#WhyChrist#Beloved
I am not what I do & you are not what you do or what others say about u or what u possess “You are God’s Beloved” this is your true identity…….The voice from above and from within wispers softly and declare loudly “You are my beloved son and daughter and on you my favor rest.
I see how the story of the father and his lost son powerfully affirms that it was not I who chose God, but God who first chose me. This is the great mystery of our faith . We donot choose God , God chooses us. From all eternity we are hidden “in the shadow of God’s hand” and “engraved on his palm”……
Now I wonder whether I have sufficiently realized that during all this time God has been trying to find me, to know me, and to love me. The question is not “How am I to find God?” but “How am I to let myself be found by him?” The question is not “How am I to know God?” but “How am I to let myself be known by God?” And, finally, the question is not “How am I to love God?” but “How am I to let myself be loved by God?” God is looking into the distance for me, trying to find me, and longing to bring me home. Like the father waiting for his lost son.
#WhyChrist#LoveChrist I serve not because I love sevice. I serve because I love Christ
What is my thought? I see Jesus in every human being. I say to myself, This is hungry Jesus, I must feed him. This is sick Jesus. This one has leprosy or gangrene; I must wash him and tend to him. I serve because I love Jesus #MotherTeresa
Yes , as the prophecy which was fulfilled here from
Isaiah 19:19
“In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. It will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of Host in the land of Egypt”
Deir al-Muharraq (Burnt Monastery), an hour’s drive northwest of Assyut About 50 minutes’ drive from Assyut towards Minya, is a place of pilgrimage, refuge and vows, where the strength of Coptic traditions can be experienced.
This is the place that according to tradition, the Holy Family stayed six months and five days, and where Jesus, after the Resurrection, came back to consecrate the altar referred to in Isaiah 19:19 as “an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt.”
The holiest place in the monastery is the Church of the Holy Virgin which is believed to be founded in the first century A.D., and thus is the first church in the world. “Dair El-Muharraq,” is dedicated to the Holy Virgin Mary, and the altar stone shown here was the bed, upon which the Infant Savior lay .
The Holy Family had crossed over to Upper Egypt and had hidden there for almost six months. Al-Muharraq Monastery is located, literally, in the midst of the land of Egypt standing at its exact geographical center also
I made my personal visitation on 8th of November 2015 .
It was great blessing to witness the first Icon by Daniel in a Ghanaian style. Daniel is my Ghanaian friend and is new to Oriental #Orthodoxy. Professionally he is a Wood carver and makes beautiful handmade wooden arts. His inclination towards traditional wood carving art helped him to take interest in Orthodox traditional art. During an Iconography session, Daniel showed a keen interest in learning more about Icons, its meaning and Orthodox concept of #Iconography. And I was more than happy to answer and discuss with him about it.
Followed by Daniel introduced his Ghanaian culture to Iconography. Colors, Symbols especially the #Adinkra symbols (Adinkra are visual symbols, originally created by the Akan tribe of Ghana representing some messages like star symbolizing “God the King”). Colors where generally related to Ghanaian flag which has common colors like other African flags (same like Ethiopian icons)
The First Icon made by Daniel is of most Holy Theotokos, which is a 15*30 wooden panel Icon. Daniel’s interest in Iconography is keep growing and he continues to study and write Icons. Followed by he made two more Icons on rock , one of St John the Baptist and other of Elijah.
His story is an inspiration for many. And this story needs to be shared.
May God help him to grow further and share Orthodoxy in Africa. #Orthopost#GhanianIcon
+++ “A mother Receiving her Child”
Slowly, carefully, hand over hand His body lowered down from the Cross. Mary reaches toward him, Not knowing whether to assist Or wait to receive it. Casting around for a place,
Finally, she sits on Golgotha’s cold stone the way she sat in that cold Bethlehem night. But this time its Golgotha’s cold stone. Where they lay him on her lap
A mother Receiving her Child from Cross…..
“That which the word communicates by sound , the painting (Icon) shows silently by representation” St Basil the Great
The liturgical and sacramental life of the Church is inseparable with its visual context. As rightly said, We worship with five senses and one of these five senses is the Sense of vision.
