My first Divine Liturgy experience.

[fisharmor]

btw, do you not have other parishes in your area you can attend when your priest is gone? There are a number scattered about my area-enough to represent all the orthodox in the world, I think-Russian, Greek, etc, etc. When mine is closed, I attend the Romanian church. Not as nice, but it works.

Hm, every time our priest is gone we have a fill-in priest. I don't know the logistics.
We actually have parishioners who bounce between a couple different churches, including one reader. I keep thinking that we need to go to some of the others in the area - particularly the Greek ones, so I can learn the music - but we've been stuck to this one like flypaper ever since we got there.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Hm, every time our priest is gone we have a fill-in priest. I don't know the logistics.
We actually have parishioners who bounce between a couple different churches, including one reader. I keep thinking that we need to go to some of the others in the area - particularly the Greek ones, so I can learn the music - but we've been stuck to this one like flypaper ever since we got there.

You don't have pan-Orthodox Vespers in your area? I guess it's a regional thing. Pretty interesting-during Lent, each Sunday each parish in town picks a Sunday to "host" that day. My parish typically does Sunday of Orthodoxy. It's neat because you typically meet people during coffee hour you otherwise wouldn't.

 

[TER]

You don't have pan-Orthodox Vespers in your area? I guess it's a regional thing. Pretty interesting-during Lent, each Sunday each parish in town picks a Sunday to "host" that day. My parish typically does Sunday of Orthodoxy. It's neat because you typically meet people during coffee hour you otherwise wouldn't.

That is awesome to hear! It sounds like Orthodoxy is growing in the heartland.

I believe Orthodoxy in this nation was planted in Alaska, grew up in the large coastal metropolises, and will mature in the heartland. It is very reassuring that this is taking place.

Glory to God for all things!

 

[heavenlyboy34]

That is awesome to hear! It sounds like Orthodoxy is growing in the heartland.

I believe Orthodoxy in this nation was planted in Alaska, grew up in the large coastal metropolises, and will mature in the heartland. It is very reassuring that this is taking place.

Glory to God for all things!

Indeed! St Herman of Alaska, IIRC. Glory to God, indeed! Слава Богу!

 

[RJB]

You don't have pan-Orthodox Vespers in your area? I guess it's a regional thing. Pretty interesting-during Lent, each Sunday each parish in town picks a Sunday to "host" that day. My parish typically does Sunday of Orthodoxy. It's neat because you typically meet people during coffee hour you otherwise wouldn't.

We have three Churches in my area (Greek, ROCOR, and Carpatho-Russian.). We mix a lot. After Liturgy, I went to a Pascha party that had people from all three. Although we haven't had mixed services for some unknown reason.

It's funny. I usually love family gatherings, but Pascha My wife and I prefer hanging out with other Orthodox. Lamb never tastes better than after a Lenten fast.

 

[RJB]

Really it was your first? Wow! A Pascha service was my introduction to Orthodoxy.

We did not have service on Tuesday because our priest is technically retired and he had a teaching obligation. But I have been singing every other day this week.

Christ is risen! Indeed he is risen!

. I haven't been to one either. My priest is older and doesn't have the stamina. Next year I will definitely go to one of the other Churches. I gave some of my friends from those parishes permission to hold me to it.

 

[fisharmor]

. I haven't been to one either. My priest is older and doesn't have the stamina. Next year I will definitely go to one of the other Churches. I gave some of my friends from those parishes permission to hold me to it.

Oh, goodness, guys! Next year get to Virginia, and I'll put you both up, and I'll take you to Pascha!
This year we had 54 people packed into our little country chapel, and most of them were singing at the top of their lungs. It was like thunder!
CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD, TRAMPLING DOWN DEATH BY DEATH, AND UPON THOSE IN THE TOMBS BESTOWING LIFE!

My 8yo stayed up through the whole thing - not like she had a choice! But even though she can't talk and had two seizures during the liturgy, she still, like always, knew when we were getting close to communion and got physically excited, even though it was 2 in the morning.

