With New Eyes

On 5 years as an Orthodox Christian

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 15:12:00 +0000

Five years ago today, I was chrismated an Orthodox Christian. I have faced several challenges in my life since then, and I can honestly say that I would not have passed through them well without being Orthodox. The world presses on us from all sides, and if not for the Faith, I would have often made the wrong choice. I can with all my heart say, thank God for His great mercy. The Lord has put up with a lot from me! Yet I have learned how much He loves us. I have let Him down many times, yet still He loves. That is amazing, and I re-learn it every day.

I wish I had something more profound to say, but I don't. My sincere desire is that I be enabled to see our Lord in every part of my life, for what I've noticed is that I tend to live a compartmentalized life. There are aspects of my life where God is not the center, and I want Him to be the center.

The Theotokos is a constant example for me of someone who was completely centered in the Lord. She knew what her life was to be about, and she went about doing the Lord's business, both small and great. In the icon of the annunciation, we see her spinning...a household task, yet that is where Gabriel announced God's will to her! For God was even there in her spinning. Just like that, I wish for God to be in all the moments of my life.

Please pray for me, dear friends, that this may be so and that a year from now, on the next anniversary, I can say that I have taken a small step forward in making Jesus Lord of my whole life. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Amen.

CHRIST IS RISEN!

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Christ is risen; Indeed, He is risen!

Shown above is my Pascha basket which I took to church last night. It was blessed by Father Andrew after the midnight Paschal liturgy. In the basket were some favorite goodies: boiled eggs, chocolate and a cinnamon coffee cake. I'll eat some of those today in celebration of our Lord's resurrection!

This year I was finally able to make the basket cloth I had dreamed of for years.

It is a cross stitch pattern of my own design. After stitching it, I patched it with fabric to make the cloth above. I am very happy with it!

If you would like to stitch this design, here is my Paschal gift to you: a pdf of the chart. Please feel free to stitch this for your own use or as a gift; however, please don't sell or reproduce this design in any way. If you'd like to share it, please direct others to this blog post. Thank you!

Lest we forget

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:15:00 +0000

Lest we forget what Christmas is all about:

"It is amazing how wonderful God’s love is for us! He is not just a distant principle, philosophy, cosmic fix, or a simple solution to our personal pain. He is not just an important cog in the wheel of time, a doctor to cure our ills, a sympathetic listener to our daily troubles or sorrows, or a kindly observer with good advice in times of need. He is not just a good teacher, a lively companion, a best friend, or a dear person that we could touch and know. He is far more. He--our dear Lord Jesus Christ--is the most dear, most precious, most beloved, and most lovely thing of all times and all places, and He is closer to us than our own breath and our own mind and soul. And He is near, so very near, because He came to earth just to be with us, to enliven our hearts and minds, to soothe our pains and sorrows, to solve our confusion and our doubt, and to directly impart love into every sinew of our being from head to toe, and from psyche to spirit. He is the immanent, perceptible, immediate, and accessible God for us, right here and right now. And He is born on earth for each soul to turn from death to life and live with Him forevermore.

"At His birth He draws together all of the elements of Creation to be in one chorus of blessedness and thanksgiving. He brings the whole of the Bodiless Powers and angels to come and worship Him, along with the pure sweet fruit of Israel and humanity, the Virgin Mary, the mystic kings and Magi of the world looking for hope and wisdom, the simple shepherds in the fields keeping nightly vigil, the elderly Joseph as the faithful guardian to the Virgin, and the active bright grace of God the Father and the Holy Spirit to all come together into the cave in Bethlehem to be with Him, for He is 'God with us.' We are invited too. We are now present too. In Him there is no exclusive time and place, for all of us here have been invited to sit with Him together in our Humanity, and thus to share mystically in His Divinity by adoption in an active and living theosis. In this sharing is the fulfillment of our nature to become truly children of the Most High God. The Dayspring has sprung, the Light is shining bright, the night of darkness has passed, and we are to become now in fullness the Image and the Likeness of God. It will take work, it will take time, it will take much cooperation and intent to change and repent. It will take great courage to enter the humble doors where He lives eternally, but He has come to call us. Let us leave the vain conceits of worldly thought and reach up towards Heaven. This is a call to come to His love, great love indeed. Let us respond now sweetly back in earnest love."