Icons suggest two type of creativity, it is art and liturgical. These two types are complementary and inter related, therefore an Icon is not just a simple image, nor just a decoration, nor just an illustration of Holy Scripture. It is something greater. The Orthodox Church not just sees it as an aspect of Orthodox teaching but the expression of Orthodoxy in its totality. The Icon is one of the manifestations of Holy tradition of Church same like written and Oral tradition. A writing an icon is a process from darkness to light, so material thing ascends to their spiritual ascends. That’s why the process of Iconography is related to liturgy, it is liturgical. Any Icon is symbolical description of the reality therefore the teaching about an Icon is the teaching about Image of God in Man. So every step that an Iconographer demonstrates on board from the step one shows certain reality same like the Holy Liturgy.
According to the tradition and patristic teachings, the context of Holy Gospel and Holy Icons is the revelation, the Incarnation of the Word of God. That is his entry in to the world and the human History, when He became describable. This tradition is followed in parallel with Oral and the written tradition. Both the written scripture and Icon shows the same truth but scripture describe with words and Icon through colors because of which Holy Icons are rightly called “Theology in Colors”.
The festival of Pentecost is of Old Testament origin. It was celebrated to commemorate the giving of the law on Mount Sinai- God Making a solemn covenant with his chosen people and at the same time as a thanksgiving for the first fruit of the earth and the new harvest. It was celebrated as the conclusion of seven weeks and fiftieth day after the Passover and so was called the feast of weeks.
On this day of the revelation of law , Holy spirit descended on his apostles and the disciples by the divine providence and in accordance with the savior’s promise . This descent of the Holy spirit was the making of new covenant by God with the new Israel, the Church.
If all the three person of the Holy Trinity take part in the providential action of God , their manifestation in this action differs from one another. On the day of descent of the Holy spirit on the apostles there was manifested the culmination action of third person of Holy Trinity, consubstantial, undivided yet distinct.
For the iconographical expression , the Orthodox Church has adopted the icon of Holy Trinity representing the biblical sense of three men appearing to our for father Abraham by the Oak of Mambre. To show that they belong to the heavenly world , they depicted as three winged Angel. This image, based on a concrete historical event, show the first appearance of God to man, signifying the beginning of the promise of redemption.
In the 5th Book of “Demonstratio Evangelica” by Eusebius of Caesarea , quoted by John of Damascus in the defence of Holy Icon, which states “God appeared to Abraham by the Oak of Mambre”
We find mention of the fact that an image of Holy Trnity , the form of three Angels , at actual place where three men appears to Abraham, had existed in the most ancient time. The Image of the Trinity , that corresponds most fully to the teaching of the church is to be found in the greatest works, known as Trinity of Rublev, written by him for the monastery of Trinity and St Sergius. The Icon shows Abraham’s house , the Oak and a Mountain, but Abraham and Sarah are absent.
The Angel are grouped in the order from left to right, I Believe in God the father, the Son and Holy Spirit. To the impossibility of depicting the first angel depicted with a pink cloak ,this image of the abode of Abraham on top has a symbolic meaning, the house signifies God’s master plan for creation, while the fact that the house towers above the first angel shows him to be the head (or Father) of this creation. The same fatherly authority is seen in his entire appearance. His head is not bowed and he is looking at the other two angels. His whole demeanor – the expression on his face, the placement of his hands, the way he is sitting – all speaks of his fatherly dignity.
The second and central angel corresponds the precision and clarity of coloring , wjose garment has the customary colours of Son of God, with purple and blue cloak. Finally , the principal colour of third angel is Green , which according to the interpretation of St Dionysius the Areopagite, signifies “Youth, fullness of Power”.
This specifically indicates the properties of the third person of the holy Trinity, renewing all things and giving them life. The subtle harmony and relationship of colors of the Icon of the Holy Trinity is one of its chief attractions.
The almost identical faces and figures of the Angel emphasise the equality of the three Divine Person . The Godhead cannot be represented . It is still the historical scene , which symbolically reveals the unity and trinity of the Godhead by showing its triune action in the world. This is why, despite the likeness of Angels, they are not deprived of individuality , the character of each being definitely expressed as regards his action in the World.
Reference: The meaning of Icon , Leonid Ouspensky, Vladmir Lossky, St Vladmir’s Seminary press
Fresco of St. George the Great Martyr , St George Orthodox (Indian)Syrian Church,Paliakara , Kerala, India
Dec 26 1997, OVBS (Orthodox Vacation Bible School) that was first time I made a sketch of a saint. I didn’t knew much about him, just saw his paintings with the famous setting of him riding a white horse and slaying the dragon. Later did i know that my baptism name was also named after this Holy Martyr.
