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Post by Cepha on Apr 11, 2009 9:30:04 GMT -5
Friday
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Post by Cepha on Apr 11, 2009 9:33:06 GMT -5
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Post by Cepha on Apr 11, 2009 9:51:22 GMT -5
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Post by Cepha on Apr 11, 2009 9:51:49 GMT -5
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Post by Cepha on Apr 11, 2009 10:02:31 GMT -5
The Passion of The Christ clip...that's some of the hardest 09:00 minutes of video for me to watch. I literally watched it with eyes full of tears. I find it so hard to accept that I can have such an intense pain to watch that, to see a man I never physically met crucified. Why? Why would I feel so hurt for this person who died 2,000 years ago? It's not logical. It's not reasonable. It doesn't make any human sense. But, I thank God that I do feel that pain because I know that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, that He has revealed Himself to me and that He has embraced me. I've been putting off thinking about it (The Crucifixtion, Easter, etc...) where every thing changed, or as the Catholic Church puts it, "the week that changed the world forever". Today, I came to terms with it. Today, I am in symbollic mourning for Christ was in the tomb during this period, taken away from us. I remember my first Easter Saturday Mass. I placed my fingers in the Holy Water Font and there was no water. I went to the next one, nothing there. I became literally frantic looking for Holy Water to annoint myself with, and couldn't find it. I panicked inside. Then, I saw the covering over the tabernacle and it hit me. This was symbollic for the world before Christ. Nothing Holy for us. No Holy Water. No Salvation. No Jesus. I felt so empty at that moment. For one second, I felt as if I lost Jesus. I cried. I was overwhelmed with emotion. I'm choked up now with tears at remembering how I felt when I thought I lost Jesus. Then, the Mass began and The Priest explained things to us that didn't know why there was no Holy Water and it's symbolism to us of what life was like before Christ. I still walked away sad, but at least, I had hope for tomorrow. And then, Sunday Easter Mass. The fonts were full, The Church was full, The Tabernacle was full! Halleluyah!   |
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Post by emily445455 on Apr 11, 2009 16:12:27 GMT -5
I have some vids I'd like to post...if I can figure out how.
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Post by emily445455 on Apr 11, 2009 16:15:31 GMT -5
Eh, that works, lol. These are two of my fav vids ever. The first one, in the above post, describes my life almost perfectly. And this one...well I just love it... (Hey Em, when you paste your link into the message box, look right above the message box and you'll find the "YouTube" icons. Highlight your link then click on the YouTube icon. You'll get these symbols on either side of the link: [yt ] your link here[ /yt] ...then, your vids will appear in the message when you post it...I did these for you.)  |
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Post by Ramon on Apr 11, 2009 20:56:29 GMT -5
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Post by Cepha on Apr 12, 2009 8:53:33 GMT -5
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Post by teresahrc on Apr 13, 2009 16:38:23 GMT -5
Hi Ramon! I'll be celebrating with you though, my husband is Orthodox.
In 2010, we celebrate Easter together. Did you know that? I hope one day it will be the same for everyone, every year.
Oh well.
Next year in Constantinople! hehe
teresa
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Post by Ramon on Apr 13, 2009 20:55:32 GMT -5
Hi Ramon! I'll be celebrating with you though, my husband is Orthodox. In 2010, we celebrate Easter together. Did you know that? I hope one day it will be the same for everyone, every year. Oh well. Next year in Constantinople! hehe teresa Your Husband is Orthodox! Cool! ;D Yes, I know there are certain times when both East and West celebrate Pascha at the same time. Didn't know it will be next year! Cool! I just came from my Parish. Today, we celebrate Great and Holy Monday. We had a Bridegroom Service / Service of the Nymphios (http://lent.goarch.org/bridegroom_services/learn/). It was so beautiful. I can not wait until Pascha....the service is so heavenly! You should know! ;D I feel so much alive now! I just love liturgical worship! I mean...this is how our Ancestors worshiped! IN IC.XC, Ramon |
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Post by teresahrc on Apr 14, 2009 12:39:13 GMT -5
Whose liturgy does your Church use (for ordinary time) is it St. John Chrysostom? Do all Orthodox Churches use the same liturgy at the same time?
