Sunday, April 20, 2014

Paschal Thoughts: Two videos: Pascha in Ghana, They really look happy!

Comment: I think, but am not sure, that these two African missions are either
 under the Alexandrian or Jerusalem Patriarchates.
And of course, the Greek GOC also has substantial missions in parts of Africa.
Of course, we westerners [ living in our worldly post-Christian materialistic culture], are not used to seeing such physically joyful worship, as normal to our vision of Orthodoxy, however, this is their native African cultural expression.
When they rejoice, they...dance, and they express, body and soul,  their genuine happiness. 
They show that they recognize the importance of the Resurrection of THEIR/Our Saviour, The Saviour of All Mankind. 
Are we 'more cultured, superior, educated, intellectual/'modern'  western-civilized/often lukewarm... Orthodox',...as truly joyful in Our Lord's Victory over death?....or is our annual participation in the Pascha services, just routine, just our cultural traditions??...only mere external/and thus, EMPTY rituals? [what the Pharisees of Jesus day, practiced?].
DO WE... TRULY.... BELIEVE ... THAT HE REALLY!...AROSE FROM DEATH??? [many Protestants and Catholics, these days, do NOT believe it, in both America and Europe]. 
These simple African believers DO believe, and they show it, through their own cultural expressions.
And yes, I know that musical instruments, inside the church,  [ as drums] are forbidden by old canons, but....it is their cultural way of rejoicing, and the drums could be outside of the church. Our bells are technically, 'outside' yet they are musical instruments, are they not? [ and we hear them, while we are inside the church].
For myself, I am inspired by these people's simple MOVING faith. It is real, not pretend, nor phony, it is from their hearts.
Just my perspective......as I meditate upon this glorious Feast of Feasts, the Defeat of Death.
Rd. Daniel .......But, no, I am not advocating that we here go to using drums and dancing in church..
but that we all do deep soul searching, and pray to God, for a stronger faith in Him, and a purer life with Christ. Because, THAT is being genuine Orthodox Christians, not merely observing external rituals and taboos and looking good, looking Orthodox, in the view of others.
Jesus said, "But my kingdom is not of this world!", for those Orthodox who too tightly link their religion to any one national identity or earthly land, (any or all of them).
WE are all..... pilgrims/wayfaring strangers on this earth. Our true Homeland, is not here.
CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!

(Astoria, ROCA Holy Trinity Church)- Holy Thursday Night, "The Noble Thief"

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNn7c_-2o0U

"Holy Pascha, 2013, New York City" GOC Met, Pavlos

And, CHRIST IS RISEN!

TRULY HE IS RISEN!

Interesting!: ("HE IS NOT HERE, FOR HE IS RISEN!")-Paschal Troparion, "Christ is Risen", sung in many languages

Comment: This is from you-tube, and I am not sure who put it together or put in on the internet.
Does it matter?
Just take it for what it is, simply a world-wide selection of nationalities & their languages and choirs, 
and  in various churches, which are Orthodox or related to Orthodoxy.
No doubt some [ or even most] of these churches and their choirs & their clergy, are not in communion with our jurisdiction.
And, of course, some countries & their languages were missed in this collage.
BUT, simply to hear the wonderful Paschal message , sung in various world-wide languages,[ all centuries old products of Orthodox missionary work, from the Apostles on down to our time, in all these lands and nations],  is music to our ears, and is a joy to us all.
 
"Go ye into all the world and preach the Good News, baptizing everyone in the Name of +The Father, +The Son, and +The Holy Spirit...."
Rd. Daniel,
 wishing all, Paschal Joy in our wonderful Risen Saviour and Lord, JESUS CHRIST, the GOD-MAN!
 
CHRIST IS RISEN!...our Eternal Joy!...and death is no more!  ALLELUIA!




Paschal Greetings & Words of St. Theofan the Recluse, in Russian, English, and Spanish


Христос Воскресе! 
С Праздником Праздников!



