"We are travellers…not yet in our native land" – St. Augustine
Some of those attending our wedding (or watching it on Facebook) may not be familiar with the Byzantine Catholic Church. The video below (and transcript which follows) provides a short explanation of what will happen during our wedding so that our guests may better understand the ceremony. We pray that we will all grow closer to each other and to the Lord through this celebration of our marriage.…
In the Eastern Churches, each day of the week is associated with a particular person or event:
If you ever come and visit my parish, you may notice the following icon on the iconostasis:
When people visit my church and notice this icon, they often ask me who this is. Raguel is an angel which is not named in the canonical writings of the Bible. He is, however, spoken of in the non-canonical work, the Book of Enoch.
“And these are the names of the Holy Angels who keep watch. Uriel, one of the Holy Angels; namely the Holy Angel of the Spirits of Men. Raguel, one of the Holy Angels; who takes vengeance on the world, and on the lights. Michael, one of the Holy Angels, namely the one put in charge of the best part of humankind, in charge of the nation. Saraqael, one of the Holy Angels; who is in charge of the spirits of men who cause the spirits to sin. Gabriel, one of the Holy Angels, who is in charge of the Serpents, and the Garden, and the Cherubim.
Book of Enoch, Chapter 23
His name means “Friend of God” and is often referred to as the archangel of justice, fairness, harmony, vengeance and redemption.
It might seem strange to some that we render an icon of a character in a non-canonical book, but if the Epistle of Jude can refer to that non-canonical work and still remain Scripture, why not?
My friend Fr. Stephanos posted this on Facebook yesterday. It shows rather well the relationship between the different rites and churches in the Catholic Catholic Church:
This is more detailed than an earlier image I posted concerning The Catholic Family Tree. If you would like to know more about the different rites of the Church, you might like to read an old post of mine, Know your Rites.
This past weekend, my parish choir was recording the first part of an album. As a result, I’m in the mood for some Byzantine chant today, so below is another choir’s version of “O Virgin Pure”:
Refrain: O Rejoice Bride unwedded.
O Virgin pure, immaculate, O Lady Theotokos. (Refrain)
O fleece bedewed with every grace. O Virgin Queen and Mother.(Refrain)
More radiant that the rays of the sun, and higher than the heavens. (Refrain)
O joy of virgin choruses, superior to the angels. (Refrain)
O brighter than the firmament and purer that the sun’s light. (Refrain)
More holy than the multitude of all the heavenly armies. (Refrain)
O ever virgin Mary of all the world, the Lady.(Refrain)
O Bride all pure immaculate, O Lady Panagia. (Refrain)
O Mary Bride and Queen of all, the cause of our rejoicing. (Refrain)
O noble Maiden, gracious Queen,
supremely holy Mother. (Refrain)
More honored than the Cherubim,
beyond compare more glorious(Refrain)
Than the unbodied Seraphim, transcending the angelic Thrones. (Refrain)
Rejoice, the song of Cherubim rejoice,
the hymn of angels
Rejoice the ode of Seraphim; the joy of the archangels.
Rejoice, O peace and happiness and cause of our rejoicing.
O sacred chamber of the Word, the flower of incorruption.
Rejoice, delightful Paradise of blessed life eternal.
Rejoice O sacred Tree of life and fount of immortality.
I supplicate you, Lady now, I fervently entreat you.
O Queen of all, I earnestly implore and seek your favor.
O gracious Maiden, spotless one, O Lady Panagia.
I call upon you ardently , O holy hallowed Temple.
O help me and deliver me protect me rom the enemy.
And make me an inheritor of blessed life eternal.
Last week I saw that the Byzantine Seminary in Pittsburgh has put together a promotional video. I visited the Seminary for a “Come and See” weekend a couple of years ago and it was a lot of fun, the principal topics of conversation being the Early Church Fathers and The Lord of the Rings…