I like my husband's Church, but it is pretty small. The icons are not hand painted, but it's still really pretty in there. I went to an Antiochian Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids that was really beautiful. I'm somewhat allergic to incense though, so unfortunately I get a headache near the end, but I still love the smell even though I'm allergic. Our Church has incense but not every time.
I'm in the beginning stages of learning Byzantine mosaic iconography. I'm hoping to copy the beautiful "Deesis"(?) in the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul.
peace
teresa
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Post by Ramon on Apr 14, 2009 13:03:36 GMT -5
Whose liturgy does your Church use (for ordinary time) is it St. John Chrysostom? Do all Orthodox Churches use the same liturgy at the same time? I like my husband's Church, but it is pretty small. The icons are not hand painted, but it's still really pretty in there. I went to an Antiochian Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids that was really beautiful. I'm somewhat allergic to incense though, so unfortunately I get a headache near the end, but I still love the smell even though I'm allergic. Our Church has incense but not every time. I'm in the beginning stages of learning Byzantine mosaic iconography. I'm hoping to copy the beautiful "Deesis"(?) in the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul. peace teresa Eastern Orthodox Christians used several Divine Liturgies: 1) The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom- Celebrated most of time of the year. 2) The Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great- Celebrated ten times during the year: on January 1, the feast of St. Basil; on the five Sundays of Lent; on the eve of Christmas and Theophany; on the former feasts when they occur on Sunday or Monday; on Holy Thursday; and on Holy Saturday. 3) The Divine Liturgy of Saint James- In most of the Orthodox world it is only celebrated twice a year, on the feast day of Saint James (October 23) and the first Sunday after Christmas. I believe it is still celebrated regularly in Jerusalem. 4) The Liturgy of Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts- Used on Weekdays of the Great Lent. Not a true Divine Liturgy since no consecration of the Eucharistic gifts takes place. The Divine Eucharist is given from the Eucharistic gifts sanctified on the previous Sunday at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. Because Great Lent is a season of repentance, fasting, and intensified prayer, the Orthodox Church regards more frequent reception of the Body and Blood of Christ as especially desirable at that time. However, the Divine Liturgy has a festal character not keeping with the season, so this liturgy is celebrated instead. 5) The Divine Liturgy of Saint Mark- It is currently served annually on the feast day of the Apostle Mark at Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, New York) of the (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia) and at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brookline, Massachusetts). It is the primary worship service of the Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Besides these Liturgies, there are several Western Rite Liturgies as well. For Eastern Orthodox Christians, the DL of Saint John Chrysostom is the main liturgy. Western-Rite Orthodox Christians celebrate a different liturgy most time of the year: the Liturgy of St. Gregory the Great and the Liturgy of St. Tikhon of Moscow. Yes, we Orthodox used lots of incense. ;D In IC.XC, Ramon Some Pictures: Main Entrance:  The Nave  St.Innocent's Chapel - Back Wall  View from the Mezzanine  Side View of Nave  Close up of Iconostasis and Back Wall  Ramon |
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Post by teresahrc on Apr 16, 2009 13:37:59 GMT -5
Is that your church? It is really beautiful.
You guys must be hard-core--no pews! I don't see why my husband's church has pews--they stand up most of the time. Once, I went there (after getting myself and 3 little girls ready, going to Mass at my Church) and I was so tired that day. I desperately wanted to sit down, but then I looked over and saw some really elderly lady standing up for the whole thing. I felt pathetic!
Anyway, thanks for sharing about your Church, Ramon. Even though I'm not Orthodox, I have the utmost respect and love for it.