St George ,Great Martyr George the Victory-Bearer
The Holy Great Martyr George the Victory-Bearer, was a native of Cappadocia (a district in Asia Minor), and he grew up in a deeply believing Christian family. His father was martyred for Christ when George was still a child. His mother, owning lands in Palestine, moved there with her son and raised him in strict piety. When he became a man, St George entered into the service of the Roman army. He was handsome, brave and valiant in battle, and he came to the notice of the emperor Diocletian (284-305) and joined the imperial guard with the rank of comites, or military commander.
Icon of St. George, and his parents, Sts. Gerontius and Polychronia
Of the many miracles worked by the holy Great Martyr George, the most famous are depicted in iconography. In the saint’s native city of Beirut were many idol-worshippers. Outside the city, near Mount Lebanon, was a large lake, inhabited by an enormous dragon-like serpent. Coming out of the lake, it devoured people, and there was nothing anyone could do, since the breath from its nostrils poisoned the very air. On the advice of the demons inhabiting the idols, the local ruler came to a decision. Each day the people would draw lots to feed their own children to the serpent, and he promised to sacrifice his only daughter when his turn came. That time did come, and the ruler dressed her in her finest attire, then sent her off to the lake. The girl wept bitterly, awaiting her death. Unexpectedly for her, St George rode up on his horse with spear in hand. The girl implored him not to leave her, lest she perish. The saint signed himself with the Sign of the Cross. He rushed at the serpent saying, “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” St George pierced the throat of the serpent with his spear and trampled it with his horse. Then he told the girl to bind the serpent with her sash, and lead it into the city like a dog on a leash. The people fled in terror, but the saint halted them with the words: “Don’t be afraid, but trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in Him, since it is He Who sent me to save you.” Then the saint killed the serpent with a sword, and the people burned it outside the city. Twenty-five thousand men, not counting women and children, were then baptized.
St. George with scenes from his life, Kremikovtsi Monastery, Bulgaria
The pagan emperor, who did much for the restoration of Roman might, was clearly concerned with the danger presented to pagan civilization by the triumph of the Crucified Savior, and intensified his persecution against the Christians in the final years of his reign. Following the advice of the Senate at Nicomedia, Diocletian gave all his governors full freedom in their court proceedings against Christians, and he promised them his full support. St George, when he heard the decision of the emperor, distributed all his wealth to the poor, freed his servants, and then appeared in the Senate. The brave soldier of Christ spoke out openly against the emperor’s designs. He confessed himself a Christian, and appealed to all to acknowledge Christ:
“I am a servant of Christ, my God, and trusting in Him, I have come among you voluntarily, to bear witness concerning the Truth.”
“What is Truth?” one of the dignitaries asked, echoing the question of Pontius Pilate.
The saint replied, “Christ Himself, Whom you persecuted, is Truth.”
St. George being taken to prison, from Decani Monastery
Stunned by the bold speech of the valiant warrior, the emperor, who had loved and promoted George, attempted to persuade him not to throw away his youth and glory and honors, but rather to offer sacrifice to the gods as was the Roman custom.
The confessor replied, “Nothing in this inconstant life can weaken my resolve to serve God.” Then by order of the enraged emperor the armed guards began to push St George out of the assembly hall with their spears, and they then led him off to prison. But the deadly steel became soft and it bent, just as the spears touched the saint’s body, and it caused him no harm. In prison they put the martyr’s feet in stocks and placed a heavy stone on his chest. The next day at the interrogation, powerless but firm of spirit, St George again answered the emperor, “You will grow tired of tormenting me sooner than I will tire of being tormented by you.” Then Diocletian gave orders to subject St George to some very intense tortures. They tied the Great Martyr to a wheel, beneath which were boards pierced with sharp pieces of iron. As the wheel turned, the sharp edges slashed the saint’s naked body. At first the sufferer loudly cried out to the Lord, but soon he quieted down, and did not utter even a single groan.
St. George being tortured on the wheel, from Decani Monastery
Diocletian decided that the tortured one was already dead, and he gave orders to remove the battered body from the wheel, and then went to a pagan temple to offer thanks. At this very moment it got dark, thunder boomed, and a voice was heard: “Fear not, George, for I am with you.” Then a wondrous light shone, and at the wheel an angel of the Lord appeared in the form of a radiant youth. He placed his hand upon the martyr, saying to him, “Rejoice!” St George stood up healed. When the soldiers led him to the pagan temple where the emperor was, the emperor could not believe his own eyes and he thought that he saw before him some other man or even a ghost. In confusion and in terror the pagans looked St George over carefully, and they became convinced that a miracle had occurred. Many then came to believe in the Life-Creating God of the Christians. Two illustrious officials, Sts Anatolius and Protoleon, who were secretly Christians, openly confessed Christ. Immediately, without a trial, they were beheaded with the sword by order of the emperor.