From the Monastics at St Isaac of Syria Skete

Nativity

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:51:00 +0000

The beauty of Christmas arrives at St Luke Church.

Your Nativity, O Christ our God,

Has shone to the world the Light of wisdom!

For by it, those who worshipped the stars,

Were taught by a Star to adore You,

The Sun of Righteousness,

And to know You, the Orient from on High.

O Lord, glory to You!

Blessed Nativity to all!

On Autumn colors

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:58:00 +0000

Have you noticed that the colors of Autumn--the glorious golds, the vibrant reds, the brilliant oranges and umbers--are the same colors that are in icons?

"This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world. I walk a desert lone.
In a bush ablaze to my wondering gaze God makes His glory known.
This is my Father’s world, a wanderer I may roam
Whate’er my lot, it matters not,
My heart is still at home."

(This is My Father's World, Hymn by Maltbie Babcock, 1901)

The desperation of these times

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:54:00 +0000

The light of Christ

You know that feeling when you are participating in the Divine Liturgy--the feeling that church is the best and most beautiful place to be? That feeling that you are entirely safe. I've been feeling that a lot, lately.

It's a precious feeling, especially as one reflects on the state of the world today. We tend to complain about it a lot--how bad the economy is, how mean people are, how awful the news is.

Television shows display this most acutely. Shows are more violent, more brazen, more gruesome, especially police and lawyer shows. So many TV shows center on the themes of justice and rescue. Often, there are happy endings: the criminal goes to jail, the innocent are redeemed, the falsely accused are justified. If you dig below the gore, you realize--the world is crying for help.

TV producers may not realize it. They think they are giving us what we want when they show blood and violence and hatred. But they are also showing that the world wants justice, mercy and truth. They reflect the state of the world; that is, desperation. Who will save us from ourselves?

Praise be to God for our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a way out. He is the way. And we must be ready to tell of His Beauty, His Truth, and His Gospel. So this week, when I am tempted to complain about how awful things are, I hope I can find the opportunity to tell someone that it doesn't have to be that way. That we can start making things right, where we are, by pursuing the Lord. He is our beauty and our safety.

Amen.

Book Review: Saint George and the Dragon

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 19:01:00 +0000

I am so pleased with this new book by my friend, Jim Forest.

In this large format children's book, Jim retells the story of St George in simple and clear language that nevertheless helps you see and feel the story. Every page spread is illustrated with a Byzantine icon by iconographer Vladislav Andrejev of New York. The icons are stunning in detail and color, and I found myself spending more than several minutes looking at them and identifying the messages within. For example, the attitude of the hands in all the pictures clearly communicates conversation. In the icon where St George tells Elizabeth about Christ, George gestures toward Heaven as Christ leans out of the clouds and blesses him. In the following picture, Christ is leaning and blessing Elizabeth, indicating that she has believed the Message. Wonderful!

And in the icon where George is facing the King and Queen, the dragon is clearly underfoot and even seems to be licking the foot of the cross on George's shield in an appeasing posture. I know I will continue to find hidden and wondrous details as I examine these works of faith and art.

At the end of the story, author Jim Forest provides a special essay with historical background about St George and more icon images. This section is a great addition for those who want to know more. In all, the book is a wonderful reminder that we can depend on Christ's strength, might and sovereignty over the dragons--those evils and troubles--in our lives.

The story of George is for those of us who need courage. It was not lost on me that the princess' name was Elizabeth--from which my own name, Else, is derived. I am often fearful and afraid. I often need courage, even to face the day. Thank God for His precious grace and salvation! I would be lost without Him. This icon will continue to remind me of my need for Him--and of His ready and swift arrival at my side when the battle is nigh.

I see that I need an icon of St George near me to also remind me of Christ's power and gentleness, both. For did He not have compassion on those who killed Him? "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do." We often need to forgive our "dragons." There are so many lessons for us in this legend.

This saint story blessed me and increased my faith. I highly recommend it, to both children and adults.