peace
heather
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Post by Ramon on Apr 16, 2009 22:10:48 GMT -5
Is that your church? It is really beautiful. You guys must be hard-core--no pews! I don't see why my husband's church has pews--they stand up most of the time. Once, I went there (after getting myself and 3 little girls ready, going to Mass at my Church) and I was so tired that day. I desperately wanted to sit down, but then I looked over and saw some really elderly lady standing up for the whole thing. I felt pathetic! Anyway, thanks for sharing about your Church, Ramon. Even though I'm not Orthodox, I have the utmost respect and love for it. peace heather Oops, forgot to mention that. Yes, that is my parish. Traditionally, Orthodox Churches do not have pews. I am against having pews because it makes the Divine Liturgy a show rather than a participation between the Bishop or Priest and the Laity. Standing makes you more attentive. Yes, it something you have to get used too. The more you stand, you more you will be able to withstand it. But Imagine standing when the Divine Liturgy of St. James is being perform (it close to 3 hours long....  ). How did your little girls did? I can only imagine they complain to you, lol. I was so used to sitting most of time since I come from a Protestant background. It took some time till my body got used to it. You can't see it the pictures, but there is some chairs in the back for the elderly. But they mostly stand for the whole service (yea, these elderly people are hard-core! ;D ;D). In IC.XC, Ramon |
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Post by teresahrc on Apr 17, 2009 13:19:53 GMT -5
Hehe, you're funny Ramon!
Well, I'm fine with standing for long hours. I used to work 3rd shift at an automobile factory in Michigan, as an inspector. We had to stand the whole time.
It was just that one day that I was SO tired! My husband's church does have pews though, and my kids usually do sit down for most of it. People are very merciful there!
By the way, were you raised Orthodox, or did you convert? My husband converted over a year ago.
peace
teresa
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Post by Ramon on Apr 18, 2009 2:30:23 GMT -5
Hehe, you're funny Ramon! ;D Thanks ;D Well, I'm fine with standing for long hours. I used to work 3rd shift at an automobile factory in Michigan, as an inspector. We had to stand the whole time. It was just that one day that I was SO tired! My husband's church does have pews though, and my kids usually do sit down for most of it. People are very merciful there! By the way, were you raised Orthodox, or did you convert? My husband converted over a year ago. peace teresa No, I wasn't raised Orthodox. I was raised in a Protestant (Pentecostalism) home. My father is a Pentecostal Preacher. It's been almost a year since I discovered Orthodoxy and decided to convert. In IC.XC, Ramon |
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Post by teresahrc on Apr 18, 2009 21:59:36 GMT -5
Wow, so how did your family react? Did any of your friends stop talking to you? After I told one of my friends that I was going to become Catholic, she stopped talking to me. But there were other people that I thought would be against it and they were actually really supportive.
What led you to become Orthodox? My husband's brother also converted. My husband's Mother and Father converted to Catholicism and just a few days ago his other brother became Catholic. My cousin Andrew and about 7-8 of my family have converted. Originally, my family was Catholic, but my grandfather and grandmother(teresa) eloped because their families didn't approve of their marriage. My grandmother was Catholic, but then they raised my Dad and his siblings as (Presbyterian ?) protestant. But now, many of her great grandchildren are becoming Catholic. My husband's family used to be catholic too (Carroll-- His great-great however many greats grandfather signed the Dec. of Indep. as the only Catholic) But at some point someone became Methodist or something.
That was my rambling on...sorry..
peace
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Post by Ramon on Apr 18, 2009 22:47:41 GMT -5
Wow, so how did your family react? Did any of your friends stop talking to you? After I told one of my friends that I was going to become Catholic, she stopped talking to me. But there were other people that I thought would be against it and they were actually really supportive. What led you to become Orthodox? My husband's brother also converted. My husband's Mother and Father converted to Catholicism and just a few days ago his other brother became Catholic. My cousin Andrew and about 7-8 of my family have converted. Originally, my family was Catholic, but my grandfather and grandmother(teresa) eloped because their families didn't approve of their marriage. My grandmother was Catholic, but then they raised my Dad and his siblings as (Presbyterian ?) protestant. But now, many of her great grandchildren are becoming Catholic. My husband's family used to be catholic too (Carroll-- His great-great however many greats grandfather signed the Dec. of Indep. as the only Catholic) But at some point someone became Methodist or something. That was my rambling on...sorry.. peace My story is somewhat long....don't say I didn't warn you! ;D Well, my Father and Mother wasn't really supportive. My