St. Anatolius the Commander, martyred along with St. George (April 23rd)
Also present in the pagan temple was Empress Alexandra, the wife of Diocletian, and she also knew the truth. She was on the point of glorifying Christ, but one of the servants of the emperor took her and led her off to the palace. The emperor became even more furious. He had not lost all hope of influencing St George, so he gave him over to new and fiercesome torments. After throwing him into a deep pit, they covered it over with lime. Three days later they dug him out, but found him cheerful and unharmed.
St. George put into the pit of lime, and drinking the sorceror’s poison
They shod the saint in iron sandals with red-hot nails, “Run, George, towards the object of our desire!” said the Saint, invoking the Lord’s help. And once again he presented himself, whole and radiant with grace, before the tyrant.] and then drove him back to the prison with whips. In the morning, when they led him back to the interrogation, cheerful and with healed feet, the emperor asked if he liked his shoes. The saint said that the sandals had been just his size. Then they beat him with ox thongs until pieces of his flesh came off and his blood soaked the ground, but the brave sufferer, strengthened by the power of God, remained unyielding.
The Flagellation of St. George, from Decani Monastery
The emperor concluded that the saint was being helped by magic, so he summoned the sorcerer Athanasius to deprive the saint of his miraculous powers, or else poison him. The sorcerer gave St George two goblets containing drugs. One of them would have quieted him, and the other would kill him. The drugs had no effect, and the saint continued to denounce the pagan superstitions and glorify God as before. When the emperor asked what sort of power was helping him, St George said, “Do not imagine that it is any human learning which keeps me from being harmed by these torments. I am saved only by calling upon Christ and His Power. Whoever believes in Him has no regard for tortures and is able to do the things that Christ did” (John 14:12). Diocletian asked what sort of things Christ had done. The Martyr replied, “He gave sight to the blind, cleansed the lepers, healed the lame, gave hearing to the deaf, cast out demons, and raised the dead.” Knowing that they had never been able to resurrect the dead through sorcery, nor by any of the gods known to him, and wanting to test the saint, the emperor commanded him to raise up a dead person before his eyes. The saint retorted, “You wish to tempt me, but my God will work this sign for the salvation of the people who shall see the power of Christ.” When they led St George down to the graveyard, he cried out, “O Lord! Show to those here present, that You are the only God in all the world. Let them know You as the Almighty Lord.” Then the earth quaked, a grave opened, the dead one emerged from it alive.
St. George raising the dead man
Having seen with their own eyes the Power of Christ, the people wept and glorified the true God. The sorcerer Athanasius, falling down at the feet of St George, confessed Christ as the All-Powerful God and asked forgiveness for his sins, committed in ignorance. The obdurate emperor in his impiety thought otherwise. In a rage he commanded both Athanasius and the man raised from the dead to be beheaded, and he had St George again locked up in prison. The people, weighed down with their infirmities, began to visit the prison and they there received healing and help from the saint. A certain farmer named Glycerius, whose ox had collapsed, also visited him. The saint consoled him and assured him that God would restore his ox to life. When he saw the ox alive, the farmer began to glorify the God of the Christians throughout all the city. By order of the emperor, St Glycerius was arrested and beheaded. The exploits and the miracles of the Great Martyr George had increased the number of the Christians, therefore Diocletian made a final attempt to compel the saint to offer sacrifice to the idols. They set up a court at the pagan temple of Apollo. On the final night the holy martyr prayed fervently, and as he slept, he saw the Lord, Who raised him up with His hand, and embraced him. The Savior placed a crown on St George’s head and said, “Fear not, but have courage, and you will soon come to Me and receive what has been prepared for you.” In the morning, the emperor offered to make St George his co-administrator, second only to himself. The holy martyr with a feigned willingness answered, “Caesar, you should have shown me this mercy from the very beginning, instead of torturing me. Let us go now to the temple and see the gods you worship.” Diocletian believed that the martyr was accepting his offer, and he followed him to the pagan temple with his retinue and all the people. Everyone was certain that St George would offer sacrifice to the gods. The saint went up to the idol, made the Sign of the Cross and addressed it as if it were alive: “Are you the one who wants to receive from me sacrifice befitting God?” The demon inhabiting the idol cried out, “I am not a god and none of those like me is a god, either. The only God is He Whom you preach. We are fallen angels, and we deceive people because we are jealous.” St George cried out, “How dare you remain here, when I, the servant of the true God, have entered?” Then noises and wailing were heard from the idols, and they fell to the ground and were shattered.