Saint George and the Dragon. Written by Jim Forest and illustrated by Vladislav Andrejev. St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2011. ISBN 9780881413731.

Hunger in the world

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:53:00 +0000

The stories of hunger in Africa have touched me deeply. Today in my e-mail was this prayer from Metropolitan Isaiah which I felt was so apt:

PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE HORN OF AFRICA
His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver

Holy God, You Who sent Your Only-Begotten Son into this fallen world to gather Your people for Your coming Kingdom, we beseech You to look upon the tribulations and tragedies which have befallen humanity. We fervently ask You to bring solace and comfort to the souls and bodies of those who have been so afflicted. We further ask that Your enduring peace will abide in the hearts and minds of those who continue to suffer.

Lord, we know that the current catastrophes, both by nature and by the hand of man, have been expected to come about from the source of evil, as we read in Your holy word. But, even in the face of this human suffering, as we have seen in Asia, in Africa, and in other places of the earth, we remain confident that Your divine will shall prevail.

As we await Your infinite love which shall be triumphant in the days to come, we offer our grateful thanks to You, we bless You, and we glorify Your All Holy and Sublime Name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and always and to the ages of ages. AMEN.

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Sometimes it seems as if one person cannot make a difference. However, you can--because you can always pray. So don't hesitate. Let God know that you trust in Him to provide for the world, and that you are ready to be part of that provision, if He so calls you.

Remember, He could feed the 5,000 because one child gave up his lunch. God is still sovereign, no matter how awful things seem (I have to tell myself this a lot!)

If you feel so inclined, you can give a donation towards IOCC's work in this part of the hungry world. Simply click here and designate your donation to the International World Relief Fund.

Tired

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:06:00 +0000

Joachim and Anna, Our Lord's Grandparents

In recent times, I have become tired of hearing and seeing sexuality everywhere I turn. Most of it in the form of indecency, lack of privacy, and perversions. The TV is besotted with it and puts it in productions where sexuality isn't even appropriate or in the original story! A case in point is the recent series, "A Game of Thrones," on HBO. I read the book and there is much less sexuality in the book than in the HBO series! In fact, the portrayals on HBO are basically pornography.

I am happy when our Church gives us direction and reminds us that from the beginning, things were not so. Our Lord and the Apostolic Fathers have left us firm and healthy direction for how to interpret our sexuality. God has a purpose for it and does not leave us guessing.

For example, the SCOBA statement below tells it like it is regarding same-sex unions. I also appreciate that we are given direction to keep loving those who are deceived--without accepting or celebrating their mistaken lifestyles. I never know what to say to the folks who are pursuing these relationships. They would call me judgmental if I didn't agree. So perhaps they will understand if I say, I follow what Our Lord teaches, because He knows better than we do, and He wants us to be holy.

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SCOBA Statement on Moral Crisis in Our Nation

Wednesday, August 13, 2003

As members of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), representing more than 5 million Orthodox Christians in the United States, Canada and Mexico, we are deeply concerned about recent developments regarding “same sex unions.”

The Orthodox Christian teaching on marriage and sexuality, firmly grounded in Holy Scripture, 2000 years of church tradition, and canon law, holds that marriage consists in the conjugal union of a man and a woman, and that authentic marriage is blessed by God as a sacrament of the Church. Neither Scripture nor Holy Tradition blesses or sanctions such a union between persons of the same sex.

Holy Scripture attests that God creates man and woman in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:27-31), that those called to do so might enjoy a conjugal union that ideally leads to procreation. While not every marriage is blessed with the birth of children, every such union exists to create of a man and a woman a new reality of “one flesh.” This can only involve a relationship based on gender complementarity. “God made them male and female… So they are no longer two but one flesh” (Mark 10:6-8).

The union between a man and a woman in the Sacrament of Marriage reflects the union between Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:21-33). As such, marriage is necessarily monogamous and heterosexual. Within this union, sexual relations between a husband and wife are to be cherished and protected as a sacred expression of their love that has been blessed by God. Such was God’s plan for His human creatures from the very beginning. Today, however, this divine purpose is increasingly questioned, challenged or denied, even within some faith communities, as social and political pressures work to normalize, legalize and even sanctify same-sex unions.