Светлое Христово Воскресение. [Деяния 1:1-8, Иоанна 1:1-17]

Пасха, Господня Пасха! От смерти к жизни привел нас Господь Своим Воскресением. И вот Воскресение это "ангелы поют на небеси". увидев светлость обоженного естества человеческого в предопределенной ему славе, в лице Господа Искупителя, во образе коего, силою Воскресения Его, имели претвориться все истинно верующие в Него и прилепляющиеся к Нему вседушно. Слава Господи, преславному Воскресению Твоему! Ангелы поют, сорадуясь нам и предзря восполнение сонма своего; нас же сподоби, Господи, Тебя Воскресшего чистым сердцем славить, видя в Воскресении Твоем пресечение снедающего нас тления, засеменение новой жизни пресветлой и зарю будущей вечной славы, в которую Предтечею вошел Ты Воскресением нас ради. Не человеческие только, но вместе и ангельские языки не сильны изъяснить неизреченную Твою к нам милость, преславно Воскресший Господи!

(Святитель Феофан Затворник, "Мысли на каждый день года")

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Christ is Risen!
Congratulations on the Feast of Feasts!


The Bright Resurrection of Christ. [Acts 1:1–8; John 1:1–17]

Pascha, the Lord’s Pascha! The Lord has led us from death to life by means of His resurrection. And this resurrection “the angels hymn in the heavens,” having seen the brightness of the deified human nature in the glory foreordained for it, in the countenance of the Lord and Redeemer. All Who truly believe in Him and cleave to Him with all their soul are changed into His image by the power of His resurrection. Glory, O Lord, to Thy most glorious resurrection! The angels hymn, rejoicing with us and foreseeing the filling of their assembly. Vouchsafe us also with pure heart, O Lord, to glorify Thee resurrected; seeing in Thy resurrection the severing of our consuming decay, the sowing of a most bright new life, and the dawn of future eternal glory, into which Thou hast gone before us by Thy Resurrection for our sake. The tongues not only of men but also of angels are have insufficient strength to express Thine unspeakable mercy toward us, O most gloriously resurrected Lord!

(St. Theophan the Recluse, "Thoughts for Each Day of the Year")

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Cristo ha Resucitado!
Felicitaciones por la Fiesta de la Fiestas!


La Resurrección Luminosa de Cristo. [Hechos 1:1–8; Juan 1:1–17]

¡Pascua, la Pascua del Señor! El Señor nos ha llevado de la muerte a la vida por medio de su Resurrección. Y esta resurrección, “los ángeles cantan en cielo,” por ver el resplandor de la naturaleza humana, deificada en la gloria a la que ha sido destinada, en el semblante del Señor y Redentor. Todos quienes en verdad creen en Él, y se unen a Él con todo su alma, son transformados a su Imagen, por el poder de su Resurrección. ¡Gloria, Oh Señor, a tu Gloriosísima Resurrección! Los ángeles cantan, regocijándose con nosotros, al vislumbrar la plenitud de su asamblea. Concédenos también con corazón puro, Oh Señor, glorificarte resurrecto, al ver en tu Resurrección la supresión de la corrupción que nos ha consumido, la siembra de una nueva y radiante vida, y el alba de la futura gloria eterna, en la cual Tú has sido antes que nosotros, a través de tu Resurrección, por nuestra causa. No solo la lenguas humanas, pero también aquellas de los ángeles, no poseen la suficiente fortaleza para expresar tu Indecible Misericordia hacia nosotros ¡Oh Gloriosísimo Señor Resurrecto!

(Obispo Teófano el Recluso, "Pensamientos para Cada Dia del Año")

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Holy Thursday in ROCA's Women's Monastery

Sharing: Photos & description: Holy Thursday in ROCA's Women's Monastery of St. John Maximovitch, Egorovka, Ukraine


To English readers, sorry, but I have no time now to smooth out the 
rough google machine-English version of this description. I must leave that
 up to the readers, if they wish, i.e. to put this original Russian text through the machine translator,
 and then...try to make sense of the rough 'English' [word jumble] which is produced by the  mindless/soulless machine.
The bishop serving here is Archbishop George of Bolgorad.
This monastery is near Odessa. It was originally founded near  Omsk, Siberia, [with Bp. Eutichius], before that sad & foolish & connived 2007 betrayal of a large segment of the  old ROCOR to the Stalin founded MP. Those original noble Omsk nuns, lead by heroic Mother Abbess Alexandra,  had to literally flee to Odessa, Ukraine,  and to take  refuge under Vladyka Agafangel's omophorion. Here they have prospered, with God's help and by the aid of  caring Orthodox  benefactors, whom MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS!
Rd. Daniel

http://internetsobor.org/rptcz/tcerkovnye-novosti/rptcz/velikii-chetvertok-bogosluzhenie-v-odesskom-sviato-ioannovskom-zhenskom-monastyre