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by Wesley J. Smith
I was busily preparing the church for Liturgy as usual a few weeks ago when my friend Mark approached. “Can you tell the difference between the two bouquets?” he asked, referring to flowers in vases on either side of the Royal Doors. I took a look. One of the bouquets was withered and dry, the other fresh. When I expressed surprise at the startling contrast, Mark smiled. “On Theophany I put my old Holy Water in the vase with the fresh flowers before filling my container with the new.” He also told me that he had not put any in the vase with dry flowers.
That got my attention! The flowers were identical inexpensive bouquets that had been purchased by a parishioner from Safeway for under $5 each. She had given them to me prior to the December 23 Liturgy. I had cut the bottom off their stems to maximize freshness, put them both in identical inexpensive glass vases with water, and then placed them in their current locations. No plant food or preservatives were added to the water of either vase. Neither, as far as I know, had either been touched since. The only apparent difference between the handling of the two bouquets was Mark pouring his Holy Water into the vase containing the still-fresh flowers.
I showed the contrasting bouquets to our priest, Fr. John, and received his blessing to mention the attention-getting phenomenon during my usual announcements at the end of Liturgy. More than a few eyebrows were raised. That was Sunday, January 20. The “Holy Water flowers” remained fresh on January 27, and Fr. John referenced them in his homily. I took the photo accompanying this article the next week, on February 3—at least six weeks from the date the flowers were put in their respective vases.
I thought the Holy Water flowers were noteworthy enough to send a photo and description to His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin, who replied, “It is wonderful when God breaks into our ordered world with its assumptions and categories and does something small that disturbs them. It is like a little nudge to say – ‘I am still here and still in charge no matter what you think.’”
Indeed. More than that, if the continuing freshness of one bouquet for more than six weeks is a little miracle—and I think it is—materialism is proved to be false. For if God can give us a little “nudge,” it means there is more to existence than news, weather, and sports: There is Abundant Life.
We are not to seek after signs. But isn’t it sweet when, in His graciousness, He unexpectedly sends one our way? Glory to God! Glory forever!
Wesley J. Smith is a sub-deacon at St. Innocent Orthodox Church in Livermore, California
by Father Lawrence Margitich
“…be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:32). These words of St. Paul tell us that if we conform to the moral, ethical, spiritual and philosophical norms of “this world” and how it understands things, we will lose the way in our struggle to reach our goal. What is that goal? Our Savior prayed these words: “…that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:21–23) The Lord prays that His glory may be given to us, that we may be united in Him with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Everything in the Church is appointed so that may happen: Baptism, Chrismation, the Liturgy, priesthood, Confession, the scriptures, prayer, fasting, prostrations, monasticism and marriage—are all both means of the cleansing of the heart as well as direct experiences of Kingdom, and an entrance into the glory. The liturgical, spiritual and moral path of the Orthodox Church is not based on theory or ideas. It’s a well-marked path, producing Apostles, saints, the holy bishops, monks and nuns and holy laypeople. If we conform ourselves and the Church to this world we will replace the tried and true methods of experiencing God’s Kingdom, and the result would not be the making of saints, but a tragic loss: the Holy Mysteries would become empty gestures, the Church would become a social institution based on moralistic, humanistic and situational ethics open to all kinds of currents, and we will have nothing at all to say to the world about the Kingdom of God and it’s ultimate destiny. Society, and in fact most Christian denominations, long ago forgot that although God created all things good, we live in a fallen world warred upon by demonic powers, broken with evil, sin, death, anarchy, pride, human will, suffering, the rebellion of nature, and man’s ignorance of God’s loving presence.
Announcing PSALM's
Liturgical Singing Seminar 2013
Choral Leadership and Vocal Development
February 8-9, 2013, Santa Rosa, CA
$100 both days, includes all meals, Friday and Saturday
$50 one day, includes meals for one day
Hosted by St. Seraphim Orthodox Church
90 Mountain View, Santa Rosa, CA
Speakers:
Mark Bailey
Alice Hughes
Anne Schoepp
Fr. Lawrence Margitich
Fr. Stephan Meholick
See photo galleries from Theophany celebrations around the Diocese of the West, If your parish would like to be included, send jpg files to Father John Dresko at jdresko (at) me (dot) com.