The Orthodox Church cannot and will not bless same-sex unions. Whereas marriage be-tween a man and a woman is a sacred institution ordained by God, homosexual union is not. Like adultery and fornication, homosexual acts are condemned by Scripture (Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:10; 1 Tim 1:10). This being said, however, we must stress that persons with a homosexual orientation are to be cared for with the same mercy and love that is bestowed by our Lord Jesus Christ upon all of humanity. All persons are called by God to grow spiritually and morally toward holiness.

As heads of the Orthodox Churches in America and members of SCOBA, we speak with one voice in expressing our deep concern over recent developments. And we pray fervently that the traditional form of marriage, as an enduring and committed union only between a man and a woman, will be honored.

August 13, 2003

† Archbishop DEMETRIOS, Chairman

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

† Metropolitan HERMAN

Orthodox Church in America

† Metropolitan PHILIP, Vice Chairman

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese

† Archbishop NICOLAE

Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America America and Canada

† Metropolitan CHRISTOPHER, Secretary

Serbian Orthodox Church in the USA and Canada

† Metropolitan JOSEPH

Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church

† Metropolitan NICHOLAS of Amissos, Treasurer

Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese in the USA

† Metropolitan CONSTANTINE

Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA

† Bishop ILIA of Philomelion

Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America

Previously published on the web here.

This is what Heaven sounds like

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:15:00 +0000

Christ is Risen from the dead
Trampling down death by death
And upon those in the tombs
Bestowing Life!

Christ is Risen--
Indeed, He is Risen!!

Blessed Bright Week to all!

"Come, let us die with Him"

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:35:00 +0000

Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” --John 11:16

Our faith is not a "prosperity gospel" as so many contemporary preachers claim. These promise that if we believe and claim it, we can have all the good things of this life. That somehow God wants us to be comfortable on this earth. That if we simply believe, we will be happy and content and not have a trouble in this world.

EVERYTHING in Holy Scripture contradicts this. The life of Christ--our life, if we believe--is one of suffering, for how can we be comfortable in a world that denies Him and where He is not? We are called to carry our cross and to die with him (although Thomas, in his doubt, forgets what Jesus has said, that He will rise again), denying ourselves and living for Him.

During this Pascha, this has become even more real to me. I am incapable of doing good on my own--in fact, when I think I am doing good, I am only deceiving myself. I need our Savior. I need Him to live in me and do His works. I need Him to speak at all times to me, and I need to listen.

So I approach the cross with fear and with my own shame. I still dare to raise my eyes and ask for God's forgiveness. I still dare to hope that in the end, I, too, may be saved. He did so much for us--how can we not love Him?

It is on the cross that I have come to understand that God is Love. He has died for me and I am undeserving. So yes, I need to go to Calvary too. To die to myself, and live for Him. This is not a platitude. It is reality.

CS Lewis on Christ's Passion

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:44:00 +0000

Jesus at Gethsemane

We are asked to share Christ's sufferings. What we forget is that Christ, "being in all things made like us," has already shared ours. CS Lewis writes about this poignantly in the linked article below.

From the article: "[As] Lewis points out, each of the successive movements in the Passion contain an element common to the sufferings of us all."

Read the article here.

Blessed Holy Week to all!

As we enter Holy Week

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 14:00:00 +0000

I received the message below in an e-mail from Skete.com. It was so beautiful and focused that I had to share it with you. God bless you all during Holy Week!
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Jesus Christ comes this week meek and humble first before the Sanhedrin and the religious leaders of His day, and then before Pilate and the might and power of the Roman Empire at its height of influence. It is because Christ’s power is not of worldly might or from theoretical ideas and theological concepts, just understood by men and women, that it is so great. His power is far greater and much more daring. This is the power and majesty of perfect love and sacrifice, of exceeding mercy and compassion. No one before Him was able to show this great power in this most humble and meek way, for this power comes directly from above, from Heaven Itself. As St. John Chrysostom's Liturgy, quoting St. James, says, “Every perfect gift is from above, coming down from Thee, the Father of Lights….”

