Episode 12 is now online. In this Episode I continue looking at the Sacraments of the Orthodox Church with a look at Baptism.
St. Monirus
A pool in the River Dee in the North of Scotland called Polmanuire reminds us of the influence of this saint in Aberdeenshire and Banffshire in the ninth century. He is remembered particularly at Crathie where there was a church in his name and a local fair. He died in 824.
Let it Snow!
So it is 7:30am on Sunday Morning and it has been snowing for sometime now. The Church lot has not been plowed and the police are saying it is getting slippery since it is changing over to sleet. I have pulled the plug and canceled church for the day. I just took this picture from the front door of the rectory looking up the hill toward the church. Stay warm, and stay home if you are in the Northeast. There is no need to go outside. Let the plows do there job and get the roads clean. Please don’t throw your snow in the street, shovel off the sidewalks in front of your house, and if you have fire hydrant near you, give the guys a break and shovel that out as well. I will have to admit I love this time of year. I don’t have to go anywhere so I love it even more. I am always concerned for people who have to be out in this mess, the plow drivers, police, EMT’s Fire it is very dangerous for them as well. I have the scanner on and they are busy so keep them in your prayers today. As the day continues and they get tired it will get worse. So sit back and enjoy a day of football. Maybe I can get the decorations on my tree! Blessed Sunday.Snow Storm
We are preparing for the first of TWO big snow storms to his us. The first one is due to hit sometime today and will dump up to 12 inches of the white stuff on us. The second one is Due on Saturday night and who knows how much we will get. I have to say I am a little excited about this because I do not have to go anywhere, but at the same time a little concerned for those who do. We all saw what happened in the Midwest and now that is heading our way. I will try and take some pics and post them.
The Sacraments of the Orthodox Church
When I first came to St. Michael’s three years ago, I preached a series of sermons on the Sacraments of the Orthodox Church. I thought I would turn to those teaching for a few posts. I am also recording those as Podcasts for the Shepherd of Souls as well. I will begin with a brief overview of what the sacraments are and where they come from.
The Sacraments are vessels of the mystical participation in the Divine Grace of Mankind. The Orthodox Church considers everything which is and of the church as Sacraments. The word Sacrament comes from the Latin noun Sacramentum, and it signified a sacred obligation. The Roman Church by the 12th century used the term exclusively to identify something that had an external sign of grace, instituted by Christ for the sanctification of believers.
The Orthodox Church uses the term Mysterion when speaking of the Sacraments. The word comes from the Greek myein meaning to initiate. New Testament mysterion denotes the incomprehensible and inconceivable revealed truths and teachings of God. The term is also used to define the incomprehensible doctrines of our faith. There would be, Teaching of the Holy Trinity, incarnation of our Lord, and Transubstaniation. They are mysteries because we cannot explain them with out human minds.
The Sacraments (Mysteries) have the following:
1. The Divine Institution – Jesus instituted all seven of the Sacraments.
2. The Outward Sign – The Church is both visible and invisible and we are composed of body and soul so the Sacraments have outward and visible signs. An example of this would be the bread and wine used for Communion and the words that are said during the liturgy.
3. The Inward Grace Given – The signs transmit the presence of the Holy Spirit and the grace is not the same in every Sacrament. i.e. in marriage Divine Grace unites the husband and wife.
In order to administer the Sacraments, the following are necessary:
1. The one who administers the Sacrament with be canonically ordained either bishop or priest with proper authority given to them.
2. The material defined for each Sacrament must be used: water for baptism, oil for Chrismation, bread and wine for Holy Eucharist and the words that are laid down by the church.
3. The individual must be prepared and be receptive to the grace. The person must approach in a proper spiritual manner.
You will notice that I am using the terms Sacrament and Mystery interchangeably. The term Sacrament is a term that all should be used to so for the sake of this discussion I will use both for the same purpose.
So that is the beginning of the discussion. Next post will be about the Sacrament, or Mystery, of Baptism.
11 December ~ St. Daniel the Stylite
This Saint was from the village of Marutha in the region of Samosata in Mesopotamia. He became a monk at the age of twelve. After visiting Saint Symeon the Stylite (see Sept. 1) and receiving his blessing, he was moved with zeal to follow his marvellous way of life. At the age of forty-two, guided by providence, he came to Anaplus in the environs of Constantinople, in the days of the holy Patriarch Anatolius (see July 3), who was also healed by Saint Daniel of very grave malady and sought to have him live near him. Upon coming to Anaplus, Saint Daniel first lived in the church of the Archangel Michael, but after some nine years, Saint Symeon the Stylite appeared to him in a vision, commanding him to imitate his own ascetical struggle upon a pillar. The remaining thirty-three years of his life he stood for varying periods on three pillars, one after another. He stood immovable in all weather, and once his disciples found him covered with ice after a winter storm. He was a counsellor of emperors; the pious emperor Leo the Great fervently loved him and brought his royal guests to meet him. It was at Saint Daniel’s word that the holy relics of Saint Symeon the Stylite were brought to Constantinople from Antioch, and it was in his days that the Emperor Leo had the relics of the Three Holy Children brought from Babylon. Saint Daniel also defended the Church against the error of the Eutychians. Having lived through the reigns of the Emperors Leo, Zeno, and Basiliscus, he reposed in 490, at the age of eighty-four.
From www.goarch.org
Live Podcast/Webcast
Fr. Greg and I will be doing a live Podcast/Webcast from 4-6pm today on ustream. This is part of the Orthodox Christian Network special webcast.
Join us at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/facing-east
Hope to see you there!
Conception of the Theotokos
According to the ancient tradition of the Church, since Saint Anna, the Ancestor of God, was barren, she and her husband Joachim remained without children until old age. Therefore, sorrowing over their childlessness, they besought God with a promise that, if He were to grant them the fruit of the womb, they would offer their offspring to Him as a gift. And God, hearkening to their supplication, informed them through an Angel concerning the birth of the Virgin. And thus, through God’s promise, Anna conceived according to the laws of nature, and was deemed worthy to become the mother of the Mother of our Lord.Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Against all hope, the bonds of barrenness are loosed today. For, God has hearkened unto Joachim and Anna clearly promising that they would bear a godly maiden. He who commanded the angel to cry out to her, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you,” will be born of her, the infinite One Himself, becoming man.
Against all hope, the bonds of barrenness are loosed today. For, God has hearkened unto Joachim and Anna clearly promising that they would bear a godly maiden. He who commanded the angel to cry out to her, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you,” will be born of her, the infinite One Himself, becoming man.
From www.goarch.org
Webcast
Fr. Greg and I will be participating in a live webcast call in show on Sunday from 4-6pm. This is being sponsored by the Orthodox Christian Network and is being used as a fundraiser but also will give folks a chance to call in a speak about Christmas. There will be several special guests including Archbishop Nicolae of the Romanian Archdiocese. We are also going to stream us being on the Webcast, while podcasting. It should be a hoot and we are going to try and have a live audience here as well so tune in. I will post the address on Sunday.
This week on OCN the interview we did with Archbishop Nicolae will be running on The Ark on a segment called Special Moments in Orthodoxy. The segment will air Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 3pm and 11pm. Tune in if you can.