His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin, and his secretary, Reader Andrew Smith, celebrated the feast of Theophany, known locally as the Day of the Three Kings, at the invitation of Archbishop Alejo at the Exarchate's Cathedral of the Ascension in Mexico City. The two hierarchs concelebrated the Liturgy and performed the Great Blessing of Water.
At the conclusion of the blessing, gifts were distributed to the children present and to the elderly. After the Liturgy, local people came in the traditional garb of the Three Kings singing and dancing. Theophany is the big day in Hispanic culture for kids. Instead of Santa Claus, the Three Kings come at night and leave toys for the children in their shoes.
Archbishop Dmitri of blessed memory, who was well loved by the local clergy and people, made it a point to visit Mexico City at this time of year to strengthen the ties that unite the Exarchate with the rest of the Orthodox Church in America. Hopefully, this tradition will continue. Archbishop Alejo has been the guest of the Diocese of the West. Archbishop Benjamin is a member of the board of directors of Project Mexico.
Over the span of three weeks, from the beginning of the construction of a 42-foot high scaffold to the blessing of the new icon, the new icon of the Pantocrator was installed in the dome of St. Paul's Church in Las Vegas. The work of master iconographer Vladimir Krassovsky of San Francisco, the icon was 27 feet in diameter. It is the largest icon ever done by Vladimir. He began work on it many months ago. The first parts to be completed were the cherubim and seraphim - done on canvas and shipped in eight different containers to the parish. Those were eventually trimmed away from the rest of the canvas then pasted directly onto the ceiling of the dome.
The Pantocrator itself was shipped in three different pieces. The center of the dome was located by laser to ensure accuracy and the dome divided into eight "pieces". The face of the icon was placed in the center and then using the measurements, everything else was constructed around it. The lettering was stenciled then painted right onto the ceiling and the halo filled with silver leaf (a VERY tedious process!) then sealed with amber shellac, giving it the golden glow.
After everything was in place, the lettering done and the leaf shallaced, the whole project was then sealed with a clear varnish to preserve the work into future generations. Before the scaffolding was deconstructed, Father John Dresko, the rector of St. Paul's, climbed up all 42 feet, vestments and all, and blessed the magnificent work done. Those who enter the church in Las Vegas now have their eyes lifted towards heaven and the inspiration of this icon will continue for our children and grandchildren. This project was completed in time for the 25th Anniversary celebration of the founding of the parish, which will take place in May. We pray that all who gaze upon this work are inspired to glorify God!
(Photos by Bill Murphy)
The cold and the snow did not deter the faithful from celebrating the first Divine Liturgy of the newly established Orthodox Mission in Parker, Colorado on Sunday, December 09, 2012. Inspired and led by Father Anthony Karbo, this group of 41 missionaries planted the seeds of Orthodoxy on fertile ground in an area of the Southeastern Denver Metro area containing 60,000 people but not one Orthodox Church of any jurisdiction. Faithful from Elizabeth, Parker, Aurora, Centennial, Colorado Springs and Littleton converged on this neighborhood community center to establish this foothold of Orthodoxy.
From the portable iconostasis to the angelic voices of the choir, this first service exceeded everyone’s expectations. This mission is a collaborative effort of three OCA parishes in the Rocky Mountain Deanery; Holy Theophany in Colorado Springs, St Herman’s in Littleton and Holy Transfiguration in Denver. Although this mission church is sponsored by the Orthodox Church in America, its goal is to become a pan Orthodox oasis for anyone to have a place to worship should they not be able to travel to other churches in the area. Attendees of today’s services acknowledged they travel anywhere from 25 minutes to over an hour to get to the nearest Orthodox church from their homes.
After the service, everyone shared in fellowship over a pot luck luncheon. For now, the mission will celebrate Diving Liturgy on the second Sunday of each month, starting at 9:30 am. Through God’s grace they hope to expand beyond the 41 people who attended this first service and reach out to others; providing the opportunity for many to worship our Lord and Savior who live in the Southeast Denver Metro area.