This week we see Christ with His Disciples at the Raising of Lazarus, at His triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, at His last and Mystical Supper, at the washing of His Disciple’s feet, at Gethsemane as He sweats blood, at His betrayal with a kiss from Judas, one of Twelve, and at His Trial and Condemnation. Then Our Saviour, Redeemer, Benefactor, and the Lover of Mankind stretched out His innocent and sinless hands and feet to accept the nails, His pure and blessed head to accept the Crown of Thorns, and His cleansing side to accept the piercing by the Spear which brought forth blood and water after He bowed His head, finishing the work which His Father had given Him to do on earth. This icon of loving and saving death for us opens the gates of Paradise again to all mankind. We are now invited into the Kingdom Which can know no end.

Let us enter again these moments in His Life which are always alive and echo throughout Eternity. Let us remember that this is not just a mechanical fixing of our entire race’s sinful problems, but the conscious and loving opportunity to accept and affirm this great love in our own lives. Let us thankfully act with love, mercy, humility, meekness, and respect towards Him, His Father, and the Holy Spirit, and all of His children that He died for, both living and gone to their rest before us. May we stand sorrowing at His Cross with the Virgin and St. John, waiting for His glory to burst forth upon the world just three days later at His Glorious and Holy Resurrection. May we then sing out with pure joy, “Christ is Risen! Truly He is risen! Amen.”

From: The Monastics of St. Isaac of Syria Skete and of the Convent of St. Silouan, the Faithful of St. Nicholas Church, and the Staff of Orthodox Byzantine Icons and St. Isaac’s Bookstore. Skete.com

Singing the Contemplation of Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Slane Hill, Ireland

When I was Protestant, the church songs I liked to sing best were the hymns from earlier centuries that focused on the Trinity, on the Cross, and on what Jesus did for us. I heard this one again today, and thought I would share the words. I still think it is beautiful, and so apt.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Upon researching it for this blog, I found this bit of history:

"Words: Forgaill, 8th Century (Rob tu mo bhoile, a Comdi cride)... Music: Slane, of Irish folk origin. Slane Hill is about ten miles from Tara in County Meath. It was on Slane Hill around 433 AD that St. Patrick defied a royal edict by lighting candles on Easter Eve. High King Logaire of Tara had decreed that no one could light a fire before Logaire began the pagan spring festival by lighting a fire on Tara Hill. Logaire was so impressed by Patrick’s devotion that, despite his defiance (or perhaps because of it), he let him continue his missionary work. The rest is history."

Look at the years. I thought it was from the 20th century! Guess what? It's Orthodox. Guess He was already calling me Home.

Temptation and the Cross

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:56:00 +0000

Adoration of the Holy Cross

Right about the middle of Lent is when I start feeling that it's not going so right, if you know what I mean. I'm hungry and tired and tripping along the way. Weird things are temptations and I don't always control my passions the way I want to. I feel oddly dissatisfied with where I am in all aspects of life.

I am being tempted.

I look around and find that I've lost sight of the Master.

When I first noticed this, I initially felt like "there's no way back. I've blown it." I could totally relate with what Paul said in Romans 7:

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do ... For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing."

I'm ashamed to say that it took me awhile to figure out what to do, and I feel like I've taken several steps backward. First, prayer. I was praying less. I could fix that straight away and timidly come to Our Father, "Lover of mankind." Then, I went to confession. The only way to escape temptation and sin is to confess. I thank God for this Mystery of the Church that allows us a "do over."

Finally, I am getting back to contemplating Jesus. Reading the Scriptures where He never rejects sinners is so encouraging! And of course Paul wraps it up perfectly:

"So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (emphases mine)

And in Hebrews 4:

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin."

The feast of the Veneration of the Holy Cross comes at just the right time during Lent. I have a special Lenten calendar on which I open doors each feast day and Sunday during Lent (thanks, Kath!). For this day, the descriptive guide says,

"As we progress through the Lenten period, the Church seeks to console us on our journey. We are given the Holy Cross to refresh us who may feel a sense of resentment and depression. The Cross reminds us of the Passion of Our Lord and by presenting us His example, it strengthens us to follow Him with struggle and sacrifice. Though the 'waters' of the fast are now bitter, they will be sweetened by the wood of the cross as was the waters of Marah sweetened by the wood of Moses' staff. The days of the fast may be grievous now but Christ will lead us to the spiritual Jerusalem on high by the power of His Resurrection."

