orthodox Church.
I can remember a class in seminary where this service came up. One of the many women in the class took exception to this service as there is nothing sinful about giving birth so why is there a service for this. Well that comment shows a complete misunderstanding of this service.
The ceremony as it exists today contains no elements of ritual purification. The ceremony includes prayers for thanksgiving for the woman’s survival of childbirth and is related to the Purification of the Theotokos in Luke 2:22-40. The ceremony makes it first appearance in the pseudo-Nicene Arabic canons and has been discontinued in Churches of the West.
The service presupposes a need for the new mother to stay home and recuperate after childbirth. I am sure many women would love the opportunity to remain home for 40 days but that is not the case in our world today. It was tradition that during this time the woman did not receive Holy Communion unless she was in fear of death. The service includes the blessing for the mother and the presentation of the child but needs to be separate from the Naming of the Child Service.
On the 40th day after the birth of her child, the mother comes to the church to receive a blessing. The mother and child are presented together and they stand facing the Holy Doors whilst the prayers are read. The service begins with the usual prayers and then:
O Lord God Almighty, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who by thy word hast created all things, both men and women endowed with speech and dumb animals, and hast brought all things from nothingness into being, we pray and implore thee: thou hast saved this thy servant by thy will. Purify her, therefore, from all sin and from every uncleanness, as she now draweth near unto thy holy Church; and make her worth to partake, uncondemned, of thy Holy Mysteries.
There is now a prayer for the child and the following prayer for the Mother of the Child:
O Lord our God, who didst come for the redemption of the human race, come thou also upon thy servant, and grant unto her, through the prayers of thine honorable Priest, entrance into the temple of thy glory. Wash away her bodily uncleanness, and the stains of her soul, in the fulfilling of the forty days. Make her worthy of the communion of thy Body and of thy Blood. For sanctified and glorified is thine all-honorable and majestic Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Boston Most Valuable Blogger Nomination

Posted on by Fr. Peter
This blog, and your host, have been nominated in the everything else category for the Most Valuable Boston Blogger.  I am the only Religious blog nominated and it would be very cool to win.  So click on the badge at the top of this post and head on over and vote.  I think you can vote one time each day until September 9th.  Let’s show Boston what we can do!

The Service of the Naming of the Child

Posted on by Fr. Peter
If you follow these pages then you know that I have been on sabbatical for the last few weeks. I have been able to travel to different churches and to worship with the community there. Yesterday I had the pleasure to attend the Divine Liturgy with my friend Fr. Anthony Perkins and the folks at St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
After the Liturgy I was asked to celebrate the service at the naming of a child for Fr. Anthony and Pani Tina. I have never served this particular service nor have I seen it done. What an honor to be able to provide such a wonderful spiritual event in the life of the child and her family.
In the tradition of the Orthodox Church, the child is named formally on the eighth day after birth, following the tradition of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. Unfortunately it is a service that seems to have fallen out of disuse as has the service of the Blessing of the Mother, which I also served yesterday. The service is short but very meaningful.
The service comes out of the Service Book as edited by Elizabeth Hapgood. The language is that of the King James era, but I am finding that I like this language more and more.
The service begins with the trisagon prayer and then the following prayer is recited by the priest whilst making the sign of the cross on the forehead, lips and breast of the child.
O Lord our God, we pray unto thee, and we beseech thee, that the light of thy countenance may be shown upon this thy servant (name); and that the cross of thine Only-begotten Son may be graven in (his/her) heart, and in (his/her) thoughts: that (he/she) may flee from the vanity of the world and from every evil snare of the enemy, and may follow after thy commandments. And grant, O Lord, that thy holy Name may remain unrejected by (him/her); and that (he/she) may be united, in due time, to thy holy Church; and that the dread Sacraments of thy Christ may be administered unto (him/her): That, having lived according to thy commandments, and preserved without flaw the seal, (he/she) may receive the bliss of the elect in thy kingdom; through the grace and love towards mankind of thine Only-begotten Son, with who also thou art blessed, together with thine all-holy, and good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
The taking the child in his arms, the priest will stand before the Holy Doors of the Church or before the image of the Holy Theotokos and says the following prayer:
Hail, O Virgin Birth-giver of God, thou who art full of grace! For from thee hath shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, who giveth light to them that are in darkness. And rejoice, thou aged, righteous man, that didst receive in thine arms the Redeemer of our souls, who giveth unto us resurrection!

Scripture Readings ~ 10th Sunday After Pentecost

Posted on by Fr. Peter
10th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST — Tone 1. Afterfeast of the Dormition. Apostle Thaddæus of the Seventy (ca. 44). Martyr Bassa of Edessa and her sons Theogonius, Agapius, and Pistus (2nd c.). Ven. Abramius, Archimandrite and Wonderworker of Smolensk, and his disciple, Ven. Ephraim (13th c.). Ven. Abramius the Lover-of-Labor, of the Kiev Caves (Near Caves—12th-13th c.). Ven. Nun Martha of Diveyevo (1829).