St. George destroying the idol through his prayers, and saving the princess from the dragon, from Decani Monastery
There was general confusion. In a frenzy, pagan priests and many of the crowd seized the holy martyr, tied him up, and began to beat him. They also called for his immediate execution. The holy empress Alexandra tried to reach him. Pushing her way through the crowd, she cried out, “O God of George, help me, for You Alone are All-Powerful.” At the feet of the Great Martyr the holy empress confessed Christ, Who had humiliated the idols and those who worshipped them.
St. Alexandra the Empress, the wife of Diocletian who was converted through St. George’s martyrdom (April 21st)
Diocletian immediately pronounced the death sentence on the Great Martyr George and the holy Empress Alexandra, who followed St George to execution without resisting. Along the way she felt faint and slumped against a wall. There she surrendered her soul to God. St George gave thanks to God and prayed that he would also end his life in a worthy manner. At the place of execution the saint prayed that the Lord would forgive the torturers who acted in ignorance, and that He would lead them to the knowledge of Truth. Calmly and bravely, the holy Great Martyr George bent his neck beneath the sword, receiving the crown of martyrdom on April 23, 303.
St. George being sentenced by Diocletian and being beheaded, from Decani Monastery
Carrying out the Saint’s desire, his servant took his precious relics back to his country, to Lydda (Diospolis) in Palestine, where innumerable miracles were worked in the great church that was built in his honor.
The burial of St. George
The pagan era was coming to an end, and Christianity was about to triumph. Within ten years, St Constantine (May 21) would issue the Edict of Milan, granting religious freedom to Christians.
The tomb of St. George the Great-Martyr, as it exists today in Lydda, Palestine
The veneration of Saint George enjoyed enormous popularity throughout the Christian world, both East and West. He was chosen to be the protector of countries like Georgia England and India ;thousands of churches have been dedicated to him. There are many churches in the Malankara Orthodox Church that are dedicated in the name of St George which celebrates the feast with big festivities. Puthupally, Chandanapally, Karingachira, Kunnakurudy, Thiruvananthapuram are some of those. In all these churches large numbers gather for this feast. May St. George the Great-martyr, the Trophy-bearer, the Victorious, the Wonderworker intercede for all of us and help us!
Holy Relics of St George in Puthupally St George Orthodox Syrian Church, India
Reference : Icon courtesy of www.eikonografos.com
Images from Decani Monastery,Kremikovtsi Monastery, Paliakara St George Church,
Khrstos Anesti +++
400+ times Kyrielyson with Prostration
I attended the Good friday service at St Marks Cathedral, Alexandria. Today sharing an experence from the good friday service in Coptic Church .
Prostration inside the altar
Prostration and chanting Kyrielyson is one of the most unique and blissful tradition of Orthodox Churches. Especially during Great lent and passion week numerous prostrations are preformed. In Coptic Church following the 11th and the 12th hour during Good friday service , the whole congregation prostrate(Kumbidil)(Metanis) and chants Kyrielyson 400+ time (100 facing each direction).
During 11th and the 12th hour after the readings, the cross is raised by the Patriarch or Bishop or Senior priest. Starting from east direction and the whole congregation chants Kyrielyson (Lord have mercy) with prostration (full or half) first facing east direction. 100 times facing east , 100 times facing west, 100 times facing north, 100 times facing south. Following this the clergies and congregation faces east again and continue further 12 kyrielyson chnated in a log tune.
It was a blessed experience when the whole congregation in St Marks Cathedral alexandria (may 3000 believers) chanting kyrielyson.
Orthodox way of prostration
Similarity with Indian Church.
This tradition is same in all the oriental churches. In Indian Orthodox church there is service of sleeba vandanam during which everyone prostrate and kiss the Holy Cross one by one. Again during burial service congregation prostrate and chant Kyrielyson. Coptic church performs the burial service after the recitation of Kyrielyson 400 times.
Graphē 