Amen! Pray for me, a sinner.

An amazing testimony

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:40:00 +0000

The conversion of St Paul

This brought tears to my eyes.

Posted on Mystagogy:

"Three years later and still going strong, one man continues to prove to atheists that his conversion was not a 'temporary brain infraction.'

Nominal Christian, Mormon missionary, atheist, and now a born-again Christian, Richard Morgan recently spoke to Apologetics315 about his life-changing, or saving, experience on none other than Richard Dawkins’ infamous website.

Having been through his share of religious inquiry at a young age, Morgan realized that he was constantly in search of something, whether it be spiritual or not."

Read the complete and utterly moving story here.

Simply Glorious Icons!

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:29:00 +0000

Photo by Jim Forest.

My friend and fellow writer Jim Forest recently visited the exhibit, "Splendor and Glory: Art of the Russian Orthodox Church," at the Hermitage Museum in Amsterdam, The Netherlands (where I was born!). Jim took some wonderful photos of the pieces in the exhibition. The icons and art are simply glorious and will truly inspire you. You must view them! Thank you, Jim, for sharing these wonders!

View each photo individually »
View a slideshow »

St Patrick, Orthodox?

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:33:00 +0000

St Pat used the shamrock to explain the Trinity.

I first became acquainted with St Patrick when my youngest son, Emrys, was born in 1992 on St Pat's day. Not being Orthodox at the time, over the years I played this up for Emrys, giving him St Patrick collectibles each year. (Happy B-day, Em!)

And while for some this is more of an ethnic (Irish) holiday, now St Patrick has gained more significance for me since I became Orthodox. For Patrick is Orthodox, too.

Born in 390 AD in Scotland, Patrick was taken as a slave to Ireland as a boy. There, he tended sheep and learned to love Christ. Upon his return to his home, one night he heard the people of Ireland calling to him in a dream. He returned and brought the Gospel with him, and went on to become Ireland's patron saint and a model of missionary evangelism for Christianity.

So, how is Patrick Orthodox, you say? He was born before the Great Schism, to be sure, but his Lorica prayer (Lorica = "breastplate") speaks tons when he says:

"I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men."

Truly, Patrick was centered in the ancient faith and all the realities we know as Orthodox!

His missionary work was also in the manner of the Orthodox. Patrick related to the Irish through their culture, speaking in their language and using their symbols to explain God. For example, he used the three-leaved shamrock to explain the three-in-one Trinity.

Patrick is also a great model for us at Lent. He is totally about contemplating Christ. Later in the Lorica he says:

"Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me."

Not only is Christ with us in every way, Jesus is everything to us and in everyone we meet, and we must be Christ to all. Surely something to remember during Lent, and every day. St Patrick, pray for us!

On Contemplating Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 16:16:00 +0000

Christ the Bridegroom

When I first starting learning about icons, this particular icon made me feel uncomfortable. It was so sad and seemed to me a grim reminder of the worst parts of Christ's passion. Now I feel that it is, quite simply, beautiful. Everything about Jesus is reflected in this icon: his humility, beauty of spirit, meekness, patience, tolerance and most of all, love. He allowed us to crucify Him. He has mercy on us afterwards. He is truly the Bridegroom, the Lover of mankind.

The Scriptures also have beautiful passages that allow me to contemplate Christ. This came into mind this week as I was thinking of Him:

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. ¹⁸ And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. ¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, ²⁰ and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross."

This passage is from Colossians 1. It truly describes Him as God, Creator, Ruler, the First, the Head of the Church, the Beginning, the Firstborn of the Dead, the Pre-eminent, the Fullness of God, the Reconciler, the Peacemaker. He is truly Awesome (in both the ancient and contemporary meanings of the word)!

In the coming weeks I hope to share other passages that help me to contemplate Christ.