The Holy Spirit is indeed inspiring this group of missionaries as they spread the work of our Lord to a section of this Denver Metro area. All of the people involved in cultivating this vineyard of our Lord ask that you keep them in your prayers as they continue to spread his word. Inquiries pertaining to the mission can be addressed to Fr. Anthony Karbo at Holy Theophany Orthodox Church in Colorado Springs.
Nativity 2012
The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
(Matthew 4:16)
To the Clergy, Monastics and Faithful of the Diocese of the West:
Christ is Born!
We celebrate today the entry of the pre-eternal God into time and human history. We marvel at the humility of the God who comes to Bethlehem to be born in a cave. We stand in awe of the Creator who comes forth from the Virgin’s womb, not to accuse or condemn a sinful world that trembles in a darkness of its own fashioning, but to bind up its wounds and to show it love and compassion. He comes as the Samaritan, Who being rejected and discounted, nevertheless takes pity on mankind that has fallen among thieves, been stripped of everything, beaten and left to die at the side of the road.
Our fallen world still stumbles in the darkness and refuses to accept the gentle light that has appeared in the manger today. Human beings still love the darkness and choose madness. And when, as it did at that elementary school in Connecticut just over a week ago, it seems that the evil of men has prevailed and there is no hope, Christ is born and we are humbled by God Who still finds us worth loving, Who still sees something of value in us.
We have been called through baptism and chrismation to be animate icons, to make God’s presence known and felt in the world. God reaches down and touches the world through our hands. He hears the cries of His creation by means of our ears. He sees the harm that men do through our eyes. And, our lips are called to proclaim His message, the Good News that He loved the world so much that He sent His only-begotten Son to abolish death and restore Adam and his children to life.
I ask God’s blessing upon you and your families. And, I pray that God can find us all to be worthy co-workers in bringing healing and the Light that can dispel every darkness to this troubled world.
+Archbishop Benjamin
Download a hard copy of this message here.
On St. Spiridon's Day, December 12, at St. Spiridon's Cathedral in Seattle, His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin blessed Mr. John R. Cox, Coast Guard Veteran, Railway Engineer, and the Senior Bellringer of the Cathedral, as a Church Bellringer.
The Russian Church recently approved a service for the setting apart of bell ringers. It is believed that was the first time the newly restored order (chin) of Church Bellringer has been served in North America. Mr. Cox and several others have taken bell ringing quite seriously and His Eminence views this as a means of not only blessing, but encouraging this long-neglected art.
On Thursday and Friday, Nov 29 and 30, 2012, the clergy of the Rocky Mountain deanery gathered at St Andrew the Apostle Orthodox Church in Delta, Colorado for a deanery meeting, and to concelebrate the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle.
Joining us, specific to the Deanery Meeting, was Fr Sergios, abbot of St. Tikhon's Monastery, who presented a two=part reflection on the Mystery of the Divine Liturgy. Fr. Sergios brought with him the myrrh-streaming icon of St Anna, Foremother of God, and the epitrachelion of St. Seraphim of Sarov. Both the icon and stole were accompanied by corresponding relics of the saint. The deanery meeting was a time of reflection, sharing, “sharpening”, and encouragement, “our best ever!” stated one participant; surely referencing not only the ever-deepening sense of brotherhood, but also by virtue of the grace of the saints present with us.
Driving to Delta, several of us noted the disconcerting lack of snow atop the continental divide, and extremely low water levels in the Blue Mesa Reservoir. Lack of water in the Colorado Rockies threatens water supplies for much of the diocese. In light of this, immediately following Liturgy on Friday morning, the parish and clergy processed around the church with the wonder-working Icon, beseeching our Lord to send rain on our parched western lands. This was done in reference to a Romanian account of the Foremother of God alleviating a drought on behalf those who interceded before her icon.
In all, the icon visited five parishes within our deanery. Each service was truly a "mini-Pascha" for the host parish, complete with paschal procession. Much grace was tangibly present for all the faithful: our thirsty souls were quenched even as we sought rains upon the land, and blessed we were with gentle rains and snow in the mountains the following day!
