Holy Week Services: Holy Monday Matins Monday of Holy Week commemorates the blessed and Noble Joseph the All-Comely and the fig tree which was cursed and withered by the Lord. Joseph is a type of Christ. Cliff Notes Version about Joseph: [1] Kontakion and Ikos Holy Monday Matins. … Continue reading NB: Joseph the All-Comely, a type of Christ
Tag: NB
NB: Just one resolution for Great Lent. Fasting and prayer
Many people make some sort of resolution when they enter Great Lent. Usually it is something we have not done before, or perhaps done poorly. The one who has fasted poorly in the past may decide to keep the fast better – to not eat any meat or animal products, and some may even be zealous to keep the fast from oil and wine and fish. The one who keeps the fasts may be zealous to not eat anything at all for the first three days of Great Lent, or eat only one meal a day, which, according to the strict typikon, is “after the ninth hour” (about 3 in the afternoon).
In my pastoral experience, most people make some sort of fasting related resolution. I applaud their intentions, but sometimes their emphasis on fasting obscures for them the real purpose of the fast (it is not fasting!) …
NB:The Baptism of the Lord and the Legion
“Of old the prince of this world was also called king of those in the waters; yet he is drowned by thy cleansing and cast down, as once was legion in the lake, O Savior; and by Thy mighty hand Thou hast vouchsafed liberation to the work of Thy hands, which was enslaved by him”… Continue reading NB:The Baptism of the Lord and the Legion
NB:“They departed into their own country another way.”
Our encounter with the Nativity of Christ must change our way. MATTHEW 2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. (Matthew 2:12) This scripture describes what we must do if there is to be a “nativity” in our hearts.… Continue reading NB:“They departed into their own country another way.”
NB:The barren desert will bear many children.
The great power of the holy services of the church and especially the deeply theological and devotional content of matins is that it presents the important dogmas of our faith in startling and understandable ways. In every matins service, there is something that is too beautiful for words, and yet, the words being sung warm the soul and comfort it.
This sticheron above contains such words. A dogma of our faith is that Christ came so that human nature could change, be renewed, become holy. We know this (or should know this – many Christians do not understand this dogma), but in order for it to be completely active in us, we must experience it.
Here, the bearing of many children is used …
NB:The Dayspring from on high – a little about the Nativity Troparion
“Dayspring” means a rising of light from the East.
The Persian wise men were astrologers. The star of Bethlehem (actually an angel) arose in the East and was seen by them in the West, in Persia (modern day Iran). They had been awaiting the fulfillment of Baalam’s prophesy: …
Includes a nice icon of the adoration of the Magi
NB: Interpreting the Nativity Icon.
Ikons are not only “Windows to Heaven” – they also tell a story, if one understands the symbolism. A few things about the Nativity Ikon: …
“NB” is shorthand for “nota bene” ,which is Latin for “Note well”. These shorter posts are meant to be “noted well” more often because they are briefer than the usual blog posts. I have “noted well” that many of my flock does do not read the longer posts. I have a lot of stuff to tell you, so there will still be longer posts, but I also plan to post shorter “snippets” which will have “NB:” in the title.