God's checklist

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:28:00 +0000

On my way to work in the morning, I pass a little Baptist church. On its marquee are the words, "Look to Heaven in 2011." Pretty catchy, and it rhymes.

It got me to thinking about what the phrase means to me, and I was immediately brought to think of our Lord's return. After all, it's the last thing on what my son Emrys and I like to call "God's checklist."

In the Divine Liturgy, the priest prays right after presentation of the bread and wine, "Remembering this saving commandment and all those things which have come to pass for us:

the Cross,
the Tomb,
the Resurrection on the third day,
the Ascension into heaven,
the Sitting at the right hand, and
the second and glorious Coming."

The numbering is mine--God's checklist.

He's accomplished everything except item #6, and basically, the Scriptures tell us this could happen any time. That's pretty exciting. And this checklist is all about us and how much God loves us; these are "all those things which have come to pass for us."

I find this extremely humbling. Lent reminds me that I don't deserve anything. I have done nothing to deserve God's love, and yet, He loves. Incredible motivation for observing the Fast and Lent with thanksgiving and joy. Because we don't just have Pascha to look forward to.

"If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” -- Mark 13: 36-37.

Preparing for Lent

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 20:07:00 +0000

The Expulsion from Paradise

I look forward to Lent, which begins tonight with Forgiveness Vespers. As I examine myself I realize how much I need this time of year, for we begin to wander away from God starting the day after Pascha!

How appropriate the icon above, which reminds us that we are still running away from Paradise.

I am reading "Great Lent" by Fr. Schmemann, which is so enlightening each time I read it! This year I am highlighting the sentences that seem to speak to me this year. Here are some samples:

"We live as if He never came"

"Lent is the preparation for that return--the slow and sustained effort to perform, at the end, our own passage or pascha into the new life of Christ."

"How does one become humble? The answer, for a Christian, is simple: by contemplating Christ..."

"For repentance, above everything else, is a return to the genuine order of things, the restoration of the right vision."

"When Christ comes to judge us, what will be the criterion of His judgment? The parable [of the Prodigal Son] answers: love--not a mere humanitarian concern for abstract justice and the anonymous "poor," but concrete and personal love for the human person, any human person, that God makes me encounter in my life."

How I have fallen down, especially in that last one! On this day of Forgiveness Vespers, I ask all: forgive me for any and all sins I have committed against you. And pray for me, a sinner.

There and back again?

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:06:00 +0000

"Go back?" he thought. "No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!" So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter. --Bilbo Baggins, when lost in Gollum's cave

It's been a long time since I've posted here. Since late July I've been on a journey of sorts--a journey into illness. I am still on that path, and hopefully a crossroads or resolution will be reached next Wednesday, when I have surgery to deal with the problem.

My greatest difficulty through this process has not been acceptance, but fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of complications, fear of death. This fear has colored my months and made everything a battle. The enemy has sought every foothold possible and continues to do so even as I write this post.

But I want to affirm something that I've known rationally for a long time and that has finally settled into my heart: this is God's will for me right now. This is where He wants me to be and I'm on the road He wants me to travel.

I could ask why, but it doesn't really matter. I chose Jesus Christ to be my King and have thus given Him my life to rule. And God is Good, and the lover of mankind. Therefore His Will is good and perfect.

So while I might not like this journey, I can do it because it's God's will for me. I can go forward, because that is the only direction that makes sense. I can say, "God's will be done"--whatever it turns out to be. And I can say that because I believe that God is sovereign and the ruler of all things and circumstances. Nothing that will happen to me is out of His control. Nothing that will happen to me won't be good.

So pray for me, a sinner. I want to continue to be a Bilbo, lost in the cave, but knowing that to go forward is the best direction there is.

And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”--Matthew 14

A visit to the Dead Sea Scrolls

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

This summer, I was privileged to visit the exhibit, "The Dead Sea Scrolls: Words that Changed the World," at the Science Museum of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

In this wonderful exhibit (which is self-guided using a device that speaks to you at each stop), you are guided through the history of the Scrolls, from their first discovery in a cave near Qumran to their preservation and attempted translation. It's a long tour that takes almost two hours to get through if you are reading labels and listening to the narrator and not skipping ahead.