 

[TER]

Oh, goodness, guys! Next year get to Virginia, and I'll put you both up, and I'll take you to Pascha!
This year we had 54 people packed into our little country chapel, and most of them were singing at the top of their lungs. It was like thunder!
CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD, TRAMPLING DOWN DEATH BY DEATH, AND UPON THOSE IN THE TOMBS BESTOWING LIFE!

My 8yo stayed up through the whole thing - not like she had a choice! But even though she can't talk and had two seizures during the liturgy, she still, like always, knew when we were getting close to communion and got physically excited, even though it was 2 in the morning.

To echo what fisharmor wrote, the Paschal Divine Liturgy is the simply an exhilarating experience.

In the first centuries, it was this Divine Liturgy whereby the Christian catechumens first partook of the Holy Eucharist after intense fasting during the preceding Lent. They would be baptized in the middle of the service. That is why we sing the hymn "as many that have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ" during the service. Some of the most dearest spiritual experiences in my own life have taken place during this beautiful service.

 

[TER]

Here is a short video by Rick Stevens about his experience of Pascha celebration in Greece

 

[TER]

The Holy Eucharist is given by the Lord “in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:25). First of all, in sensu realissimo, the Eucharist is the power of the Incarnation, the realized and abiding Divine-humanity, including all the faithful: “we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread” (10:17). The Divine Eucharist is the abiding of Christ in the world, His connection with the world, despite the ascension: “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20) by the Holy Spirit, sent by Him into the world from the Father: “and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever…I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:16, 18).


Communion with the body and blood is therefore not yet all that the Eucharist signifies as the divine “It is finished” (John 19:30), as the sacrificial and abiding Incarnation. It is the sacrament of sacraments, the foundation of all the sacraments, and its accomplishing power is the Pentecost, the coming into the world of the Holy Spirit, who “shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you“ (14:26). “In remembrance of me [anamnesin]” and “to bring…to your remembrance [hypomnesei]” are closely connected, which is expressed in the fact that the “breaking of the bread” appears in the life of the Church only after the Pentecost, as the accomplishment of Divine humanity.


Thus, originally, in the apostolic age, the Divine Eucharist as the basis of all the sacraments was exclusively that which it is as the realization of the body of the Church as the body of Christ. Its essential character was not hierarchical but koinonic. That is, its character was one of sobornost, but this character was replaced as early as the second century by hierarchism, which, of course, did not completely eliminate it, but was capable of obscuring it. How this happened has to be explained by church history.”

(Sergius Bulgakov, The Bride of the Lamb, pp. 286-287).

 

[heavenlyboy34]

The Holy Eucharist is given by the Lord “in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:25). First of all, in sensu realissimo, the Eucharist is the power of the Incarnation, the realized and abiding Divine-humanity, including all the faithful: “we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread” (10:17). The Divine Eucharist is the abiding of Christ in the world, His connection with the world, despite the ascension: “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20) by the Holy Spirit, sent by Him into the world from the Father: “and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever…I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:16, 18).


Communion with the body and blood is therefore not yet all that the Eucharist signifies as the divine “It is finished” (John 19:30), as the sacrificial and abiding Incarnation. It is the sacrament of sacraments, the foundation of all the sacraments, and its accomplishing power is the Pentecost, the coming into the world of the Holy Spirit, who “shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you“ (14:26). “In remembrance of me [anamnesin]” and “to bring…to your remembrance [hypomnesei]” are closely connected, which is expressed in the fact that the “breaking of the bread” appears in the life of the Church only after the Pentecost, as the accomplishment of Divine humanity.


Thus, originally, in the apostolic age, the Divine Eucharist as the basis of all the sacraments was exclusively that which it is as the realization of the body of the Church as the body of Christ. Its essential character was not hierarchical but koinonic. That is, its character was one of sobornost, but this character was replaced as early as the second century by hierarchism, which, of course, did not completely eliminate it, but was capable of obscuring it. How this happened has to be explained by church history.”

(Sergius Bulgakov, The Bride of the Lamb, pp. 286-287).