mom...well she was raised Catholic but converted to Pentecostalism when she was pregnant from me. She is a anti-Catholic....she do not realize it but she is. She doesn't understand Catholicism and say they worship Mary, Statues.....you know all the responses given by anti-Catholics. I do not blame her. She was taught that by her "Spiritual Mother". When I told them that I want to convert to Orthodoxy, they started saying that I got confused. That I let the devil enter my head. I started to explain to them why I wanted to convert. I explain to them the Orthodox Faith, but the responses I got was unbelievable ("Why do Orthodox call Priest "Father"? Haven't you read the Bible. It said do not call anyone Father!", "Why do Orthodox worship Mary, Icons, etc? etc). Even when I gave them the answers, they wasn't convince. Now, they have accepted more fully my decision. But when it comes to the Bible, Orthodoxy, we try to avoid having any discussion on those matters. Most of my family from my Parent's side are Roman Catholics. Few are Protestants (JW, Pentecostals, etc). Not one of my family member is a Orthodox. I am the only one  My friends accepted my decision. I mean....most of them weren't Christians anyway. My Journey in finding Christ's Church started when I was in my teens in High School (Cardinal Hayes High School; a very strict Catholic school). At this age, I started to read the Early Church Fathers writings. I read Clement of Rome, Justin Martyr, Ignatius, Clement of Alexandria, Origin and Tertullian [not Church Fathers though], and other Church Fathers. My Religion teacher was amazed at my knowledge of the Early Church Fathers and Scriptures (I don't mean to boast ). Anyway, when I was reading the Church Fathers writings and saw how they interpret the Holy Scriptures and how the Early Church was run and what they believe in, and I said to myself "My God....this does not sound like Pentecostalism or Protestantism". I quickly saw the inconsistents between my Pentecostal Pastor sermons and the Early Christians beliefs. I finally realize that doctrines such as The Rapture, the Eucharist being Symbolic, Sola-Scriptural (etc) were at odds with the Early Fathers. Those doctrines was absent in Church History for 1,500 years! Not only that, but it were at odds with what Scriptures taught (I finally read Scriptures without a "Pentecostal" mind). Then my journey to find a "orthodox" Church began. I did consider other Protestant Churches, but every Protestant Church I discover had unbiblical doctrines and were at odds with the Early Christians beliefs. Where is the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church the Fathers so often spoke about? When I was in my Senior year in High School, I considered Catholicism since I attended a Catholic School, but I had trouble with the Papal, Purgatory, Immaculate Conception (etc). At this point of my life, I knew nothing about the Eastern Orthodox Church. I found out about it through "google" when I was searching about Catholicism. From that point on I started to study the Orthodox faith. I felt that God wanted me in the Orthodox faith and for the first time I could say "this seem to be the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church the Fathers talk about". I started to research about the difference between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. I found out we share so many things (heck...we was together for 1,000 years!) in common, but what it came to things that divided us....I took the Orthodox side. Shortly after my graduation from High School, I started to search about different Orthodox Churches in my area. After one month of going to different Orthodox Churches, I decided to stay with one that I felt comfortable with (A Russian/Orthodox Church in America parish). The Priest was very nice. He didn't mind me asking so many questions. He was the most polite person I have ever meant. I like the fact that my parish has lots of converts. I do not feel alone in my parish. I feel right at home (I also like the Icons....I feel like I am in heaven when I enter my parish). After several weeks of going to Divine Liturgy, etc, I was enter as a catechumen in the Orthodox Church...and well....the rest in history..... So there....you have just read the most boring life story ever! You can wake up now.....Back to what you was during please! Show's over! ;D In IC.XC, Ramon |
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Post by teresahrc on Apr 25, 2009 8:27:10 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing that Ramon.
By the way, how do you pronounce your name? The English way or the Spanish way or a different way? (I alway "say" words in my head when I read, and I feel like I need to know the write way to say everything)
How old are you?
Do you keep all the Orthodox fasts?
You should be a priest--I heard there is a shortage of Orthodox Priests. You would do a good job.
Also, I'm wondering why don't Orthodox believe in Purgatory? What then would be the point of praying for departed souls? If they are in the fullness of "Heaven" then they don't need prayer. If they are in Hell, it's too late for them. What is the Orthodox view of the purpose of praying for the dead if their is no Purgatory?
peace
teresa
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). How did your little girls did? I can only imagine they complain to you, lol.