If I understand correctly, this is the first time the Scrolls (and not all of them; 15+ scrolls are being shown in three groups that rotate out during the eight months of the exhibit) have left Israel. The world has waited a long time to see these treasures. The displays were very interesting, but I recall being impatient as I got through half the exhibit and hadn't seen a single scroll yet!

That's because the museum saved the best for last: the Scrolls were in the final chamber. The chamber was round and five or six climate-controlled display cases contained the fragments I saw. I was amazed at how small the scroll-scraps were, and how tiny the writing on them!

While scientists have some full scrolls to study, we were told that most of the scrolls are in millions of scraps which were initially fit together by hand like puzzle pieces. Now that assembly is guided by computer software, and the putting-together and accompanying translation is going much faster.

Theories about the Scrolls have also changed over time. At first, the prevailing theory was that Qumran was a scriptorium and that the scrolls were the work of only a few scribes living there. Archaeology and translation have now shown that there was no scriptorium at all and that the scrolls are the work of hundreds of different scribes. A new theory postulates that the collection in the caves was created as people fled Roman-torn Israel and needed a place to hide their most treasured manuscripts. Thus the caves could be an ark of sorts.

My own feeling at seeing these small, ancient pieces of animal skin was simply awe, and I recall shivers going down the back of my neck. I especially felt this when I read the translated text of the Hymn of Praise (Scroll 4Q440). This line struck me especially:

Blessed are you, my God, the Pure One in all

Here was a piece of ancient writing praising God...written at least two thousand years ago by the hand of a person who believed in the same God and Lord that I believe in now. This ancestor recognized who God is and praised him in the same way I do. Time seemed to stand still. I was deeply moved at the realization that all believers are the same, whether we live in a dusty cave or a modern suburb. The same God unifies us through space and time, the same Spirit dwells in us.

The exhibit runs through October 24, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. If you enjoy road trips, this one is eight hours by car from Chicago. Don't miss it.

An icon moment

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 13:00:00 +0000

This icon, the Wedding at Cana, was on our bulletin this morning. In the few idle moments right before Divine Liturgy started, I looked at it more closely to pass the time.

There is so much going on this icon! It tells the whole story of the wedding in one panel. From the bride and groom in a central position (wearing kind of pasted-on smiles, in my opinion, as all wedding couples seem to when they are the center of attention!), to the guests, food served, and boy pouring water into the earthenware jugs at the bottom. The buildings in the back provide a perfect background for this scene, with festive curtains tied back to make a sort of tent over the whole story. Then there is Jesus and His Mother--and that's really where the action is.

You can almost hear their whispers, not wanting to disturb the festivities as Mary tells Jesus that there is no more wine. Their heads are held close in a mother-and-son moment, and their kinship is shown in the same colors of clothes that they wear. And even as Mary is speaking, Jesus is already obeying her, as you can see his outstretched hand pointing to the earthen vessels in a gesture of blessing (!), and then the miracle occurs, redeeming water into wine, much as when the Lord will bless us on that Final Day, and we'll be given new bodies and become the True Humans and Children of God we were meant to be.

In that first miracle, Jesus' entire message is spoken. Wonderful!

Sealed!

noreply@blogger.com (Else M Tennessen) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:01:00 +0000

Here is my son Emrys (now Ambrose) being chrismated on Cheesefare Sunday, February 14, 2010. He has been Orthodox for one whole week now. As a mother, I was so happy to see my son arrive at this moment. As he told me several weeks ago, "What else is there [besides Orthodoxy]?" (as we discussed the choices of Christian churches).

His chosen Saint and name was Ambrose of Milan. His birth name, Emrys, is the Welsh form of Ambrose, which means "immortal." It all fit together in a beautiful way. When I asked him why he liked Ambrose of Milan, he said, "because he is an intellectual, like me," among other things. St Ambrose, pray for Emrys, and for all us sinners!

Emrys' chrismation was a great and blessed way to begin Lent. And thank you, Anthea, for the wonderful picture!