John 21:1-14 (10th Matins Gospel)

After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”-knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
1 Corinthians 4:9-16 (Epistle)
For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me.
Matthew 17:14-23 (Gospel)
And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up. And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

SEAL killed in Afghanistan to be laid to rest in Minnesota

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL)
John W. Faas, 31, of Minneapolis.

ST. PAUL, MN [OCA]

A visitation for Chief Petty Offier John Weston Faas, 31, one of 22 Navy SEALs killed with eight other US troops when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan on August 6, 2011, will be held at Holy Trinity Church [OCA], 956 Forest St., St. Paul, from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 21.

A parishioner of Holy Trinity Church, Faas is the second known Minnesota casualty of the attack. He was a 1998 graduate of Minnehaha Academy, where he was co-valedictorian of his class and captain and quarterback of the football team.

“John was a man of unquestionable integrity and courage, as were those he served with,” his family said in a statement released to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “He became a SEAL to serve his country and to make the world a better place for those less fortunate. John made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the ideals of our nation; while doing a job he loved and while serving with the people he loved. Although his life was tragically cut short, his spirit will live on in his family and friends, and the brave men who served by his side until his death.”

He is survived by his parents, Gretchen and Robert Faas of Minneapolis; aunts, uncles and cousins.

Interment will take place at Fort Snelling Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. The Funeral will be celebrated at the cemetery chapel at noon. A reception will follow at Minnehaha Academy North Campus, 3100 West River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN.

May John’s memory be eternal!

Prayers requested for Archbishop Dmitri

Posted on by Fr. Peter

DALLAS, TX [OCA]

The Mystery of Holy Unction will be celebrated for His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri, on Tuesday, August 23, at 6:30 pm at Saint Seraphim Cathedral here.

Archbishop Dmitri was released from Baylor Medical Center on Wednesday evening, August 17. “Vladyka’s doctors concluded that he could be treated at home just about as well as in the hospital,” said Mr. Milos Konjevich, Treasurer of the Diocese of the South. “The conditions that could best be addressed by hospital care have been addressed; a case could always be made for staying in a few days longer to clear up other issues, but his peace of mind in being back home was the overriding consideration.”

While in the hospital, the Archbishop gave his blessing to the Diocesan Chancellor, Archpriest Marcus C Burch, to make arrangements for the service to take place in the cathedral.

“Given the Archbishop’s continued weakness as he fights the infection for which he had been admitted to the hospital, it has been decided to move forward with the unction service sooner than later,” Father Marcus reported. “Bishop Nikon, Locum Tenens of the Diocese of the South, suggested that it would very appropriate for the service to be celebrated by the Archbishop’s spiritual sons. Therefore, we have specifically asked the Diocese of the South priests in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area to participate. Of course, any other clergy from the Diocese and other local parishes are welcome to participate, as are the faithful of Saint Seraphim’s, area churches, and the Diocese of the South as a whole.’

His Grace, Bishop Nikon, has asked that prayers continue to be offered for the healing of the Archbishop’s soul and body.

20 August ~ Prophet Samuel

Posted on by Fr. Peter
The Prophet Samuel was the fifteenth and last of the Judges of Israel, living more than 1146 years before the Birth of Christ. He was descended from the Tribe of Levi, and was the son of Elkanah from Ramathaim-Zophim of Mount Ephraim. He was born, having been besought from the Lord through the prayers of his mother Hannah (therefore he received the name Samuel, which means “besought from God”). Even before birth, he was dedicated to God. Her song, “My heart exults in the Lord,” is the Third Ode of the Old Testament (1 Sam/1 Kings 2:1-10).
When the boy reached the age of three, his mother went with him to Shiloh and in accord with her vow dedicated him to the worship of God. She gave him into the care of the High Priest Eli, who at this time was a judge over Israel. The prophet grew in the fear of God, and at twelve years of age he had a revelation that God would punish the house of the High Priest Eli, because he did not restrain the impiety of his sons. Eli’s whole family was wiped out in a single day.
The prophecy was fulfilled when the Philistines, having slain in battle 30,000 Israelites (among them were also the sons of the High Priest, Hophni and Phinees), gaining victory and capturing the Ark of the Covenant. Hearing this, the High Priest Eli fell backwards from his seat at the gate, and breaking his back, he died. The wife of Phinees, upon hearing what had happened in this very hour, gave birth to a son (Ichabod) and died with the words: “The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God is taken away” (1 Sam/1 Kgs 4: 22).
Upon the death of Eli, Samuel became the judge of the nation of Israel. The Ark of God was returned by the Philistines on their own initiative. After returning to God, the Israelites returned to all the cities that the Philistines had taken. In his old age, the Prophet Samuel made his sons Joel and Abiah judges over Israel, but they did not follow the integrity and righteous judgment of their father, since they were motivated by greed.
Then the elders of Israel, wanting the nation of God to be “like other nations” (1 Sam/1 Kgs 8: 20), demanded of the Prophet Samuel that they have a king. The Prophet Samuel anointed Saul as king, but saw in this a downfall of the people, whom God Himself had governed until this time, announcing His will through His chosen saints. Resigning the position of judge, the Prophet Samuel asked the people if they consented to his continued governance, but no one stepped forward for him.
After denouncing the first king, Saul, for his disobedience to God, the Prophet Samuel anointed David as king. He had offered David asylum, saving him from the pursuit of King Saul. The Prophet Samuel died in extreme old age. His life is recorded in the Bible (1 Sam/1 Kgs; Sirach 46:13-20).
In the year 406 A.D. the relics of the Prophet Samuel were transferred from Judea to Constantinople.