Is this Bulgakov related to the legendary Mikhail Bulgakov, author of "The Master And Margarita"? (which, if you haven't read it, you must! It's not like the Brothers Karamazov, but the "novel within a novel" plot line in particular is something I think can be appreciated from an orthodox POV, even though it isn't really Orthodox)

 

[TER]

Is this Bulgakov related to the legendary Mikhail Bulgakov, author of "The Master And Margarita"? (which, if you haven't read it, you must! It's not like the Brothers Karamazov, but the "novel within a novel" plot line in particular is something I think can be appreciated from an orthodox POV, even though it isn't really Orthodox)

Not sure if they are related. I believe Mikhail Bulgakov's father was a priest.

Funny you mention the book "The Master and Margarita" as I just read it only a couple of months ago. Very interesting book! Like an adult version of Alice in Wonderland!

I would recommend to you the book I just finished called "Laurus". It is an outstanding book. I highly recommend it!

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Toady's homily: Epistle Acts 9:32-42 Gospel John 5:1-15 fourth Sunday of Pascha Sunday of the Paralytic
Appearance of the sign of the precious cross in the heavens above Jerusalem(351 AD), Martyr Akakios the centurion at Byzantium; John of Beverly, Bishop of York, Preist Alexis Toth of Wilkes-Barre, conessor and defender of Orthodoxy in America

My godmother informed me today she will no longer be coming to our parish. :'(

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Homily from 2 weeks ago-
last week-
Blessed Pentacost everyone! Not sure if every jurisdiction of Orthodoxy does them, but we did the kneeling prayers. I really like these.

Pretty neat-we're blessed to have some of the Holy Fire with us from Jerusalem nao. We're proud that our choir director graduates high skool this month. Many years!

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Sorry I've neglected this for so long. Kurwa. Anyhoo, my voice is well enough I'm back to choir work nao. Fr Chris was doing a wedding, so Greg did the homily toady.

11th sunday after Pentecost and Eleventh Sunday of Matthew. After-feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos. Prophet Samuel; Martyr Photeini of Blachernae; Martyrs Heliodoros and Dosai of Persia

Gospel: Epistle: Matthew 18:3-35 Corinthians 9:2-12

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Dang, fell behind again.
Well, tonite I went to Fr Chris' ongoing class on Divine Liturgy, which was interesting. Then I went to Greg's class on "discipleship: leadership for warrior saints". Next week chant class is supposed to start again.

8/27
epistle: I Corinthians 15:1-11 Gospel Matthew 19:16-26
homily:

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Last week Bishop John presided over liturgy.
Epistle-Corinthians 16:13-24 Gospel Matthew 21:33-42

This week
Most of the choir was gone, so I took over all of the bass/baritone parts. Jack K. dropped in to "help" a little, but he's more of a chanter and can't sing choral music worth a damn. Kept throwing me off.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Proto-martyr Thekla, equal to the apostles and first Sunday of Luke
Venerable Silouan of Athos Commemoration of the wonder working icon of the Theotokos of the Myrtle Tree; New-martyr Ahmed; Venerable Nicander of Pskov; the Synaxis of all saints of Alaska

Nice Day. My voice was relaxed-the chanting is helping. Practiced holding ison when I wasn't busy with baritone stuff. I'm liking chant because it's a different way to internalize scripture and theology. Venerated the of St Thekkla.

Gospel:Luke 5:1-11 Epistle Timothy 3:10-15

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Last week's homily is up nao- I'll have this week's up when available.

This week:
16th Sunday after Pentacost and second sunday of Luke apostle Ananias of the seventy, first bishop of Damascas and Righteous father Romanos the Melodist Martyr Domninos of Thessalonica; Venerable John Koukouzelis and Gregory the Domestikos of the Great Lavra on Athos Venerable Sabbas of Vishshera in Russia

Epistle-Corinthians 6:16-7:1 Gospel Luke 6:31-36

My godmama brought me a neat card she got from the monastery. She says she asked the monks to pray for me. <3