Source

20 August ~ St. Oswin King and Martyr of Deira, Northumbria

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Died at Gilling, Yorkshire, England, on August 20, 651.
When his father, King Osric of Deira (roughly the county of Yorkshire), was killed by the pagan Welsh King Cadwallon in 633, he was taken to Wessex for safety, baptized, and educated there by Saint Aidan…
Saint Bede tells us that Oswin was “handsome in appearance and of great stature, pleasant in speech and courteous in manner. He was generous to high and low alike and soon won the affection of all by his kingly qualities of mind and body so that even men of very high birth came from nearly every province to his service. . . . and among his other qualities of virtue and moderation the greatest was humility.”
Oswin had reigned successfully for about nine years, when Oswy declared war on him. Rather than precipitate a bloody battle when he realised that his army was vastly outnumbered, Oswin went into hiding with one trusted soldier at the estate of his best friend, Earl Hunwald, at Gilling near Richmond, York. Hunwald betrayed him and he was murdered at Gilling, Yorkshire, by Ethelwin on orders from Oswy. Oswin, buried at Tynemouth, has been venerated as a martyr since his death, because he died, “if not for the faith of Christ, at least for the justice of Christ,” as a 12th-century preacher explained.
In expiation for his crime, Oswy built a monastery at Gilling, but Oswin’s relics remained at Tynemouth. Later the church was subject to the Viking raids and Oswin’s tomb was forgotten until it was found in 1065. At that time the relics were translated.

Good Leaders Must First Be Good Followers

Posted on by Fr. Peter
One of the classes I wish they taught us in the seminary was a course on leadership.  Unlike some of my classmates in the seminary, I have had an advantage of studying leadership.  You see I spent twelve and half years in the United States Army and the Massachusetts Army National Guard with more than half of that as a noncommissioned officer.  One of the first leadership lessons you learn is that to be a good leader you must first be a good follower.

I was blessed to have worked for some fantastic leaders during my time in the military but there is the flip side as well, the bad leaders.  I would say that some people are born to be leaders but most need to learn to be leaders.

Anyone involved in leadership will tell you that good leaders are also good readers, and I do read many things by many different authors about leadership both secular leadership and religious leadership.  There are some differences but there are more similarities.  It is not easy to lead the fortune 500 company nor is it easy to lead a church in this very complex world that we live in.

During my daily reading I recently came across this web site called Changing Minds.  On that site was a list of the Five Reasons to Follow a Leader.  I have adapted them for this essay and they are presented  in no particular order.

1.  We follow because we are afraid of retribution.  We follow the person who is in charge because if we do not there could be consequences for our career and our paycheck.  From my own perspective I can see the point of this one, but a good leader would have people following them without needing to threaten people. 
2.  We follow because we have blind hope.  Again not a very good reason to follow but we follow because we are so desperate for a solution to a problem that we are willing to follow anyone who can come up with a solution no matter how crazy it may seem.

3.  We follow because we have faith in the leader.  Like I said at the start I worked for some great leaders in the Army.  I would follow these guys literally into battle, I trusted them with my life.  However that faith can also blind us to the fact that they might be leading us down the wrong road.

4.  We follow because we agree with them on an intellectual level.  We see the solution to the problem that leader is putting forth and we understand it and we are willing to go along with it on an intellectual level not just because the leader came up with it.  We do not follow blindly but we follow because we respect them on that intellectual level.

5.  We follow because we buy into the vision.  One of the very first books I read after my ordination was the Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren.  This book really opened my eyes on how to motivate people to move them from point a to point b after all this is what we do when we lead.  In this book he stressed that the people need a vision and with no vision they are likely to follow anyone who comes along with a good idea, the blind hope!  As leaders we must craft and sell the vision to those who will follow, I have learned that this is much easier if those we are leading have some say in the vision and the direction.

I liked the TV show West Wing when it was on a few years back.  In one of the episodes the Vice President is speaking with the Chief of Staff, I cannot remember the context of the conversation, but as the VP was walking out of the office he turned and said, “You know what you call a leader with no followers, just a guy out taking a walk.”  Now I am sure that quote comes from someplace but I heard it in West Wing.  It is very true that if we as leaders, do not have followers, then we are in fact out for a walk.  I would also say the same is true.  If we followers do not have a leader then we will wander around in a circle.

If we ever hope to be great leaders, like the ones I followed, then we must be able to follow.

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